Publishers Weekly
04/21/2014
American soldier J. Robert Conroy befriended a stray dog with a stumpy tail while training to fight overseas in WWI. They bonded so closely that Conroy smuggled him to Europe, where Stubby accompanied Conroy’s regiment on the Western Front, lending both his superior olfactory senses and amiable temperament to the war effort. Archival photographs show Stubby in candid moments with Conroy during the war and after returning to the U.S., where he received commendations and public attention. Through the story of this scrappy canine soldier, Bausum supplies an appealing entry point into the study of WWI. Conroy’s granddaughter provides an introductory note, and a timeline and research notes are included. Ages 10–up. (May)