After reading all the other really excellent blogs about literary heroes and much racking of the few brain cells I have left this is the story that came to mind.

Once when I was in college for a Halloween costume party I got an old hat with ear flaps fastened up, put a red scarf around my neck, wore white stretch pants and white long sleeve sweat shirt, my artist friend painted my face white with a little black nose. Off I go to the party as that World War I Flying Ace Snoopy! Everyone at the party was asking me “who are you supposed to be?” “What are you?” “Are you Casper the friendly ghost?” It was humiliating. In my imagination I am Snoopy that joyful, loyal, easy going character. However, no one is ever going to see me that way because in “reality” I’m a blockhead with the luck of Charlie Brown, the crabbiness of Lucy and even a little Pigpen for good measure. Joe Cool I am not, but I really want to be. Yes, deep inside me beats the happy heart of a beagle puppy and that is why Snoopy is my literary hero.

Peanuts 2000 by Charles M. Schulz
Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Dog on It by Spencer Quinn
Hachi a Dog’s Tale – DVD