My Dog and I

A review of My Dog and I by Luca Tortolini

Published on March 14, 2024

My Dog and I is a lighthearted and quirky story about friendships that are one of a kind. It takes a special someone to see past appearances and beyond our differences, yet to the young heroine brought to life by Luca Tortolini and Felicita Sala, it’s something that comes naturally.

My Dog and I
Luca Tortolini
Illustrated by Felicita Sala

Milky Way Picture Books
$25.99
cloth
48pp
9781990252303

A girl’s wish to have a dog comes true one fortuitous day after finding one in the park, alone and lost. From the get-go, it’s clear to readers that the dog is not a dog, but in fact, a big brown bear. While everyone else seems terrified by the bear, the companions are inseparable as they ride the bus, go on long walks, and enjoy a cup of tea while on picnics. As this unspoken bond strengthens, the story feels all the cozier thanks to the rich hues of blue and mauve watercolour that dominate Sala’s art. Friendship, however, isn’t only about being together and having a jolly time. Sometimes, we must part ways, if only for a short while.

As feelings of joy and togetherness come and go, readers understand that eventually, so do feelings of sadness and loneliness. What My Dog and I shows us is that along the way, new friends appear in our lives (in this case, a small, gentle cat *wink*), and when we least expect it, old friends will return because a true connection always holds up to the test of time.mRb

Phoebe Yì Lǐng is a freelance writer, editor, and full-time explorer. She currently works with the Nunavik Inuit community as a Gladue writer and sometimes spends her time dabbling in experimental performance or marvelling at the complexities of intra/interpersonal communication.