Recent Reads: The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan

The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date:  September 13, 2016

 

Format:  Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

From Newbery Medal winner Patricia MacLachlan comes a poignant story about two children, a poet, and a dog and how they help one another survive loss and recapture love.

Teddy is a gifted dog. Raised in a cabin by a poet named Sylvan, he grew up listening to sonnets read aloud and the comforting clicking of a keyboard. Although Teddy understands words, Sylvan always told him there are only two kinds of people in the world who can hear Teddy speak: poets and children.

Then one day Teddy learns that Sylvan was right. When Teddy finds Nickel and Flora trapped in a snowstorm, he tells them that he will bring them home—and they understand him. The children are afraid of the howling wind, but not of Teddy’s words. They follow him to a cabin in the woods, where the dog used to live with Sylvan . . . only now his owner is gone.

As they hole up in the cabin for shelter, Teddy is flooded with memories of Sylvan. What will Teddy do when his new friends go home? Can they help one another find what they have lost?

Review: 

I found this book at the library, I had not heard anything about it but seemed to be about a dog and it looked interesting enough to take a chance on. I am so glad that I did.
 
According to this book, if you are a child or a poet you can hear dogs, understand them, speak to them in human words, especially if their owners have taught them language. In this book, Teddy is a dog who finds two kids lost in a snow storm and brings them back to his house. He helps them through their time there and they help him. 

This is a very sweet tale told through the present and flashbacks from Teddy's point of view. It is his story, not the children. He is a good dog and he has a story to tell. 

This book was sweet and whimsical. The story was sad and happy, it brought on a lot of emotions and almost definitely will make you cry. I really enjoyed it and it was a short and easy read.