A common comment that either Diane, Tanya, Sarah or I make on “Our Reading Life” is how rich WWII literature is and how challenging it is to find excellent WWI stories that can be shared with children. Keeping that at heart, I have been actively looking for gems that we can recommend to families that will introduce this complicated and hard war to our children. This summer I had the joy of reading two dog-themed WWI picture books that I can wholeheartedly recommend. The first is, Stubby the Dog Soldier: World War I Hero by Blake Hoena and illustrated by Oliver Hurst. (You can read that review here.) The second is Rags: Hero Dog of WWI by Margot Theis Raven and illustrated by Petra Brown.

Last Spring, I reviewed two stories about the real bear, Winnie, who inspired A. A. Milne and Christopher Robin to create Winnie the Pooh. In those stories, a determined army vet purchased the bear at a train station in Winnipeg and smuggled her onboard the train. Despite army regulations against pets, Winnie quickly became the mascot of their division. Something similar happens in both of the WWI dog stories I love. 

In the story of Stubby, Private J. Robert Convoy came to New Haven, Connecticut to train with the 102nd Infantry Regiment in the Army’s 26th “Yankee” Division shortly after America entered the war in April 1917. Convoy tossed a stray pup a few scraps to eat one day and for weeks that tenacious little dog shadowed Convoy hoping to be adopted. Finally, Convoy relented, despite army regulations, and named the little guy Stubby because of his stubby little tail. Smart and determined, Stubby was easily trained and quickly became the Yankee Division’s mascot. 

When Convoy departed for Europe, he smuggled Stubby aboard the transport ship and from there onto the battlefront. 

Stubby was more than just a smart and delightful companion to Convoy and the men he served with. His keen senses helped him to detect mustard gas early enough for soldiers to get their masks on and to hear bombs before they landed, allowing soldiers to get to the ground in time. In battle, Stubby would run alongside the men encouraging them and standing guard over the wounded, signaling to the medics where to come. 

Stubby was considered a hero by not only the men he served with, but by our entire nation. After the war, he marched in parades and was awarded a gold medal for his service. When he died in 1926, his body was given to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, so he can be seen today by a grateful nation. 

Stubby’s story is inspiring, and the tale is told well for young readers. The illustration is interesting and worth appreciating. I am so delighted to have this story in my lending library!