Beautiful, detailed, colorful paintings enhance this poignant story of a boy, Joe, and his two dogs. Maggie is older than Joe and, always a calm and good cow dog, she becomes less active as the years go by. Silky shows up as a puppy and, although she is filled with boundless energy, becomes good friends with the other two. SPOILER: Maggie dies and Joe and Silky deal with their loss in their own ways. ( )

Joe has spent of his life with Maggie, the family's cow dog. When Joe was eight he adopted a stray dog, Silky, so it's now the three of them. Maggie ages and doesn't follow Joe around as much anymore. Maggie is scared of storms and during one storm she vanishes. Joe finds Maggie's body hidden under the back steps. Both Joe and Silky grieve for Maggie and they find comfort together.