A Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tale 5 – Toby’s Story

W. Bruce Cameron's Toby's Story is a gentle dog story for 8 year olds, told by a beagle puppy who can't seem to do the things beagles are supposed to do.

What happens

Toby is born on a ranch, with his mum Sadie and five brothers and sisters. The whole book comes to you through his nose. Warm fur, sweet milk, dirt (which tastes nowhere near as good as it smells) and that wonderful smell of fresh air that makes him want to run.

And run he does, at first. He squeezes through a gap in the fence, meets some very rude chickens and learns the hard way to leave the cat alone!

Then his feet start to itch. And itch. He's too tired to chase the little remote-control car like the others. One by one, people arrive at the ranch and take his brothers and sisters home as hunting dogs. Nobody picks Toby.

It's heartbreaking in the nicest way. Toby just wants a family, and you'll be rooting for him from the first page. His view of people is very funny too. Why would anyone want to smell clean when dirty smells are so much more interesting?

Then a girl called Mona and her mum take him home, and home turns out to be the care home where her mum works. Mona's sure he'll make a brilliant therapy dog, because he's happy just lying on laps. There's a lovely bit with a boy called Tyler and his grandad (and a very sweet hint that Mona and Tyler like each other).

Worth knowing before you hand it over

Toby chews his itchy paws until they bleed before anyone works out what's wrong. The farmer says he'd hate to have Toby put down. And Mona shows Toby the hospice wing, where people go at the end of their lives. It's all handled kindly, but it may bring up questions.

If your reader loves animals and has a soft heart, this is one for them. Maybe keep the tissues nearby.

What to read next

For another puppy telling her own story from the very first day, try Molly's Story, about a poodle cross born in a cardboard box at a foster home.