Terri Kelley

Most children have the desire to own their own pet. The kids will beg their parents to let them adopt anything: cats, dogs, lizards, guinea pigs, etc. The children, however, usually don't give any thought to the amount of time and money it takes to properly care for a pet. In this cutely illustrated book, a child learns just how hard it is to take good care of a pet dog. This story does not intend to convince children that pet ownership is not a good idea, however. Instead, it helps caregivers find a good way to discuss with their children the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Having a pet is a wonderful and memorable experience for kids. However, pets don't live forever and children and parents are heartbroken when their beloved pet passes away. In this story, a young boy wakes up in the morning, expecting his best-friend, his dog, Shadow, to be next to him. He discovers that Shadow is missing. Soon, he finds out from his parents that Shadow passed away in the night. The boy experiences grief and goes into mourning. He shares his memories of Shadow and comes to realize that even though it's hard to lose someone you love, it is worth the investment in loving them.

Children, like adults, sometimes questions the strength of their Faith. The young boy in this story wonders if he prays like everyone else does; he also wonders if God really listens to his prayers. This is a wonderful story to share with the children in your life.