Before You Were Mine is a sweet picture book written by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by David Walker. It was published in 2007 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons. This is a wonderful story about a boy who wonders what his dog’s life was like before he adopted him. I really like this book, first because I’m an animal lover and second because I support the efforts of animal shelters and rescue groups. This book focuses on adopting a dog from a shelter. There is even a blurb at the end of the book in which the author talks about how she feels about adopting shelter dogs. You can tell she is a true shelter dog lover. On the back jacket flap it says that Maribeth Boelts will donate a portion of the profits from the sale of Before You Were Mine to the Humane Society of the United States. But whether you decide to buy a copy or not, you should look up this book. I think it would be a great choice to read with your children before bringing a dog home. And if you just lost a dog and are trying to decide whether or not to bring another into the family, this book would make a terrific transitional tool for a child who was hit hard by the loss of their beloved family pet.  The illustrations fit the story perfectly, as they are soft and sweet-done in true David Walker style. Any dog lover will enjoy this book.