A woman works to build the trust of a scruffy stray in this heartwarming wordless picture book. From beneath a park bench, the dog watches the woman from a safe distance as she reads her newspaper. The woman returns again and again, one day bringing a tennis ball, another attempting a game of fetch. The dog remains cautious, tail tucked as it drops the ball a few feet from the woman. As the sun sets one cloudy afternoon, the dog follows the woman home without her knowing. It hunkers down in a wilted cardboard box when rain begins to pour. As lightning streaks across the sky, the woman, who looks white, hurries back to the park, only to return home dejected. She finds the dog on the sidewalk outside her door, bundles it up, carries it inside, dries it off, feeds it, and sets up a comfy bed on the floor—which is quickly abandoned in favor of a place on the mattress beside her. Soft pencil-and-watercolor illustrations in warm earth tones tell a satisfying, perfectly paced narrative of patience, trust, drama, and hard-earned companionship that will appeal to readers of a wide range of ages. (Ages 3–8)

From the creator of the New York Times best-illustrated children's book award winner The Only Child, comes a gorgeous and moving wordless picture book that's perfect for dog lovers.

In this heartwarming, wordless picture book that's perfect for dog lovers, a woman visits a park and discovers a pup hiding under a bench--scruffy, scared, and alone. With gentle coaxing, the woman tries to befriend the animal, but the dog is too scared to let her near. Day after day, the woman tries--and day after day, the dog runs away. With perseverance and patience--and help from an enticing tennis ball--a tentative friendship begins. But it's not until a raging storm forces the two together that a joyous and satisfying friendship takes hold. Guojing poignantly explores how trust doesn't always come easily, but how, over time, and with kindness and determination, forever love can grow.

Praise for Stormy:

"Guojing amplifies the suspense and sentiment of her story with the skill -- and mercilessness -- of a great Disney or Pixar director.... Masterful." --New York Times Book Review

"A touching tale about the strong emotional connection between dog and human." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Guojing paces the story to rock emotionally between the dog's lonely existence and the woman's offer of love, building all the way to a joyful conclusion." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

" Adults should be prepared for some serious pet pleading after kids get a look at our scruffy hero and its happy ending."--Bulletin, starred review

"Brimming with golden-hued love, this is a book that successfully appeals to our most basic human sentiment, perfect for anyone who appreciates Guojing's accomplished visual style as well as dog lovers of all ages." --Booklist, starred review

"This beautifully illustrated book will appeal to a wide range of ages, can spark conversations around houselessness and insecurity, or just be enjoyed as a tale of a dog finding a "­forever home." --School Library Journal