I have two copies of this wonderful book, one is signed by the author! She was a dear friend of my grandmother's. I find the whole book, from the binding to the story to the illustrations to be truly charming. The illustrations definitely take you back to the mid-forties...The story line is this: Susie Cucumber is a dog (you'll have to read how she got her name). One day, her beloved little girl owner comes down with the measles, so she can't come out and play. So what does Susie do? She writes her a letter! Word soon gets around, and mothers start asking Susie to write their sick children letters, too. I can't say this enough... I love this book!