Lost

by Paul Brett Johnson, Celeste Lewis

Because she never gives up hope that her beagle, lost in the desert, will be found, the young girl keeps something special in her pocket for her dog.

Genres: Picture Books, Realistic Fiction, Dogs, Animals, Childrens, Family, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Paul Brett was a painter and children’s book writer/illustrator who grew up in the small town of Mousie, Kentucky, in Knott County. He was asked once in an interview to locate Mousie. He said: “Mousie is over there around Onion Blade, Dismal, Possum Trot, Sassafras, and Right and Left Beaver. But, if you haven’t been to Knott County, you may not be able to locate those places, either.”
That response was quintessential Paul Brett Johnson, a man of deep humor, good will, and immense artistic talent who honored his mountain upbringing in his work. Because he showed talent as a young child, his parents secured art lessons for him, and he made drawing and painting his life’s work.
After nearly a decade of trying to break through in the children’s book market, he finally saw success in 1993 with the release of The Cow Who Wouldn’t Come Down, a School Library Journal Best Book, an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, and one of the New York Public Library's "One Hundred Books for Reading and Sharing." He eventually produced two companion books of these funny, outrageous tales of a farm woman and her adventurous animals, The Goose Who Went Off in a Huff, and The Pig Who Ran a Red Light. His art was whimsical, colorful, and full of motion that delighted children and adults alike. He was most fond of giving animals a sly (and hilarious) sense of humor and keen intelligence—traits that often matched his own. Eventually he wrote and illustrated over 20 books for children and served as illustrator for several other children’s book writers including George Ella Lyon, James Still, and Margaret Hodges.

Reviews

[Jaeger Matthias · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was too scary. (Edition (a couple years later.) Not THAT scary. :) )

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story - a little girl never gives up hope that her beagle, lost in the desert, will be found.

Colorful Illustrations on one page estimate what the poor lost dog might have gone through in its month in the desert. The opposite page shown in drawings what she was going through trying to find her lost pet.

The 3rd graders had just finished Stone Fox and were in "dog" mode and we had just finished reading and voting on our California Young Reader books. So I felt this was one they could relate to. I think a few were close to crying and I had to struggle to keep my voice level, but I do love this book. It was a California Young Reader Winner in 2000. A good lesson not to judge a book by its cover and that old books can still be good books!

[Campbell Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story we are on the hunt for the lost family dog Flag. We see this little girl not giving up hope and willing to give up all of her money for her dog. Even after her dad had given up she held strong all the way till flag came home.

This book is really cute I really enjoyed it. This book has great art and a fantastic story which I did not expect. This book would be great to use for kids to show them the concept of perseverance. In fact also sacrifice due to she was willing to give up time and money for her dog.

[Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haha yes I'm putting a board book on my Goodreads list. Have you seen the state of my reading challenge?

Anyway, this was a really sweet book. I had a beagle when I was younger and I miss her all the time. Dogs are amazing.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic Fiction

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this twice, and I think it's because I love the illustrations so much. A child has lost her dog in the desert. As the story is told on the right about the child's attempts to find the dog over the course of a month, very realistic by the way, on the left page we see what is actually happening to the dog. Sometimes it's quite sad. I don't really know the point of the story (and it doesn't have to have one, certainly), but I don't even know to whom I'd recommend it. I guess it's like the movie "Homeward Bound."

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMG -- As I was reading this book out loud to my six-year-old, I had to skip to the end to make sure the dog doesn't die or remain lost. Meanwhile, as I'm reading, my son is looking at the illustrations of the dog tangling with rattlesnakes, bobcats, and cactus, and starving to death and becoming more and more distressed. The illustrations are good, but make a little TOO realistic.

I honestly don't know who the target market for this book would be.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story about a dog who gets lost in the desert, and the little girl who never gives up searching for him. The story is true, but not engaging. I did not care for the style of the illustrations, but I loved the relationship they showed between the little girl and her dad; it was precious!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little girls dog gets lost in the desert. Her and her father look for him for about a month and finally when they can't find him her dad decides it's time to stop looking. But then they get a call from someone who has found him.

[Moe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring! All it was about was someone lost her dog and it wasn't very interesting!

[Colleen]

Cactus & Canyons - unit 5
Fiction

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

realistic fiction grades 3 and up. Could be too scary for little ones.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not one for the younger audience

[Marjorie Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl loses her dog on a trip in the desert with her father. He is gone for a long time but she never gives up on finding him.