Bob the Railway Dog: The True Story of an Adventurous Dog

K-Gr 2--It's 1884, and a group of homeless dogs are part of the cargo on a train at a station in South Australia. A guard named Will Ferry has an instant connection with one of the dogs and immediately adopts him, naming him Bob. The pup loves adventure and travels on different trains throughout Australia as the country's railroad system continues to grow during the late 1880s. Soon, he is dubbed Bob the Railway Dog and is known by railroad workers across the land. Bob takes time to visit his old friend Guard Ferry every once in a while. But whenever he hears the sound of the train whistle, he is ready to jump back on board for another adventure. Fenton's tale is a charming look at a small slice of history. A brief note about the real-life Bob, whose photo is still hanging at the Adelaide Station in Australia and whose collar is on display at Australia's National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide, is appended. McLean's detailed illustrations, which are done in watercolor, charcoal, and pencil, bring historical Australia to life, depicting both the vastness of the sprawling outback and also the growing railroad system and cities. Bob is depicted as shaggy and rugged, suitable for his bold personality and very similar to the photo Fenton includes in her author's note. VERDICT The engaging text and the intricacy of the pictures make this book ideal for solo or one-on-one reading. An interesting way to share a lesser-known story from history with young readers.--Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY