It’s very possible that at some point in the past year you’ve come across the extraordinary story of ultra-marathoner Dion Leonard and Gobi, the small stray dog who, in June 2016, became his unlikely companion during the grueling Gobi Desert Run — and subsequently inspired a worldwide, against-all-odds search to see them reunited after becoming separated in a city of more than three million people.
* Complimentary Children’s Book was Received.
On August 29, 2017, parents and young readers can share in experiencing this powerful true story of friendship, compassion, courage, and love with the release of Finding GOBI: The True Story of One Little Dog’s Big Journey by author Dion Leonard. This is a soft-cover chapter book containing 196 pages and geared toward’s children ages 8- 12 years of age.
“Finding Gobi was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but her finding me was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced,” says Dion, who on June 13th, 2017 released the adult trade paperback edition of Finding Gobi to rave reviews.
“Before we met, Gobi was on her own for an unknown period of time. We have no idea what she saw, experienced, felt, or even ate while she was in the desert,” he continues. “I think it’s an especially important thing for kids to remember, that we never know each other’s stories. We never know what our friend or our classmate, or even sometimes our family members are going through, which makes it even more important to always be kind to the people who come into our lives.”
Much, much more than a ‘man meets dog’ story, Gobi is a truly heartwarming, true-to-life tale that will uplift and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. Among the topics and messages both the picture book and YRE promote include:
* Adopt, don’t shop! Animal welfare and reframing the way children and families look at rescue and shelter dogs.
* Hope, even in difficult circumstances: There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and you never know where you’ll make new friends.
* Community: How the kindness of strangers across the globe helped to bring Dion and Gobi back together against seemingly impossible odds.
* China and the Gobi Desert! Fun facts about the country, culture, and people of this far-flung part of the world.
* Perseverance, courage, and working through obstacles: Valuable life lessons from the physical and mental challenges ultra-marathoners face.
My Thoughts: My daughter is 8 years old and she loves to read. During the summertime I pick up books for her to read throughout the week and then when the weekend rolls around, she gets a reward. I feel it’s really important that our children read books all year long. Luckily for me, reading is one of her favorite hobbies.
Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog’s Big Journey has quickly become one of her favorite books. I personally haven’t read it, but I can tell you that she sinks her nose into the book almost every night and reads several pages at a time. It’s a “chapter style” of book, so there are no photographs inside. However, she knows what Gobi looks like thanks to reading her brother’s companion book called Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart.
She’s currently halfway through the book and hoping to finish it up within the next 2 weeks. We’re dog owners, so this book really appeals to her. According to her, she gives this book a big two thumbs up!
You can learn more about Finding Gobi by visiting the website online. There are 3 versions of the book & story available. One for adults, one for early readers and then the picture book for young children. You can read my review on Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart, right here on our blog. You can connect with them on Facebook too!
Disclaimer: Jenelle C. has personally reviewed the product listed above. Jenelle has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Jenelle did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering the giveaways. Thanks!
This sounds like a wonderful story that I would like to read and to share with my 8 year old granddaughter. It sounds so inspiring and like such a hopeful story.
Looks like a very good book for kids and adults. I’ll see if my library carries it.
I love true stories and animal stories so I know we would all love this book in our house. I had not heard of this book before I read about it on your blog thank you for sharing.