May was National Photo Month, so I picked up a few books light on words but chock-full of story. Maddie on Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics is like a pictorial version of a couple of my favorites, John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley and William Least Heat Moon’s Blue Highways. This is another take on touring the country to discover America.
Contrary to the subtitle, I didn’t learn much about dogs or physics, nor is it super serious. Instead I got to witness Theron Humphrey’s heart-warming journey of discovery and growing fondness for Maddie, the rescue coonhound turned acrobatic travel companion, through the lens of the camera. Humphrey discovered somewhat by accident that his docile dog could balance on a variety of precarious perches, and soon she became a primary focus of his photo journal.
Much like Steinbeck and Heat Moon, Humphrey generally veers from the big city tourist attractions and opts for destinations lining the open road. Maddie’s backdrops even included few familiar places like Shawnee, Lee’s Summit, and WyCo Lake Park!
Open the book at any given page or flip through the images from cover to cover. It’s an especially quick read since Humphrey keeps captions to a minimum because he wants the pictures to tell the story. If you can’t get enough, I highly recommend following This Wind Idea on Instagram, where it all started, or stop by maddieonthings.com to see their latest adventures and efforts to support rescue and shelter pets.
Trust me, Maddie will melt your heart.