Stray

by Cale Atkinson

Genres: Picture Books

48 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Cale Atkinson is an illustrator/writer/animator currently residing in Kelowna Canada.
Believing in tea more than sleep, Cale is constantly working on numerous projects. His work can be found in children’s books, animated shorts, television, and games.

Publishers Cale has worked with include Disney Hyperion, Tundra, Simon and Schuster, Doubleday, KidsCan Press, Owl Books, Grosset & Dunlap, GreyStone, Scholastic, Pearson, and Marvel.

Reviews

[Aliceson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really sweet, adorable book about stray dogs. It tells about why this dog likes being a stray and why he doesn’t like being a stray. The author does a very good job of expressing the dog’s feelings. The pictures are detailed and give some good talking points for children (why do you think the dog would avoid the vacuum store?) The dog is very cute and lovable looking. The use of both dark and light colors invoke emotion. The only thing I’m concerned about is if children can understand the level of emotion that the dog expresses. I would say this is for older readers or would need a lot of building background knowledge and discussion about animals shelters, abandonment, etc.

Recommend for grades 2-4, for dog lovers.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somber story about finding a home—the place you belong, where you are safe. The images are artistic and capture the mood perfectly. This book is about a homeless dog. Sensitive readers might have issues with this.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully illustrated, for the avoidant attachment kiddos