A Dog Called Kitty (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) [School & Library Binding]

Bill Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1992 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Ricky wants to help the starving stray dog wandering around his backyard, but after having been bitten once by a rabid dog, he is terrified to reach out to the hungry pup.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

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,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail -- and Ricky was afraid of him!

No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost.

But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving.

If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die -- but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!

Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet, the Oklahoma Sequoyah and the Nebraska Golden Sower Awards. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 153 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (March 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785716955
• ISBN-13: 978-0785716952
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,687,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Fine Book!!, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Dog Called Kitty (Paperback)

A boy named Rick is attacked by a mad dog when he is a baby and never forgets it. Years later a small dog comes out of the barn. Rick is terrified. He has to face his fears or the dog will starve to death. I read this book 2 years ago and I can still remember the whole book. Bill Wallace makes you feel like you are right next to Rick threw the whole book. I could not put the book down and finished it in the middle of the night. This is one book you have to read! I am a huge Bill Wallace fan and I think you will be one too.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pick for a bookclub, August 13, 2006

By 

R. Blodgett "the book fairy" (Gansevoort, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dog Called Kitty (Paperback)

I heard of this book and wanted to check it out for a bookclub for 4th and 5th graders. After checking out some on-line reviews, many of which were from people who read it when orginally published in the 80's, I decided to use it. What impressed me most about the reviews was that the people who read it back then remember it making a big impression on them and couldn't wait to share it with their children. I have several books I feel that way about so figured if it had such a strong impression it would be worth a shot.

It turned out to be a good call. Most of the children finished it and almost all really liked it. We had a discussion about the fear the main character had of dogs and fears they have. Mnay of them felt a lot of different emotions throughout the book and although it had some diffecult scenes they really liked how the story unfolded and the end of the story.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Young Dog Lovers Beware, December 11, 2007

By 

HKVan "HKVan" (Hartland, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Called Kitty (Rack Size) (Paperback)

Although a very well written book, I would not have allowed my young daughter to read this if I had know the outcome of the story. Young dog lovers beware, that "Kitty" DIES unexpectedly, and tragically toward the end of the story. My daughter loves dogs and cats, and was so distraught by Kitty's death, that she didn't care that the boy finds another dog to begin a friendship with. In fact, I don't know that she even read the last several pages of the book right away, because she was so upset. She is okay with it now, and still likes the book, but as a parent, I wish I would have seen the book summary on this site prior to letting her read it.