Snook Alone

K-Gr 4—This story in free verse tells of a small rat terrier that lives on an island with the monk Abba Jacob. In charming acrylic and ink spot art that erupts into luscious colorful spreads, readers see these two friends go about their simple yet meaningful days. Abba Jacob prays, gardens, and tends to his hermitage while the pup shadows him. "Snook followed him to the fish pool/and prowled for mice while Abba Jacob/fed the carp and rescued/the toads, lizards, geckos, and the odd hedgehog/that had fallen in overnight." During a special trip where Abba Jacob is assigned to catalog plant and animal species on several small islands, a storm comes up that separates the two friends, leaving Snook on an unfamiliar island on his own. The dog takes in the curious world around him from crabs to sharks to sea turtles, but he never stops waiting for the monk's return. The poetry of the text evokes all the senses and pulls at the emotions. This book will capture the heart of anyone who has ever loved and been loved by a special pet.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA