A Dog’s Life
A Dog’s Life. Martin, Ann M.; New York, Scholastic, 2005.
Grade Level: 3-5
Hardback ISBN: 0-439-71559-8 ISBN-13: 978-0439715591
Cost Paperback: January 1, 2007 $5.99
Other formats: Audio CD, Cassette, Ebook
Synopsis: Squirrel, a stray dog, tells her life story, from starting life with her mother and brother, living alone in the forest, experiencing mean, unkind humans, to life with a kind, loving owner when she is old.
General Review: This book would make a wonderful introduction for a unit on pets, animals, and animal shelters. It is a serious, thought provoking account of the life of a stray dog from the dog’s point of view. As Squirrel, a stray dog, confronts humans and other animals, she learns many lessons. Just like humans, what she has learned affects her decisions from then on.
Themes: Dogs, Homeless animals, Animal shelters, Animal rescues, Orphaned animals
Author Information:
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-martin-ann.asp
http://www.scholastic.com/annmartin/bio.htm
Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss the difference in Bone and Squirrel’s life from the farm to the house in the city.
2. How was life different for Squirrel after the female Moon came to live with her in the forest by the mall?
3. What happened when Moon and Squirrel crossed the highway and were hurt?
4. After wondering for many years, what was life like with Susan?
Activity suggestions:
1. Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast our pets with a stray animal. Standard 3, Benchmark 1
2. Interview your local veterinarian about pet care and the number of unclaimed animals in your area. Standard 7, Benchmark 1
3. Arrange to have someone from the animal shelter or police department speak to the children about stray animals. Standard 7, Benchmark 1
4. Visit an animal shelter. Standard 3, Benchmark 2
5. After reading the story, write a creative narrative from a pet’s point of view. What would their pet think about its life with them? Standard 9, Benchmark 4
6. Select a significant event from the book and draw an illustration. Be sure to include the page number(s) where the event takes place and write an original caption for the illustration. Standard 5, Benchmark 3
7. Using Internet and book research, have students make a list of Top Ten Facts about the Homeless Animals or write a report on the problem of homeless animals. Standard 1, Benchmark 5
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Similar Books for Further Reading:
- The Good Dog by Avi
- Sarah Clark Jordan's The BossQueen, Little BigBark and the Sentinel Pup
- Sheila Burnford's The Incredible Journey