A small boy, a cruel city, and the incredible dogs who save him.Based on a true story!When Ivan's mother disappears, he's abandoned on the streets of Moscow, with little chance to make it through the harsh winter. But help comes in an unexpected form: Ivan is adopted by a pack of dogs, and the dogs quickly become more than just his street companions: They become his family. Soon Ivan, who used to love reading fairytales, is practically living in one, as he and his pack roam the city and countryside, using their wits to find food and shelter, dodging danger, begging for coins. But Ivan can't stay hidden from the world of people forever. When help is finally offered to him, will he be able to accept it? Will he even want to?A heart-pounding tale of survival and a moving look at what makes us human. Bobbie Pyron is the author of The Dogs of Winter, which received three starred reviews and was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year. She grew up in Florida, now lives in Park City, Utah, and works as a librarian in Salt Lake City. From The Dogs of Winter
There was a hard day, a bitter cold day I sat huddled next to a steam grate in the sidewalk. The cold made my nose and eyes stream tears. I told myself they were not tears for my mother. They were not tears for the weeks it had been since I had slept in a bed and taken a bath. Perhaps it had been months or only days. I didn't know or care anymore. The tears were only for the cold. I bowed my head and rested it on my knees.
Something warm pressed against me. Warm breath stroked my cheek. I lifted my head. There beside me stood a large brown and black dog.
The dog sniffed my hair and ran his warm, wet nose across my cheek and ear. I held my breath. Did the dog think I was something to eat?
Satisfied, the dog curled up at my feet next to the steam vent with a sigh and closed his eyes.
We sat like that together, the dog and I. People rushed past us and around us and stepped over us. Coins dropped at my feet and in my hand. One coin, two coins.
I smiled at the dog. I reached out and touched his shoulder. "You've brought me luck today," I said. He licked my fingers. I laughed. "I'm going to call you Lucky...."
