Jack and Jill: The Miracle Dog with a Happy Tail to Tell by Jill Rappaport, Linda Solomon (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

This is the true story of an abandoned puppy that was rescued by NBC's Today show correspondent Jill Rappaport. Jill named him Jack, and together they lived on a farm. Life with Jill was grand, all right! Jack spent his days running through fields, digging holes, playing with the horses, and chasing deer. But one day Jack's leg started to hurt. When Jill took him to the vet, she received bad news. Jack had bone cancer. In order to beat the disease, Jack's hurt leg had to be removed. Would life with only three legs be as grand as it was before?

Jack & Jill is the story of a brave dog and his loving owner making it up the hill together. Told from Jack's point of view and with beautiful photographs by Linda Solomon, the message of hope in this book will inspire children and adults alike.

Children's Literature

This unique book offers a true dog tale about Jack, an amazingly lucky dog. Complete with many photos of Jack, his dog and people family, and where he lives, the story is told in first person from Jack's point of view. The tale begins when Jack, a stray, finds his way to Jill's house. Jill is a dog lover who takes him in and lets him enjoy life with her other dogs. He especially likes moving to a farm where he can play with horses, chase deer, dig holes, run through fields, and more. Jack's problem arises when he develops cancer in his leg and has to have it amputated. He then learns to live with three legs and goes on to enjoy all the things he did before. Written in a down-to-earth manner, this tale is an excellent opportunity to help youngsters learn about cancer and understand that, while it changes some things, other things stay the same. This book can also be used to help children discuss how pets and people accept and adapt to their circumstances. It is well-written, and the bright photos add to the ease of comprehension. It is suggested for readers aged four to eight but could be used with children through sixth grade to encourage discussions. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4

The Ambassadog of Hope for Animal Cancer, a bright-eyed German Shepherd, tells his cancer-survival tale, which begins with his rescue as an abandoned puppy and how fortunate he was to be rescued by Jill and have her as his Mom. "Once upon a time," Jack begins and then tells his experiences growing up in a household with other rescue animals. His voice sounds like Jill's voice, especially when he describes himself as a "small German Shepherd with a very sweet disposition." Despite this flaw, his narrative sustains an upbeat tone punctuated initially by some grainy but well-centered photographs, which look like family snapshots. As the story proceeds, the family moves to a farm where he experiences the joys of chasing deer, digging holes, and running through fields. This is the point where the photography starts to look sharp, professional, and posed; shadows are artistically set, and the clarity pops. The pain suffered in his left leg is diagnosed as cancer; amputation and chemotherapy follow, but with none of the harsh realities pictured and only a minor amount summarized in the text. His perfectly healed-over wound and other pictures of Jack recovering show him becoming the same fun-loving dog he was before the surgery. To those who object to blatant anthropomorphization, Rappaport's story is a quick pass, but for those collections in need of strong bibliotherapy to help children through their dog's cancer, this is a good choice.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

Kirkus Reviews

In this true story some may find familiar from morning television, Jack begins as an abandoned puppy, newly adopted by his human mother Jill (an entertainment correspondent/animal-rights reporter) and ready to learn how to fit in and play with his canine siblings. Told from Jack's point of view and accompanied by Solomon's home-style photos that positively illustrate his varying experiences, this story may serve as a teaching tool to help explain serious illness, in pets or humans: With the support of Jill and strong veterinary care, Jack successfully faces bone cancer, amputation and chemotherapy, yet remains an active, fun-loving and friendly dog, eventually named "Ambassadog of Hope for Animal Cancer." (Jack has since passed away, an aspect of the story not included here.) Children will be able to identify with the main themes, such as adoption, illness, loss, survival and adjustment, and if the text is saccharine in its faux-doggy ingenuousness, it does end with an optimistic outlook designed to provide hope. Includes information on foundations that provide treatment for illness in companion animals. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Product Details