My Friend Andy
Genres
Fiction > Contemporary
Content
Pets, Childhood Experiences, Homelessness
Central Theme
Learning Concept
Race / Culture
Not specified
Author & Illustrator: Emma Chinnery
Publisher: Little Tiger
Summary
Fluffy loves his daily adventures through the park with his human family. While the city buzzes with new activity, there’s always one constant: seeing Andy, another dog, and his owner, who seems to carry many of his belongings. For reasons unknown to Fluffy, their family prefers to keep their distance, choosing to play alone. But one day after chasing the ball a little too far, Fluffy takes an unexpected turn and loses sight of his humans. Luckily for Fluffy, Andy and his owner spot Fluffy and an unexpected bond is formed. With the help of Andy’s owner, they take Fluffy in and stop at nothing to find Fluffy’s family, treating him like one of their own along the way. When Fluffy finally reunites with his family, they realize that the true gift isn’t just returning home, but the unexpected new friendships that fate has brought into their lives – both dog and human alike.
Review
A heartwarming dog’s tale centered around kindness and leaving previously conceived notions at the door. There is something about animals that truly deepens the impact of a story and serves as a slightly more neutral ground to explore delicate topics parallel to human experiences. I really appreciated the tender and compassionate scope of Andy’s owner, a houseless man who takes Fluffy in during a time of need. There is so little representation of houseless folk in children’s literature – even fewer with this positive light that focuses on the humanity of the character rather than his situation. This book sparks a much needed discussion on leading with kindness and I believe it can go a long way in reducing stigma and just normalizing friendly interactions with all people in our communities.
Language Facilitation
Pg. 1-2 (Story comprehension, story elements/point of view, inferencing): Who is telling the story? How does Fluffy feel about going to the park, and what are some clues from the picture?
Pg. 3-4 (inferencing, perspective taking): What do you notice about Andy’s owner? Why do you think Fluffy isn’t allowed to play with Andy? Do you think he feels the same? How do you think that makes Andy’s owner feel? Make a prediction for what might happen when Fluffy says “one day, everything changed…” and discuss the clues we already have from the story to make a smart guess.
Pg. 5-8 (identifying emotions, relating to your own life): How might Fluffy be feeling when he gets lost in the big city? Have you felt that way before?
Pg. 9-10 (inferencing, story prediction): Does it seem like Fluffy’s feelings have changed? How so? Do you have any guesses on how Andy and his owner might help?
Pg. 11-14 (connecting prior knowledge, applying to your own life): What do you notice about Andy and his dad’s home? Does this look similar or different than your own home?
Pg. 15-16 (story comprehension): Where do they look for Fluffy’s family?
Pg. 17-18: Discuss the complexity of Fluffy feeling two emotions at once. Identify what these two feelings are, and acknowledge and validate feeling both happy and sad together.
Pg. 19-20 (inferencing, using prior knowledge, perspective taking): Why isn’t Andy allowed inside to play? How do you think that makes Andy and his owner feel?
Pg. 21-22: (Inferencing, compare/contrast, integrate story elements): Compare Fluffy’s family and their actions from the beginning vs. the end of the story. Did they feel differently about Andy and his owner, and how do their actions reflect this? Why do you think they changed their perspective?
End of book (identify theme): What did you learn from Andy and his owner? How might you treat someone you see on the street after reading this story? Why is it important to be kind to others, even when they are different from us?