Trouble Dog: From Shelter Dog to Conservation Hero
by Carol A. Foote; illus. by Larry Day
Primary    Eerdmans    48 pp.
2/25    9780802855817    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781467467216    $18.99

“Romping…Chasing…Grabbing…Leaping…Chewing…CRASHING!” Tucker, a high-energy, tawny-colored dog, possesses an insatiable appetite for rambunctious play. His undirected enthusiasm leads to chaos in homes not well suited for Tucker’s intensity, which repeatedly lands him in the animal shelter. “Not this dog. He’s trouble,” advises the shelter attendant; that is, until a woman named Laura sees his potential. She brings Tucker home, introducing him to a mentally stimulating game sniffing out flowers tucked into cinderblocks, and rewards his keen nose with the vigorous play he craves. Impressed by Tucker’s performance, Laura tells him, “You’re going to help me save wildlife,” and he is unleashed into a thrilling new life: sniffing out animal scat, locating invasive species, and trailing endangered animals with researchers and scientists around the world. Day’s illustrations harness the fluidity of watercolor and use loose line work to convey Tucker’s perpetual movement. Back matter shares the true stories of two conservation dogs who inspired Foote’s story, along with an overview of how conservation dogs help to protect wildlife and habitats.

From the ">May/June 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.