Along Came a Dog by Meindert De Jong

First published: 1958; illustrated

Subjects: Animals, emotions, and friendship

Type of work: Novel

Type of plot: Adventure tale

Time of work: Spring

Recommended Ages: 10-13

Locale: A barnyard and a swamp

Principal Characters:

• Joe, a poultry farmer who talks to animals
• Little Red Hen, Joe’s favorite animal because she alone survived a slaughter by wild dogs the previous year
• The dog, a black stray in search of a home

Form and Content

Along Came a Dog, by Meindert De Jong, is a Newbery Honor Book that tells the story of a lonely stray dog who is determined to have a home. He devotes himself to protecting a hen who is the farmer’s favorite and who has recently lost her toes because of the frost. The man, Joe, repeatedly tries to “lose” the dog by driving him away from the farm, but the dog persists in his quest and quietly guards the hen throughout the long nights and while she broods under a willow tree. De Jong portrays the farm as a small community of one man and some animals who finally manage to trust one another.

The story is simple and at times exciting. The hen is often in danger because of her lack of toes, and the dog must be careful not to be seen by Joe. The illustrations by Maurice Sendak add to the text and help young readers visualize the story. The desperate wish of the dog to find a home is easy to relate to, whether the reader enjoys a stable family environment or struggles with a broken home, and the hen’s need to fit into the flock is universal as well.

The Little Red Hen is Joe’s favorite animal because she was the only chicken to survive an attack by wild dogs the year before. The new flock is white, but Joe holds the red hen dear. Unfortunately, when her toes freeze off, Joe is not able to protect her from the frenzied attacks of the flock that come because of her strange appearance and gait. She must fend for herself until the dog comes along and adopts her.

Joe initially distrusts the dog because of the tempting presence of the chickens, and so he drives the dog far away. The dog returns, however, and, unknown to Joe, becomes the Little Red Hen’s guardian. The dog protects the hen, even though Joe believes that the dog has killed the hen and drives him even farther away. Each time that he is driven away, the dog comes back because of his belief that Joe will eventually accept him. When Joe realizes that the dog has been loyal and saved the hen’s chicks from hungry hawks, he welcomes the dog into his home and assures the dog’s place by promising to give him a name.

Critical Context

Animal stories have been a popular form of children’s literature throughout history. From Aesop’s fables to Jack London’s dog stories, there is a long tradition of addressing important issues through the use of animals as characters. Meindert De Jong participated in this tradition, not only with Along Came a Dog but also with many of his other works, including The Last Little Cat (1961), Puppy Summer (1966), and A Horse Came Running (1970). Most of De Jong’s works focus on the themes of loneliness and prejudice.

Although De Jong was seen as an old-fashioned writer toward the end of his career, in his prime he was well known and highly honored. He was awarded several Newbery honors, as well as the Hans Christian Andersen Award for the complete body of his work. His style may be dated, but his themes are universal and his characters—both human and animal—are well developed. He both acknowledges that prejudice exists in the world and offers hope that it can be overcome.