Love That Dog

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. NY: HarperCollins.

Love that Dog is one side of a poetic conversation between Jack and his teacher. Jack is a talented poet, even though he is a little unsure of himself. His teacher, Miss Stretchberry, introduces the class to many new poems and Jack shares his thoughts on each poem with her. Creech perfectly captures the voice of young Jack in his realistic take on poems and his witty dialogue with his teacher. When he hears a poem by Walter Dean Myers, he is inspired to write about his dog and even reaches out to Myers himself. Jack gains confidence in himself and his writing as this quick, delightful story progresses.

Textbook Assignment #6

• Comparison - Creech’s free verse is similar to Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming in both form and perspective. Although it’s structure is completely different than El Deafo, it is similar in its humor and voice. Both Jack and Cece are navigating relationships with teachers and classmates.
• Appeal - As a former Bluebonnet award winner, Love that Dog an easy sell in the library. A book of poems might not typically appeal to boys, but the main character Jack and his love for his dog can capture a larger audience. Given the fact that there is a sequel also adds to saleability of the book.
• Three other books by Creech include:

Hate That Cat involves the same character, Jack’s, written conversation with his teacher Miss Stretchberry. It’s a new school year and she has moved up with him to a new grade and they seem to pick up right where they left off. Jack and Miss Stretchberry have a good relationship and his entries to her are quite entertaining.

The Boy on the Porch is a story of a young couple who find a boy has been left on their porch and he doesn’t speak. This book is very different from the previous two as it is written in a narrative form and involves a family rather than a singular character.

The Unfinished Angel is a narrative about an angel who is awaiting her instructions and floats above an Italian town observing the crazy people below. This novel is a departure from the other Creech books mentioned with its flair for magic and fantasy but it shares the author’s sense of humor and charm.

Book Trailer

http://www.schooltube.com/video/fe84d972d6a3a2e2987c/Love-That-Dog-Book-Trailer

Discussion Guide

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/love-dog-discussion-guide