cover image Salty Dog

Salty Dog

Gloria Rand. Henry Holt & Company, $13.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-8050-0837-1

When his new dog Salty is just a puppy, Zack, a boat builder, takes him to work each day on the ferry. But as Salty grows older, Zack decides he is too big to take to work, and leaves the dog at home. Salty, who thoroughly enjoys the ferry ride and being in the boat shop, decides to take matters into his own paws. In order to follow his master to work, he finds a way to travel across on the ferry each day by himself. As the story progresses, so does Zack's work on the ship he is building, from the early shell to a finished vessel. When the story ends, Zack and Salty set sail on a journey around the world. Gloria Rand's first book is based on a true story, and it moves along quickly and succinctly; her husband's vibrant watercolor illustrations show Salty for the sporty hero he is. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)