Love That BookSeptember 23, 2008 Love that Dog is one great inspiration for boy readers to get down and read poetry. It worked for me, and my class of 10-year-old boys. We Loved that Book, and practically every boy has a dog story to tell. Challenges assumptions about literature, poetry, and boys. It does what it says on the cover, you really do 'Love that Dog'. I cried.
amazing bookSeptember 8, 2008 Saw this book in the local library. The title grabbed me as I thought my young daughter might like it (she's mad about dogs). Read it in a few minutes, found myself laughing and crying then rushing out to buy copies for friends and family. This book is a hidden jewel!
freshness and innocenceJune 8, 2008 It's a book full of wonder that takes only 10 minutes to read but you read and re-read it for the humour, the pathos and to re-enter that child's mind of discovery. It's a book for children of all ages and it's written in the form of a diary of a young boy being introduced to poetry. Initially, he is reticent about writing - "I don't want to because boys don't write poetry" - but he overcomes this and then the book opens up into an explanation of meaning and words and language. Through humour, joy, heartache, we are caught in the child's world that so closely resembles our own world of definition. The book opens with the diary entry and comments about William Carlos Williams' "The Red Wheelbarrow". The story continues with the young boy's development into the poetry world and how this grows into a love of words after the death of his beloved dog. 'Love That Dog' makes us laugh and cry and question our own development as writers, as we wish we could capture that freshness and innocence again. Sharon Creech has skilfully entered a child's mind while avoiding cliches and patronisation.
Be Prepared to buy Multiple CopiesNovember 22, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am now on my fourth copy of this book, because whenever I lend it to someone, it never comes back. This is a slender volume which can be read in one sitting, but which will stay with you for the rest of your life. It is told in the form of short poems or verses on every page from the point of view of a child in school. The child is struggling to learn about what makes poetry poetic, and why poetry is important. Those difficulties are played out in poetic form on the page. The other theme of the book is the child's relationship with its dog, the most important thing in its life. The child wrestles with poetry to try and express the often inexpressible feelings it has about the dog and what it means to have a relationship with it. The book is hauntingly sad, fantastically beautiful and never fails to touch those who read it. I gave this book to my mother who teaches literature to the under twelves, and who often find it difficult to engage with poetry. She has now worn out two copies of the book and says it is the most powerfully affecting book she has ever used to teach with. Children love it, adults love it, you will love it. You must buy it.
Don't judge this book by its cover!July 16, 2004 8 out of 10 found this review helpful
My mum bought this for me at a book sale and when I saw it all I could think of was 'great! I'm a teenager! I don't want to read baby stuff!' The next day there was a powercut so I picked it up and in five mins I had finished it. My mum came ito the room and asked if I was o.k because tears were streaming down my face. I answered " yes i'm fine. I just have to reread it to see if i was in a dream or really reading this book ". I urge evereybody to buy this book and live this heartwarming story of a boy learning poetry and growing to love it. A must read!
