This delightful tale is a fictionalized incident in the lives of Norman Rockwell and Scotty Ingram, a child who often posed for Rockwell’s illustrations. In this story, Rockwell is having trouble finding exactly the right model to pose with Scotty for a series of four calendar illustrations. The sought-after model turns out to be a dog — but the canine shouldn’t be too small or too large.

None of the dogs Rockwell sees in his pleasant New England town of Stockbridge quite fill the bill. Then Scotty finds a friendly stray beagle, and the little dog turns out to be perfect for their pictures. But the beagle has a surprise for them both — a surprise that adds a truly memorable touch to Norman Rockwell’s fourth and final calendar painting. This charming story is complemented with attractive illustrations on every page, including reproductions of Rockwell’s four calendar illustrations of the boy and his dog.

Loren Spiotta-DiMare is an award-winning writer who specializes in animal and art subjects. She has written three previous picture storybooks for young readers, as well as three pet reference books for adults. She lives in Tewksbury, New Jersey.

Cliff Miller has been painting portraits and illustrating books, book covers, movie billboards, and other products for more than 25 years. His clients have included Miramax Films, Warner Brothers, Henson Associates, Inc., Lucas Films Ltd., and many of America’s leading book publishers. He lives and works in Seaford, New York.

Appropriate for children ages 4–8.

Author — Loren Spiotta-DiMare.
Illustrator — Cliff Miller.

Hardcover. 32 pages. 10¾" × 8¾" (27 cm × 22 cm).