This is an unusual idea for a story but it has rather a beautiful message with glorious illustrations. It's the work of a creative partnership based in Cambridge though the author is originally from Guatemala and the illustrator from Bulgaria.

Elki is a stray dog who is befriended by a group of children. They all play together during the day, but Elki has to stay outside, alone, at night because dogs aren't allowed in the block of flats where the children live.

One day Elki disappears and is later found injured. How can the community look after Elki?

This is a book about showing kindness, feeling empathy for another's circumstances, working together as a community, and how, though we may not speak the same language (dog vs human!), we can still communicate.

It's a book full of beautiful pictures and a lovely story, which is based on a memory from the illustrator's childhood. She and the author can both be found on the internet reading from the book and there are activities as well as teaching resources on the publisher's website here. Aimed at children aged 4+.