Cal Has Three Legs
Sasha Milena Filipovich
Tellwell Talent (2025)
ISBN: 978-0228860259
Reviewed by Susan Violante for Reader Views (12/2025)
Cal Has Three Legs by Sasha Milena Filipovich tells the story of a cute little white dog who is different from the other dogs. Little Cal has only three legs. Not that he minded because he would hop around everywhere, happy-go-lucky, until one day he asked a group of dogs if he could play with them. Little Cal was rejected by them because he was missing one leg…and so his long search for his missing leg began. Will he find it? Will he be accepted? Or would he find more than what he was looking for?
Okay…this little story really got me. I am an all-animal lover, but dogs have a special place in my heart. Cal is the cutest character ever, both in the story and in the illustrations! Also, Cal is based on a real, cute, little white furred, three-legged rescued dog! All of my dogs in my adult life have been rescued dogs, so the fact that Cal found his forever home in real life and got his story told blows me away…
Sasha Milena Filipovich’s story is perfect for early readers. Her writing is simple, short, and to the point. Kids can read it and complete the story through the pictures with no problem at all as each page holds from one phrase to not more than four lines at a time, and Dalia Vukmirovich’s illustrations provide the setting, character expressions, and movements. But the real treasure is the message. Not only will children be able to understand that we can be loved the way we are. The story also teaches the message of perseverance and resilience. And if I dare to hope further, they will also see Cal’s point of view and how he felt, and hopefully learn empathy.
Hats off to Sasha Milena Filipovich for creating a little story with such a long reach. Overall, Cal Has Three Legs is a five-star heart-warming, well-written, and illustrated picture book that is sure to be enjoyed by early readers, and all age kids, really. But it will also be appreciated by parents who focus on kindness and empathy in their parenting style. I hope to see more from this author for sure!