(Recommended for kids ages 4-8)
My oldest daughter, Savannah, wants to be a veterinarian when she gets older. She loves all animals and wants to make them better. But, in the meantime, she is giving all her love and attention to our two rescue dogs, Milly and Lily, who are two lucky little pups, as she spoils them with kisses and cuddles everyday, as does Bella, my youngest daughter.
Savannah learned how to read at age 4 as she wanted to read the different dog and cat books we owned and ones she saw at the bookstores when out and about. She had a full bookcase in her room dedicated to animal books, most of them being dog and cat books. And, now that she can read on her own, she loves going up into her room and lining her stuffed dogs and cats up and will sit in front of them and read to them. And, whenever our two rescue dogs hear her talking, they are quick to run upstairs and will sit right next to her, hoping for a rub or two, while they listen to the stories.
Knowing how much Savannah loves animals, especially dogs, I knew she would be excited to learn about Gobi and read this true story, that leaves both kids and adults with warm hearts and smiles on their faces. Savannah loved the cover art of the book, which arrives in stores on August 29th (you can pre-order through most major retailers including Amazon, Thomas Nelson and Barnes N Noble right now), and couldn't wait to read the book. We snuggled up on the couch under a blanket with our two rescue pups beside us and I read this heartwarming story to the girls. We couldn't help but linger on each page, admiring the illustrations and talking about Gobi. My youngest was full of questions and was giving her insight into what she thought would happen next. As we progressed through the book, we couldn't help but smile thinking about Gobi. We hoped that Gobi would have a happily ever after like our two rescue dogs, and that he does.
This story is truly an inspirational book and one that both kids and adults will love reading together time and again. We have only had this book for a couple weeks, but have already read it a dozen times together, and Savannah is always walking around with it, and even found a stuffed plush that looks like Gobi, which she now sleeps with. She really enjoyed this story and this one reaffirmed her desire to want to help animals big and small when she grows up. If she could, she said she would get a great big house and rescue all the animals who don't have forever homes, and give them a warm place to sleep and fill their belly's with food and treats. She truly has a big heart, and I know she will find her own "Gobi" when she gets older that will steal her heart like Gobi stole Dion's heart, and vise versa.
So, if you are looking for a wonderful book to share with your children that also offers opportunity for discussing the positive messages of Gobi's story, then you will want to check out Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart. You will not be disappointed! :-)
More about this upcoming children's book release:
"Bring home the incredible true story of a friendship so strong that it crosses the globe! Families everywhere will be delighted by the tale of Gobi and Dion—a little lost dog and the ultramarathon runner who saved her. Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart is a fun, engaging picture book perfect for families to enjoy together.
Prepare to fall in love with the heartwarming and true story of Gobi and Dion. Gobi, a scrappy little stray dog, latches onto a man named Dion and keeps pace alongside him as he runs his way across China in a long 155-mile race. Through cold nights and raging rivers, with little food and water, and through a long, hard journey, these two create a bond unlike any other.
“Before we met, Gobi was on her own for an unknown period of time. We have no idea what she saw, experienced, felt, or even ate while she was in the desert,” he continues. “I think it’s an especially important thing for kids to remember, that we never know each other’s stories. We never know what our friend or our classmate, or even sometimes our family members are going through, which makes it even more important to always be kind to the people who come into our lives.”
Much, much more than a ‘man meets dog’ story, Gobi is a truly heartwarming, true-to-life tale that will uplift and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. This new picture book promotes the following topics and messages:
- Adopt, don’t shop! Animal welfare and reframing the way children and families look at rescue and shelter dogs
- Hope, even in difficult circumstances: There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and you never know where you’ll make new friends
- Community: How the kindness of strangers across the globe helped to bring Dion and Gobi back together against seemingly impossible odds
- China and the Gobi Desert! Fun facts about the country, culture, and people of this far-flung part of the world
- Perseverance, courage, and working through obstacles: Valuable life lessons from the physical and mental challenges ultra-marathoners face"
About the Author:
Dion Leonard is a 41-year-old Australian who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife Lucja. Dion has not only completed but competed in some of the world’s toughest ultra marathons across the planet’s most inhospitable landscapes. This includes running across the brutal Moroccan Sahara desert twice in the 250km Marathon Des Sables and also twice across South Africa's Kalahari Desert, also 250km. Dion's latest 250km race across the Gobi Desert in China turned out to be a completely different race, where he fell in love with a stray dog (later named Gobi) that followed him during the week and who would change both of their lives forever. Learn more at www.findinggobi.com.
Follow Dion and Gobi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and at www.findinggobi.com.
Pre-order Gobi: A Little Dog With a Big Heart (picture book) and Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog’s Big Journey (Young Reader’s Edition) from Thomas Nelson today. Both titles will be available for purchase wherever books are sold on August 29, 2017.
Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for sharing an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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