Reader's Leader

What caught my attention here was that this is a hardback, and I didn't realize the publisher had ever issued them.

I see that the company is older than I had realized. The look is cheap, and I would guess this came close to the end of hardback editions.

On the back cover—

This seal/logo appears inside, where it's more apparent that the children are not romping to church, but are riding a magic carpet...

The subject at hand—

From the author—

Getting a look at page one...

...I had assumed that Jimmy was beamed at the ballgame. But it happens on July 5, when a kid finds and throws an unexploded firecracker, and it hits Jimmy.

After his release from the hospital Jimmy will have new lessons to begin learning...

Jimmy goes off to guide-dog school, where he's also taught daily life skills. When he comes home with Leader, there will be trials and tribulations. To attend his previous school, Jimmy will be forced to leave Leader during the day. The dog will accompany Jimmy's return to his Boy Scout troop, but resentful Mike (the kid who threw the firecracker) is there, too. After Mike repeatedly teases Leader, the dog bites him and is quarantined. Ultimately, Jimmy and Mike will make peace, and Leader will be cleared to come home (instead of the other possible outcome Jimmy is told to prepare for).

As the conclusion draws near, plucky Jimmy has learned the many coping skills he will need in life. A Scout trip follows, during which Leader not only saves Mike from drowning, but guides a group of lost boys back to camp.

At their next meeting, the scoutmaster gives a speech to recap Jimmy's accomplishments, "reminding the patrol that in spite of his blindness Jimmy was going to public school, selling newspapers and making money at it, and now had kept up with the best of them on a camp-out with the troop." Suggesting Leader deserves "an honorary life-saving award," he hands Jimmy a piece of blue ribbon—

"Put this around the dog's neck and you can demonstrate how good you are at tying a butterfly bow."

Leader sat like a statue while Jimmy tied the ribbon and the boys again applauded.

"Sir!" Mike spoke up when the noise had subsided. "I move that we adopt Leader as our mascot and that we change our name to the "'Dog Star Patrol.'"

The Scouts cheer and pass the motion, then gather round to pet Leader. When the dog soon nudges him that it's time to go home, Jimmy lets the gang know

—"He'll make a swell mascot in his spare time, but he knows his main job is being four-legged eyes for me."

Then, moving toward the door, with a wide smile and a cheerful wave of his hand, Jimmy gave the command—"Forward!"

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