What do you think?
Rate this book
Ja kõigi loomade üle #1
The Market Square Dog
The storytelling magic of James Herriot has become a warm, joyful part of our children's lives. The Market Square Dog is his tale of a friendly stray dog who comes to beg in the Darrowby village square-and goes without a home until the local policeman saves the day.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 1989
9 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
269 books3,409 followersJames Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, OBE, FRCVS also known as Alf Wight, an English veterinary surgeon and writer. Wight is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories, often referred to collectively as All Creatures Great and Small, a title used in some editions and in film and television adaptations.
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 5, 2024
"It is our duty to look after the animals who depend on us and it worried me to think of the little creature wandering about in a strange place, sitting up and asking for help in the only way he knew."
Animals need our love, attention, and affectionate care and each community member can help in some small way to make a true and welcoming home for one who often becomes man's best friend.
Don't pass up this delightful read if you're a kind-hearted soul who notices and appreciates the small, meaningful ways we show we care. Both the story and the exquisite illustrations will warm your heart.
Animals need our love, attention, and affectionate care and each community member can help in some small way to make a true and welcoming home for one who often becomes man's best friend.
Don't pass up this delightful read if you're a kind-hearted soul who notices and appreciates the small, meaningful ways we show we care. Both the story and the exquisite illustrations will warm your heart.
July 7, 2023
Virtually all of James Herriot stories are charming and this one more so. What makes the book amazing though is the gorgeous artwork by Ruth Brown. I had to go back and enjoy the artwork with a 2nd and 3rd look. Also, great artwork to discuss little details with a small child while reading to them and maybe to help spark a young artist. It is also nice that the main dog in the book looks very similar to my dog Tucker, although my dog has more hair when it is long, and less hair than the dog in the book after he is groomed.
I will share one quote from the book. James Herriot is about to take his wife out for a rare day off when an injured dog is brought in. So, they must take their nice clothes off to the help the dog. After taking care of the dog, they decide to have a picnic in their backyard. I posted the great painting depicting the scene in my profile pictures, but I will leave it to your imagination to paint the scene in your mind’s eye with the words here in this review:
‘We carried the sleeping dog out to the garden and laid him on a mat on the lawn so that we could watch him as he came round from the anesthetic.
Out there in the old high-walled garden the sun shone down on the flowers and the apple trees. Helen put on her fancy hat again and I put my smart jacket back on and we sat there, enjoying the good things from the picnic basket, we felt that we were still having a day out. But Helen kept glancing anxiously at the little dog and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. Would he be all right after all that we had done for him and, even then, what was going to happen to him? Would his owners ever come to claim him, because if they didn’t, he had nobody in the world to look after him.’
A very pleasant story book and very suitable to read to children.
I will share one quote from the book. James Herriot is about to take his wife out for a rare day off when an injured dog is brought in. So, they must take their nice clothes off to the help the dog. After taking care of the dog, they decide to have a picnic in their backyard. I posted the great painting depicting the scene in my profile pictures, but I will leave it to your imagination to paint the scene in your mind’s eye with the words here in this review:
‘We carried the sleeping dog out to the garden and laid him on a mat on the lawn so that we could watch him as he came round from the anesthetic.
Out there in the old high-walled garden the sun shone down on the flowers and the apple trees. Helen put on her fancy hat again and I put my smart jacket back on and we sat there, enjoying the good things from the picnic basket, we felt that we were still having a day out. But Helen kept glancing anxiously at the little dog and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. Would he be all right after all that we had done for him and, even then, what was going to happen to him? Would his owners ever come to claim him, because if they didn’t, he had nobody in the world to look after him.’
A very pleasant story book and very suitable to read to children.
October 3, 2025
I just loved these quaint stories from a British country vet when I was a child! Keep an eye out for all of his illustrated stories and add them to your children's library!
In honor of his birthday, I made this reel!
Ages: 4 - 8
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
In honor of his birthday, I made this reel!
Ages: 4 - 8
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
June 2, 2018
I actually read this in a collection of Herriot's stories but it had the same illustrator (Ruth Brown) and it is truly a charming and heartwarming tale with darling pictures to accompany the text. Great for ALL AGES!!!
February 4, 2020
James Herriot's books are such wonderful reads and I was thrilled to find this book written for children about a stray dog who finds a good home. My son enjoyed the reading which is more for advanced board book readers. The story was simple to read and moved along easily.
December 3, 2020
More focus on the Market Square would have given this book more appealing. As it is, this is just another story of a stray dog who finds a home. Of course, Ruth Brown's art makes this dog extremely lovable. (But the faces on most of the people are awkward.)
October 13, 2021
Such a sweet story about a stray dog finding a loving home
June 22, 2017
James Harriot was amazing as a children's author. The animal stories were some of my favorites.
January 16, 2024
Mengobati kangen pada karya-karya James Herriot tercintaahh.
Kisah ini diambil dari buku Dog Stories, dikemas dengan ilustrasi sehingga cocok read aloud atau baca bareng anak-anak.
Tentang seekor anjing yang rajin datang ke market square (semacam pasar kaget kayaknya, ya) dan dengan sopan meminta makanan pada kedai yang ada. Tak ada yang tahu siapa pemilik anjing tersebut. Hingga suatu hari polisi datang ke rumah James, meminta tolong James untuk mengobati si anjing yang terluka. Setelah sembuh, sang polisi membawa anjing tersebut ke penitipan hewan, dengan harapan ada yang mengadopsi si anjing. Satu persatu hewan yang ada, diadopsi, hingga tinggal si anjing.
Apakah akan ada yang tertarik apda si anjing?
Kisah yang menghangatkan hati dari dokter hewan pencerita ulung, Alf Wright alias James Herriot.
Kisah ini diambil dari buku Dog Stories, dikemas dengan ilustrasi sehingga cocok read aloud atau baca bareng anak-anak.
Tentang seekor anjing yang rajin datang ke market square (semacam pasar kaget kayaknya, ya) dan dengan sopan meminta makanan pada kedai yang ada. Tak ada yang tahu siapa pemilik anjing tersebut. Hingga suatu hari polisi datang ke rumah James, meminta tolong James untuk mengobati si anjing yang terluka. Setelah sembuh, sang polisi membawa anjing tersebut ke penitipan hewan, dengan harapan ada yang mengadopsi si anjing. Satu persatu hewan yang ada, diadopsi, hingga tinggal si anjing.
Apakah akan ada yang tertarik apda si anjing?
Kisah yang menghangatkan hati dari dokter hewan pencerita ulung, Alf Wright alias James Herriot.
July 24, 2019
The art is ugly! But the story is so good! It's a real life situation, sad things happen to animals and sometimes there's a happy ending and sometimes there's not. It's never too early to introduce and teach children about animals, life, and things that they will encounter in their own lives. It's an emotional strength builder, increases fortitude, and lets hope in.
I loved it because I've wanted to read James Herriot, but his books are lengthy and I don't have the emotional fortitude to read about the poor critters who need the vet. Maybe I would have if I'd read this book as a child. Exept it wasn't published until 1994 haha
BTW, happy ending, so read away!
I loved it because I've wanted to read James Herriot, but his books are lengthy and I don't have the emotional fortitude to read about the poor critters who need the vet. Maybe I would have if I'd read this book as a child. Exept it wasn't published until 1994 haha
BTW, happy ending, so read away!
August 23, 2020
Country Vet, notices a little stray dog begging at each stall in the market place. Talking to a policeman who was there, who had also been watching the dog - both realized it was indeed a stray. The Vet worries about the dog all week - on the weekend as he and his wife are going out a car pulls up and it has the little stray who had obviously been hit on the road - broken leg, all cut up and eye in serious condition. Being a vet the doctor takes care of the little thing, places it in the kennel hoping hit heals right. When he goes back to check on his patient, its gone! And a happy family for the dog had been finally found!
November 22, 2018
On market day, the local vet, and a policeman notice a stray dog begging for food, and try to capture him with no success. The stray is later injured, and the vet patches him up, and the stray is transported to the kennels, but no one claims him. Then the unexpected happens to the stray dog.
September 27, 2020
I've read this story in his book, Dog Stories. I cried. I saw the episode on "All Creatures Great & Small". I cried. Now I've read the children's book. Guess what? I cried. Nobody tells a wonderful story like James Herriot.
October 25, 2017
My 5 year old even noticed how beautiful the illustrations are in these books... So glad I'm able to share some of my favorite books with her!
March 31, 2019
Söpö pieni eläinkirja.
May 28, 2019
Oh, my heart.
December 4, 2020
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. Oh my heart! I absolutely love this story! It's so sweet and precious and heartwarming, every inch. <33
May 26, 2021
A heartwarming book. Highly recommend for children (and even adults).
February 25, 2023
Sweet, heartwarming story with gorgeous illustrations.
March 15, 2017
ON market day when the farmers brought their good to sell on the little town . One farmers who was talking to his friend about his sick cow . But then he notice the dog who was bagging in the front of the stall . No one knew where the dog come from . Form the start story was a bit sad but ending was really happy .
September 17, 2010
There was a stray dog at the market one day going from booth to booth and begging for treats. The local vet tried to get near the dog and check him out because he had looked a little thin. The dog wouldn't let anyone too close before he would run off. The local vet had been talking to a police officer about the dog and they had both been watching the dog. A few days had past and the local vet and his wife were about to head out for a picnic when the police man came to their door and told them that the dog from the market had been found on the side of the road in bad shape. The police man had brought the dog in his car to the vet to see if he could help him. He had cuts and scrapes all over him, a broken leg, and a hurt eye. The doctor and his wife started surgery on the dog right away. After the surgery was complete they went outside to have their picnic they had planned on and waited for the dog to awake. When the dog woke up the vet had to take him back to the police station since he was a stray dog and he hoped someone would come claim him soon. Weeks passed and the vet visited the dog regularly. He seemed to be healing well and was very friendly and thankful to the vet. The vet hoped that the dog would find a good home to go to. One day when the vet arrived to visit the dog wasn't there. The police officer had said that the dog had been arrested and taken into custody for begging in the market. The officer told the vet that he could take him to where the dog was so they started walking. They came to nice cozy cottage and when the police man opened the door the vet saw the friendly dog laying in a bed and being spoiled by two little girls. The police man told the vet that he was kidding him and that he had decided to adopt the dog for his little girls since he was such a good companion. The vet was very pleased that the dog had finally found a good home.
June 13, 2022
Very good
February 11, 2017
3.5 stars.
A cute story about a stray dog that sits up and begs for scraps at a small town's market. The dog becomes injured, and the local vet tends to him...but will the stray ever be taken home from the kennel?
I liked the story, though I was surprised to see it was published in 1989, for it feels much older. Maybe that's on purpose. The artwork is detailed enough, though it really is just not my style.
A cute story about a stray dog that sits up and begs for scraps at a small town's market. The dog becomes injured, and the local vet tends to him...but will the stray ever be taken home from the kennel?
I liked the story, though I was surprised to see it was published in 1989, for it feels much older. Maybe that's on purpose. The artwork is detailed enough, though it really is just not my style.
June 15, 2025
I haven't been marking individual stories read from James Herriot's Treasury for Children, but I've MOSTLY been reading these stories the last 2 weeks, and so I think I'm going to. The Market Square Dog (and Smudge, The Little Lost Lamb) have become daily reads. The illustrations are wonderful, storytelling sublime, and these two stories in particular have real tensions and a bit of an emotional roller coaster for a young child. This one is great for introducing bigger concepts (incl. not all animals that need care have homes, and not all owners treat their animals nicely), without too much of a shock to the system.
November 12, 2018
James Herriot is a wonderful author, writing from his experiences and his heart. From all he's seen and experienced as a vet in the country. In this book he tells of a stray dog that wonders into the market; friendly and takes the food offered to him but also shy. But a few days later he is found to have been in an accident so the vet and his wife cares for him hoping that he has a family... in the end he does find a family to love him.
December 31, 2022
These children's tales are all excerpted from the longer novels - I started with these, and ever since all of James Herriot's books have had a place on my shelves and are frequently reread.
July 19, 2011
Charming warm-hearted story of a little dog, lost & forlorn who had a happy ending
April 24, 2012
Notes:
Herriot books for kids are always a favorite
rather long, best for age 5+
beautiful illustrations
dog gets hit by a car, not too graphically portrayed in book though
Herriot books for kids are always a favorite
rather long, best for age 5+
beautiful illustrations
dog gets hit by a car, not too graphically portrayed in book though
January 4, 2014
Yea, James Herriot!!!!
Read
November 7, 2013good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews