Lucky’s Plott: A Plott Hound Tale (2008) is a picture book for children and young readers written by Libby Bagby and illustrated by Heidi Carr. In Lucky’s Plott, Bagby offers a fictional account of actual events that occurred in 2002 when she rescued a dog by the side of the highway. Bagby named the dog Lucky, and in Lucky’s Plott, shares the story of Lucky’s “journey into her life.” Bagby, a high school media specialist, was surprised to find that Lucky was a Plott hound—the state dog of North Carolina. She researched the Plott hound and quickly became an advocate for the breed, traveling to schools and libraries in North Carolina to educate people about their state dog. A poignant animal rescue story, Lucky’s Plott celebrates important character traits of kindness, empathy, and compassion. The book also teaches readers the breed characteristics of the Plott hound. Lucky’s Plott is narrated from the first-person point of view of Battle Cry, a Plott hound. Battle Cry is excited to go on his first raccoon hunt of the season. On a cold, moonlit winter’s night, Battle Cry and his “stubble-faced owner” ride in their blue pickup truck out to the hunting grounds in Low Gap, North Carolina. There they meet up with other hunters and their dogs. Battle Cry wants to prove his skills as the “best hunting hound in these hills.” He thinks he is lucky to be out hunting. Battle Cry has a smooth, brindled coat, which is a mix of black, brown, and tan, like that of most Plott hounds. Loyal and fearless, he is skilled at tracking and hunting. He and the other Plott hounds jump over logs, cross streams, and go up and down the ridges in their pursuit of raccoons. Battle Cry becomes lost. He is hit by a car and badly injured. Libby is driving on her way home from work when she notices something on the side of the road. It is Battle Cry, hurt and afraid. Libby calls her husband, Rick, for help, and together with some other good Samaritans, they get Battle Cry into the car and to a veterinarian. Battle Cry begins to mend, makes lots of new friends, and eventually comes home with Rick and Libby. Battle Cry gets a new name: Lucky. He adapts to life in a loving home with five other dogs, and to his role as an ambassador for his unique breed. Plott hounds are one of only four dog breeds that were developed in the United States. They trace their ancestry back to Germany. In 1750, Johannes Platz immigrated to the US from Germany, bringing five of his hounds with him. His last name was anglicized to “Plott” and as demand for descendants of his hounds grew, they were called Plott hounds. In Lucky’s Plott, boldly colored, full-page illustrations accompany each page of short text. Carr’s pictures were inspired by photographs from other Plott hound owners and various regional locations in North Carolina, including Low Gap, where Lucky was found. Carr grew up in Northwestern North Carolina and her love of animals is evident in her illustrations. Lucky’s Plott also includes a glossary featuring hunting terminology and a section of additional biographical information about Bagby detailing her rescue of the real Lucky. Bagby describes thinking that the bundle on the side of the highway was a trash bag until it raised its head. Despite already having five rescue dogs at home, Bagby couldn’t leave the dog behind. Bagby writes that finding Lucky changed the “plot” of her life. The real Lucky was diagnosed with canine megaesophagus and died in 2013 at the age of twelve. Bagby keeps Lucky’s legacy alive in her writing. She completed a second book, Tracking Plott Hound History, North Carolina’s State Dog: Reader’s Companion in 2009; co-authored One Lucky Dog in 2013; and recently published her fourth book, K9 Deputies: A Plott Hound Tale.

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Libby Bagby

Middle grade

Novella

Fiction

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