On the night before the first day of school, a pack of stray dogs moves
into Molly's head. They are friendly, but a bit wild. They scamper
through her thoughts, yap at the door to her dreams, and scratch at her
brain, begging to be let out. So Molly starts to draw them.
When Molly draws dogs, she feels better--but not everyone can see the
value of her strange habit. Her teacher tells her to focus. A special
tutor urges her to concentrate. But Molly can't erase the dogs, even if
she wants to. As her anxiety peaks, Molly runs away. Once she is found,
safe and sound, people around Molly realize the protective power of her
pack and how the dogs help tame her troubled feelings.
Inspired by the Japanese folktale, The Boy Who Drew Cats, this story
celebrates the healing powers of art and imagination while touching on
important issues of anxiety, mental health, and ways to cope with
emotions.