Love That Dog

Additional Love That Dog Information

Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments -- and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say.

With a fresh and deceptively simple style, acclaimed author Sharon Creech tells a story with enormous heart. Written as a series of free-verse poems from Jack's point of view, Love That Dog shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course . . . a dog.

What Customers Say About Love That Dog:

This is a great book for teaching poetry to reluctant writers. I teach Year 5 and 6 (9 to 10 years)and they are loving it. It's not a long book but there are a lot of teaching points in it.

As the boy experiments with poetry writing and is exposed to a variety of poems (specifically those listed above), he gains confidence in his own abilities and ultimately is able to compose a poem about his dog's demise. This is a simple, short book that is mostly composed of correspondence between a boy and his poetry teacher. Additionally, he writes another, inspired by Water Dean Myers, which shares its title with the book. It would probably help to know in advance that the referenced poems: The Red Wheelbarrow by Carlos Williams, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, (the first stanza of) The Tiger by William Blake, Dog by Valerie Worth, Pasture by Robert Frost, Street Music by Arnold Adoff, The Apple by S.C. Rigg, and (the first stanza of) Love That Boy by Walter Dean Myers are included in the back. Love That Dog is a cute, clever book that takes a unique approach to poetry. Also good: Polkabats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown, and pretty much anything by Jack Prelutsky.

I almost died of boredom. I am an extreme book lover and this book just about killed me.

It's definitely not the best of Sharon Creech (and if you're interested in that, definitely check out Absolutely Normal Chaos), but it's really good writing. I'm not sure what to think. The poetry reminds me of things written by Ellen Hopkins (not nearly as depressing, but the style is nearly identical). I don't see it connecting to anything else, it just floats out there awkwardly. They're enthusiastic, sure, but this is a bit.odd. His actions are those of a little boy, as are his emotions, but his words.they make me wonder.

Is there any chance he has a mental disorder. I don't know any children who think/speak like that. I read this once before, loved it then, love it now. [And hey, maybe not even a child. He's a bit obsessed, but at the same time, it's just like he's casually telling a story. It almost feels like the dog part is an story she added in upon realizing the book wasn't long enough. I mean, what the heck is the DEAL with that stupid red wheelbarrow, right.].

but still, great idea. The one thing that bothers me though is the boy's voice. I love the unintentional (on Jack's part, probably intentional on Sharon's part) repetition of all those great classic poems, and Jack's childish take on them. I wish I knew this for sure, it'd help me understand the story more (and wow, how cool would it be if he did.). It's just, I don't think a child would be so.blase about the death of the dog. Yes, that's EXACTLY how a child thinks of poetry. Absolutely BRILLIANT.

I read this book in a college class. It's a delightful conversation, via school work, between a boy and a teacher and he learns to express himself through poetry.It's simple, touching, and a most effective way to show some deep emotion of kids.