Ellen Tarry (1906–2008)

Nice middle school book published in 1946. it is set in Harlem and the black and white photographs makes it look like what is written really happened, instead of made up. No matter if it was true or not, still a good story.

Rinty gets in trouble throughout the book and David works hard to keep his father from forcing him to give the dog away. I found it very clever how the book takes the reason for Rinty's misbehavior and turns it into an asset in the end.

'That night Rinty slept on David's show more bed, though he wasn't supposed to, and David lay awake thinking. What could he do to make money so he could keep Rinty? He thought of what Mrs. Moseley had said. Then he got an idea.'

The story is nice. I liked how David worked hard to find ways to keep Rinty. If I was reading to a child, I would want to stop not too far in and have them try to think of ideas. The black and white pictures of Rinty (I believe an Airedale) and David are very nice, and ones of Harlem are really great. Definitely a book I would recommend if you can get your hands on a copy. show less

Nice middle school book published in 1946. it is set in Harlem and the black and white photographs makes it look like what is written really happened, instead of made up. No matter if it was true or not, still a good story.

Rinty gets in trouble throughout the book and David works hard to keep his father from forcing him to give the dog away. I found it very clever how the book takes the reason for Rinty's misbehavior and turns it into an asset in the end.

'That night Rinty slept on David's show more bed, though he wasn't supposed to, and David lay awake thinking. What could he do to make money so he could keep Rinty? He thought of what Mrs. Moseley had said. Then he got an idea.'

The story is nice. I liked how David worked hard to find ways to keep Rinty. If I was reading to a child, I would want to stop not too far in and have them try to think of ideas. The black and white pictures of Rinty (I believe an Airedale) and David are very nice, and ones of Harlem are really great. Definitely a book I would recommend if you can get your hands on a copy. show less

Interesting mix of fable and 1940's social commentary. Ellen Tarry was an African-American author. The "colored" baby (a term not used today) is adopted by a white female, who is probably unmarried (a head nurse in a hospital--usually unmarried in 1940). So while some of the language is obsolete, and the action controversial (some have expressed objection over an African-American child being adopted by a white person), it was definitely ahead of its time in 1940 (segregation was still the show more law in many states and in the military; interracial relationships of any kind were frowned upon). The book reads similar to a poem or limerick, and is something very different. show less

ST. KATHERINE DREXEL