Driven by her own dog Scollon’s book follows a puppy yearning to be picked, urging readers to embrace adoption, kindness, family, and compassion for animals.
What occurs when a puppy who waits patiently for a family starts to question whether he will ever be selected? Author Elizabeth Scollon delves into that deeply human question in The Adventures of Shadow: Finding a Home, a tender children’s book with illustrations by Riley Dosch, inspired by the actual story of Scollon’s dog, Shadow. As one puppy sets out to find his forever home, the book introduces young audiences to courage, patience, friendship, and the idea that every being deserves a place to call their own.
Shadow is a courageous puppy with a generous spirit, but his world is turned upside down when his brother is adopted and he is left behind. Feeling lonely and crushed, Shadow pulls away from the other animals while he anxiously waits for the farm’s Adoption Day. Above all, he longs for someone to see him, pick him, and provide the home he has always imagined. His emotional journey shifts a story about pet adoption into a wider exploration of belonging and family, reminding children that being left behind does not mean they are forgotten.
Scollon decided to create the book because she felt that Shadow’s real story deserved to be told from the very start. Finding a Home launches what she plans to be an ongoing series about his adventures, but its purpose goes beyond just telling stories. Scollon hopes children and families will grasp the importance of choosing adoption and supporting local animal shelters. She urges readers to realize they can make a difference by giving supplies that shelters need, and she intends to donate a portion of each book’s profits to a local shelter. For Scollon, helping animals find loving homes lies at the core of the project.
The story also carries a personal message about what family truly means. Scollon connects Shadow’s experience to her own family, noting that her children are adopted, which reinforces her belief that everyone deserves a home and a family where they know they matter. She especially hopes the book reaches children who have ever felt overlooked or wondered if anyone would ever choose them. Through Shadow, those readers are offered a comforting message: their worth is not determined by how quickly someone recognizes it, and meaningful connections can come after long periods of waiting.
Ultimately, The Adventures of Shadow: Finding a Home is more than just a story about an adorable puppy searching for a family. It is based on a true story that has been turned into a call for compassion toward shelter animals and the organizations that care for them every day. By introducing children to adoption, charitable giving, empathy, and responsible pet ownership, Scollon hopes Shadow’s journey will inspire families to think about how they can help. Behind the adventure lies a simple message that matters for both children and animals: everyone deserves the chance to find a forever home, because family is everything.
The book is available at:
https://a.co/d/0cWRY4ZC
For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:
Elizabeth Scollon
BrightKey PR
nanook121@yahoo.com
