| Booktalk
#1
Jack hates poetry and thinks
only girls write it, until his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, inspires him
to read poetry and the work of Walter Dean Myers, where he discovers a
poem that touches his heart. Jack’s teacher says that Jack has poetry
inside him and she knows what to do to help this budding poet blossom into
a writer. As Jack attempts to read and write poetry, he realizes
he does have something to say, and that others will want to hear what it
is. Jack is also instrumental in getting Mr. Myers himself to come
to his school to talk about his poetry. After this visit, Jack will
be forever changed.
Prepared by: Janet Kittrell
for South
Carolina Children's Book Award
Booktalk #2
I can't believe I have to keep
this journal and write poetry assigned by Miss Stretchberry. But
here goes nothing.
"September
13
I don't
want to
because
boys
don't write
poetry.
Girls do."
That should do it. Miss
Stretchberry will surely see that I'm no poet.
"November
29
I liked
those small poems we read today
when they're
small like that you can read a whole bunch in a short time."
"January
10
I really
really really did not get the pasture poem today.
I think
Mr. Robert Frost has much too much time on his hands."
What Jack is beginning
to realize is that his words are worth writing and after hearing "Love
That Boy" by Walter Dean Myers he can finally deal with the loss of his
favorite pet through poetry. Pair this slim volume with A Poke
in the I and Doodle Dandies and you'll have poets before you
know it! (New Hampshire
Great Stone Face Committee)
Booktalk #3
Love That Dog is an amusing
and unusual book about a boy named Jack and his dog. A sad incident
with the dog inspires Jack to unwittingly create poems and discovers the
powers and pleasures of poetry that he thought was only granted to girls.
He becomes inspired by his teacher and especially by a poem Love That Boy
by the author Walter Dean Myers. Jack's Poem Love That Dog reads:
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."
If you're a dog lover,
read the book and you may find that reading and writing verse is "not so
bad" after all. (Tina Berger, tberger@homexpressway.net,
St. James -Santee Elementary)
Booktalk #4
Boys don’t write poetry- girls
do! At least that’s Jack’s opinion when Miss Stretchberry introduces the
class to writing poetry at the beginning of the school year. He just doesn’t
get it. The poems she reads to the class make no sense to him, but as he
listens and writes more of his own poetry he begins to appreciate the rhythm
of the words. Jack begins to notice connections as he relates themes to
his own life. Finally, through poetry, he is able to express his emotions
about the pet dog he loved so much. (Jean B. Bellavance for Pennsylvania
Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2004-2005) |
