While it is difficult to rate which of the books illustrated by Gennady Spirin is my favorite, this one is one at the top.

Anyone who has loved, and lost, a beloved pet will relate to this book, told from the perspective of the dog who becomes misplaced from his wood carver master and the son who loves the dog dearly.

Kashtanka. the lovely dog, lives in a warm house with cabinetmaker Luka Alexandrych and his son. One day, as Kashtanka follows his master and son, he becomes lost in the snow. As the day turns to night, the dog despairs and cries while curled up in a doorstep.

He is rescued from a circus owner who provides warm and food, and teaches Kashtanka how to perform tricks. While happy, the dog misses his original family. He learns the tricks quickly. On his first night of performance, as luck occurs, Luka Alexandrych and son are in the audience of the circus.

Now, Kashtanka must decide to stay with the circus friends, or to return to his home. As his original owners leave the circus and go out into the snow, Kahtanka quickly follows behind, and is sure to stay close by. ( )

Kashtanka is a sweet dog who has been separated from her owner, the cabinet maker, and roams the cold streets. A man finds Kashtanka and takes her back to his house. This man is a clown and also has a pet duck and cat that he trains to perform in the circus. One night the clown's duck, Ivan Ivanych, dies and Kashtanka must fill the Ivan's place. As soon as Kashtanka is brought to the circus ring with the clown to perform the first trick her past owners see her and quickly call her name. Kashtanka is reunited with the cabinetmaker and the clow and his circus become a distant memory. ( )