The Foundling

Still mourning the loss of his dog Bodger, who was struck and killed by a pickup truck in The Accident, Christopher resists his parents' well-meaning attempts to get him a new puppy in this fourth picture-book devoted to his adventures. When his father takes him to the animal shelter, he refuses to take home the puppy he meets. Then he discovers that the puppy he had been playing with each day, that he'd thought belonged to the next-door neighbors, was actually a stray, and that changed everything...

I appreciated the sensitivity shown by author Carol Carrick in The Foundling, and the sympathetic way in which Christopher's anger, and his refusal to let a new animal companion into his life, are depicted in the story. I also appreciated show more the way in which Christopher questions himself, wondering if he is being unkind to his parents, and realizing at one point that his father is also missing Bodger. Too often, in children's stories, the emphasis is on the child's emotions, to the detriment of all else. When I look back on my own childhood, and recall times that I was either angry or hurt, I can remember also thinking about the emotions of others, and about my own behavior, so it was good to see a children's story that reflects a more complex vision of the inner lives of young people. The accompanying artwork from Donald Carrick is lovely, if a little dated in some aspects - clothing, vehicles, and so on. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed previous stories about Christopher, and to anyone who appreciates vintage picture-books. show less

Another solid book by Carol Carrick.

Christopher’s dog dies after being hit by a truck.

Eventually Christopher gives his heart to a new puppy.