Little Dog and Duncan (Claudia Lewis Poetry Award) [Hardcover]

Kristine O'Connell George (Author), June Otani (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2002 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Bank Street College of Education Claudia Lewis Award (Awards)

The endearing characters from Little Dog Poems are back—and this time the little girl and her little dog have a very large overnight visitor. Duncan is so big that he plays fetch with a log instead of a stick, his head alone fills Little Dog’s bed, and he takes up way more than his share of the backseat. But even though he and Little Dog are very different, they have lots in common, too—both love cookies and scratches and mud and mischief. Thirty short, playful poems, narrated by the little girl and illustrated with delicate watercolors, affectionately observe the contrasting canines and are an appealing introduction to poetry for very young readers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A big dog comes to visit in Little Dog and Duncan by Kristine O'Connell George, illus. by June Otani. This companion volume to Little Dog Poems chronicles what happens when the titular pups share quarters, with poems like "Mud," "Homesick" and "No Fair!" Otani's bare bones watercolors portray the girl narrator and the goings-on about the house.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 3--The star of Little Dog Poems (Clarion, 1999) discovers the give and take of friendship when an enormous Irish wolfhound comes to spend the night. A series of simply worded, evocatively illustrated poems tell an inviting tale of two canines, one gigantic and one petite, as they enthusiastically greet one another, carefully work out territorial issues, roughhouse, and vie for the attention of Little Dog's young owner. In the end, Little Dog is sad to see Duncan go home, and finds reassurance in the arms of the little girl. George has a real knack for choosing ordinary moments and describing them in accessible yet lyrical language, transforming the mundane into the magical. The poems have been pared down and polished to perfection; although written in free verse, they have the elegance and quiet eloquence of haiku. Otani's watercolor paintings are filled with personality and charm. The use of white space or very understated backgrounds keeps the focus on the interaction between the characters, whose expressions and body language echo the emotional nuances of each selection. Glowing with warmth and gentle humor, this book makes a great choice for reading aloud, or for quiet sharing while children are snuggled up with their favorite pet or stuffed pooch.
Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; New title edition (April 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061811758X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618117581
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simply told tale of two dogs visiting for a week, October 26, 2002

By 

Mary "ML" (Tacoma, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Dog and Duncan (Claudia Lewis Poetry Award) (Hardcover)

A simple story told about the week Duncan, an Irish wolfhound, comes to visit Little Dog. The dogs are excited to see one another, have moments of jealously and at the end, Little Dog is sad when Duncan goes home. The story is told in concise, eloquent wording: "Little Dog yips, runs in circles, runs to the door, barking -- Visitor!" Charming watercolor illustrations detail the owner, who is a young girl, and the two dogs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Puppy Love, June 19, 2002

By 

Vicki Arkoff (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Dog and Duncan (Claudia Lewis Poetry Award) (Hardcover)

For most young listeners, free verse poetry instills boredom and confusion. No rhythm? No rhyme? No story? There's no such problem with Little Dog and Duncan, a charming anthology of short poems that weave together mini-episodes in the story of a friendly wolfhound who has an overnight visit with his diminutive neighbor, Little Dog.
As a read aloud story, it's a delightful success. Lessons in opposites and similarities are naturally woven into each sceanario, and children can't help but enjoy recognizing human behavior in the familiar canine personalities. But it's at its best read alone when the words have an opportunity to work on a multiple planes, inviting imaginative reader analysis of the poetic form.