Hachiko

Reader reviewed by librariane

The subtitle to the book is The True Story of a Loyal Dog, and is about a puppy who would wait for his owner every morning and evening at the train station in Tokyo. One evening, the master did not return from university, as he had died, but the dog continued to wait. The story is told from a little boys perspective, and he marvels at how people start to take care of the dog as the years pass and his owner never arrives home. Eventually, the dog dies and a statue is erected in his honor. The book is sweet, simple and will be a treat for dog lovers. The illustrations are simple, yet colorful, and capture the essence of Japan. The only thing not included is a photo of the statue, and that was disappointing.