The Dog Who Thought He Was Santa Book

The Nose Knows

Don Franklin's dog, Frank, is a bloodhound, so he can smell when something's wrong. And a lot seems to be wrong in Don's family. Mom and Dad are worried about money, especially with Christmas right around the corner and the threat of the mine closing. Don's worried because he's just discovered how dangerous Dad's job in the mine is. And they're all worried about getting Don's little sister, Susan, what she wants for Christmas, when she won't tell anyone but Santa Claus what it is. It looks as if Christmas might not be all that merry at the Franklins' house.

But Christmas is a time for miracles, whether seen from a boy's perspective or a dog's — and The Dog Who Thought He Was Santa looks at the Franklins' Christmas miracle from both.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Pervasive worry plagues young and old when labor unrest and an imminent strike threaten an Oklahoma coal-mining town during the 1957 Christmas season. The tale is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of 11-year-old Don Franklin, whose father works in the mine, and his nosy bloodhound, Frank, who has an uncanny ability to sense human emotion and behavior (including lies). Though the plot is slightly far-fetched, Wallace's folksy tone deftly captures the sense of place and time right down to the tiny town's switchboard-operated telephone. This is a satisfying feel-good story involving a protective pooch and a family Christmas miracle. Dog lovers are sure to enjoy it.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library