Customer Reviews

Little Dog and Duncan (Claudia Lewis Poetry Award)

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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.

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.