Strongheart: The World's First Movie Star Dog

by Emily Arnold McCully, Emily Arnold McCully (Illustrator)

Overview

Strongheart may have been a movie star, but he wasn't always famous. He started out as a police dog who could sniff out criminals and march like a soldier, but he didn't know how to have fun. Larry Trimble was a Hollywood director who wanted to put Strongheart in his movies—not just as a pet but as the lead actor. Larry taught him to play with toys and walk like a regular dog. In his films, Strongheart brought audiences to tears. He was a sensation! But when Strongheart's military training led to trouble, was his career over?
Set in the early days of silent movies, Emily Arnold McCully's extraordinary story about a real-life hero will capture the hearts of dog lovers and movie fans everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466885318
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	11/11/2014
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	49 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Emily Arnold McCully is a Caldecott medalist known for bringing history to life. She is the author/illustrator of the critically acclaimed Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse, as well as The Secret Cave: Discovering Lascaux, Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries, and the Caldecott Medal–winner Mirette on the High Wire. She divides her time between New York City and Chatham, New York.

Editorial Reviews

McCully…has done a meticulous job of recreating the quicksilver world of that bygone media age. The megaphones, bobbed hair and jodhpurs are all here. And in Etzel, a dog born and bred to be strong and brave, she has given young readers a rare portrait of a Hollywood hero who was just as heroic off-screen as on.

The New York Times Book Review - Leonard S. Marcus

10/06/2014
As she did in Wonder Horse, McCully offers a concise, evocative account of a talented, real-life animal. Raised as a police dog in Germany (“He was bred to be alert, brave, strong, and perfectly loyal”), Etzel was brought to the U.S. in 1920, before the heydays of Rin Tin Tin or Lassie. He was adopted by Larry Trimble, a Hollywood movie director and animal trainer, and his screenwriter wife, who had been searching for the right dog to feature in a silent film. The couple taught the disciplined dog how “to learn to relax and have fun,” gave him the screen name of Strongheart, and cast him as the lead in The Silent Call, the first movie to star a dog. McCully’s watercolors (and the story in general) focus more on Strongheart’s evolution into a dog who can enjoy playing (while still fiercely defending his turf) than on the filming of The Silent Call or Strongheart’s later movies. An author’s note offers backstory for this heartwarming tale, and film reel–style endpapers replicate a few of Strongheart’s on-screen moments. Ages 4–8. Agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

. . . animal-loving audiences will appreciate learning about an old-school canine star.” —BCCB

“Fans of dogs, movies, and dogs in movies will like this one.” —Booklist

“Caldecott medalist McCully sheds light on a forgotten pioneer.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Children will enjoy this sweet story, and dog lovers especially will find themselves revisiting this book time and again - and falling in love with the star, just as audiences did decades ago.” —School Library Journal

“* A winsome celebration of an extraordinary man and the immeasurable effects of kindness.” —Booklist, starred review on Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse

“* This book is sure to grab young readers.” —School Library Journal, starred review on Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse

“Young animal lovers will appreciate this as a readaloud as well as a readalone.” —BCCB on Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse

“A fine portrait of accomplishment by man and beast.” —The Horn Book on Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse

“As she did in Wonder Horse, McCully offers a concise, evocative account of a talented, real-life animal.” —Publishers Weekly on Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smartest Horse

From the Publisher

09/01/2014
K-Gr 2—Chances are that some children of today may know who Lassie or Rin Tin Tin were, but it's likely that few, if any, have heard of Strongheart, the first movie star dog of Hollywood films. Born in Germany, Strongheart, originally named Etzel, was sent to the United States to be adopted after World War I, when his police dog skills were no longer needed. Larry Trimble, a movie director and animal trainer, discovered the German Shepherd in a New York kennel and realized that Etzel possessed incredible intelligence, a great work ethic, and the ability to discern threat from benevolence. The dog proved to be a director's dream: he could project appropriate emotions, follow commands, and conduct risky stunts. His screen name became Strongheart, and he gained a worldwide following. McCully's writing flows easily. Her rich watercolor with pen-and-ink illustrations depict "Roaring Twenties" fashions perfectly and convey Strongheart's range of emotions endearingly. Children will enjoy this sweet story, and dog lovers especially will find themselves revisiting this book time and again—and falling in love with this star, just as audiences did decades ago.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID

School Library Journal

2014-09-03
Caldecott medalist McCully sheds light on a forgotten pioneer. Growing up in World War I Germany, Etzel von Oeringen—later known as "Strongheart"—is trained as a police dog. After the war, he's discarded and sent to a kennel in the United States, where he's found by Hollywood screenwriter Jane and her director husband, Larry. When Larry abruptly enters the yard of the kennel, Etzel attacks. Understandably frightened, Jane screams and runs, but her unmannerly husband demands she, "HALT AND KEEP STILL!"—a directive followed by both Jane and Etzel. Given McCully's penchant for illustrating stories about strong girls and women, it's particularly confusing that Larry's disturbing behavior isn't examined. Larry believes Etzel can act if he can learn to relax, which Larry "teaches" by pushing Etzel over repeatedly and shouting, "Play!" If readers can endure the unlikable owner and struggle through the halting pace, they'll learn of Strongheart's rise to fame to become a well-loved screen star. McCully uses bright colors to offset the muted tones of Strongheart's coat, but so much vibrancy can be distracting.While it's laudable that McCully has ensured this story isn't lost to the annals of history, it's not her strongest visual or written work. (Picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews