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Entirely written in free verse, Love That Dog, is another extremely unique book geared towards
grades 3-7. Young readers at this age aren’t necessarily the most adventurous
when it comes to reading new formats or genres, so again, this is a novel that
will need marketing by school librarians. This book is a great way to introduce
poetry to young readers, without the poetry being too cumbersome or
stylistically awkward for first time poetry readers. Children will be able to
relate to the main character, Jack, who is himself a reluctant reader and
writer of poetry. This book might also appeal to reluctant readers since the
book is a quick read and the formatting and free verse flow easily. Likewise,
this novel would also serve any student well who is researching books that
utilize examples of figurative language such as onomatopoeia, hyperbole,
metaphor, etc.
Sharon Creech is the author of Love That Dog, and has since written a
sequel, Hate That Cat, that takes on
an identical free verse poetry form. Also in her signature free verse poetry
style, is her novel, Heartbeat. One
book that departs from this style, however, is Walk Two Moons, which is told in a normal narrative style, and won
Creech the Newbery Medal. One thing all of her books do have in common however,
regardless of which style they are written in, is that they all focus on
children as the main characters, and manage to cover some heavy themes.
-Ms. J
