Hello, Goodbye, I Love You: The Story of Aloha a Guide Dog for the Blind Book

When I picked out this book, I just thought it was the story of a boy raising a puppy to be a guide dog. When I discovered that it was about a boy raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind, the school that trained my previous and current guide dogs, I got pretty excited.
Then I started reading--and couldn't stop crying! I could relate to so many of the characters and their experiences on a deeply personal level. Partnering with a guide dog is a process, and like any intimate, long-term relationship, it reaches places in the heart that little else can short of marriage, parenthood, or once-in-a-lifetime friendships. Going into combat might also make this list.
Diego, a teenager in a small Portland, OR, suburb, decides to raise a puppy because it sounds interesting. He's also hoping it will help him overcome his shyness. His best friend also decides to raise a pup.
The boys are paired with sister puppies, Aloha and Alma. Their chapters alternate with those of the woman who will eventually receive a guide dog.
The book is short enough for anyone to read, from kids to adults. It provides a realistic portrait of what puppies in training must learn, as well as the deeply emotional experiences of everyone involved of shaping the puppies into potential guides.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about what guide dogs do, how they're trained, and the way a guide dog partner has an impact on the life of the blind person who receives one.
I salute and thank everyone who raises a puppy. It is a gift of selfless love and service and one of the most challenging things to do. Sometimes, when you love something unconditionally, you must let them go for them to flourish, and puppy raisers do this again and again.
I would not have my wonderful partner, Stardust, without the people who loved her and taught her. Even if you only donate a dollar or two to a guide dog school, know that your contribution does make a difference.