Love That Dog

Love That Dog - Sharon Creech
Harper Collins - 2001

Purchase at Amazon.com 

Reading Level: 8+  Number of Pages: 86 Genre: Poetry
 

Summary: Jack is a student in Mrs. Stretchberry's class, and he is coaxed into writing poetry. The book is written as a collection of poems, as if they were writings by Jack. At the beginning, Jack is reluctant to write poems, but gradually grows to like them. He writes about getting his dog, comments on famous poems, and invites Walter Dean Myers to come visit his school. Most strikingly, he writes about how his dog gets hit by a car. His final poem is inspired by Walter Dean Myers, and is about his dog.

    

"I don't want to/ because boys/ don't write poetry./ Girls do."

My Impressions:The quote above is the opening line in the story, written in poetry form. Let me just say that at the opening line I was instantly captivated, and was generously rewarded by seeing this kid learn to love poetry. The book is happy, funny, sarcastic, beautiful, and sad, and I really enjoyed it.

 

Parent's Guide: No real problems.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to kids who hate poetry (or to kids who think they hate poetry).