Stubby: A True Story of Friendship by Michael Foreman

Stubby: A True Story of Friendship Reviews

• 
  Mr Bramley

  An amazing book!!!
  
  I never thought a picture book could bring me close to tears but honestly this is heartwarming and soul shattering.
  
  Based on a true story, it has a little section about the real Stubby at the back of the book.
  
  The art is wonderful, detailed for adults and gripping for children.
  
  The writing is a perfect balance between honest to war-time and easy for children to understand.
• 
  Katie Dugdale

  I chose this book for my list of betterment as we're still in the centenary of WWI and this book is keeping what happened 100 years ago alive for children to see now. As a huge part of British history, I don't think it should be forgotten as generations go on. Published as recently as 2018, this book is giving children a fresh insight and understanding. I also haven't really seen many child-friendly adaptations of novels and stories from this era, especially not picture books.
• 
  Shiloah

  My whole family loved this book! It’s based on the true story of a dog in WW1. So heartwarming!
• 
  Bev

  Based on a true story of a dog who became a mascot in WW1 , this beautiful picture book is charming, touching and brought a tear to my eye. Michael Foreman is one of my favourite illustrators and the subdued colours of the pictures that become brighter when they portray explosions perfectly complement the powerful understated text. A treasured addition to my 'favourite picture books' collection.
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  The story of the most decorated dog that served in World War I and the soldier he befriended.
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  Emily Foster

  I really liked this book, it is such a nice way to introduce children to the First World War and is just a beautiful story. The whole book I was sat wondering if it was a true story and then on the last page was a picture of the real stubby and the story of his life. I thought this was a really lovely book as it is factually accurate but also just a really beautiful and wholesome story.
• 
  Alex Baugh

  2018 was the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I and to commemorate it, a fair number of books for young readers were published. Stubby is one of those books and his story begins in a training camp far away from the war.
  
  For some soldiers, basic training can be a cold lonely process of endless drills and exercises. But in one particular camp, each time the bugle calls soldier's to a meal, stray dogs from all over always seem to show up, too. One of them takes a real liking to one particular soldier [Robert Conroy] and before you know it, man and dog have bonded. The soldier names the dog Stubby.
  
  Stubby is pretty smart, and learns to sit and to salute quickly and, of course, everyone seems to love him, But when orders come that the soldiers are shipping out, sailing across the Atlantic to a land at war [France]. Stubby is supposed to stay home, but at the last minute, he gets smuggled on to the troop ship.
  
  In the trenches, Stubby's excellent sense of smell and hearing more than once comes in handy, catching enemy soldiers who sneak into the trenches, or warning the men of poison gas attacks in time to put on their gas masks (yes, Stubby also has a gas mask), and sometimes just keeping his master warm on cold, rainy nights.
  
  But when Stubby is injured in battle, he is sent off in an ambulance with other wounded soldiers and his owner wonders if they will ever see each other again. But, Stubby's nursed back to health at a field hospital just like a real soldier, and after six weeks, he is returned to the tranches. When the enemy is finally driven out a one town, the local ladies get together and make Stubby his own army jacket, complete with medals and badges.
  
  When peace is finally declared in 1918, Stubby returns home to the United States a hero and is even given a position of honor at the front of a victory parade.
  
  This is a sweet story, not so much about Stubby heroics during the war, though these are certainly included, but about what a good, loyal companion he was to Conroy. And to keep the story focused on Stubby, Foreman never uses Conroy's name and makes the dog the main focus of the illustrations.
  The illustrations are done in Foreman's signature style, using a soft pastel palette. He doesn't shy away from the realities of war, but none of the battlefield illustrations are so graphic they would upset young readers. Even the illustration of Stubby laying unconscious in the midst of fighting isn't frightening, but kids will definitely know Stubby is injured.
  
  Be sure to read Forman's note at the back of the book, complete with a photo of Stubby in his army jacket.
  
  Stubby: A True Story of Friendship is a heartwarming story, made all the more poignant by the fact that it is a true story.
  
  You can download an extensive
  Teaching Guide courtesy of the publisher, Anderson Press
  
  This book is recommended for readers age 5+
  This book was purchased for my personal library
  
• 
  Barbara

  Youngsters and adults who loved Finding Winnie or adore animal stories are likely to enjoy this story immensely. After all, it isn't just soldiers or humans who are the heroes of wars. Often, animals behave in heroic fashion on or near the battlefield, and certainly, their very presence offers comfort to the military forces nearby. As American soldiers are training for battle in Connecticut before shipped off to Europe during WWI, they befriend a stray dog that approaches them for food. They name the canine Stubby, and he bonds with Corporal Robert Conroy. Not only is Stubby smart and loyal, but he learns how to salute the officers, and the men smuggle him aboard the ship and along with them as they head into the war zone. His presence inspires the men and the citizens whose lands they are traversing, and Stubby uses his keen sense of hearing and smell to warn the soldiers of intruders. As the men dig in for battle and spend much time in trenches, he is even given his own gas mask to protect him from the enemy's gas attacks. Stubby is even wounded during an explosion, taken to a hospital, and eventually presented with medals for heroism, the most decorated dog during that conflict. Readers will enjoy seeing a photograph of the real Stubby with his own uniform and learning more about him and how famous he became. The author's decision to tell the story from the point of view of Conroy and in present tense lends an immediacy to the story that makes readers feel as though they are right alongside Stubby and his companions. The illustrations rely on soft watercolor paints to complement the story, and a double-page spread that shows Stubby being injured in the war zone. Readers will be just as relieved as I was to have him finally make his way back home. This book took me through a wide range of emotions, and I was pleased to have Stubby's story told for a young audience who may be drawn to learn more about WWI as the result of his adventures.
• 
  Martha

  So many books about Stubby's fascinating story are written for older children. Michael Foreman's animal adventure stories are always splendid, this one does not disappoint. The elegant watercolor illustrations are so helpful for young eyes who have never viewed a World War I uniform, or hopefully the attrocities of war. This title covers the years between when the dog meets Robert Conroy to the end of his happy life as Conroy's pet, after years of brave military service ranging from warning the army of hidden enemies, to alerting the troops when he sniffed poison gas attacks. The author's note shares the factual story of Stubby, which makes this resource a great tool for young researchers.
• 
  David Cluett

  Around a year ago I came across the movie that told the story of this amazing war dog nicknamed 'Stubby'. I absolutely loved it, so much so that I was gifted this book and the book is just as brilliant. A charming read and a heartfelt story that anybody would love. I recently took this book into school and it was so adored by my class that I brought it in another 4 times! A number of important lessons to be learnt from this story and is fantastic to surprise children by telling them that the story is based on a real dog!
• 
  Lauren

  Dogs are so pure. We don't deserve them. Sometimes even just the presence of a dog can comfort people at what is close to hell on Earth: trench warfare, and a dog will risk their life just to be included. What a sweet story, and told in a kid-friendly way. Stubby's story has a happy ending, but it still makes me want to cry.
• 
  Wendy Garland

  This story of friendship & loyalty between a soldier and a stray dog takes the reader to the trenches of WWI. The atrocities of war are not lost on the reader or the main characters. Based on a true story.
• 
  Sandy

  A touching true story. Both my daughter and I like this picture book about the most decorated war dog of WWI. Did not shy away from the horrors of war. My child most appreciated the photograph of Stubby in the back, as well as the author's note about his life after the war.
• 
  Wilde Sky

  A young soldier befriends a stray dog.
  
  I thought this was a good read and it showed how animals can help people - the fact it was based on a true story made it more effective.
  
  Reading time around ten minutes.
• 
  Alida

  Loved it. The illustrations are just fantastic and the message of loyalty and friendship is appreciated. However, I detest the military using animals in any capacity.
• 
  Terri Purcell

  This book made me tear up, it was so pure and covered the amazing relationship between human and dog. Dogs are truly a gift. Stubby was absolutely precious and deserves the world.
• 
  Katrina Clohessy

  28 pages
• 
  Kelly

  Children will love this story! I sure did. It's about a military troupe that adopts a hungry dog. They name him Stubby and he joins the men in battle.
• 
  Alice

  3.5 - picture book by excellent Michael Foreman but the Ann Bausum bok is much better
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  Alyssa Gudenburr

  A great book about the true story of Stubby, the war dog. This book is on the longer side and has small illustrations so it would make a better one-on-one story.
• 
  Rachel

  Told in the first person, covers a broad swath of time and is a lovely story of friendship
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  ISP

  
  
  
  Stubby: A True Story of Friendship
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  Emily

  As part of the Reading Challenge over Christmas, I read Stubby: A True Story Friendship as it was published in 2018. It tells the true story of a dog during the First World War who served his country bravely. It was an emotive and educational read with good illustrations throughout. This story has beneficial opportunities of cross-curricular links, such as to history.