Hurry Home, Candy by Meindert DeJong

Meindert DeJong

Meindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...

 is a children's novel about a dog. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak

Maurice Bernard Sendak is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963.-Early life:...

, the book was first published in 1953 and was a Newbery Honor

Newbery Medal

The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...

recipient in 1954.

Plot summary

Hurry Home, Candy tells the story of a young dog named Candy, chronicling his life through several traumatic and joyful events. Told from the dog's perspective, the reader experiences Candy's separation from his mother and being brought to a cold kitchen floor with the ever-present threat of being hit with a broom. Later in the story, Candy becomes a beloved pet to two small children, only to later become separated from them. His quest to survive and be re-united with his new family constitutes the rest of the narrative.