Katie Up and Down the Hall paperback book by Glenn Plaskin.  Based upon a widely-read article published in Family Circle (“Granny Down The Hall”) here is the transcendent tale of how three generations of strangers and a dog create their own little family amidst the pressures, haste, and intensity of big-city life.

At the center of it all is Katie, an astutely intelligent spaniel with an unforgettable face who becomes a celebrity in her New York City neighborhood. There she is, alternately racing up and down an eighty-foot hallway between apartments, pushing open doors with her paws, or trotting outside along the Hudson River, surrounded by her “pack” of human friends. Through her soulful eyes, we witness nearly fifteen years of antics and family adventures spanning everything from Hollywood high times to the terrors of 9/11. 

In the tradition of Marley & Me and books focused on the magic of mentor friendships, such as Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays With Morrie, “Katie” is revealing in its reflections on the definition of family relationships and the unique power of a dog’s love.