Charlie and Tess by Martin Hall
Illustrated by Catherine Walters
*BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARD WINNER 1997.
Orphaned in a snowstorm during lambing season, a lamb is taken in by a farmer's family. The family names the newcomer Charlie and feeds him from a bottle; but their sheepdog, Tess, assumes the primary roles of caretaker and best friend. As Charlie grows under Tess's tutelage, the farmer's wife casually wonders if he is "turning into a dog." In town, he wears a collar and leash while carrying a newspaper with his teeth; in the field, he persists in herding the other sheep. And, indeed, when winter strikes with an early storm, it is Charlie who saves the flock-racing back and forth, baaing, butting the sheep and "pulling at their woolly coats with his teeth."
First-time author Hall's homey text rolls out evenly and swiftly, while Walters's (The Dog Who Found Christmas) plays up the similarities between Tess and Charlie by casting the dog as a border collie, black and white just like the lamb. Her tidy and sentimental illustrations gather readers into a contented romance of countryside. Children who liked Babe will find this a quiet, soothing book for wintertime sharing.
Condition: Very good condition
Format: Paperback
Age: 4-8
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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the photo accurately depicts the condition of the book, the colour and imperfections may vary slightly from the images.