AWARD-WINNING DUO: Tortolini and Sala are both winners of the Premio Andersen Award, one of Italy’s top children’s literature prizes. Sala is also a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book recipient, whose recent works, Be a Tree and Dark on Light, have earned Kirkus starred reviews in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022).

BOUNDLESS LOVE: The main character’s unique perception of animals offers parents and educators a starting point to discuss the nondiscriminatory nature of showing love and caring for others.
BEAR-SIZED HUMOR: The absurdity and humor of the girl’s “dog” living out everyday situations will have young readers chuckling with delight.
SOCIAL STAR: Illustrator Felicita Sala has nearly 71,000 followers on Instagram.

My Dog and I is a delightfully imaginative picture book about a little girl who’s always wanted a dog, showing us that love knows no bounds, from award-winning creators, author Luca Tortolini and illustrator Felicita Sala.
 
Out for a walk one day, a girl stumbles upon a lost “dog.” Having always wanted a dog of her own, she brings the “little” creature home and takes care of it in secret, hiding it from her parents. Proud of her new “dog,” she plays with it, feeds it, and even takes it around town—much to the chagrin of the townspeople and other kids who have been mean to her in the past.

But one day, when her “little” friend gets the urge to chase something and ends up wandering off, she finds herself with too much sadness to bear. Will she ever find her “dog” again?
 
Contributor Bio(s)
 
Felicita Sala is the self-taught illustrator of several picture books, including Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari and The Hideout by Susanna Mattiangeli, as well as her own book of recipes for children, What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street? She grew up between Italy and Australia and now lives in Rome, Italy, with her family.