Selvakumar Knew Better

by: Virginia Kroll; Illustrated by Xiaojun Li

Published by: Shen's Books

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

Author, Virginia Kroll saw a story in the newspaper about Dinakaran, a seven-year-old boy in India who was saved from the December 2004 tsunami by the family dog. She was so moved by the story that she decided to write Selvakumar Knew Better.

Selvakumar Knew Better is the heartwarming story of the love of a dog for his human family. It brings to life the terrifying drama of the tsunami in a way that will not frighten children.

It was a December day like many others in southern India. The Ramakrishnan family did what they did each and every day. Papa fished while Mama made breakfast for the children. Only Selvakumar, the family dog, knew that it was not a day like all others. He was listless and alert for the sounds he knew were coming.

Suddenly a roaring sound filled the air, but no one knew what it was. Selvakumar knew and wanted to run, but he didn't want to leave his human family. Papa saw the tsunami from a nearby rooftop and shouted for his family to run.

Mama grabbed her two young sons and instructed her child, Dinakaran, to follow her up the hill. But the roar of the tsunami drowned out her words. He huddled in a corner of the house. Dinakaran was in the path of the storm and a few minutes from death. But Selvakumar pulled and tugged and dragged Dinakaran outside. The boy and dog ran for their life, never stopping until they reached safety. Selvakumar, the family dog, gave Dinakaran the gift of life.

Armchair Interviews says: Shen's Books will donate a portion of the proceeds from Selvakumar Knew Better to Give2Asia's Tsunami Recovery Fund. http://www.give2asia.org