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Stubby: A True Story of Friendship
Corporal Robert Conroy adopts a stray dog who wanders into an army training ground in 1917. The soldiers name the dog Stubby and smuggle him onboard their ship, taking him with them all the way to the Western Front during the First World War. Stubby goes on to save their lives many times over, alerting the men to gas attacks and approaching enemies, and even catching a German spy! But soon he finds himself in the thick of the fighting, seriously injured by a shell... Will Corporal Conroy ever see him again?
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 4, 2018
1 person is currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Michael Foreman
348 books42 followersMichael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book. But I find I have to travel by myself, otherwise I'm constantly getting involved in other people's impressions of a place... I try to be invisible when I'm travelling, so I tend to listen in on conversations rather than participate in them - I just want to look and draw."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 19, 2019
An amazing book!!!
I never thought a picture book could bring me close to tears but honestly this is heartwarming and soul shattering.
Based on a true story, it has a little section about the real Stubby at the back of the book.
The art is wonderful, detailed for adults and gripping for children.
The writing is a perfect balance between honest to war-time and easy for children to understand.
I never thought a picture book could bring me close to tears but honestly this is heartwarming and soul shattering.
Based on a true story, it has a little section about the real Stubby at the back of the book.
The art is wonderful, detailed for adults and gripping for children.
The writing is a perfect balance between honest to war-time and easy for children to understand.
Want to read
October 8, 2018I chose this book for my list of betterment as we're still in the centenary of WWI and this book is keeping what happened 100 years ago alive for children to see now. As a huge part of British history, I don't think it should be forgotten as generations go on. Published as recently as 2018, this book is giving children a fresh insight and understanding. I also haven't really seen many child-friendly adaptations of novels and stories from this era, especially not picture books.
January 29, 2021
My whole family loved this book! It’s based on the true story of a dog in WW1. So heartwarming!
August 7, 2018
Based on a true story of a dog who became a mascot in WW1 , this beautiful picture book is charming, touching and brought a tear to my eye. Michael Foreman is one of my favourite illustrators and the subdued colours of the pictures that become brighter when they portray explosions perfectly complement the powerful understated text. A treasured addition to my 'favourite picture books' collection.
May 4, 2025
im counting this cuz it took me 2 hours to read this to 4 hyperactive toddlers
March 10, 2019
The story of the most decorated dog that served in World War I and the soldier he befriended.
October 10, 2019
I really liked this book, it is such a nice way to introduce children to the First World War and is just a beautiful story. The whole book I was sat wondering if it was a true story and then on the last page was a picture of the real stubby and the story of his life. I thought this was a really lovely book as it is factually accurate but also just a really beautiful and wholesome story.
January 10, 2026
I didn’t know about this true story. I loved the illustrations and I loved Stubby but on the other hand I wish they didn’t take him to war.
June 11, 2019
2018 was the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I and to commemorate it, a fair number of books for young readers were published. Stubby is one of those books and his story begins in a training camp far away from the war.
For some soldiers, basic training can be a cold lonely process of endless drills and exercises. But in one particular camp, each time the bugle calls soldier's to a meal, stray dogs from all over always seem to show up, too. One of them takes a real liking to one particular soldier [Robert Conroy] and before you know it, man and dog have bonded. The soldier names the dog Stubby.
Stubby is pretty smart, and learns to sit and to salute quickly and, of course, everyone seems to love him, But when orders come that the soldiers are shipping out, sailing across the Atlantic to a land at war [France]. Stubby is supposed to stay home, but at the last minute, he gets smuggled on to the troop ship.
In the trenches, Stubby's excellent sense of smell and hearing more than once comes in handy, catching enemy soldiers who sneak into the trenches, or warning the men of poison gas attacks in time to put on their gas masks (yes, Stubby also has a gas mask), and sometimes just keeping his master warm on cold, rainy nights.
But when Stubby is injured in battle, he is sent off in an ambulance with other wounded soldiers and his owner wonders if they will ever see each other again. But, Stubby's nursed back to health at a field hospital just like a real soldier, and after six weeks, he is returned to the tranches. When the enemy is finally driven out a one town, the local ladies get together and make Stubby his own army jacket, complete with medals and badges.
When peace is finally declared in 1918, Stubby returns home to the United States a hero and is even given a position of honor at the front of a victory parade.
This is a sweet story, not so much about Stubby heroics during the war, though these are certainly included, but about what a good, loyal companion he was to Conroy. And to keep the story focused on Stubby, Foreman never uses Conroy's name and makes the dog the main focus of the illustrations.
The illustrations are done in Foreman's signature style, using a soft pastel palette. He doesn't shy away from the realities of war, but none of the battlefield illustrations are so graphic they would upset young readers. Even the illustration of Stubby laying unconscious in the midst of fighting isn't frightening, but kids will definitely know Stubby is injured.
Be sure to read Forman's note at the back of the book, complete with a photo of Stubby in his army jacket.
Stubby: A True Story of Friendship is a heartwarming story, made all the more poignant by the fact that it is a true story.
You can download an extensive Teaching Guide courtesy of the publisher, Anderson Press
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was purchased for my personal library
For some soldiers, basic training can be a cold lonely process of endless drills and exercises. But in one particular camp, each time the bugle calls soldier's to a meal, stray dogs from all over always seem to show up, too. One of them takes a real liking to one particular soldier [Robert Conroy] and before you know it, man and dog have bonded. The soldier names the dog Stubby.
Stubby is pretty smart, and learns to sit and to salute quickly and, of course, everyone seems to love him, But when orders come that the soldiers are shipping out, sailing across the Atlantic to a land at war [France]. Stubby is supposed to stay home, but at the last minute, he gets smuggled on to the troop ship.
In the trenches, Stubby's excellent sense of smell and hearing more than once comes in handy, catching enemy soldiers who sneak into the trenches, or warning the men of poison gas attacks in time to put on their gas masks (yes, Stubby also has a gas mask), and sometimes just keeping his master warm on cold, rainy nights.
But when Stubby is injured in battle, he is sent off in an ambulance with other wounded soldiers and his owner wonders if they will ever see each other again. But, Stubby's nursed back to health at a field hospital just like a real soldier, and after six weeks, he is returned to the tranches. When the enemy is finally driven out a one town, the local ladies get together and make Stubby his own army jacket, complete with medals and badges.
When peace is finally declared in 1918, Stubby returns home to the United States a hero and is even given a position of honor at the front of a victory parade.
This is a sweet story, not so much about Stubby heroics during the war, though these are certainly included, but about what a good, loyal companion he was to Conroy. And to keep the story focused on Stubby, Foreman never uses Conroy's name and makes the dog the main focus of the illustrations.
The illustrations are done in Foreman's signature style, using a soft pastel palette. He doesn't shy away from the realities of war, but none of the battlefield illustrations are so graphic they would upset young readers. Even the illustration of Stubby laying unconscious in the midst of fighting isn't frightening, but kids will definitely know Stubby is injured.
Be sure to read Forman's note at the back of the book, complete with a photo of Stubby in his army jacket.
Stubby: A True Story of Friendship is a heartwarming story, made all the more poignant by the fact that it is a true story.
You can download an extensive Teaching Guide courtesy of the publisher, Anderson Press
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was purchased for my personal library
March 30, 2021
A soldier, a stray dog and an unbreakable friendship.
Cheeky canine Stubby loved sneaking into the army training camp, particularly when the bugle sounded as that always signalled that food was about to be served. As the soldiers headed overseas to fight in the war, Stubby found himself joining them as a stowaway - smuggled aboard the Minnesota by Corporal Robert Conroy. Stubby was heading to war and what a little superstar he would turn out to be…
This is an incredible true story about one of the bravest dogs you will ever read about and retells his heroics during the first world war and how he ultimately became one of the lads on the battlefield. Stubby was at home amongst the soldiers and was a natural on the battlefield. Sniffing out the enemy, alerting his comrades to dangerous gas attacks and helping rid the trenches of rats were all in a day’s work. Stubby, like his fellow comrades, was brave, courageous, loyal and had huge heart. Even a stint in hospital, after he was to suffer his own war wounds, couldn’t keep this brave little dog down and he returned to his regiment before receiving his own army jacket complete with medals. Stubby was a hero and after the war he participated in a victory parade and visited the White House where he met two different presidents.
War is horrendous and Michael Foreman does an exceptional job of bringing the atrocities of war to a younger audience. The narrative helps readers understand what war was like as, “bullets are zipping and whistling around,” and “the sky is lit up by thunderous gunfire.” Watercolour illustrations are equally powerful featuring explosions, ruined villages, soldiers in gas masks, life in the trenches and even a blooded Stubby. Whilst this may all sound very dramatic it is perfectly pitched to its young audience and allows them to imagine what war was like without becoming frightening or traumatic.
No name is given to the soldier in the story, where the training camp is or where they are heading off to although this can be worked out by the waving of French flags. A note at the back provides lots of extra details that adds context to the story and helps to fill in some of the blanks.
A heart-warming and interesting story with a fabulous canine hero that rather than shy away from the horrors of war explores them in a way that is accessible to young readers.
Recommended for 6+.
Cheeky canine Stubby loved sneaking into the army training camp, particularly when the bugle sounded as that always signalled that food was about to be served. As the soldiers headed overseas to fight in the war, Stubby found himself joining them as a stowaway - smuggled aboard the Minnesota by Corporal Robert Conroy. Stubby was heading to war and what a little superstar he would turn out to be…
This is an incredible true story about one of the bravest dogs you will ever read about and retells his heroics during the first world war and how he ultimately became one of the lads on the battlefield. Stubby was at home amongst the soldiers and was a natural on the battlefield. Sniffing out the enemy, alerting his comrades to dangerous gas attacks and helping rid the trenches of rats were all in a day’s work. Stubby, like his fellow comrades, was brave, courageous, loyal and had huge heart. Even a stint in hospital, after he was to suffer his own war wounds, couldn’t keep this brave little dog down and he returned to his regiment before receiving his own army jacket complete with medals. Stubby was a hero and after the war he participated in a victory parade and visited the White House where he met two different presidents.
War is horrendous and Michael Foreman does an exceptional job of bringing the atrocities of war to a younger audience. The narrative helps readers understand what war was like as, “bullets are zipping and whistling around,” and “the sky is lit up by thunderous gunfire.” Watercolour illustrations are equally powerful featuring explosions, ruined villages, soldiers in gas masks, life in the trenches and even a blooded Stubby. Whilst this may all sound very dramatic it is perfectly pitched to its young audience and allows them to imagine what war was like without becoming frightening or traumatic.
No name is given to the soldier in the story, where the training camp is or where they are heading off to although this can be worked out by the waving of French flags. A note at the back provides lots of extra details that adds context to the story and helps to fill in some of the blanks.
A heart-warming and interesting story with a fabulous canine hero that rather than shy away from the horrors of war explores them in a way that is accessible to young readers.
Recommended for 6+.
January 19, 2019
Youngsters and adults who loved Finding Winnie or adore animal stories are likely to enjoy this story immensely. After all, it isn't just soldiers or humans who are the heroes of wars. Often, animals behave in heroic fashion on or near the battlefield, and certainly, their very presence offers comfort to the military forces nearby. As American soldiers are training for battle in Connecticut before shipped off to Europe during WWI, they befriend a stray dog that approaches them for food. They name the canine Stubby, and he bonds with Corporal Robert Conroy. Not only is Stubby smart and loyal, but he learns how to salute the officers, and the men smuggle him aboard the ship and along with them as they head into the war zone. His presence inspires the men and the citizens whose lands they are traversing, and Stubby uses his keen sense of hearing and smell to warn the soldiers of intruders. As the men dig in for battle and spend much time in trenches, he is even given his own gas mask to protect him from the enemy's gas attacks. Stubby is even wounded during an explosion, taken to a hospital, and eventually presented with medals for heroism, the most decorated dog during that conflict. Readers will enjoy seeing a photograph of the real Stubby with his own uniform and learning more about him and how famous he became. The author's decision to tell the story from the point of view of Conroy and in present tense lends an immediacy to the story that makes readers feel as though they are right alongside Stubby and his companions. The illustrations rely on soft watercolor paints to complement the story, and a double-page spread that shows Stubby being injured in the war zone. Readers will be just as relieved as I was to have him finally make his way back home. This book took me through a wide range of emotions, and I was pleased to have Stubby's story told for a young audience who may be drawn to learn more about WWI as the result of his adventures.
July 16, 2019
So many books about Stubby's fascinating story are written for older children. Michael Foreman's animal adventure stories are always splendid, this one does not disappoint. The elegant watercolor illustrations are so helpful for young eyes who have never viewed a World War I uniform, or hopefully the attrocities of war. This title covers the years between when the dog meets Robert Conroy to the end of his happy life as Conroy's pet, after years of brave military service ranging from warning the army of hidden enemies, to alerting the troops when he sniffed poison gas attacks. The author's note shares the factual story of Stubby, which makes this resource a great tool for young researchers.
October 6, 2019
Around a year ago I came across the movie that told the story of this amazing war dog nicknamed 'Stubby'. I absolutely loved it, so much so that I was gifted this book and the book is just as brilliant. A charming read and a heartfelt story that anybody would love. I recently took this book into school and it was so adored by my class that I brought it in another 4 times! A number of important lessons to be learnt from this story and is fantastic to surprise children by telling them that the story is based on a real dog!
July 7, 2019
Stubby, a small stray is befriended by an army platoon. The dog, dubbed Stubby, soon becomes the platoons mascot and is smuggled away to join WWI. Through many heroic and dangerous missions, Stubby is a true hero, even receiving an injury and spending time in the hospital.
Based in truth, this book is for every dog lover.
Based in truth, this book is for every dog lover.
June 27, 2020
Dogs are so pure. We don't deserve them. Sometimes even just the presence of a dog can comfort people at what is close to hell on Earth: trench warfare, and a dog will risk their life just to be included. What a sweet story, and told in a kid-friendly way. Stubby's story has a happy ending, but it still makes me want to cry.
June 14, 2019
This story of friendship & loyalty between a soldier and a stray dog takes the reader to the trenches of WWI. The atrocities of war are not lost on the reader or the main characters. Based on a true story.
July 31, 2019
A touching true story. Both my daughter and I like this picture book about the most decorated war dog of WWI. Did not shy away from the horrors of war. My child most appreciated the photograph of Stubby in the back, as well as the author's note about his life after the war.
September 23, 2019
A young soldier befriends a stray dog.
I thought this was a good read and it showed how animals can help people - the fact it was based on a true story made it more effective.
Reading time around ten minutes.
I thought this was a good read and it showed how animals can help people - the fact it was based on a true story made it more effective.
Reading time around ten minutes.
November 2, 2021
Great book! This book is based on a dog befriending a solider who then brings him along to war. Stubby, the dog helps the men fighting, and faces a challenge while doing so. Kids will love this personal story along with the theme of friendship a personal can have with an animal.
April 13, 2019
Loved it. The illustrations are just fantastic and the message of loyalty and friendship is appreciated. However, I detest the military using animals in any capacity.
April 23, 2019
This book made me tear up, it was so pure and covered the amazing relationship between human and dog. Dogs are truly a gift. Stubby was absolutely precious and deserves the world.
April 27, 2019
28 pages
May 11, 2019
Children will love this story! I sure did. It's about a military troupe that adopts a hungry dog. They name him Stubby and he joins the men in battle.
May 23, 2019
I just love this brave little dog! Great story told in a way children can understand with beautiful illustrations.
July 18, 2019
3.5 - picture book by excellent Michael Foreman but the Ann Bausum bok is much better
July 19, 2019
A great book about the true story of Stubby, the war dog. This book is on the longer side and has small illustrations so it would make a better one-on-one story.
August 8, 2019
The story of a dog adopted by a World War I army regiment who becomes a memeber. Elementary and up
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September 23, 2019Good engaging based-on-a-true story about a pup helping on the front lines of war.
August 28, 2021
Told in the first person, covers a broad swath of time and is a lovely story of friendship
April 28, 2023
Mr 7 found this book really touching. Lovely way to tell story about war— and the fact it’s a true story and you can read about the real story at the ends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews