Love That Dog

Love That Dog
By Sharon Creech
HarperTrophy, 2001

I absolutely LOVED this book. I finished it in less than a half an hour and it made me cry. An easy read, it would be great for kids as an introduction to poetry. Although not "typical" poetry, this free verse novel is told from the point of view of a young boy named Jack who is anything but willing to read and write poetry. We follow is writing process and with him, see his growth and confidence build. He even writes to his favorite poet who ends up coming to visit him! But of course, titled "Love That Dog", Jack writes about his beloved Sky, his yellow lab that is no longer alive. This part pulled heart strings for me, because I am such a dog lover and I have lost a pet before. It's one of the worst feelings, as pets just love unconditionally.
This book also has a sequel called "Hate That Cat", also told from the point of view of Jack. It is told the following year, but he still has the same teacher. I think reading each one to a class would be an excellent idea. "Love That Dog" at the beginning of a poetry unit, as students are often reluctant when it comes to poetry. Then reading "Hate That Cat" when the unit is coming to a close, so the students can see Jack's growth as well as their own. This is the type of book that I think should he displayed on the document camera while being read, so the students can see the style and format of writing. It plays a very important role in this book.