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Trouper
A moving story of a three-legged stray dog who finds a loving boy to call his own--illustrated by Caldecott Honor Book artist E.B. Lewis. Based on a true story.
Trouper ran with a mob of mutts who tripped over trash cans and pawed the cold streets for bones. They howled and cried and wished for a home. Until one day, the dogs are captured from off the streets and put in cages in a shelter as they wait to be adopted. Trouper watches sadly as, one by one, each of his dog friends are chosen. He's the only one left until finally, one lucky day, just the right boy comes around and finds that this three-legged mutt is the perfect pet for him!
Trouper ran with a mob of mutts who tripped over trash cans and pawed the cold streets for bones. They howled and cried and wished for a home. Until one day, the dogs are captured from off the streets and put in cages in a shelter as they wait to be adopted. Trouper watches sadly as, one by one, each of his dog friends are chosen. He's the only one left until finally, one lucky day, just the right boy comes around and finds that this three-legged mutt is the perfect pet for him!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2013
1 person is currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Meg Kearney
16 books16 followersMeg Kearney (pronounced “car-nee”)
Meg Kearney’s most recent collection of poems for adults is All Morning the Crows, winner of the 2020 Washington Prize, which spent 7 months of 2021 on Small Press Distribution's poetry bestseller list. Her heroic crown of sonnets, The Ice Storm, was published as a chapbook by Green Linen Press in 2020. Her collection of poems Home By Now (Four Way Books 2009) was winner of the 2010 PEN New England LL Winship Award; it was also a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Prize and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year. The title poem of Home By Now is included in Garrison Keillor’s Good Poems: American Places anthology (Viking Penguin 2011). Meg’s first collection of poetry, An Unkindness of Ravens, was published by BOA Editions Ltd. in 2001.
Meg is also author of a trilogy of novels in verse for teens—all of which come with teacher’s guides: The Secret of Me (Persea Books, 2005); The Girl in the Mirror (Persea Books, 2012); and When You Never Said Goodbye (Persea Books, 2017). Her story “Chalk” appears in Sudden Flash Youth: 65 Short Short Stories (Persea Books 2011).
Meg’s first picture book, Trouper (the three-legged dog), was published by Scholastic in November 2013 and illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Winner of the 2015 Kentucky Bluegrass Award and the Missouri Association of School Librarians’ Show Me Readers Award (Grades 1 – 3), Trouper was selected as one of the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People of 2014; one of the most “Diverse and Impressive Picture Books of 2013” by the International Reading Association, and one of the 2013-14 season's best picture books by the Christian Science Monitor, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, and Bank Street College of Education. It was also a 2013 Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California Distinguished Book, and a Nominee for the 2014-2015 Alabama Camellia Children’s Choice Book Award (Grades 2-3).
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey chose Meg’s poem “Grackle” for the 2017 Best American Poetry anthology. Meg’s poetry has also been featured on Poetry Daily and Garrison Keillor’s “A Writer’s Almanac,” and has been published in such publications as Poetry, Agni, and The Kenyon Review. Her work also is featured in the anthologies Where Icarus Falls (Santa Barbara Review Publications, 1998), Urban Nature (Milkweed Press, 2000), Poets Grimm (Storyline Press, 2003), Never Before: Poems About First Experiences (Four Way Books, 2005), Shade (Four Way Books, 2006), The Book of Irish American Poetry from the Eighteenth Century to the Present (Notre Dame Press, 2006), Conversation Pieces: Poems That Talk to Other Poems (Knopf, Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets series, 2007); Sinatra: But Buddy, I’m a Kind of Poem (Entasis Press, 2008), The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review (Bellevue Literary Press, 2008), The Incredible Sestina Anthology (Write Bloody, 2013), and Double Kiss: Stories, Poems, & Essays on the Art of Billiards (Mammoth Books, 2017). Her nonfiction essay, “Hello, Mother, Goodbye,” appears The Movable Nest: A Mother/Daughter Companion (Helicon Nine Press in fall 2007). She is also co-editor of Blues for Bill: A Tribute to William Matthews (Akron University Press, 2005).
Meg is Founding Director of the Solstice Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. For eleven years prior to joining Pine Manor, she was Associate Director of the National Book Foundation (sponsor of the National Book Awards) in New York City. She also taught poetry at the New School University. Early in her career, she organized educational programs and conducted power plant tours for a gas & electric company in upstate New York.
In 2019, Marge Piercy chose Meg’s manuscript Bird for the Rochelle Ratner Memorial Award (a cash but not publication prize from Marsh Hawk Press). She is the recipient of an Individual Artist’s Fellowship from the New Hampshire Council on th
Meg Kearney’s most recent collection of poems for adults is All Morning the Crows, winner of the 2020 Washington Prize, which spent 7 months of 2021 on Small Press Distribution's poetry bestseller list. Her heroic crown of sonnets, The Ice Storm, was published as a chapbook by Green Linen Press in 2020. Her collection of poems Home By Now (Four Way Books 2009) was winner of the 2010 PEN New England LL Winship Award; it was also a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Prize and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year. The title poem of Home By Now is included in Garrison Keillor’s Good Poems: American Places anthology (Viking Penguin 2011). Meg’s first collection of poetry, An Unkindness of Ravens, was published by BOA Editions Ltd. in 2001.
Meg is also author of a trilogy of novels in verse for teens—all of which come with teacher’s guides: The Secret of Me (Persea Books, 2005); The Girl in the Mirror (Persea Books, 2012); and When You Never Said Goodbye (Persea Books, 2017). Her story “Chalk” appears in Sudden Flash Youth: 65 Short Short Stories (Persea Books 2011).
Meg’s first picture book, Trouper (the three-legged dog), was published by Scholastic in November 2013 and illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Winner of the 2015 Kentucky Bluegrass Award and the Missouri Association of School Librarians’ Show Me Readers Award (Grades 1 – 3), Trouper was selected as one of the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People of 2014; one of the most “Diverse and Impressive Picture Books of 2013” by the International Reading Association, and one of the 2013-14 season's best picture books by the Christian Science Monitor, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, and Bank Street College of Education. It was also a 2013 Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California Distinguished Book, and a Nominee for the 2014-2015 Alabama Camellia Children’s Choice Book Award (Grades 2-3).
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey chose Meg’s poem “Grackle” for the 2017 Best American Poetry anthology. Meg’s poetry has also been featured on Poetry Daily and Garrison Keillor’s “A Writer’s Almanac,” and has been published in such publications as Poetry, Agni, and The Kenyon Review. Her work also is featured in the anthologies Where Icarus Falls (Santa Barbara Review Publications, 1998), Urban Nature (Milkweed Press, 2000), Poets Grimm (Storyline Press, 2003), Never Before: Poems About First Experiences (Four Way Books, 2005), Shade (Four Way Books, 2006), The Book of Irish American Poetry from the Eighteenth Century to the Present (Notre Dame Press, 2006), Conversation Pieces: Poems That Talk to Other Poems (Knopf, Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets series, 2007); Sinatra: But Buddy, I’m a Kind of Poem (Entasis Press, 2008), The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review (Bellevue Literary Press, 2008), The Incredible Sestina Anthology (Write Bloody, 2013), and Double Kiss: Stories, Poems, & Essays on the Art of Billiards (Mammoth Books, 2017). Her nonfiction essay, “Hello, Mother, Goodbye,” appears The Movable Nest: A Mother/Daughter Companion (Helicon Nine Press in fall 2007). She is also co-editor of Blues for Bill: A Tribute to William Matthews (Akron University Press, 2005).
Meg is Founding Director of the Solstice Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. For eleven years prior to joining Pine Manor, she was Associate Director of the National Book Foundation (sponsor of the National Book Awards) in New York City. She also taught poetry at the New School University. Early in her career, she organized educational programs and conducted power plant tours for a gas & electric company in upstate New York.
In 2019, Marge Piercy chose Meg’s manuscript Bird for the Rochelle Ratner Memorial Award (a cash but not publication prize from Marsh Hawk Press). She is the recipient of an Individual Artist’s Fellowship from the New Hampshire Council on th
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 13, 2019
Trooper is a three legged dog who runs with a gang of mutts. One day they are lured into the back of a man's truck with a juicy steak. The dogs are taken to an animal shelter. There Trooper watches each of his friends get adopted, but not him.
This is a story inspired by the real Trooper. The illustrations are gorgeous and remind me of paintings. The text is written in small paragraphs or a lone sentence. This story is even more meaningful knowing this book was inspired by the author's own dog. Trooper will appeal to dog lovers in grades kindergarten and up, or perhaps inspire readers to consider adopting special needs animals.
This is a story inspired by the real Trooper. The illustrations are gorgeous and remind me of paintings. The text is written in small paragraphs or a lone sentence. This story is even more meaningful knowing this book was inspired by the author's own dog. Trooper will appeal to dog lovers in grades kindergarten and up, or perhaps inspire readers to consider adopting special needs animals.
August 24, 2013
If this book does not make you want to run out to a shelter and adopt a dog, I don't know what will.
October 2, 2013
What a lovely story of animal adoption. Tugs at the heartstrings in all the right places and the watercolor paintings are just lovely.
February 18, 2014
This reminds me of the day I got my Charlie. Sometimes pets do the choosing, not people.
I love that this is based on a real Trouper and that it is from his point-of-view. Makes the ending much more special.
I love that this is based on a real Trouper and that it is from his point-of-view. Makes the ending much more special.
January 31, 2014
A story from a dog's point of view, running with a pack of strays, getting caught by a dogcatcher, and finally adopted. The dog just happens to have 3 legs.
January 31, 2014
I dare you not to cry.
But, there's a happy ending. Very powerful and moving. E. B. Lewis is the perfect illustrator for this subject.
But, there's a happy ending. Very powerful and moving. E. B. Lewis is the perfect illustrator for this subject.
October 13, 2013
This picture book captures perfectly the longing many stray dogs experience for a home and someone to love. Trouper is part of a large dog pack of various sizes and breeds. They cause all sorts of messes as they search for food, and they endure cruelty from others. When a dogcatcher lures them into his truck, they end up at a shelter. All of them are adopted except three-legged Trouper who describes how his heart "was a cold, starless night" (unpaged) once his friends have left. Luckily for him, though, a tender-hearted boy adopts him and brings him home. The bond between the two is clear in the final illustrations. The text is filled with beautiful language that pays tribute to a brave dog and a boy who sees beneath the surface into that dog's spirit, while the watercolor illustrations capture perfectly the dog's anxiety, loneliness, and joy at having found someone "who liked the way I lean on those I love" (unpaged). Not only will this book inspire some to add a dog to their family, but it may covert a few feline lovers into canine aficionados. This is a wonderful book for sharing aloud and evoking a sense of compassion in others.
December 10, 2013
What I found so interesting about Trouper is that it didn't beat you over the head with the fact that he was a three-legged dog. In fact, it took a few minutes for me to process that he was missing a leg because the illustrations and text are not obvious. If you don't read the inside flap synopsis (which I admittedly did not at first), there's a lot of inferencing going on, especially when you get to the last page.
December 10, 2013
Trouper, a three-legged dog, uses poetic language to describe his journey from the streets to a shelter to a forever-home. Vivid imagery and expressive watercolor illustrations bring Trouper's plight to life. This heartfelt and affecting tale, propelled by unexpected hope and an irresistible narrator, will resonate with dog-lovers of all ages.
February 15, 2015
A beautiful picture book about the emotional bonds of animals: first of the dogs bond to each other in a pack before being caught by animal control then to the owner who adopts Trouper. While Trouper is missing a keg that us not mentioned in the text but us shown throughout the illustrations.
December 15, 2013
Based upon a true story, this book speaks to dog adoption and finding the right person for the right dog, even a dog with only three legs. The artwork is so detailed it almost looks photographic.\
My full review: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
My full review: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
December 23, 2013
Wonderful picture book for any readers, but especially anyone with a dog.
Read the whole review at: Trouper
Read the whole review at: Trouper
February 3, 2014
In this heart warming story, Trouper, the stray dog, tells his story. From running with a pack of mutts, being abused by bully boys, being taken to a shelter, and finally, being adopted by a loving boy, Trouper's story will have you visiting a shelter to adopt your own dog in need!
October 22, 2013
A lovely story of friendship based on a true story and with realistic illustrations.
July 22, 2016
This one got me. I cried! Every kid (and adult!) who reads this is going to want to adopt a pet from the local shelter pronto!
November 24, 2013
Based on a true rescue story, Trouper is the story of a dog who finds his forever home. It is sweet and sad, but has a happy ending. Dog lovers will enjoy this story.
November 26, 2013
"Trouper, a three-legged dog, remembers his life as a stray, before he was adopted."
Such a sweet, sweet story.
Such a sweet, sweet story.
December 20, 2013
Wonderful kids story about dog rescue.
January 6, 2014
A touching and powerful book.
January 30, 2014
A very touching, heart-warming story, with lovely watercolors which complement the story beautifully.
February 25, 2014
Ever since we adopted our "trouper" similar stories tug at my heartstrings. Lovely story and even more beautiful illustrations by E. B. Lewis.
August 22, 2014
The illustrations are lovely and I really liked how the story was told from the dog's perspective. My eyes welled up as they always do when I read these based-on-true-stories about dogs!
August 11, 2015
This book is so sweet! I love a good dog adoption story. :) (If I had lots of money, I would buy a big chunk of land and save all the pups I could!!)
February 10, 2016
gorgeous art, with a story that tugs at the heart of anyone who has adopted the dog that no one wanted.
January 19, 2024
A children’s book that absolutely tugged at my heart strings
March 12, 2014
We meet Trouper, a black lab, who runs with a pack of dogs in a run down part of a city. It’s a hard life and things get worse when animal control lures the hungry dogs into the van. The dogs are taken to an animal shelter and separated into cages. At his lowest point, it seems as though Trouper is not going to be adopted. The story takes a heart warming turn as Trouper finds a little boy to love him. Trouper has a warm bed, food and a caring owner who runs with him.
This book makes you want to go rescue a dog. Readers will fall in love with the 3 legged Trouper and be thankful for the new life he has. On the streets, Trouper faced mean boys who threw rocks at him and didn’t know what it felt like to be loved.
The artistic quality of this book is outstanding. The emotions conveyed through the shadows of light and dark are very powerful. The love that Trouper feels for the boy who rescued him comes through in the words and art. It’s really very well done. The shelter is shown in a positive light. Given that this book is for younger readers, that is probably for the best. I like that it is based on a true story. The author let the illustrator use her rescue dog to portray Trouper in the book. Young readers tend to be drawn to books about dogs and this would be a great addition to an elementary school library. It would make for a good read aloud or a silent reading choice. It would be perfect for a dog book display or to share with students who want to learn about animal shelters.
This book makes you want to go rescue a dog. Readers will fall in love with the 3 legged Trouper and be thankful for the new life he has. On the streets, Trouper faced mean boys who threw rocks at him and didn’t know what it felt like to be loved.
The artistic quality of this book is outstanding. The emotions conveyed through the shadows of light and dark are very powerful. The love that Trouper feels for the boy who rescued him comes through in the words and art. It’s really very well done. The shelter is shown in a positive light. Given that this book is for younger readers, that is probably for the best. I like that it is based on a true story. The author let the illustrator use her rescue dog to portray Trouper in the book. Young readers tend to be drawn to books about dogs and this would be a great addition to an elementary school library. It would make for a good read aloud or a silent reading choice. It would be perfect for a dog book display or to share with students who want to learn about animal shelters.
April 24, 2015
Laura Mueller
April 18, 2015
EDL53500 Library Materials for Children and Youth
Title: Trouper
Author: Meg Kearney
Plot: This story begins with a dog running loose with a bunch of other mutts, looking for food and being treated poorly by neighborhood kids. Then, the dog is lured into a van by a man holding a steak. The dog was rescued and taken into a shelter. He starts feeling sad when all the other animals are being adopted except for him. Then, a boy comes in and likes him right away. He is finally adopted and someone has accepts him. Then they play in the snow together leaving 5 footprints in the snow.
Setting: cold streets, shelter
Characters: Trouper, owner, stray dogs
Point-of-View: first person
Themes: love, acceptance, adoption
Style: The story is written from the dog's point of view so he is having a flash back to before he was adopted and reflecting on his journey.
Copyright: 2013
Reflection: I love this story because of the water color illustrations! I also love the emotions that come from reading this book. It's sweet when the dog says he thought all boys were mean but now he knows that's not true because his new owner is nice. It's a tear jerker!!
April 18, 2015
EDL53500 Library Materials for Children and Youth
Title: Trouper
Author: Meg Kearney
Plot: This story begins with a dog running loose with a bunch of other mutts, looking for food and being treated poorly by neighborhood kids. Then, the dog is lured into a van by a man holding a steak. The dog was rescued and taken into a shelter. He starts feeling sad when all the other animals are being adopted except for him. Then, a boy comes in and likes him right away. He is finally adopted and someone has accepts him. Then they play in the snow together leaving 5 footprints in the snow.
Setting: cold streets, shelter
Characters: Trouper, owner, stray dogs
Point-of-View: first person
Themes: love, acceptance, adoption
Style: The story is written from the dog's point of view so he is having a flash back to before he was adopted and reflecting on his journey.
Copyright: 2013
Reflection: I love this story because of the water color illustrations! I also love the emotions that come from reading this book. It's sweet when the dog says he thought all boys were mean but now he knows that's not true because his new owner is nice. It's a tear jerker!!
November 13, 2014
Target Audience: K-3
Summary:
Trouper is a book about a dog that is missing one leg. He travels with a group of mutts and has no home of his own. As Trouper travels, he sees how mean people can be. Children threw rocks at him and called him names. Eventually the mutts are all captured and put into an adoption home. All of his friends are adopted except for Trouper. Will Trouper find a boy who loves him, even with one leg? Or will Trouper live out the rest of his days stuck in his cage?
Activity: Teacher should read the book out loud until the point where Trouper's friends are adopted. Students will write 2-3 paragraphs predicting what will happen to Trouper and how he will view humans after being captured. Students will share their endings in small groups and come to a united conclusion.
Kearney, M., & Lewis, E. (2013). Trouper. New York: Scholastic Press.
Summary:
Trouper is a book about a dog that is missing one leg. He travels with a group of mutts and has no home of his own. As Trouper travels, he sees how mean people can be. Children threw rocks at him and called him names. Eventually the mutts are all captured and put into an adoption home. All of his friends are adopted except for Trouper. Will Trouper find a boy who loves him, even with one leg? Or will Trouper live out the rest of his days stuck in his cage?
Activity: Teacher should read the book out loud until the point where Trouper's friends are adopted. Students will write 2-3 paragraphs predicting what will happen to Trouper and how he will view humans after being captured. Students will share their endings in small groups and come to a united conclusion.
Kearney, M., & Lewis, E. (2013). Trouper. New York: Scholastic Press.
December 24, 2015
I was a bit disappointed to read the review of this book listed here on Good Reads, because I think the beauty of this book, is the revelation of Trouper's difficulty. It is a beautiful story, and when I first heard it, I was amazed that I did not "catch on" until the very end.
Although based on a true rescue story, Trouper is told in first person, by the dog. We learn that Trouper ran with a mob of mutts until one day when a dogcatcher catches them all. One by one, Trouper watches as all of his friends are adopted, until he alone is left, his heart "a cold, starless night," until... yes, a special day comes.
Although based on a true rescue story, Trouper is told in first person, by the dog. We learn that Trouper ran with a mob of mutts until one day when a dogcatcher catches them all. One by one, Trouper watches as all of his friends are adopted, until he alone is left, his heart "a cold, starless night," until... yes, a special day comes.
January 30, 2017
I picked this up from the library because I saw it recommended by Lester Laminack on a FB thread about requesting ideas for picture books to teach point of view. Sweet story about a dog who is adopted. It isn't until the last page that I realized he was a 3-legged dog. I loved how that was fully revealed. E.B. Lewis's illustrations are, of course, beautiful and emotional.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews