Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart is an adorable picture book based on a true story. The author did a great job of making the story and illustrations pleasing to young children. There is also a book for older children called Finding Gobi: Young Reader's Edition. Dion Leonard is running a 177 mile race of the Gobi Desert. He meets this little dog partway through the race and realizes that he is running with him. He names him Gobi after the desert. They complete the journey together with some trials and tribulations. When the race ends, Dion adopts Gobi and takes him home to Scotland to be part of the family with his wife and cat. I loved the illustrations in this book. They are large, colourful and fun. They will certainly hold the young child's attention. This book shows the plight of abandoned animals in a positive way. Everyone cannot adopt an abandoned animal from somewhere else in the world, but they can do it in their own communities from their local shelters. The book also stresses perseverance and fulfilling your promises. A great story for a family library, primary classroom, schools or public libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.


This is one of those stories adults will love reading to kids because it’s so positive and upbeat with a real world happy ending. ( )

When I read the story behind this book, I was intrigued. A little stray dog followed a marathon runner across the Gobi desert? That sounds like quite a dog. I shared this book with my daughter (who is 8) and she loved it. Not only are the pictures of the pup cute, but the story is inspiring. Named after the desert he was found in,

I shared this book with my daughter (who is 8) and she loved it. Not only are the pictures of the pup cute, but the story is inspiring. Named after the desert he was found in, Gobi ran alongside Dion. And while the goal was to win the marathon, Dion revised that goal to include Gobi as his running partner. The story covers moments like running through rushing water, extreme weather and limited sources of food and water. When one person shows kindness to another, it's wonderful. When a group pulls together and shows kindness, it's amazing. The story is uplifting and encouraging and hopefully, will show that we can find friends in the most unusual of places, if we only keep our eyes (and hearts) open.

This picture book is bright and colorful, with a great story. It would be the perfect read for a young child up to a beginning reader. And who doesn't love a story with a puppy?

I hope they managed to bring this to the big screen. My son loves true story films. This would be one he'd watch (me too!).

BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. ( )

Based on a true story, this beautifully illustrated picture book will beguile the young and young at heart with an adorable story about a man, a dog and the desert.

Gobi won over Dion Leonard’s heart as he was running a multi-day marathon in the Gobi Desert and the story of how Gobi then became a part of Dion’s journey to the finish line and his family won over the world.

Leonard does a great job of condensing the story down to something that will hold the attention span of young children with pictures that will surely embrace their attention with its vivid color pallet and eye pleasing designs.

This is one of those stories adults will love reading to kids because it’s so positive and upbeat with a real world happy ending. ( )