After finding “Harry and the Dirty Dog” at his father home in Greece, Dimitris Economou returned it back to Virginia where his family had checked it out back in 1989

Dimitris Economou discovered this copy of the book 'Harry the Dirty Dog' at his father's home in Greece, returning it to a Viriginia library 36 years after they first checked it out. Photo: Facebook/Fairfax County Public Library

Dimitris Economou encountered a moment from his childhood while visiting his father’s home in Greece, finding a library book they had checked out 36 years ago and never returned.

Economou discovered the book ‘Harry the Dirty Dog’ while looking for something to read his seven-year-old, telling Northern Virginia magazine he only found out it was a library copy after they finished reading it.

“As we got to the end, I realised it was a library book. I felt like I had to return it. … It just felt like the right thing to do.”

Economou attached a note to the book upon returning it, saying:

“This book was checked out by November 6, 1989, by my parents who were diplomats based in D.C. at the time. They are now retired in Greece and I found this book on their shelves.

It travelled the world and was well taken care of as you can see. And now it can find its way home.”

The book indeed travelled across the globe with Economou’s father taking it with him to Syria, Japan, and the Netherlands before finally returning to Greece.

Economou, who travelled to northern Virginia during the holidays, decided to return the book while he was in town, with it making its way back to the Chantilly Regional Library.