Love That Dog by Sharon Creech was such an adorable book. It was about a boy named Jack who did not want to or believe that he could write poetry. As the book continues Jack starts to write short little poems that he does not want anyone to know are his. Finally, he gets more comfortable writing poems and lets his teacher hang them up with his name on them to share with the class. Jack also gets to meet his inspiration Mr. Walter Dean Myers. Sharon Creech did a good job of matching the sounds of the words to the emotions. When Jack was excited, sad, or happy the tone of the words change. This is very important to ensure as an author that you are giving the readers a clear message of the way Jack is feeling. The entire book did not rhyme but the sounds still matched the emotions and feelings the author was trying to portray. The images that came to my mind while reading this book were very vivid. I thought Creech did an excellent job of creating images for the readers mind throughout the book. One example that sticks out to me would be when Jack’s dog Sky gets hit by the car. It is a very emotional scene and the words and tone used make it a very vivid image in my mind, as if I am standing right there and I can see it happening. This book was most definitely full of insight. The message of the book gives us awareness and raises spirits just by showing that there is always a positive in a situation, and with the right help even someone who thinks they could never possibly write a poem, succeeds and even loves writing a very meaningful poem. The book leads to a very positive ending and gives children the inspiration to write something of their own, that tells their own story that means a lot to them as an individual. I believe the book was appropriate for the occasion of stating to write poems, for gaining inspiration in writing poems and even dealing with the loss of a pet. I believe that this book met the criteria of for evaluation poetry in every way. I would definitely recommend this book. I thought this was an excellent book. The message of the book was wonderful and really shows children who are discouraged about writing poetry that it is possible and they can do it. If I were to use this book in a classroom I would definitely use it for the beginning of a poetry themed lesson. I could have a week or two that I have planned to dedicate to poetry and introducing it to the students, and I believe this book would be a great introductory book. I am sure that no matter what there are going to be a few students who are turned off by poetry and think that they will not like it or be able to do it and this book would show them that no matter how discouraged they get, they can find something meaningful to write about and pull together an amazing poem.
Summary and Analysis: Love That Dog is a book that would be appropriate for upper elementary or middle school students. Even high school students could appreciate the story and format of this book. Love That Dog is a novel told in free verse and is about a young boy named Jack's struggle with poetry. Although he likes some of the poems that his teacher reads to the class, he struggles with writing poetry. Even though his teacher compliments him on some of his work, Jack requests that his name not be put on the poetry that is displayed on the classroom wall. Eventually, Jack's confidence grows - especially when he is introduced to Walter Dean Myer's poetry. Jack even writes a poem "inspired by Mr. Myers" and writes a letter to Walter Dean Myers, inviting him to his school. Due to a lucky coincidence, Walker Dean Myers does come and reads some of his poems to the students. Jack makes sure that his teacher hides his poem that was inspired by Walter Dean Myers so the poet doesn't get mad that Jack "copied" him. Throughout the book, information about Jack's yellow dog is revealed through his poetry. However, it is not until Jack's final poem, Love That Dog (inspired by Walter Dean Myers' Love That Boy) is revealed that the reader knows the tragedy that befell Jack's beloved yellow dog. To thank Walter Dean Myers for coming to his school, Jack mails him a copy of the poem, Love That Dog. I listened to this book on Playaway format. This was something that was completely new to me and I must say that I enjoyed it. As always, I have some critiques for the voice actor on this particular recording. The book was clearly read by a man - not someone who at least sounded like an elementary school boy. Also, the narration was a little creepy and robotic at times, as the voice actor strived to make his diction show the format of the free verse. Although I loved the little audio player and would recommend the format - I would recommend actually reading Love That Dog and not listening to it. This book also has a sequel, Hate That Cat. I am currently reading it now but I cannot tell if I like it as much as Love That Dog.
This was in a box of books that one of our million kids decided he/she didn't want any more at some time. . . based on the copyright date and condition of our copy, it was a while ago.I decided to read it because when I was working as an elementary librarian last fall, it was constantly checked-out, usually by 4th and 5th graders. My curiosity got me to crack it open. Having no idea what I was in for, I was surprised that the book is about poetry (and more, of course) and KIDS CHECKED-OUT THIS BOOK! It's about poetry, and written in free verse for Pete's sake, and KIDS CHECKED-OUT THIS BOOK! Can you feel my heart warming??Young Jack journals a year of being introduced to and GASP inspired by the poetry units his teacher presents. I thought it was very cute and clever, the back door ways the teacher coaxed Jack into writing poetry and breaking Jack's inhibitions and preconceived notions about poetry.This is a super quick read, and I can see why reluctant readers and children like it. It's quick and easy reading, but it's really not light since Jack opens up about some unhappy memories. While I enjoyed it and the nostalgia of those same poems by Williams, Frost, and Blake that even I had to read when I was a kid, it didn't bowl me over. It was a pleasant story that made me smile and frown and was a story I hope is sometimes true in the classroom.
—Kristine Hall
This is a second read-through of an entertaining and educational little book for children about writing poetry. It’s set in an elementary school classroom and begins with Jack writing a complaining note to his teacher that “boys / don’t write poetry. / / Girls do.” But, of course, it is no surprise that this boy will write poetry and at least some of it will be about a much-loved dog.tApart from the relatively thin storyline, this book makes its point about the power of poetry (and of persistent teachers) by including Jack’s responses to poems the teacher shares with her students. (All eight poems are also included at the end of the book, which means that in addition to the story, the children get to read those eight poems.) And so we get to watch Jack figure out that “the wheelbarrow poet [William Carlos Williams] / was just / making a picture / with words.” Maybe, Jack suggests, Robert Frost was doing the same thing in his snowy woods poem. In addition to figuring out what imagery might be, Jack also learns to listen to the rhythms of poetry as he makes up a poem about a blue car while “some of the tiger sounds [of Blake’s “The Tiger”] / are still in my ears / like drums / beat-beat-beating.” From Arnold Adoff’s “Street Music” Jack learns to use spacing and fonts to create effects; from S. C. Rigg’s “The Apple,” he learns to recognize and create his own shaped poem. In addition, the readers get an appearance by Walter Dean Meyers, who comes to visit the classroom in response to Jack’s written invitation. It was Meyers' poem “Love That Boy” that first convinced Jack that poetry was for him. And Jack finally does come to terms with the death of his dog Sky by writing a poem. And after Meyers’ visit, Jack writes another poem about Sky called "Love That Dog" inspired by, you guessed it, “Love That Boy.”
—Margaret
“Sometimeswhen you are trying not to think about somethingit keeps popping back in your headyou can't help ityou think about itand think about itand think about ituntil your brainfeels likea squashed pea.” Love That Dog is one of those quick, light reads that literally takes about ten minutes to finish, but stays in your mind for a much longer time after that. In just 86 pages, Sharon Creech introduces a third grader named Jack who, at first, hates poetry. The very first line is as follows: “I don’t want to because boys don’t write poetry. Girls do.” As the book progresses, readers see Jack slowly but surely begin to develop a new found love for poetry, and become more open with expressing his feelings.Losing a pet is always hard; for many people it's the equivalent of losing a best friend. In an earlier setting, Jack had lost his dog Sky. While this extremely unfortunate event is something terrible for anyone, let alone a third grader, to go through, Jack uses this trauma as a way to express himself and get out some feelings he had been keeping in for a while. One of my favorite things about this book was the character development: he went from refusing to write poetry at all to writing it everyday, and getting excited when a well known author came to visit him at his school.This is a book suitable for any gender and any age, In a few short pages it will make you laugh, cry, and realize why you love your dog so much.
—Wren
