Lassie Come-Home

August 15, 2015
The classic story of the faithful English collie is retold in a greatly simplified, attractively illustrated version for younger children. This adaptation of an enduring dog story was developed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the original. As the story opens, Lassie has come home to her owner, a boy named Joe. The beautiful collie had been sold to the local duke because Joe's father is out of work and the family can't afford to feed her. When Lassie is returned to the duke, he takes her far away to his estate in northern Scotland, but Lassie runs away again with some help from the duke's granddaughter. The faithful dog returns to Joe, traveling hundreds of miles over several months. A happy ending ensues, with Joe and Lassie reunited for good and a job for the father. The simplified plot skillfully retains the drama of the dog's bravery and devotion and conveys the difficult circumstances of the family. Large-format watercolor illustrations bring the Yorkshire village and countryside to life, with particularly appealing depictions of bright-eyed Lassie. A helpful map of England and Scotland on the book's first page shows the journey that Lassie takes from northern Scotland back home to Yorkshire. An irresistible treat for dog lovers. (Picture book. 4-8)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 1-3-Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Knight's novel, this title tenderly retells the classic story of a dog who sets the gold standard for loyalty. As in the original, Joe and his family have fallen upon hard times and must sell their beloved canine to the Duke of Rudling to make ends meet. But stalwart Lassie remains devoted to her boy, traveling more than 400 miles to find Joe again after the Duke takes her to his home in Scotland. Though Hill's simplified picture book version retains the same basic plot, it's much gentler in tone. The soft pencil and watercolor illustrations, though endearing and appropriate for this age level, depict idyllic settings that don't convey the hardscrabble existence of a Depression-era, Northern England mining town or the intensity of the dog's journey. Indeed, Lassie's long and arduous trek is condensed into a montage of upbeat images: the collie leaping spiritedly over a stream and trotting cheerfully through a field. Hill's quiet prose is elegant, but the more dramatic elements of the plot are tempered-as is the impact of the triumphant return. VERDICT Aimed at independent readers, Rosemary Wells's illustrated adaptation (Holt, 1995) preserves the spirit of the original while using language that a modern audience will find more palatable. Still, Hill's sweet adaptation is a suitable option for those seeking to introduce this unforgettable tale.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

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