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Brave Norman: A True Story
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Norman, a blind Labrador retriever, saves a girl from drowning in the ocean, in an exciting true story for beginning readers retold in simple language.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 2001
About the author
Andrew Clements
142 books2,279 followersI was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 5, 2018
This book is about a dog that no one wants from a rescue shelter. A man named Steve went to the shelter looking for a new dog, and when he saw Norman he knew that was the one he had to have. Norman went blind shortly after Steve adopted him. People wondered why Steve decided to keep Norman after knowing he was blind. What Norman does at the end of the book proves that just because a person (or dog in this case) isn't perfect, doesn't mean they don't deserve to be loved. Norman does something at the end that is very heroic!
The theme of this book is to never give up on anyone or anything no matter what the circumstances may be. Everyone deserves a chance in life!
I really enjoyed this book because I am such a dog lover. It really makes me so happy to see a dog do what Norman did, especially after people didn't even think Norman was worth keeping. This book proves how special dogs can be!
I would encourage any kid to read this book. I think this book could show kids who are scared of dogs how special dogs can be. I think teachers should also read this book to their classes because it can teach little kids the lesson of how not everyone is perfect, and just because someone isn't perfect doesn't mean they can't make a difference in the world.
The theme of this book is to never give up on anyone or anything no matter what the circumstances may be. Everyone deserves a chance in life!
I really enjoyed this book because I am such a dog lover. It really makes me so happy to see a dog do what Norman did, especially after people didn't even think Norman was worth keeping. This book proves how special dogs can be!
I would encourage any kid to read this book. I think this book could show kids who are scared of dogs how special dogs can be. I think teachers should also read this book to their classes because it can teach little kids the lesson of how not everyone is perfect, and just because someone isn't perfect doesn't mean they can't make a difference in the world.
November 28, 2024
Grade K - 3rd
Genre:Non-fiction / Biography
This book tells the inspiring true story of a dog named Norman, who demonstrated incredible bravery during a life-threatening situation. Norman, a golden retriever, was trained as a rescue dog and played a pivotal role in saving his owner from a dangerous situation. The story highlights Norman's quick thinking and courage, as he helps his owner survive a life-or-death event. This is a really cool book to read in a service animals eyes. I recommend readying this sorry if you love dogs!
Genre:Non-fiction / Biography
This book tells the inspiring true story of a dog named Norman, who demonstrated incredible bravery during a life-threatening situation. Norman, a golden retriever, was trained as a rescue dog and played a pivotal role in saving his owner from a dangerous situation. The story highlights Norman's quick thinking and courage, as he helps his owner survive a life-or-death event. This is a really cool book to read in a service animals eyes. I recommend readying this sorry if you love dogs!
May 5, 2017
A lovely true story of a family that adopted an amazing dog at the pound. The dog enriched their lives as much as they did his. It is a story about love and conquering challenges.
September 24, 2018
Inspirational one
September 5, 2019
This book was really good. The fact that it's based on a true story made it even better.
I definitely have a soft spot for dogs.
I definitely have a soft spot for dogs.
February 24, 2022
Great story
July 5, 2026
golden retrievers sure are expensive to take care of!!!!
November 19, 2008
This book is an excellent book that features a dog acting as a hero. Norman was picked up at the shelter and loved by his family. Although Norman was going blind, the family still loved him. In the end, he becomes a hero and shows to children that even though you may be blind you can still be a hero.
Reading Level- Early
Curricular Uses- Read aloud or independent reading
Social Issues- talks about being brave and being a hero. Encourages children to realize that they an be anything even if they are blind or have something else holding them back.
Reading Level- Early
Curricular Uses- Read aloud or independent reading
Social Issues- talks about being brave and being a hero. Encourages children to realize that they an be anything even if they are blind or have something else holding them back.
Read
May 6, 2016This is a beautiful story and also happens to be a true story. This family wants a dog and one day they go to a pet store to pick out a pet. They choose Norman and everyone was happy. He was a great addition to the McDonald family. One day, Norman was not acting himself so they took him to the vet. It turns out Norman was going blind. The family still wanted him to be their dog. Lucy, the families' other dog, took Norman under his wing. In the end, he ends up saving a little girl at the beach who was not able to swim. Everyone loves Norman!
March 14, 2016
Although Norman was old and blind he could still hear and he was a good dog. One day at the beach he heard a young girl calling for help because she was struggling to swim in the ocean. Norman was the only one to hear her and he went right out into the water to get her. The young girl was able to hold onto his tail and Norman saved her. Cute easy reader from the Pets to the Rescue series. Simple, easy to read text, level 1.
March 18, 2016
Although Norman was old and blind he could still hear and he was a good dog. One day at the beach he heard a young girl calling for help because she was struggling to swim in the ocean. Norman was the only one to hear her and he went right out into the water to get her. The young girl was able to hold onto his tail and Norman saved her. Cute easy reader from the Pets to the Rescue series. Simple, easy to read text, level 1.
August 9, 2010
This is a nice little story about a blind dog that saves a girl from drowning. My two youngest boys loved it and I've read it several times to them. It was a somewhat easy read for my struggling reader but it gave him confidence and it was way more exciting than some of the other "easy readers" he's read. A much better fit for an older child who still needs something easy.
August 16, 2015
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. I liked this book for kids. It was about a dog in a shelter who got chosen, and then he went blind. But he still was a great pet, learning to do things with his own "guide dog". Then he saved a little girl out in the water. An awesome story, and one to read for everyone.
September 5, 2016
This is an awesome true story of a dog no one wanted but finally he was adopted into a loving home. Unfortunately it was soon discovered that Norman was going blind but his family promised to take care of him. One day at the beach Norman hears a drowning girl calling for help and despite his blindness swims out to rescue her.
August 3, 2010
A heroic dog with disabilities, what more could one want?
July 21, 2011
Super True Story! I love this book and so have a lot of the students that I've shared it with. Incrible! Thank you Franklin Public Library for the loan.
March 10, 2011
What can I say? I'm a sucker for underdogs, heroes, and pet rescue stories. I bawled. Then I went out and booktalked it to anyone who would listen. And a few who didn't really want to.
June 18, 2012
Lexi: "One of the best books I've ever read."
January 10, 2012
My favorite part was when Norman went in the beach water blind and saved the girl.
--Atiyah
--Atiyah
September 25, 2012
A nice, true, children's story about a brave dog named Norman who saves a drowning child. One of several "Pet's to the Rescue" stories.
January 31, 2013
Being blind cannot stop Norman.
AR 2.0
AR 2.0
June 26, 2015
This is a very exciting story to beginning readers. Definitely a good example of high interest/low level reading for ages about 6 to 9. A great resource for tutoring struggling readers.
March 30, 2016
I like this book because Norman saved the little girl when she was stuck in the water. I like it because Lucy was kind to Norman. By Corinne
September 10, 2025
True story.
Loved it!
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews