A hopeful look at the power of imagination in the face of loneliness and disappointment. Nino doesn't have a dog, but he likes to imagine that he does. His imaginary dog chases squirrels and plays in the lake with him. His imaginary dog licks the tears off Nino's face and helps Nino feel less lonely while his dad is traveling. But when Nino gets a real dog, it's not quite what he expected. As he spends more time with his dog, though, Nino learns how to be content with what he has, but that doesn't stop him from continuing to dream. Named to best of the year lists by Booklist , Publishers Weekly , and the Huffington Post , this acclaimed book beautifully depicts the art of finding a balance between imagination and reality.