Week 7: Shep: Our Most Loyal Dog

• Week: 7
• Book Title:  Shep:  Our Most Loyal Dog by Sneed B. Collard III, illustrated by Joanna Yardley
• Book Cover Image:

Copyright 2006, Thomson Corporation

• Book Summary:  Shep, a Montana sheepdog, became a beloved of the world when he kept watch for his owner who died.  Shep's devotion became a inspiration to the people of Fort Benton, Montana, the United States, and around the world.  His grave stands now as a reminder of steadfastness and the true meaning of loyalty.
• APA Reference:  Collard, S.  (2006).  Shep:  our most loyal dog.  Chelsea, MI:  Sleeping Bear Press, Thomson Corporation.
• My Impressions: I picked this book to read and review because Fort Benton is close to where I live.  In Montana terms, Fort Benton is the next town over.  My family and I have gone to Fort Benton and seen the statue and plaque honoring Shep.  It is truly an amazing story.  Dogs surprise us as humans when they show such devotion.  It reminds me of the stories of animals traveling hundreds and thousands of miles to get back to their homes when lost on a family vacation.  Luckily for Shep, Fort Benton is a small town that takes care of their own.  He found a surrogate family to look after him and enjoyed a long life at the train station.  The next time I visit Fort Benton, I will walk up the hill to see Shep's final resting place.  Interestingly enough, a week after reading this story there was a story in the Great Falls Tribune about the man who took Shep in at the train station.  He just recently passed away.
• Professional Review:

School Library Journal ( August 01, 2006; )

Gr 2-4-This picture book celebrates the bond between a sheep dog and his owner. During the Depression, in north central Montana, a sheepherder passed away. Shep watched the man's coffin being loaded onto a train to be returned to his family back east. From that day forward, the loyal canine met every passenger train that arrived at the Fort Benton depot. The station manager and many townspeople noticed him and slowly discovered the details of his life. The people adopted him, feeding him and loving him, until the day he died. News of the dog's death spread throughout the country and his story was featured in Reader's Digest, Lady's Circle, and other major publications. An author's note gives additional background information. Yardley's watercolor paintings, reminiscent of Susan Jeffers's work, are warm, detailed, and textured. Dog lovers will appreciate the reverential tone of the story. A good addition for larger collections.-Linda Zeilstra Sawyer, Skokie Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Sawyer, L.  (2010).  [Review of the book Shep:  Our Most Loyal Dog, by Sneed B. Collard III].  Library Journals LLC.  Retrieved from Bowker booksinprint.com.

• Library Uses:  Because Sneed Collard is a local Montana writer, I would invite him to our library for a book talk, reading, and signing.  Our Govenor Schweitzer has a dog similar Shep named Jag.  It would be cool if I could get him to come and read their book First Dog: Unleashed in the Montana Capitol in the library, also.