Lucky the (very famous) Saratoga dog grows up
After three picture books made her famous, Lucky grew into a chapter book, written by (her mom) Elizabeth Macy.
If you’re a Saratogian, you know of Lucky the dog — and if you don’t, ask your favorite littles. Elizabeth Macy’s picture books about her lost rescue dog who found her way home via the Spa City streets have made her a bona fide sensation since the first one was published in 2018.
But now that Lucky, 10, is a bona fide celeb — thanks to her books and public appearances that often fill school auditoriums — the need for her to use her star power for good has only gone up. And Macy rose to the occasion.
“Many of Lucky’s readers have grown up with her picture books,” she says. “A chapter book was the next natural step for them.”
Enter Lucky’s Adventure: the Saratoga Rescue, a 114-page book for children 7-11. Like the picture books, Lucky’s Adventure is rooted in the very true story of Macy’s harrowing four days without her dog.
“The chapter book is written in two points of views: Lucky’s and her mom’s,” Macy says. “It starts with Lucky, everything she went through when she was looking to be rescued. Then adopting her is written from my perspective. After that, it goes back and forth while she’s lost — what she was going through and feeling, and what we were all feeling when we were looking for her
.“The book is fictional, but it’s inspired by her story. And there are many true details woven throughout.”
Macy never dreamed she’d fall in love with writing for children, but was compelled to share her story after Lucky was home safe and sound. She was also a photographer whose pictures led to the illustrations in the original three Lucky picture books.
“And then I had so much fun sharing her stories and seeing how kids got so excited about reading her book and meeting the star of the book that I continued with a couple more picture books,” she says. “I’d always thought about writing a chapter book for them to transition into so I could engage with the older students, too.”
Lucky’s Adventure, the Saratoga Rescue can be purchased in stores all around town, including Impressions G. Willikers and Northshire.