Stray

by Cale Atkinson

A gorgeous and heartwarming picture book about a stray dog's journey to his forever home, for fans of Where Oliver Fits and Marc Simont's Caldecott-winning The Stray Dog.

There are lots of perks to being a stray.

No collar to restrain you, no leash to control you, no fence to contain you. You don't have to sit, roll over or shake a paw — you do what you want.

You're free, and all the good smells and dropped snacks of the city are yours for the taking.  

Being a stray can be lonely, though. And cold. There's no one to play fetch with.

Maybe a home wouldn't be so bad . . . 

This touching story explores the meaning of home, love and trust through the eyes of a plucky street dog whose wild life eventually leads him into the caring arms of a new best friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Pets, Animals, Dogs

48 pages, Hardcover

Published 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

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Heart.

I'm not sure the last time a children's book made me cry, but today, this one made me bawl my eyes out [even as I am typing this, I am once again crying. This book is very, very powerful with its message that everyone can understand].

There is so much going on in this story - abandonment, trust, loneliness, hunger, wanting - all seen through the lens of a stray pup who, though he doesn't realize it, is just looking for a home and love.

This is an absolutely beautiful book that everyone should be reading. We have all been where this pup has been in one shape or another, and this book serves as a reminder that it costs nothing to be kind [to humans AND animals alike - so many do NOT choose to be homeless], to show love, and to be a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cale Atkinson, and Tundra Book Group/Tundra Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mya Joan Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this one with my 5-year-old son made it so much more special than I expected. We both really enjoyed following this little stray dog and his journey through the city. There was something so sweet about seeing the world through his eyes—having the freedom to wander wherever he wanted, finding dropped snacks and interesting smells, and not having anyone telling him what to do. But underneath all that freedom was a loneliness that really came through.

My son had SO many questions while we were reading, and honestly, I loved that. Instead of rushing through the story, we took our time talking about his questions and trying to come up with our own answers. We talked about what it would be like to be a stray, why a dog might want a home even if being free sounds fun, what makes somewhere feel like home, and what it means to trust someone. It turned into one of those reading experiences where the story continued even after we closed the book because we were still talking about it.

I especially loved the way the story explores home, love, friendship, and trust without making the message feel overly complicated. The idea that being free doesn't necessarily mean you aren't lonely really stood out to me. Sometimes having someone who cares about you, somewhere warm to sleep, and a person you can trust can mean so much more than simply having no rules.

And of course, the illustrations were absolutely adorable. My son loved looking at the dog and following along with everything happening around him, and I loved watching his little reactions as we read.

This was such a touching story, but for me, the best part was getting to experience it with my son. I love books that give us something to enjoy together while also opening the door to bigger conversations, and this one did exactly that. It was sweet, thoughtful, and surprisingly emotional, and it gave us plenty to talk about.

A beautiful little story about finding out that sometimes home isn't about a place—it's about the love and trust you find there. Definitely a 5-star read for both of us!

[LearningWhereWeRoam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet and touching story. I really liked seeing the world through the stray dog's eyes and how he starts out enjoying his freedom but slowly realizes that being on his own can also be lonely and hard.

The story does a lovely job of showing what home really means. It’s not just a place to sleep, but having someone who cares about you, makes you feel safe, and gives you a reason to trust again.

The illustrations are beautiful and really bring the dog's personality to life. There were definitely a few moments that pulled at my heartstrings, especially as his journey leads him toward finding someone to call his own.

A lovely read for kids and animal lovers, with a simple message about love, trust, and finding where you belong.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stray dog tells the reader all the reasons why he enjoys being a stray, and then he touches on some of the harder parts of his life. In the end, he finds a new, loving home. Although the plot is very straightforward, the book offers a deep and powerful emotional experience, due to its vivid depiction of the dog's experiences and feelings. The art is beautiful and evocative, and the story is pitch-perfect. There are lots of abandoned pet books with similar themes, but this one stands out as an especially powerful and excellent one.

I received a temporary digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Tundra Book Group and NetGalley for a free eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This book is infused with a warmth and emotionality that was so strong I could taste it! Yeah There's something about Cale Atkinson's writing here that hit my heart immediately. This is a book for children but it is actually for everyone. It touches on empathy and social issues such as animal abuse and homelessness as well as kindness and love. This packs such a punch in such a tiny package. I highly recommend it and it is currently my favorite picture book I've read this year.

[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.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Copy...I found the narrative to be sooo sweet and this probably one of the more emotional picture books Atkinson. The art style is emotive of the dog's thoughts. Bright and happy when he is having fun, dark and angry colours when he is scared by bad humans and soft colours when he is going to be adopted. Super suggestable for pet lovers especially those who have former strays in the family like me.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful and tender and heartbreaking picture books I've ever read. The stray says it's great having his freedom, then admits what life on the streets is like. Thank goodness for that ending so I can cry for a little while in relief, but with sadness over the strays who don't find homes. The artwork is intelligent and beautiful.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter literally gasped when I pulled this one out of the box from PRH. It held up to the hype, too. What a sweet story of found family and home. This poor pup was tugging at our heart strings! The illustrations were smooth and the night/day plays on light were done so well.

Thank you to Tundra Books for the advanced copy for consideration.

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tundra Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This story is narrated by a brown dog when he was young and his people no longer wanted him. He mentions the good and bad parts of being a stray. He gets caught by animal control and is taken to the dog pound. A sad story with a happy ending.
#Stray #NetGalley

[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.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

This story was very cute. I loved seeing everything from the Stray's point of view. The good, and the bad. It was a very seamless transition. Loved the illustration.

[Anna]

Did you kiss that brick before you threw it at me 😭

This was so precious. A picture book about a stray dog who is living it up until he admits he's tired, hungry, and lonely and gets caught by animal control. I'm unwell.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully illustrated, for the avoidant attachment kiddos

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very sweet!!! This puppy goes through so much.

[Gabriele | QueerBookdom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Representation: none.

Content Warning: animal mistreatment.

[kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

not for people who cry at sad dogs, so i was able to enjoy it in peace!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that will move your heart about a dog who is describing its life as a stray.

[Alara Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching. It’s a story about a stray dog, but the themes of loneliness and hyper independence strike a chord. I read this one very slowly to my kids and it made an impact.

[Lysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may or may not have shed a single tear.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me want to cry