Levi Journey: An Unlikely Therapy Dog by Julie Iribarren, Illustrated by Martin Peers

Author Julie Iribarren depicts a wonderful story about friendship, overcoming hardship, and seeking a home in Levi Journey: An Unlikely Therapy Dog.

This colorful, multifaceted story details Levi’s journey from the streets to his exciting move to the United States on board a cargo plane, as well as the various steps of being adopted by the perfect family, and eventually finding a new calling as a therapy dog. With bright and energetic digital illustrations by Martin Peers, this inspiring story comes alive on the page, and contains plenty of lessons for both children and adults.

The story may be especially valuable for families considering fostering or adopting a pet, and may also teach kids about a newly adopted brother or sister, particularly one who has had a challenging life, as Levi lived in a part of the world with too many dogs and not enough resources or owners to care for them. It also introduces the idea of therapy animals to young readers, as well as the love, stability, and purpose that can mean so much to a dog, or indeed to anybody.

The overall arc of the story is heartwarming, but the execution is somewhat inconsistent. At the start of the book, the prose is closer to poetry, with intentionally chosen meter and rhythm, but as the story progresses, the text becomes more direct, written out in full sentences that are sometimes overly wordy with awkward syntax. However, the stellar illustrations carry the day, so overall Levi Journey is an inspiring, uplifting, and educational work for children.