Title of Book: A Dog Called Kitty; Author: Bill Wallace; ISBN 978-0671770815; Published by Aladdin
Summary:
Summary:
When the 10 year old protagonist Ricky was a baby, he was brutally attacked by a dog which has led to his phobia. Fortunately for Ricky, a small puppy showed up on his family’s farm. Something stired inside Ricky and he decided to feed the puppy so it would get strong enough so Ricky could drive him away from the farm forever. The puppy however, wiggled its way into Ricky’s heart and the two became best friends. In the climax of the story, the two successfully defended a baby calf from being attacked by a pack of wild dogs. Tragedy struck however, and Kitty was killed at the end of the story in a freak accident.
My Impressions:
My Impressions:
No wonder Gordon Korman wrote a book called No More Dead Dogs! I must admit to you that when I read a mystery book I read the last two chapters first so I can sit back and enjoy the story without being anxious and nervous. Having said that, halfway through the story I got a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that this poor dog Kitty would die in the book and I just couldn’t relax for the other half of the book. Sure enough, he did. You may think I am cruel beyond words, but poor Kitty’s death in the freak accident just wasn’t satisfying to me as a reader-he didn’t have to die. It would have been much more poignant if Kitty had failed to recover from his wounds while defending his best friend. This book is best suited for grades 4-7. If you are looking for a book where the boy’s dog dies, I would highly recommend Stone Fox by John R. Gardiner.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 3 out of 5
Reviews and Awards:
Winner of the 1983 Texas Bluebonnet Award
From School Library Journal (retrieved from Bowker’s Book in Print)
Grade 3-5. Bill Wallace's story (Holiday, 1980) of the bonding between a boy and a dog is not to be missed. This presentation, read by L.J. Ganser, is so softly dramatic that it not only captures the essence of gentle emotion but essentially transports readers to the Oklahoma farm where Ricky exhibits courage beyond belief. Ricky is terrified by dogs because as a toddler he was mercilessly mauled by a rabid dog and left to die. Sixty-three stitches later with no anesthesia, Ricky is scarred with the emotional and physical memories that constantly recall his tragedy. The softness of Ganser's voice reflects the softness of Ricky's heart when a puppy is left to starve because he responds with a littler of kittens for food but is rejected. Hence, the name Kitty. Ricky musters all his courage and feeds the puppy, building a closeness that only friends realize and conquering his all-consuming fear. With Ricky, readers suffer the loss and feel the anguish when Kitty is accidentally killed at an oil rig. Hope, however, still prevails and happiness does come through sorrow. Ganser brings life and emotion to a powerful story with his dramatic rendition. This touching and encouraging story add a further dimension to the significance of boy and dog relationships, and should be high on public and school library priority lists. Patricia Mahoney Brown, Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore,
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
I would plan a dog extravaganza. Set up a special display with all kings of books on dogs and decorate the area with all things dogs. For the kickoff, invite some guest speakers to come and share- a vet, a police officer with the canine unit and a perhaps a therapy dog. Do book talks on several of the dog books (be sure to include the non-fiction ones as well). Partner up with your local animal shelter and hold a penny drive for the shelter’s use. In lieu of charging late fees for a period of a month or so, accept used towels (shelters are always in need of these). Encourage children to bring pictures of their dogs and post the pictures by the book display. Patrons who bring items that a dog could use (dog food, leash, collar, flea medicine, etc…) will be entered in a raffle for a gift certificate to PetSmart. End your dog extravaganza with a free showing of a great dog movie like The Shaggy D.A. (Disney) while you snack on hot dogs. Arrange for media coverage while you present all the items you’ve collected to a representative of your local animal shelter.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 3 out of 5
Reviews and Awards:
Winner of the 1983 Texas Bluebonnet Award
From School Library Journal (retrieved from Bowker’s Book in Print)
Grade 3-5. Bill Wallace's story (Holiday, 1980) of the bonding between a boy and a dog is not to be missed. This presentation, read by L.J. Ganser, is so softly dramatic that it not only captures the essence of gentle emotion but essentially transports readers to the Oklahoma farm where Ricky exhibits courage beyond belief. Ricky is terrified by dogs because as a toddler he was mercilessly mauled by a rabid dog and left to die. Sixty-three stitches later with no anesthesia, Ricky is scarred with the emotional and physical memories that constantly recall his tragedy. The softness of Ganser's voice reflects the softness of Ricky's heart when a puppy is left to starve because he responds with a littler of kittens for food but is rejected. Hence, the name Kitty. Ricky musters all his courage and feeds the puppy, building a closeness that only friends realize and conquering his all-consuming fear. With Ricky, readers suffer the loss and feel the anguish when Kitty is accidentally killed at an oil rig. Hope, however, still prevails and happiness does come through sorrow. Ganser brings life and emotion to a powerful story with his dramatic rendition. This touching and encouraging story add a further dimension to the significance of boy and dog relationships, and should be high on public and school library priority lists. Patricia Mahoney Brown, Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore,
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
I would plan a dog extravaganza. Set up a special display with all kings of books on dogs and decorate the area with all things dogs. For the kickoff, invite some guest speakers to come and share- a vet, a police officer with the canine unit and a perhaps a therapy dog. Do book talks on several of the dog books (be sure to include the non-fiction ones as well). Partner up with your local animal shelter and hold a penny drive for the shelter’s use. In lieu of charging late fees for a period of a month or so, accept used towels (shelters are always in need of these). Encourage children to bring pictures of their dogs and post the pictures by the book display. Patrons who bring items that a dog could use (dog food, leash, collar, flea medicine, etc…) will be entered in a raffle for a gift certificate to PetSmart. End your dog extravaganza with a free showing of a great dog movie like The Shaggy D.A. (Disney) while you snack on hot dogs. Arrange for media coverage while you present all the items you’ve collected to a representative of your local animal shelter.
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