The Stray Dog (HC)

When a little dog appears at a family picnic, the girl and boy play with him all afternoon, and they name him Willy. At day's end they say good-bye. But the dog has won their hearts and stays on their minds.

The following Saturday the family returns to the picnic grounds to look for Willy, but they are not alone -- the dogcatcher is looking for him, too ! 

The Stray Dog had its origin in 1983, when the author heard his friend Reiko Sassa's touching story of adopting a stray dog. 

Written and illustrated by Marc Simont. 

Hardcover. Ages 4-8.