Jill works with me at the Fairhope Public Library. She stopped by the desk the other day to share a children’s book she discovered, and I’m so glad she did. I’m a firm believer in books finding us when we need them. I call it book karma. Not only must the book find us, but we must also read it when the time is just right. Jill found the book, where it should not have been, so she knew, as most librarians do, that it is some sort of cosmic sign. She read it immediately.  

“Aaawwww, loooook at how cuuuute they aaaaare.” Jill pitched a tune and dragged out her syrupy southern vowels, like I imagine she does when she talks to her two bulldogs. She started flipping through the pages of the Easy Reader faster than she talks, which is saying something. The second day I met Jill, she admitted she talks fast. My sister Lynne couldn’t hold a candle to her, and my dad nicknamed her “Motormouth.” The pictures were great, photographs actually, and it’s a true story.

“My friend Sandi’s gonna love this,” I said. The Looks Great Naked author and I were pursuing our MFAs when the book was published in 2010, and I was hoping that she’d somehow missed this book.  Duty called and Jill walked away with the book. I wrote down the title, Little Pink Pup, so I could check it out later.

Several days later, having not written it down, I asked Jill for the title again. In an average week, I get at least 20 book and movie recommendations and suggestions from patrons, staff, through my own reading and watch list, or simply by walking by a cover that looks interesting. (A few items from this week, that I remember are The Tenth Parallel, The Reivers, The Telling Room, A few Seconds of Radiant Filmstrip, Andrew’s Brain, The Girls of Atomic City, Tinkers (Loved it), Natchez Burning, (Author and amputee), The Wolf of Wall Street (Liked it) American Hustle (Loved it for a second time) The Goldfinch, Hi Koo (Liked it).

Little Pink Pup, by Johanna Kerby is a dog book, but it’s also a “twisted tale.” As you know, I’m always looking for books about people and animals with limb differences. While this book is not about amputees, it directly addresses the subject of being different. It offers a poignant lesson about acceptance, not only of others, but of ourselves.

So whether you’re a Jabberjaw or stumped about what to read next, check out Little Pink Pup. The book is available through all booksellers and at many county and city library systems, including St. Johns County in Florida and the Falmouth Public Library in Massachusetts.