The Blessing of the Animals

Jared, a Jewish boy, faces a dilemma about whether to take his dog Shayna to receive a Catholic blessing at the annual St. Francis Festival at the nearby Catholic Church. He consults with his mother, who suggests polling opinions from four people, and Jared speaks with his great-grandfather, father, a Holocaust survivor, and a rabbi to gather diverse perspectives. Ultimately, Jared must decide for himself, and the book follows his thoughtful and personal journey to make this decision. The story, aimed at middle-grade readers, features unique hand-designed chapter titles and full-page illustrations by the author.