Rufo liberado

By Daisy Bix; Illustrated by Joe Hyatt

Illustration of a smiling dog with a red collar, titled 'Rufo liberado'. The cover features two gold award medals, one from the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award and another from the Humane Society Youth, for children's book awards in 2009. Authors Daisy Bix and Joe Hyatt are listed at the bottom.

What is life like for a dog left outside day after day—chained, alone, and forgotten in all kinds of weather? Rufo Liberado, the Spanish-language edition of the Gryphon Press’s popular, award-winning title, Buddy Unchained, tells the powerful story of a once-neglected dog who endured loneliness, abuse, and indifference until the day his life changed.

Now safe and loved in a new home, Rufo shares his past and the journey to finding a family that truly cares. This heartwarming story encourages empathy in young readers and opens up important conversations about animal welfare.

The book also includes valuable information for parents and adults on how to recognize and report animal abuse.

With more than 37 million speakers, Spanish is by far the most spoken non-English language in the United States today. It is also one of the fastest-growing. This edition offers parents, teachers, librarians, and humane educators a way to reach new audiences in the United States and abroad, to promote empathy and understanding, and to interest young people in taking action when they see an animal in need.

Teachers around the country use Buddy Unchained for character and critical-thinking skill development and can now do the same with Rufo liberado. Visit the Buddy Unchained page.

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A person in a blue jacket hugging a sleeping puppy with light brown fur and floppy ears.

  • Dogs, Animal Welfare, Adoption, Spanish

  • 24 Pages

  • Paperback

  • 3-7 Years

  • Preschool - 2nd Grade

  • 0940719347

  • 9780940719347

Drawing of a yellow Labrador retriever dog with a red collar, sitting with eyes closed and head slightly tilted upward.
A collage of various animals, children, and animated characters, with a black background.

Awards & Honors

Gold medal with black text reading 'Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Book Award Winner 2007'.

Winner of the 2007 Humane Society of the United States KIND Award for Best Children's Picture Book of the Year

Gold medal with silhouette of a person and a horse, inscribed with 'The ASPCA Henrietta Szold Award' and 'Cruelty to Animals Foundation's Book Award'.

Winner of the 2007 ASPCA Henry Bergh Award for Best Children's Picture Book in the Companion Animal category

A colorful collage featuring various animals, people, and animated characters.

Reviews

  • School Library Journal

    “This Spanish language tale is the story of a sweet dog who, after being neglected and left out in the cold, is brought to an animal shelter, where he is adopted by a loving family.

    Rufo talks about his life in a very open way that will help readers realize that animals do not understand why they are in their situations and that many of them accept them even though their owners should be taking better care of them. Rufo finally finds happiness with a family who gives him food and water every day, takes him on walks, plays with him, and loves him.

    This book is perfect to read independently or aloud during a storytime, and would be great as a unit on pet care. The Spanish text flows smoothly and is well done. The sentences have a steady pace, and the word choices will help young children understand the proper way to treat pets.

    By sharing this title with children, we can start them on the path to responsible pet ownership.

    VERDICT: Recommended for all libraries.”

Illustration of a tan puppy lying on colorful cushions, chewing a bone, with a caption in Spanish that says "Sometimes I am surprised with a gift!" Next to it, a tan puppy is walking on a sidewalk, with grass and bushes around, and a caption in Spani
Two illustrations of a dog. The left image shows a yellow dog sleeping on a bed in a blue room. The right image depicts the same dog outside in a forested area, on a leash, with trees and a rainy sky in the background.
A drawing of a dog sitting in snow with a chain around its neck, next to a snow-covered forest. A close-up of a sleeping puppy lying on snow. Spanish text explains the cold weather causes paw pain and the puppy's inability to get up after lying in th
Illustration of a person releasing a dog from a chain; the person is squatting and the dog is lying on the ground with eyes closed. Text at the bottom states: "Hasta que uno vino un desconocido y soltó la cadena. Así me liberó de ese lugar."
Illustration of a happy light-colored dog with a red collar, sitting on a green cushion, with a blue sky background, accompanied by a caption in Spanish.