On the Texas frontier, a boy reluctantly takes in a stray yellow dog who becomes his family's protector
A boy and his dog on the frontier
In the late 1860s, in the Texas hill country, fourteen-year-old Travis Coates must be the man of the family while his father drives cattle to Kansas. One day a big, ugly yellow stray dog steals the family's meat, and Travis wants nothing to do with him. His little brother, Arliss, adores the dog, and Old Yeller soon proves to be brave, loyal and indispensable.
Who will enjoy it
Readers aged about nine and up and adults who love classic animal stories and coming-of-age tales, ready for an emotional ending.
What you will get
A moving, beautifully simple classic about a boy, his loyal dog and the hard lessons of growing up, sure to touch readers of every age.
Old Yeller Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Children’s Books · Dogs · Frontier life · Coming of age
Length
144 pages · ≈ 4 h
More about this book
Travis tells the story looking back, in a plain, warm voice. He works hard to plow, plant corn, mark wild hogs and protect the cabin, and at first he is annoyed by the yellow dog's thieving habits. But Old Yeller proves his worth again and again: he saves Little Arliss from a furious mother bear, fights wild hogs that injure Travis, and guards Mama against danger. Travis comes to love him deeply.
The book offers a vivid picture of frontier life: the chores, the dangers of wild animals and disease, and the self-reliance of a family alone while the father is away. When a dangerous illness spreads among the animals of the area, Old Yeller is exposed while defending the family, and Travis must make a heartbreaking decision. The ending is famously sad, but it is handled with tenderness, and Travis learns that life can still bring new joy after loss. The book is short and suitable for reading aloud, though some children will need comfort at the end.
Simple, powerful and unforgettable. About 144 pages in the Harper Perennial paperback.
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