Hooper Finds a Family: A Hurricane Katrina Dog's Survival Tale

Winner of the Christopher Award and Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award

He's endearing. He's funny. He's a survivor.

In this moving tale of adventure and triumph based on a true story, meet Hooper, the tenacious puppy who makes an incredible journey in search of home.

Here comes Hooper, one plucky, spunky dog whose warm spirit and goofy personality are irresistible. Hooper tells his own dramatic rescue tale after being left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and taking a daring trip from New Orleans to New York to meet his new family.

He tells of the terrifying force of Katrina, his trials in the shelter, and being the new dog on the block in a city far from home. As Hooper struggles to find his place, he learns to overcome his fear of water and faces down feisty squirrels as well as the resident bully and top dog in his new neighborhood.

“A heartwarming story about moving forward after trauma and loss by making space for new loved ones and new possibilities.” —Kirkus

“Paley fills her gentle first novel with engaging animal characters. Readers may be similarly moved to stand up to their fears.” —Publishers Weekly

After surviving Hurricane Katrina, how does one little dog find the courage to face a new city, a new family, and a new life?

• Based on a True Story: Follow the incredible real-life journey of a puppy left homeless by Hurricane Katrina who travels from New Orleans to New York City.
• Survival and Adventure: From facing down floods and bobcats to navigating a scary animal shelter, Hooper’s tale is one of true tenacity and hope.
• Finding a New Family: Hooper must win over his new family, especially a grumpy dad still mourning the loss of their last dog, Hammer.
• Overcoming Fear: Join Hooper as he learns to conquer his fear of water after the storm and stand up to the neighborhood dog park bully.

Jane Paley has enjoyed a career as a writer and independent documentary producer. She was director of community relations for ABC Television, and her ABC Notebook educational programs were awarded an Emmy and a National Education Association Award. As a partner in Paley-Price Productions, she wrote and produced numerous family-oriented programs for HBO, PBS, and Lucasfilm, among others. Paley is an assistant professor in the Division of Mass Communication at St. John's University in Queens, New York. She and Hooper are active participants in several animal-related services, including Labs4rescue, the organization that brought them together.