A tiny dog. A devastating illness. An unforgettable friendship.

Before polio changed his life, five-year-old Dan enjoyed a carefree childhood in Portales, New Mexico, surrounded by family, cousins, and adventures on his grandparents’ farm. Then everything changed. Six weeks in an iron lung left him with almost no use of his right arm and only partial use of his left.

When Dan returned home, a fearless Chihuahua mix named Tiny became his constant companion and devoted protector.

Though he weighed only a few pounds, Tiny believed it was his job to guard his boy from danger—and even from bad dreams. Whether chasing away neighborhood kids during football games, hanging from Daddy’s pant leg during a pretend spanking, or faithfully standing watch at the foot of Dan’s bed each night, Tiny faced every challenge with the heart of a giant.

Filled with humor, heartache, and hope, Tiny the Gigantic Protector is an illustrated memoir celebrating childhood, resilience, unconditional love, and the extraordinary bond between a little boy and the remarkable dog who never saw him as disabled—only as the boy he loved.

Sometimes the biggest heroes come in the smallest packages.