Verse Novel
Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech
Bibliography
Creech, Sharon. 2001. Love That Dog. New York: HarperCollins.
ISBN: 9780060292874
Book Review
Written in a journal format expanding an entire school year, this tenderly written novel in verse highlights the poetic transformation of a young student named Jack. The novel appropriately begins with a disgruntled Jack proclaiming, “I don’t want to because boys don’t write poetry. Girls do.” From there, an amazing adventure in poetry begins. Throughout his reluctance and genuine complaints, young Jack begins to accept and understand the true meaning of poems and incorporates these features within his own writing. Displaying outstanding instructional methods to poetry, Creech includes brilliant examples from some of the most famous poets to bring an authentic appeal throughout her entire novel. Poems from Robert Frost, Valerie Worth, and Walter Dean Myers are easily integrated throughout this poetry journal to enhance the process of appreciating this least understood of all genres. It is this kind of journal that will grab the attention of young readers and help them equally understand the power in poetry and the process of becoming an accomplished poet, while learning to appreciate poems in everyday life. Creech further grabs the attention of young audiences by displaying the relationships between poets and how they appreciate each others’ work. Her inclusion of Walter Dean Myers’ work from “Love That Boy” proves to be the inspiration of Jack’s most treasured poem titled, “Love That Dog.”
Readers will appreciate Creech’s simplistic style that permeates throughout the entire verse novel. The yellow colored book cover with the delicately sketched dog is continually referenced throughout Jack’s journal. Dates are included at the tops of pages to give this novel the true journalistic quality. The entire text appears in blue colored print to further add to the essence of a personal journal of a young boy. Creech ends her novel fittingly by including a section completely dedicated to recognizing the poems and the poets that are referred to throughout this verse novel.
The following poems play a special role throughout young Jack’s journal. As Jack gradually aspires to writing poetry, he realizes that Walter Dean Myers becomes his hero. It is Myers’ poem titled, “Love That Boy” that inspires Jack to write a poem about his beloved dog Sky. While Jack worries about borrowing words from his poem, a visit from Myers eases his tension. It shows how poets encourage young children to use their poetry for inspiration.
Love That Dog
(Inspired by Walter Dean Myers)
By Jack
Love that dog,
like a bird loves to fly
I said I love that dog
like a bird loves to fly
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
“Hey there, Sky!”
Love That Boy*
By Walter Dean Myers
Love that boy,
like a rabbit loves to run
I said I love that boy
like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
love to call him
“Hey there, son!”
*First stanza
Extensions
After reading Love That Dog, children will look forward to making reference to each of the poems presented in this verse novel. Creech’s novel will act as a prime example for children wanting to begin their own poetry journals.
Learn more about Sharon Creech by visiting her web site. Visitors can also access resources for literacy activities related to her books through a link titled, Teach Creech!
http://www.sharoncreech.com/index.html
Children will enjoy the continuation of Love That Dog:
Hate the Cat - ISBN 9780061430923
Read other novels by Sharon Creech:
Heartbeat - ISBN 9780060540241
Pleasing the Ghost - ISBN 9780064406864
The Unfinished Angel - ISBN 9780061430954
Walk Two Moons (Newbery Award) - ISBN 9780064405171
The Wanderer (Newbery Honor Award) - ISBN 9780064410328
Image Source: HarperCollins Publishers