Childhood Favorite

The other day I went to the Borders Bookstore and was just idling among the shelves, casually browsing, mentally revising my reading list, when all of a sudden I stumbled across a book from childhood and was shocked. I didn't think it was a popular book, so I was quite surprised that it was still in print. I guess I was wrong.  It even had a different illustrated cover and for a moment I wasn't sure if it was the same book but upon reading the back it definitely was. Santa Paws by Nicholas Edwards was still in print.

When I got home and ran to my bookshelf and searched for it. Yes, I still had it, buried between countless other books but there it was (the cover like the one shown to the left). The edges have begun to yellow from age but it is still in great condition. I knew there had been a reason why I kept that book after all these years. And to think, I had almost considered getting rid of it. However, it was the one book that had deeply touched me as a child and I stowed it away.

The book is only a 150 pager but every page is full of meaning and reaches you on an emotional level. The book takes the perspective of a homeless puppy who must survive through the long cold winter nights all alone. I fear of telling anymore for giving the story away but although he is homeless, the dog begins to affect  the lives of complete strangers in very different ways.

After pulling out the book, I decided to some research and find out more about the author and the book, why it was so popular after all. To my amazement, Santa Paws is a children's book series. Apparently, Edwards continues on the story of Santa Paws and his progress as he gets older. I now just added another series to my already long reading list.