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Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog [Paperback]

Grade 1-4-In 1932, a dog won the hearts of the people of Japan after a newspaper article described his loyalty to his owner. Every afternoon, Hachiko would wait at the train station for Dr. Ueno. After the man died suddenly in 1925, the animal returned to the station every day to wait for him, until his own death in 1935. A bronze statue was placed at Shibuya Station to honor this extraordinary canine, and a festival is held there every April. The story is told through the eyes of a young boy named Kentaro, and his imagined interactions with the dog make the events come alive as he worries about and befriends this special creature. Years later, he is saddened by the news of the animal's death. The softly hued watercolor illustrations have a simplicity that brings to mind the style of Japanese woodcuts. Each small image of Hachiko expresses the personality of this furry, gentle creature. An author's note clarifies "The Story behind the Story." This touching tale will capture the hearts of young dog lovers.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA


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I have an Akita and a toddler, and when I saw this book on the shelf, I bought it without even opening it! That's how much I wanted a book to share with my child about the noble Akita Hachiko. This is a straightforward telling of the true Hachiko story, beautifully illustrated with images evocative of Japanese woodcuts and brush art. As a children's book, it's not all that special -- the prose isn't terribly lyrical or vivid, the characters are pretty thinly drawn, and the art, while lovely, is too subtle for my little boy, who prefers bright, kinetic imagery -- but still, whether my son grows to appreciate it or not, I love it and am glad to have it on my shelf. Related Products:

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