Wilson Rawls

This special edition includes new material: a tribute by Newbery Medal winner and Printz Honor winner Clare Vanderpool, a letter from Wilson Rawls to aspiring writers, original jacket artwork, and a biography of Wilson Rawls written in January 1985. A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters.

In the late 1800's, a fourteen-year-old Ozark mountain boy spends the summer trying to recapture monkeys escaped from a traveling circus.

More than anything else, Billy Coleman wanted a pair of hunting dogs. Following his grandfather's advice, Billy saved until he had enough money to buy them. Billy patiently trains them to hunt and they become the best in the state. Being best, however, is not always enough as love given and returned form the basis of true caring and courage.

Billy Coleman, an embittered World War II veteran, returns to Louisiana where he is able to recover with the gift of friendship and two new puppies, much like the ones he loved in his youth.

A World War II veteran returns to his grandfather's home in the Louisiana woods and is given two puppies to care for.