Annie Loses Her Leg but Finds Her Way

By Sandra J. Philipson

Book Overview

Based on an actual incident, this is both a poignant and funny story of a nine year old English Springer Spaniel who loses her front leg to cancer. Annie and her high-spirited brother Max experience her illness and recovery in very different ways. Max is in denial and Annie is in a state of sad acceptance. It isn't until they meet Samantha, a three legged Golden Retriever, that they both begin to heal. This is a book about love, loss, friendship and optimism that is appropriate for children of all ages and the young in spirit.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 192982100X
• ISBN13: 9781929821006
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Llc
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Highly recommended way to get kids used to the idea

When our dog was scheduled for amputation of a front leg due to bone cancer, we read this book with our nine-year-old son, to get him used to the idea. The main character's companion expresses all the questions and fears that a child normally has, and gives the amputee a chance to say, basically, we all wish things were different, but I'm going to be OK. It's very well written and illustrated, and after reading this book and talking about it a lot, our son was ready to act positive and upbeat when we brought our dog home. Key word: "act." We all agreed that it's OK to leave the room and cry if that's how we feel, but we need to be upbeat around our dog, for her sake. As it happened, our dog gave us ample reason to be genuinely upbeat, and there have been only a few bouts of sadness. This book made the adjustment much easier for our son. Highly recommended.

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have met the author when she visited my school she is very nice, My teacher read us this story because the author came and everybody loved it. It teaches you people do get better. It is a great book for children and teaches a great lesson.

"Annie Loses Her Leg but Finds Her Way"......ALL THUMBS UP!!

I had heard about the book on a television program which showed how this book was being read in hospitals to children who were cancer patients in order to help them understand the reasons for surgery, treatment, etc. So I purchased this book for my 4 year old daughter after learning that I had myself had breast cancer, and required a mastectomy.In this book, Annie, a dog, gets cancer. Her owners take her to the veterinarian for surgery. When Annie comes home, she only has three legs. Max, her dog brother, doesn't understand this. Annie explains that she lost her leg in order to save her life!This book is wonderful! It really helped my daughter understand my situation in a way that only good children's literature can!(I am a 14 year veteran public school teacher, by the way, so I know good children's literature when I see it!)If you, your child, a family member, your pet, or anyone else you know is going through this horrible disease, get this book and read it to your child!(I am happy to report that I am now cancer-free, by the way!)

Dog-gone Cancer

I teach a summer class about different dog breeds. I use episodes of Breed All About It from Animal Planet channel. The episode was about Springer Spaniels, and this book as well as the author were featured. This inspired me to purchase the books for an after-school program I run. I love dogs and I am also an EMT, this is a great way to incoporate both of my interests into the program and help those children who made need to deal with this issue at a point in their lives.

What a wonderful book!

My kids and I met the author at a book signing in Chagrin Falls, OH and she is a neat lady. She brought her dogs, Annie and Max, and sold this book and the other about Max. They are great books for kids and teach great lessons. In this book, Annie loses her leg to cancer but recovers and teaches kids that you don't have to be perfect to be happy and live a great life. Get this book and Max's Wild Goose Chase for your kids!