Listen to this uplifting and poignant audiobook, narrated by Rachel L. Jacobs, about the incredible journey of Stella, a former service beagle. Stella must find the courage to overcome her fears and use her special nose to save a girl's life.
Since she was just a puppy, Stella was trained to use her powerful beagle nose to detect explosives and keep people safe. However, during a routine security inspection, Stella becomes distracted and fails to identify the scent of an explosive chemical. The resulting blast leaves her handler, her beloved best friend, gone. Overwhelmed with guilt, Stella believes she is a bad dog.
With a fear of loud noises, particularly thunder and fireworks, Stella battles with anxiety and is retired from her role as a service animal. Foster families try to give her a home, but Stella's fears often lead to destructive behavior. She wonders if anyone will ever want to adopt her.
Enter Esperanza, an expert dog trainer who believes she can help Stella. It's Stella's last opportunity to prove herself and show that she can be a good dog. As Stella becomes part of her new family, she is especially drawn to Cloe, a young human whose scent is a combination of chocolate chip cookies, fresh-cut grass, and something mysterious. Stella soon discovers that Cloe suffers from epilepsy, and a chemical inside her body precedes a seizure. Using her keen sense of smell, Stella makes this connection. The challenge now is how to communicate this message to Esperanza without her dismissing it as Stella's usual anxiety. And how can Stella convince her new family that she can be a different kind of service dog, one who can potentially save Cloe's life?
Narrated from Stella's perspective, listeners will accompany her on an extraordinary journey through a dog's senses. From her eyes, ears, and, most importantly, her nose, experience life in a whole new way. Comparable to beloved animal tales like Babe the pig and Ivan the gorilla, Stella the beagle will capture the hearts of children who adore stories about animals. Brace yourself for a heartwarming tale filled with courage, compassion, friendship, and love.
