Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Tiyo is a herding dog. He looks after sheep and goats and when the young ones wander off, he finds them and brings them safely back to their mothers. Dara is a herding dog, too. She’s Tiyo’s friend and she’s expecting puppies, but she’s missing and Tiyo is worried. So is their owner, Keholani. Together they go to look for Dara. Tiyo finds Dara, but before he does, he finds an injured man in a cave. Keholani sends Tiyo back to the village for help. The man, Ansgar, is rescued and he later thanks Tiyo for saving his life.

This is a charming, simple children’s story, complete with a lovable dog who is the hero. Aleksandra Layland's picture book story, Tiyo: The Dog Who Saved Ansgar, is a Windflower Saga Story for Kids. Taking one of the animal characters from the adult novel, the author has developed an interesting story about a herding dog. Tiyo is telling the story and he introduces himself at the beginning, then goes on to tell children details about his life, his job as a herding dog, and the place where he lives. This is a good, interactive story, as it teaches young readers, not only about Tiyo and herding dogs, but also about geological wonders like canyons and caves. It also teaches young readers about caring for each other and showing respect. Keholani cares for her herding dogs. Tiyo cares for his animal and human friends, especially Dara. Ansgar cares enough to respectfully thank his rescuer, Tiyo. A lovely animal story with beautiful illustrations.