But Paleowolf's presence turns out to be useful: His warnings save Kip from the Cave Bear, the Mighty Mammoth, and the frightning Saber-Toothed Cat. So Kip offers to share his food with Paleowolf - if Paleowolf will use his keen nose, fine ears, and sharp eyes to keep Kip from being eaten up. With a bark and a wag of his tail, Paleowolf agrees to this bargain, and Kip christens his new freind "Dog."

In this exciting tale of adventure in prehistoric times, Jan Brett creates a spectacular Ice Age landscape populated with the massive animals of the time and bordered with images inspired by cave paintings and Ice Age artifacts. She convincingly portrays the growth of the warm bond between man and animal that must, long, long ago, have resulted in the first domesticated dog.