Book Description
Now in paperback, AMAZING GRACIE is a moving, funny, and inspirational canine rags-to-riches story. Tears will stain the pages as you read about Gracie, says USA Today. The Chicago Tribune advises, If you're short on inspiration, read Amazing Gracie. You don't have to be obsessed with dogs to love this story (Philadelphia Enquirer), Two paws up (Portland Oregonian), humorous yet poignant (ASPCA Animal Watch). Booklist comments that Dog-loving teens, especially reluctant readers, will eat this up. AMAZING GRACIE was nominated as a Young Adult Choice for 2002 by The International Reading Association-proof that it's a great crossover book. Gracie was a deaf and partially blind albino Great Dane with a delicate constitution and a penchant for small miracles. Dan is the man-sad over the loss of his last dog and trapped in a dead-end job-who adopted her. Three Dog Bakery is the burgeoning and much-publicized chain of canine bakeries that, inspired by Gracie, Dan and his friend Mark founded. A love story, AMAZING GRACIE describes how Dan saves Gracie, the loneliest pup in the litter, then how, over the next ten years, Gracie saves Dan and Mark, teaching them the real meaning of happiness. There's the moment of meeting, when Gracie gets to her feet like a clumsy foal and nuzzles Dan's nose. Gracie's romance with the pint-size Boston Terrier next door. And the eureka moment (born of Gracie's anorexia-inducing dislike for commercial dog food): Dan teaches himself to cook and within three days begins baking the dog cookies that will transform their lives. AMAZING GRACIE is a dog-lover's treat.


About the Author
Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff are the co-founders of Three Dog Bakery and co-authors of Short Tails and Treats from Three Dog Bakery and Three Dog Bakery Cookbook. They live with their dogs, Claire, Dottie Mae, and Joe, in Kansas City, Missouri.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

It's a love story. A story of salvation. And a rags-to-riches story about a dog-yes, a dog-who launched Three Dog Bakery, the burgeoning international retail chain with 31 stores and counting. There is Dan, trapped in a dead-end job and grieving the loss of his pet of eighteen years. And there is Gracie, a deaf and partially blind albino Great Dane with a delicate constitution and penchant for small miracles. In the middle of a bitter Kansas City winter, Dan would save the loneliest pup in the litter, Gracie. And over the next ten years, Gracie would save Dan-helping him learn the meaning of happiness.

A moving, funny, inspirational tale, AMAZING GRACIE is a dog-lover's treat. There is the moment of meeting-Gracie getting to her feet like a clumsy foal and nuzzling Dan's nose. The first day in a new house-Dan's roommate and business partner Mark calling the police thinking a burglar was trapped in the back room. Gracie's romance with her next-door neighbor, a Boston Terrier named Byron. And the eureka moment-born of necessity (Gracie's anorexia-producing dislike for commercial dog food), Dan teaches himself how to cook, and within three days is baking her the cookies that will transform their lives. Though several more years would pass before The WallStreet Journal discovered Three Dog Bakery, Oprah ate one of their dog cookies on national television, and Gracie and the gang appeared on Conan O'Brien, the germ of their success was right there-in this heartfelt relationship of a man and a dog.

FROM THE CRITICS

Carol Memmott - USA Today

Is there any dog that can melt the heart of a true dog lover more than one with physical disabilities? Tears will stain the pages as you read about Gracie, the deaf, partly bind albino Great Dane puppy/child of the co-founders of Three Dog Bakery in Kansas City. Indeed, the bakery's start-up can be credited to poor Gracie, who developed anorexia and inspired her parents to create tantalizing dog treats.

USA Today

Tears will stain the pages as you read about Gracie.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale manages to both tickle the funny bone and touch the heart.

Ellen Kanner - Dogfancy