The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog

Dave Barry, . . Putnam, $15.95 (117pp) ISBN 978-0-399-15413-3

A charmed dog, a talking pig and a murdered vicar.

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog Dave Barry . Putnam , $15.95 (128p) ISBN 978-0-399-15413-3

Pulitzer Prize–winning humorist Barry (Big Trouble ) spins a nostalgic tale about a boy and his dog on Christmas Eve, 1960. Junior high schooler Doug Barnes is playing a shepherd in the Christmas pageant at the bat-infested Episcopal Church. When the Barnes family dog dies on Christmas Eve, Doug and his father end up adopting a shelter dog, Walter, a charmer who manages to wreck the pageant. Accompanying Barry's snappy narrative are photos and goofy advertisements from the period. Barry is a crowd pleaser and doesn't disappoint with this tale. (Nov.)

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