Steven J. Carino - Oliver for Young Readers: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together

Oliver for Young Readers

2021 Steven J. Carino

Tommy Nelson, PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

ISBN 978-1-4002-2357-2 (audiobook)

ISBN 978-1-4002-2356-5 (eBook)

Epub Edition December 2020 9781400223565

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Carino, Steven J, author. | Tresniowski, Alex, author. | Teplow, Rotem, illustrator.

Title: Oliver for young readers : the true story of a stolen dog and the humans he brought together / Steven J. Carino and Alex Tresniowski ; illustration by Rotem Teplow.

Description: Nashville, TN :

Thomas Nelson, 2021. | Audience: Ages 8-12 |

Summary: An inspirational true story about a dog and the community who saved him, Oliver for Young Readers by Steven Carino and Alex Tresniowski reminds kids that their own acts of kindness have the power to change lives-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020036691 (print) | LCCN 2020036692 (ebook) | ISBN 9781400223541 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781400223565 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Lost dogs--United States--Anecdotes--Juvenile literature. | Dog owners--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Human-animal relationships--Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC SF427.6 .C375 2021 (print) | LCC SF427.6 (ebook) | DDC 636.70092/9--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036691

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036692

ISBN 978-1-4002-2354-1

Written by Steven J. Carino and Alex Tresniowski

Illustration of Oliver by Rotem Teplow

Cover photograph by Shaina Fishman

Printed in the USA

21 22 23 24 25 PC/LSCC 6 5 4 3 2 1

Mfr: PC/LSCC / Crawfordsville, IN / December 2020 / PO #12040407

To my mother, Marie Carino, for always
making me feel like your special boy

To my father, Nunzie Carino, for showing
me the value of hard work

To my brother, Frank Carino, for teaching
me all about the love of music

I t was June 2, 1963, and I was waiting impatiently for my fathers car to pull into the driveway of our home in Long Island. My sisters, Nancy and Annette, and my brother Frank were waiting with me. It was such an exciting day for us, and deep down we all hoped the new addition to our family might make things better.

Three days earlier we received word that our brother Steven had finally arrived. Our parents told us over and over that Steven was a very big boy. I was twelve years old, and I took them literally. So as I waited to finally get a look at him, I expected him to be a giant baby.

All my parents meant was that Steven weighed nine pounds, eight ounces, and was twenty-one inches long. So when he finally came home, I could not believe how tiny he was. In an instant I fell madly in love with my baby brother. I felt a deep and immediate bond to him. I attached myself to my mothers hip and helped her take care of Steven in any way I could. I couldnt get enough of him. I have to admit that sometimes when Steven was sleeping, Id sneak into my parents bedroom and wake him up. Then I would scream, Steven is crying. Ill get him!

Over the years, our bond grew stronger. Even as our lives went in different directions, we maintained our special bond. And we still make a point to see each other once a week.

We share so many interests, and one of them is our mutual love of dogs. Stevens many dogs have always meant the world to him, as have mine. Neither of us has children, and we both think of our dogs as our babies. We think of them as our best friendsaside from each other, that is.

On February 12, 2019, two days before Valentines Day, Steven and his dog, Oliver, came to my home for dinner. As usual, Steven and I sat in the kitchen and talked while Oliver sat in my dining room, barking. Steven called for Oliver to come, even though he knew he wouldntfor some strange reason, Oliver was afraid of my dark kitchen floor. Steven tried to bribe him with treats, but it was no use. Oliver refused to budge. Oliver was afraid of a lot of things, and he particularly hated when either Steven or I raised our voices or there were loud sounds. He liked it when things were calm. I think it had to do with Olivers peaceful life on a farm with his best buddy, Steven.

Two days later my home phone rang a little after 11:00 p.m. It was Steven. I knew he liked to stay up late, but he never called after ten. I immediately knew something was wrong, and Steven confirmed it: Oliver was missing.

Oliver, the sweet little dog who helped lift Steven out of the lowest point in his life, who was Stevens best friend and brightest light, who brought him joy and love and purpose and sometimes even the resolve to go on. The dog whose sudden disappearance, I feared, might break Stevens spirit and take away the funny, positive, caring brother I knew and cherished. That was the last thing I ever wanted to happen, and even then, on the day Oliver vanished, I knew we might need a miracle to prevent it. But then, how often do miracles actually happen?

What follows is Stevens story of the incredible events that happened after Oliver disappeared. I was with Steven for most of those events. (I have been with him for many of the highs and lows of his life, and he has always been there for me too.) In many ways I am still my mothers little helper, doing what I can to look after my baby bother. I wouldnt want it any other way.

As the story unfolds, you may recognize something I call invisible threads. I think these are the unbreakable bonds that connect human beings to each other, no matter who they are or where they come from. You may marvel at the power of communityof the incredible things that are possible when people come together in bad times. I hope you will see the love and gentleness of my brother, just as I do, and I hope you will learn something from his story, just as I did.

And, finally, I hope the story of Steven and Oliver leads you to be extra thankful for your own invisible thread connections that bind you to the people or pets that fill your heart with love.

LAURA SCHROFF, AUTHOR OF #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AN INVISIBLE THREAD

Y ou know that feeling when something bad happens and for a minute you think you might be dreaming? Like it didnt actually happen, or maybe it was someones idea of a joke? Well, thats exactly the feeling I got when I realized my beloved pet dog, Olivermy best friend in the whole worldwas missing. I thought,