In their new children’s picture book, Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship (Candlewick, 2018), authors Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes (a Boston College alumnus) share an inspiring story of a girl and her service dog. Rescue thought he’d grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog. When he gets the news that he’s better suited to being a service dog, he’s worried that he’s not up to the task. Then he meets Jessica, a girl whose life is turning out differently than the way she’d imagined it, too. Now Jessica needs Rescue by her side to help her accomplish everyday tasks. And it turns out that Rescue can help Jessica see after all: a way forward, together, one step at a time. The book is based on the real-life partnership between Kensky and her service dog, Rescue. Kensky and Downes, who were both injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, say that they hope the book not only demystifies disabilities but speaks to important issues such as tolerance, kindness, appreciating differences, overcoming obstacles, and not being afraid of difficult moments. The book’s illustrator is Scott Magoon. Downes and Kensky talk about the book in this video. | Publishers Weekly interview | Boston Globe article | CBS Boston story | WCVB Boston story | Fox Boston story | WGBH “Greater Boston”