Beautiful Joe

By: Margaret Marshall Saunders

Narrated by: John Michaels

First published in 1893 as a children's book to encourage the humane treatment of animals, Beautiful Joe has taken it's place along with Black Beauty, becoming a favorite of several generations of youngsters.

Beautiful Joe narrates the story of his mutilation at the hands of a cruel master and the love he finds in the home of a caring family full of kids and animals. Joe speaks not only for himself, but also for Jim the spaniel, Malta the cat, Davey the rat, Bella the parrot, and his other furry and feathered friends as they interact with humans, good and bad.

Today this book would probably be of more intetest to adults then children, but Beautiful Joe is a beautiful story.

Public Domain (P)2010 Mike Vendetti

Classic story

I grew up reading this and Black Beauty, but this was my favorite. My mum gave me her copy, which was printed in 1965 and has a different cover (with a brown dog, Joe, and the other Morris animals in a parlor). I'm not sure when this edition was published, but the story is a little different. At the end of chapter 17 in my edition, Ms Laura saves Bruno by finding the cause for his aggression. But in this version, he is put down and a discussion of how to best put a dog down is had. I liked my version better, but it's interesting to see the difference.
I wasn't entirely happy with the narrator, as he seemed to stumble over words and mess up without going back to re-record in a couple of spots. His cadence is off on some sentences as well. But overall, it was worth the money and it's a great story!

Beautiful Joe has touched our hearts.

This wonderful story is so vividly told it you feel like your there. We wept, smiled, laughed, and learned from this beautiful story about Joe. Every child should read or hear it. A timely classic with a relevance to todays world. Definitely listen, read, or purchase this book for yourself or a loved one, they will love it! They will not be disappointed!

Beautiful Joe a favorite from my childhood

This book written so long ago stills appiles to today. It's theme always be kind is forever

powerful

Any additional comments?

again i say powerful, sometimes a little drag, but it what inside the story.

This book is the black beauty for dogs

I first read this book as a 10 year old when I got old enough to have my own library card. I loved it. Then I love it now. I have bought four copies of the paperback this month to share with my daughters and one of my grand nephews.The beginning is brutal if you buy it for a child be sure to read the first couple chapters 1st. I was able to take it as a 10-year-old and I have never forgotten it. The rest of the book is sublime.