Before You Were Mine

Description

Adopting a shelter dog comes with unconditional love, but also many questions. A little boy imagines what life was like for his new dog before he adopted him from a shelter. Maybe he had a boy who loved him, but the family had to move and couldn't keep him. Maybe he belonged to someone who didn't appreciate how mischievous puppies can be. Maybe he was treated badly. But the most important thing is that now, he can be shown all the love he's been missing. Because this dog is home. Winner of the Humane Society KIND Children's Picture Book Award and the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award, this touching story celebrates all who support, care for, and adopt shelter dogs.

Maribeth Boelts and her family live in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Their second rescued dog, Dixie, lives happily with them. David Walker lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Every dog he's had has been rescued, but he's always felt like the lucky one.

"Children are likely to beg their parents for a trip to the shelter after reading this moving book." - Booklist "Boelts's restrained text and Walker's affecting illustrations combine to pack a small wallop directly to the hearts of dog-loving children who will almost certainly give their pets an extra hug afterwards." - Kirkus Reviews "Boelts does an outstanding job of exploring the adoption of a rescued dog from a shelter. The text and illustrations create moods that shift between poignant and blissful." - School Library Journal