Lost Stick by Anoosha Syed
How far would you go to make your best friend happy? Well, when it comes to Louise (the human) and Milo (the dog), there’s no limit on what they’d do for each other. So when Milo thinks Louise has misplaced her deeply cherished Stick, he sets off on a mission to make things right. Anoosha Syed’s Lost Stick (Viking Books for Young Readers) is a story of friendship, loyalty and the joy of reuniting with those we love.
It’s a Dog-Chase-Stick World
It seems like every person is familiar with the saying that dog is man’s best friend. But Milo is a dog, so you’ll have to excuse him for not being aware of it. What Milo does know is that his best friend, Louise, loves it when Milo chases after Stick, her new favorite toy.
“Louise loved Stick so much. Milo didn’t know why she kept throwing it, but she always smiled her big and bright smile when he brought it back. Milo loved making Louise happy, so he knew he would always bring Stick back to her.”
But then Milo can’t find where Louise threw Stick. Not to worry! He’ll be sure to find her favorite toy wherever it may be. The problem is that while there are a lot of sticks out there, there’s only one Stick. Milo travels all throughout town, then sets his sights further and further away, traveling across oceans, deserts and snowy mountains.
But while Milo’s off looking for the elusive Stick, Louise is looking for Milo! Could it be that Louise hasn’t been worried about Stick this whole time? That really, all she wants is her best friend back?
Lost and Found
A critically acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator, Syed is far from a newbie to the world of kid lit. Readers can find her art in Karamo Brown’s I Am Perfectly Designed and the award-winning Bilal Cooks Daal, and she released her author-illustrator debut That’s Not My Name! in 2022. Now her second solo book, Lost Stick features a playful new approach to illustration with colorful cut-paper collage, making the misadventures of Milo look as though they’re about to pop off the page.
This bright, cheerful book reminds us that it’s not really the stuff in our lives that matter — it’s the loved ones that we hold dear. Friendship is a treasure far more valuable than any toy, whether it’s from a person or a pet. So if you’re looking to laugh along to a zany tale full of misunderstandings (and perhaps shed a tear or two at the joyous reunion), you know exactly where to look.
Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani Canadian illustrator and character designer for animation. She has illustrated many beloved books, including APALA Honor book Bilal Cooks Daal and her author debut, That’s Not My Name! She lives in Toronto with her husband and Link the cat, who knows how to play fetch but refuses to bring things all the way back. Find her online at AnooshaSyed.com.
