Available Formats
Good Boy
By (Author) Andy Hirsch
Roaring Brook Press
First Second
26th August 2025
16th June 2025
United States
Children
Fiction
Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Modern and contemporary fiction / literature
Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Anthropomorphic / animal stories
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Pets and pet care: Dogs
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Anxiety, depression and self-har
Paperback
208
Width 141mm, Height 202mm, Spine 11mm
358g
Charlie's life is a series of obstacles, and one of them is an uncontrollable urge to barf when his anxiety overwhelms him. Ralph is an unpredictable rescue dog with a lot of energy but very few manners. The two make an unlikely pair but are the best of friends. When Ralph causes a scene by following his boy to school, it's suggested the two join dog agility training group. Ralph is a natural-zipping in, around, and over obstacles at lightning speed. Agility training is a fun way for the pair to bond, but when Charlie even considers joining the other handlers at the big contest, his stomach begins to turn. Can the duo take a leap and cross the finish line
"A nervous boy and an excitable canine bond through dog training... Dog lovers and kids dealing with similar issues as Charlie will appreciate this one." --Kirkus Reviews
"Guts meets PAWS in a graphic novel about anxiety and agility that will be popular in all graphic novel collections." --School Library Journal
"This moving story about friendship, anxiety, and the highs and lows of dog ownership is sure to find wide appeal, especially for kids who liked Raina Telgemeier's Guts and Megan Wagner Lloyd's Allergic." --Booklist
"Hilarious and heartfelt, Good Boy explores the highs and lows of being a kid and being a dog. This sweet story reminds readers that, deep down, we're all good, regardless of our struggles." --Megan Wagner Lloyd, author of Allergic
Andy Hirsch is a cartoonist living in Dallas, Texas. A frequent contributor to First Second's hit Science Comics and History Comics series, he writes and illustrates graphic nonfiction covering everything from dogs to spaceflight, including dogs in spaceflight. Find more of his work at aforandy.com.