Newbery MedalâWinning Author: A âquirky and tenderheartedâ picture book about a lady, a puppy, and the courage it takes to love (Publishers Weekly).
Â
How does an old woman who has outlived all her friends keep from being lonely? By naming the things in her life she knows she will never outliveâlike her house, Franklin, and her bed, Roxanne. When a shy brown puppy appears at her front gate, the old woman feeds it . . . but she wonât name it, because it might not outlive her. Tender watercolors capture the charm of this heartwarming story of an old woman who doesnât know sheâs lonely until she meets a plucky puppy who needs a nameâand someone to love.
Â
âA glimpse of old age lived with relish.â âBooklist
Â
âRylant makes her humorous text spare and still, leaving plenty of room for the comedy in Brown's quirky watercolors. The old woman's hair is wound into an impossibly tall chignon; her cowboy boots are just as impossibly pointy . . . and the shy brown dog would worm its way into anyoneâs heart. Above all, the seaside cottage, riotous garden, and Rylantâs words evoke a life that has beenâand continues to beâlived well.â âKirkus Reviews