Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation
Is the appeal of this book greater for dog lovers or military-history buffs? It’s a toss-up, because the book’s charm simply radiates off the page in all directions. Stubby was a genial terrier of uncertain breeding who began hanging around the Yale University training grounds of the 102d Infantry Regiment, soon to be shipped off to war (WWI, that is). Stubby’s particular pal was James Conroy, a 25-year-old volunteer. Conroy’s unit soon adopted Stubby as their pet. When it came time for deployment to Europe, Conroy smuggled Stubby onboard, and the pooch’s charm led to his acceptance by the unit’s higher-ups as an official mascot. Stubby stood by his men in the worst trench conditions, but Conroy remained his truest friend. Stubby became famous in Europe during the war, and his fame accompanied him back home at war’s end. Stubby remained with Conroy until the dog’s death in 1926, and this very engaging book serves as a tribute to canine courage and devotion. Another edition of this book is being published for middle graders (see p.48). --Brad Hooper