Selvakumar Knew Better

“Tsunami! Run!” The bright December day dawns like any other, and the Ramakrishnan family goes about their daily business as usual. Their scruffy yellow dog, Selvakumar, however, feels something strange in the air. Soon, a low rumbling sound fills the village, and Papa climbs on the roof to see a wall of water rushing toward the shore. “Tsunami! Run!” The family scrambles to outrun the huge wave, but seven-year-old Dinakaran misunderstands. He runs toward his house by the shore, where he huddles in a corner for safety—separated from his family. But Selvakumar does not let him stay there. Barking, nudging, and dragging Dinakaran by his shirt, Selvakumar manages to convince the boy to flee from the house toward the hill where Mama and Papa have fled and are waiting, worrying about their eldest son. Award-winning author Virginia Kroll’s true story of a courageous and clever dog who saved a boy’s life during the devastating tsunami of 2004 is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages. Lush watercolors by Xiaojun Li bring alive the shores of the South Indian village where the story takes place. While the region is still struggling to recover from the disaster and families rebuild what they have lost, Selvakumar’s amazing story reminds us that, with the power of love and the strength it can provide, any obstacle can be overcome.

Virginia Kroll is the author of over 50 books for children, many of them multicultural. She loves animals and nature and is aware of the deep connection between dogs and humans. Her current companions are Daisy, a gentle, smooth-haired collie, Ying-Yang, an affectionate shih-tzu, and Bella, a spirited chihuahua. Virginia is married to David Haeick and has six children. She lives in the delightful Village of Hamburg, New York, just south of Buffalo. Xiaojun Li is an internationally known children's book illustrator. His illustrations have won him awards from United Nations, China, Japan and United States. Born and raised in Inner Mongolia of north China, Xiaojun Li studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tianjin and the University of California Davis, he now lives with his wife and son in Davis California.