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The Winner's Walk
Case Callahan isn't a star swimmer like his sister, Quinn. He's not a champion horse trainer like his father, or a popular stage actor like his mother. Still, Case is determined to make his mark. But one effort after another – talent show, science fair, junior horse show – is a terrible failure.
It isn't until Case comes upon a lost dog that he finds his path to success. The dog, whom Case names Noah, is certainly one of a kind – what other golden retriever can answer the telephone and put dishes in the dishwasher? Together Case and Noah seem destined to become a trophy-winning team. Noah, however, is so smart because he was trained to be a service dog, and when Case learns about his dog's past, he realizes there is more than one way to be a winner.
With thoughtful black-and-white illustrations, this is the perfect story for any child who has struggled to discover his talents – and for any dog lover.
It isn't until Case comes upon a lost dog that he finds his path to success. The dog, whom Case names Noah, is certainly one of a kind – what other golden retriever can answer the telephone and put dishes in the dishwasher? Together Case and Noah seem destined to become a trophy-winning team. Noah, however, is so smart because he was trained to be a service dog, and when Case learns about his dog's past, he realizes there is more than one way to be a winner.
With thoughtful black-and-white illustrations, this is the perfect story for any child who has struggled to discover his talents – and for any dog lover.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2006
3 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 15, 2019
Case is the only one in his family who has no special talent, but Case has plans to change that. He enters a talent show, a science fair, and a horse show, but fails to make a mark in any events. He is about to give up when he finds a dog, a remarkable dog, and the dog helps Case find his own special talents as a dog trainer as well as his special talent of sharing.
August 7, 2017
Note to self: I have picked this book up from the library shelf just because picture had a dog and a boy on it. I wanted to see if my son would enjoy it. I have read about a half of it and decided it was not interesting enough to read to my son. It was not bad but not compelling enough for me to finish it.
February 20, 2021
What a sweet book. How would you feel if you lived in a household of winners but no matter how hard you tried you couldn’t win? That’s how Case feels, like he can’t live up to his sister Quinn’s shadow. His mom is an actress and not home often, and he just wants to please her. Until a stray dog he names Noah wanders into his life. Then, he finds success in a way he didn’t originally consider.
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October 10, 2019This book is a really good book and I like the book because it has a golden retriver in the book and I love dogs . I liked the parts of the race and when he finds the dog.
February 19, 2025
The best book ever i love it Thanks to Nancy Ruth Patterson
March 2, 2009
YES for our library.
A near-perfect read! I was very put-off by the cover of the book. The cartoon picture of a boy and his dog screams easy ready, but this book had a great story with characters we can care about and circumstances not necessarily common to children's stories.
In short, a boy struggles to find what he's good at. His mom is a reknowned singer. His father is a successful horse trainer. His sister seems to be perfect at everything she does. But our protagonist just can't seem to find something that works for him... until finding a stray, neglected dog with an uncanny ability to learn tricks.
Definitely a good pick!
A near-perfect read! I was very put-off by the cover of the book. The cartoon picture of a boy and his dog screams easy ready, but this book had a great story with characters we can care about and circumstances not necessarily common to children's stories.
In short, a boy struggles to find what he's good at. His mom is a reknowned singer. His father is a successful horse trainer. His sister seems to be perfect at everything she does. But our protagonist just can't seem to find something that works for him... until finding a stray, neglected dog with an uncanny ability to learn tricks.
Definitely a good pick!
November 9, 2022
Case is the only one in his family who has no special talent, but Case has plans to change that. He enters a talent show, a science fair, and a horse show, but fails to make a mark in any events. He is about to give up when he finds a dog, a remarkable dog, and the dog helps Case find his own special talents as a dog trainer as well as his special talent of sharing.
You might like this book you might not but I recommend this book
Recommended Book
You might like this book you might not but I recommend this book
Recommended Book
March 6, 2008
It's an easy read. The plot seemed a little contrived and jumped quickly forward in time which might be confusing to young children. Coming from a background in dog agility, the protagonist's ability to compete on a course with obstacles the dog has never had experience navigating and win first place may send the message that training a dog and being successful in dog agility is easy. The selflessness of the protagonist at the end is most likely why this book made it on the 2008-09 Texas Bluebonnet list.
June 17, 2008
Texas Bluebonnet for the '08-'09 school year. Case Callahan does not feel like he is a part of his talented family. His mother is a successful actress, his father is a champion horse trainer, and his sister is star swimmer. Although he tries real hard to find his talent including juggling at the school talent show and his efforts towards his science fair project, it's when he's not looking for his talent that he finally finds it. Case has a knack for training dogs.
February 9, 2008
Don't bother with this one, which reads like an early draft of a novel rather than a finished one. We never really find out much about any of the characters, and the plot takes a long time to get off the ground.
August 11, 2008
Good read aloud.
May 13, 2008
Texas Bluebonnet Nominee 2008-2009
October 10, 2008
This is one of the Virginia Reader's Choice books. I read it outloud to my class, and they LOVED it! We are using the VRC books for our book discussions on Blackboard!
October 19, 2008
I am a dog lover and this book was surely for me.
January 11, 2009
good book
February 17, 2009
I thought this was a pretty strong book with a male protagonist targeted at 3rd or 4th graders. Easy to recommend and may appeal to dog lovers espescially.
March 4, 2009
Bluebonnet book
May 18, 2011
This book really taught me a lot about guide dogs! :)
April 16, 2013
A sweet book about learning to do the right thing, even when it is hard. I can see why my boys love it!
May 7, 2013
fun
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 17, 2015This made 2nd grader cry.
January 29, 2016
I liked this book, and I have tried training a dog like Case did before.
September 28, 2016
My daughter and I enjoyed this book.
July 14, 2008
Even though Case loves his newfound dog, he realizes that giving is better than receiving.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews