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Andy: A Dog's Tale
Adapted from the award-winning short film of the same name, this heartwarming picture book follows the journey of a determined puppy who overcomes adversity to discover his purpose as a service dog.
Meet Andy––the smallest of his litter––who first captured hearts and minds in the original short film, brought to life by Ignite Animation Studios through the support of Executive Producer Jean Schulz, a Canine Companions board member and president of Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates.
Now Andy’s inspiring story leaps off the screen and onto the page in this uplifting retelling by John Kelly, a contributor to the original film script. Follow along as Andy encounters challenges on his path, mirroring the real-life dedication and training that goes into preparing service dogs and matching them with their forever homes.
With its universal themes of resilience, compassion, and the power of purpose, Andy’s story will resonate with dog-lovers, families, and people of all abilities. This touching tale reminds us that unlikely heroes often come from small beginnings, proving that what truly matters is the size of your heart.
Meet Andy––the smallest of his litter––who first captured hearts and minds in the original short film, brought to life by Ignite Animation Studios through the support of Executive Producer Jean Schulz, a Canine Companions board member and president of Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates.
Now Andy’s inspiring story leaps off the screen and onto the page in this uplifting retelling by John Kelly, a contributor to the original film script. Follow along as Andy encounters challenges on his path, mirroring the real-life dedication and training that goes into preparing service dogs and matching them with their forever homes.
With its universal themes of resilience, compassion, and the power of purpose, Andy’s story will resonate with dog-lovers, families, and people of all abilities. This touching tale reminds us that unlikely heroes often come from small beginnings, proving that what truly matters is the size of your heart.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2025
About the author
John Kelly
416 books9 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 28, 2025
I didn't realize that this was an adaptation of a short movie, but it makes sense re: the artwork. That doesn't diminish my enjoyment of the book and increases it actually, to have this in a book and movie format is double the joy!
This was so sweet, but also serious. It's about a puppy being trained to be a work dog, a serious job where the dog can be responsible for saving their human's life if they need their medicine quickly for example. I like how the story was told from the dog's POV and how he had a realistic cause for a fear that he had to overcome to help his human.
This would be a great book for any kiddo who has questions about working dogs and great for any budding animal lovers out there.
5, this was so cute and sweet and informative without being preachy I definitely recommend it, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This was so sweet, but also serious. It's about a puppy being trained to be a work dog, a serious job where the dog can be responsible for saving their human's life if they need their medicine quickly for example. I like how the story was told from the dog's POV and how he had a realistic cause for a fear that he had to overcome to help his human.
This would be a great book for any kiddo who has questions about working dogs and great for any budding animal lovers out there.
5, this was so cute and sweet and informative without being preachy I definitely recommend it, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
This is an amazing book about Andy, who is trained to become a service dog. The story is so cute and heartwarming, and the illustrations are amazing. I would definitely recommend it. Not just yo those children who need service dogs, but to everyone. It's important for all kids to learn how to interact with these animals, that they know not to try to pet them (not that they should be petting strange dogs anyway).
This is an amazing book about Andy, who is trained to become a service dog. The story is so cute and heartwarming, and the illustrations are amazing. I would definitely recommend it. Not just yo those children who need service dogs, but to everyone. It's important for all kids to learn how to interact with these animals, that they know not to try to pet them (not that they should be petting strange dogs anyway).
August 14, 2025
Recommend-O-Meter: Yes!
I’ve always been fascinated by the abilities of service dogs in their line of work, which made reading this book an absolute treat! Andy’s growth is portrayed very well, and my heart ached for him during his tough moments. Overall, I really love how informative the story is while still maintaining a good plot and loveable characters. Plus, being about a service dog means that it also showcases people with disabilities for young kids, which is always a plus for me.
I’d never watched the film this book was based on, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone. Super heartwarming and absolutely a great find for kids!
[I received an ARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]
I’ve always been fascinated by the abilities of service dogs in their line of work, which made reading this book an absolute treat! Andy’s growth is portrayed very well, and my heart ached for him during his tough moments. Overall, I really love how informative the story is while still maintaining a good plot and loveable characters. Plus, being about a service dog means that it also showcases people with disabilities for young kids, which is always a plus for me.
I’d never watched the film this book was based on, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone. Super heartwarming and absolutely a great find for kids!
[I received an ARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]
September 28, 2025
Andy is an adorable children’s book that tells the heartwarming story of a dog who starts out as the runt of the litter and learns to overcome both his size and his fears. It’s a sweet, encouraging story for young readers with a great message about resilience and courage. The only drawback for me was that on a few pages, the text was difficult to read because it blended into the darker background. Overall, though, it’s a charming book with a lovable main character.
August 6, 2025
Support dogs rock!
I've known a few, so I was immediately attracted to the book. Well, the adorable face on the cover didn't hurt. Andy is an inspiration to us all to work hard to overcome our fears and do what we were always meant to do. In Andy's case, overcome being injured by a bicycle running over his tail....ouch!..... and then learning to serve a wheelchair bound human. It isn't easy but he does it.
The illustrations are beautiful, almost lifelike at times, and show Andy's expressions well. The smallest of his litter, he already faced rejection due to size but support dogs come in all breeds and sizes. Kudos to the author and others for highlighting the contributions of our furry friends to those in need. There's a section at the end that details their contributions and those who work with them to make them a success. I understand there's a film although, alas, I have no info on it.
Bottom line, it's a sweet, powerful story. Readers unfamiliar with service dogs will emerge with a better understanding of not just the role service dogs play but how hard they (and their humans) work to make it all work. I'm not quite sure dogs dream of being heroes but they do strive to please us, so maybe that is the same thing in their minds. Thanks to #TheCollectiveBookStudio and #NetGalley for allowing me this early peek at this adorable story. I wanted somehow to reach through the page and scratch Andy's ears (with his human's permission, of course) and tell him what a wonderfully good dog he is.
I've known a few, so I was immediately attracted to the book. Well, the adorable face on the cover didn't hurt. Andy is an inspiration to us all to work hard to overcome our fears and do what we were always meant to do. In Andy's case, overcome being injured by a bicycle running over his tail....ouch!..... and then learning to serve a wheelchair bound human. It isn't easy but he does it.
The illustrations are beautiful, almost lifelike at times, and show Andy's expressions well. The smallest of his litter, he already faced rejection due to size but support dogs come in all breeds and sizes. Kudos to the author and others for highlighting the contributions of our furry friends to those in need. There's a section at the end that details their contributions and those who work with them to make them a success. I understand there's a film although, alas, I have no info on it.
Bottom line, it's a sweet, powerful story. Readers unfamiliar with service dogs will emerge with a better understanding of not just the role service dogs play but how hard they (and their humans) work to make it all work. I'm not quite sure dogs dream of being heroes but they do strive to please us, so maybe that is the same thing in their minds. Thanks to #TheCollectiveBookStudio and #NetGalley for allowing me this early peek at this adorable story. I wanted somehow to reach through the page and scratch Andy's ears (with his human's permission, of course) and tell him what a wonderfully good dog he is.
July 17, 2025
Andy: A Dog's Tale, by John Kelly, is a touching story about a service dog's journey from runt to hero. The topic (understanding service dogs and their training) is a noble one, and the storyline is engaging. I'm glad to see stories that help children become familiar with the role that service dogs play in our world. The illustrations are cute, and Andy is a lovable hero.
The writing style was a mix between simplistic vocabulary for younger kids and longer passages for 2-3rd graders. I found this off-putting. The illustrations and focus on Andy's journey to become a service dog felt like it is geared toward preschool - 1st grade. But the longer passages are aimed at the attention level of 1-3rd grade. I think 3rd graders would find this story too young for them.
In the end, Andy: A Dog's Tale is a noble undertaking, but much like the pup Andy, it needs more work.
This review is given for an ARC from netgally.
The writing style was a mix between simplistic vocabulary for younger kids and longer passages for 2-3rd graders. I found this off-putting. The illustrations and focus on Andy's journey to become a service dog felt like it is geared toward preschool - 1st grade. But the longer passages are aimed at the attention level of 1-3rd grade. I think 3rd graders would find this story too young for them.
In the end, Andy: A Dog's Tale is a noble undertaking, but much like the pup Andy, it needs more work.
This review is given for an ARC from netgally.
October 7, 2025
A decent picture book made from stills of an animated fund-raising short film (easily found on utube). Andy is a puppy destined to be a young hero – a dog that cares for humans in special ways, due to his special abilities. But when he's finally chosen for that career path, a bad accident gives him reason to dislike being near wheels. And lo and behold, his job is to be a service dog to a girl in a wheelchair…
The film gets by with being voiceless, but here we get a moderately wordy report of the story from the dog's canine mother, but one that nicely takes us through the timelapse of Andy growing up and having his training montage. The girl's arrival is rather late in the piece to have been part of my plot summary, but it is key – (a) because the rest of the piece is all that precedes this one point, and (b) it's a bit daft that his fear of wheels hadn't come across to any of his trainers before then.
Still, this is a pleasant read for sure – happily conveying its 'we're all heroes if we but try', pro-bravery storyline, and being a nice introduction to service dogs, whether we're destined to need one or not. The visuals here are as bold and vivid as the CGI cartooning in the short, and come across well. They'd make a fine pairing, but either would stand alone, and this read stands alone as a strong four stars.
The film gets by with being voiceless, but here we get a moderately wordy report of the story from the dog's canine mother, but one that nicely takes us through the timelapse of Andy growing up and having his training montage. The girl's arrival is rather late in the piece to have been part of my plot summary, but it is key – (a) because the rest of the piece is all that precedes this one point, and (b) it's a bit daft that his fear of wheels hadn't come across to any of his trainers before then.
Still, this is a pleasant read for sure – happily conveying its 'we're all heroes if we but try', pro-bravery storyline, and being a nice introduction to service dogs, whether we're destined to need one or not. The visuals here are as bold and vivid as the CGI cartooning in the short, and come across well. They'd make a fine pairing, but either would stand alone, and this read stands alone as a strong four stars.
July 4, 2025
Andy — A Dog’s Tale is a heartwarming picture book based on the original short film from Ignite Animation Studios. Andy, the tiniest pup of his litter, takes center stage as he begins his journey through training and challenges, highlighting the real-life work of service dogs and the special bonds they form. Written by John Kelly, the story shines a light on the dedication behind preparing these dogs for their important role.
As a lifelong Labrador Retriever owner and dog lover, I jumped at the chance to read this story. The illustrations are crisp, detailed, and absolutely adorable—Andy’s expressions are full of charm and personality. The book beautifully shows how Andy overcomes his fears and chooses to do what he was trained to do. I also really appreciated the informative epilogue, which offers great insight into the impact service dogs have and the people they support. It’s a wonderful way to help children better understand and appreciate those who may be differently abled. Five stars.
As a lifelong Labrador Retriever owner and dog lover, I jumped at the chance to read this story. The illustrations are crisp, detailed, and absolutely adorable—Andy’s expressions are full of charm and personality. The book beautifully shows how Andy overcomes his fears and chooses to do what he was trained to do. I also really appreciated the informative epilogue, which offers great insight into the impact service dogs have and the people they support. It’s a wonderful way to help children better understand and appreciate those who may be differently abled. Five stars.
July 4, 2025
Andy: A Dog’s Tail - John Kelly
Cute front cover! 😍 The book is beautifully illustrated with lots of love and emotion. Why have I not seen or heard of the film? 🤔 I wouldn’t mind seeing it sometime.
“Andy’s journey reflects the heart of what service dogs do - proving independence, companionship and love. Canine companions has placed thousands of these incredible dogs with people who need them most, and this book beautifully brings that mission to young readers.” - Indeed it does, it’s a short story but it’s powerful in emotion and kindness. 🐶
I love dogs, I miss having a pet dog around the place but I have 2 cats to fill our small home with more than enough mischief between them. 🐈⬛ 🐈⬛
Cute front cover! 😍 The book is beautifully illustrated with lots of love and emotion. Why have I not seen or heard of the film? 🤔 I wouldn’t mind seeing it sometime.
“Andy’s journey reflects the heart of what service dogs do - proving independence, companionship and love. Canine companions has placed thousands of these incredible dogs with people who need them most, and this book beautifully brings that mission to young readers.” - Indeed it does, it’s a short story but it’s powerful in emotion and kindness. 🐶
I love dogs, I miss having a pet dog around the place but I have 2 cats to fill our small home with more than enough mischief between them. 🐈⬛ 🐈⬛
July 5, 2025
A Mummy and Me review.
For reference my little one is 4.
A - I really loved this story mummy. Andy really helped Olivia and made her ok again. I liked seeing the real people behind the story to mummy. It was very nice and like our doggy. I love the pictures, but its sad when Andy was sad tho.
Mummy's thoughts - This is a really powerful story and shows several elements behind just how much of an impact service dogs can have for disabled.
No matter how small you are, you can have the biggest impact in the world and overcoming your fears makes you the strongest of persons/service dogs.
Overall I love the fact that this brings light and Infomation on a subject thats not overly talked about enough.
For reference my little one is 4.
A - I really loved this story mummy. Andy really helped Olivia and made her ok again. I liked seeing the real people behind the story to mummy. It was very nice and like our doggy. I love the pictures, but its sad when Andy was sad tho.
Mummy's thoughts - This is a really powerful story and shows several elements behind just how much of an impact service dogs can have for disabled.
No matter how small you are, you can have the biggest impact in the world and overcoming your fears makes you the strongest of persons/service dogs.
Overall I love the fact that this brings light and Infomation on a subject thats not overly talked about enough.
August 4, 2025
A Mummy and Me review.
For reference my little one is 4.
A - I really loved this story mummy. Andy really helped Olivia and made her ok again. I liked seeing the real people behind the story to mummy. It was very nice and like our doggy. I love the pictures, but its sad when Andy was sad tho.
Mummy's thoughts - This is a really powerful story and shows several elements behind just how much of an impact service dogs can have for disabled.
No matter how small you are, you can have the biggest impact in the world and overcoming your fears makes you the strongest of persons/service dogs.
Overall I love the fact that this brings light and Infomation on a subject thats not overly talked about enough.
For reference my little one is 4.
A - I really loved this story mummy. Andy really helped Olivia and made her ok again. I liked seeing the real people behind the story to mummy. It was very nice and like our doggy. I love the pictures, but its sad when Andy was sad tho.
Mummy's thoughts - This is a really powerful story and shows several elements behind just how much of an impact service dogs can have for disabled.
No matter how small you are, you can have the biggest impact in the world and overcoming your fears makes you the strongest of persons/service dogs.
Overall I love the fact that this brings light and Infomation on a subject thats not overly talked about enough.
August 13, 2025
Andy is the only pup left out of the litter, he’s such a sweet pup, trying to find his place in life.
This story was so beautiful! I definitely think this is a great way to educate kids about service animals, inhaler, &
people who are different than them.
I enjoyed seeing Andy overcome his fears and find his way in being a hero. The illustration was AMAZING.
I was thinking, I don’t know what age this is towards, you just wanna make sure this can hold their attention span, because it does have lengthy sentences.
Thank you NetGalley & John Kelly for giving me the opportunity to read this story.
This story was so beautiful! I definitely think this is a great way to educate kids about service animals, inhaler, &
people who are different than them.
I enjoyed seeing Andy overcome his fears and find his way in being a hero. The illustration was AMAZING.
I was thinking, I don’t know what age this is towards, you just wanna make sure this can hold their attention span, because it does have lengthy sentences.
Thank you NetGalley & John Kelly for giving me the opportunity to read this story.
October 30, 2025
Andy by John Kelly is a truly remarkable children's picture book about a truly remarkable puppy named Andy. Andy begins his days as the smallest puppy of his litter, but eventually grows up and enters Service Dog Academy. Andy is appointed a trainer and learns basic commands like how to pull open drawer and pick up items. However, the fact that the person who Andy is paired with requires the assistance of a wheelchair frightens Andy initially. When this brave and determined young girl drops her inhaler and enters a moment of crisis, Andy's loyalty and training is put to the test. Young readers will adore learning all about this brave young puppy and his compassion of everyone around him.
July 7, 2025
Andy: A Dog’s Tale is a sweet and engaging story that follows the adventures of a lovable dog with a big heart. My dog-loving 5-year-old thought it was such a cute book and was completely drawn in by Andy’s journey. The story has just the right mix of fun and heart, and the adorable illustrations made it even more special. While it gives a gentle introduction to the idea of service dogs, it’s more of a delightful tale than an educational one—which made it perfect for bedtime reading. A great pick for young readers who adore dogs and stories with kindness and courage at their core.
July 8, 2025
Andy: A Dog's Tale is a charming book that features Andy, the last of his litter of service dogs. Told through the eyes of his mother, Andy faces several adversaries on his way to becoming a heroic service dog. While Andy excels in training, a past accident has left him hesitant to assist his new handler, who uses a wheelchair, until he heroically overcomes his fear to save her.
We are a dog-loving household, so of course I was going to love this book! It has a wonderful message and will be an excellent addition to any child's library!
We are a dog-loving household, so of course I was going to love this book! It has a wonderful message and will be an excellent addition to any child's library!
September 18, 2025
This story follows a pup named Andy. From his childhood dreams, to an accident, training to become a hero and overcoming obstacles along the way. This really was a fantastic book!
Andy dreamed of becoming a hero like the other dogs he admired. What kind of hero you ask? A service dog, of course! In addition to highlighting service animals, this book also features children with disabilities. It was very heartwarming to read.
I will recommend this book time and time again.
*the arc was definitely not formatted for my phone screen. I had to zoom in quite a bit to read the pages.
Andy dreamed of becoming a hero like the other dogs he admired. What kind of hero you ask? A service dog, of course! In addition to highlighting service animals, this book also features children with disabilities. It was very heartwarming to read.
I will recommend this book time and time again.
*the arc was definitely not formatted for my phone screen. I had to zoom in quite a bit to read the pages.
October 15, 2025
This book is so precious. My four year old and I read it and he was so curious the entire time. He stopped and pointed at different things and asked about what was going on.
The illustrations are so sweet and adorable. The story line teaches about overcoming your fear as Andy has to step up to be a hero. Even my eleven year old was thrilled to see the photos of real Andy in the back of the book and learn more about the wonderful work of Canine Companions.
The illustrations are so sweet and adorable. The story line teaches about overcoming your fear as Andy has to step up to be a hero. Even my eleven year old was thrilled to see the photos of real Andy in the back of the book and learn more about the wonderful work of Canine Companions.
April 12, 2025
*I received this book as a DRC. WOW! I LOVE this book! It made me tear up due to the powerful lesson and its sheer relatability to the reader. Andy is the smallest puppy in his litter, and he wants to be a hero. This book shares the journey of this sweet little dog who learns how to be brave. Readers of all ages can learn from his perseverance on his journey to become a Canine Companion.
July 8, 2025
This was a heart warming story about a Dog Named Andy who is trained to be a service dog. The pictures tell a great story along with the words on the page and would be intriguing for any adult to read to a kid.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for allowing me the option to read this before publication and give my honest Review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for allowing me the option to read this before publication and give my honest Review.
July 5, 2025
#42 - 2025
Andy's story shows how service dogs are raised and trained. The story is very warm and touching. The illustrations are very beautiful. Thank you NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for providing this very meaningful book for me to read.
Andy's story shows how service dogs are raised and trained. The story is very warm and touching. The illustrations are very beautiful. Thank you NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for providing this very meaningful book for me to read.
July 13, 2025
Andy is that loyal pup who takes you on a journey full of friendship, courage, and finding his place in the world. His story reminds you that even the smallest paws can make the biggest impact. Such a sweet read for kids and dog lovers.
September 12, 2025
I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.
Andy is a lovely story about a service dog and the training they go through to become fully certified. It's full of love and warmth! With stills from the movie to complete the story.
Andy is a lovely story about a service dog and the training they go through to become fully certified. It's full of love and warmth! With stills from the movie to complete the story.
December 22, 2025
This was a heartwarming story! Andy was so adorable! Puppies make everything better. I was a little confused about what age group this would be suited for. I read it with my 4 year old. She loved the pictures but there were some longer paragraphs. A great way to teach kids about service animals.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews