Customer Reviews

Up: My Name is Dug

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I confess I love Dug the Dog from "UP": he unconditionally loves all around him. I bought the book primarily because I unconditionally love him back, but became delighted with the book when I read it to a group of students.

The strongest point of this book, besides Dug's instant love of the audience, is that the character speaks directly to the reader and breaks down that third wall. My students all giggled when I read how he smelled peanut butter and then turned to them and asked them who had peanut butter for lunch. Hands went up amongst lots of giggles and the book had solidly hooked them in. A fast read, we all enjoyed the story and many talked back when they saw Kevin (behind you, Dug!).

After we read the book through once, the kids clamored for a second reading. So I invited someone to read it in a "Dug" voice and I sat with them to interact along in the story.

Did I mention that the age range was from 2nd up through 6th? My sixth graders loved taking turns being Dug and I anticipate that this would make a great centerpiece to a lesson on the importance of voice in the writing.

My intent is to point out how Dug's voice never leaves the supposedly low-level intelligence and he never changes from a loving tone (even after being tossed a cliff by his pack). He maintains the same tone all through the book and it works because his audience comes to trust that voice due to its consistency. Then encourage them to create their own character and write their own book.

BTW, the illustrations are awesome with their simplicity and with an interesting non-basic palette. I think a great extra credit project would center on having students create their own Dug book.

Dug the dog is on a mission.
Dug the dog is a great tracker (he says so himself).
Dug the dog must "find the bird and make it his prisoner"!
Unfortunately Dug the dog is so easily distracted by the sights and smells around him that he never sees the bird he's looking for - even when it's standing right behind him! This is a hilarious take-off from the Disney PIXAR animated film "UP" featuring Dug and the dogs in his pack: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Kids will have a great time spotting the bird on the pages while Dug chases a frog, or a squirrel, or the tantilizing smell of...peanut butter?! FUN BOOK to read even if you haven't seen the movie yet.

My children love Up! More specifically my youngest adores Dug. This book was the perfect birthday gift for my puppy lovin' little man. Both boys enjoyed the story and the "bird hunt" so much that we had to continue on, telling the rest of the story of Dug, the pack and the bird.

It's so very cute, especially if you have seen the movie and love Dug. The artwork is fun and very colorful. If you liked "Up" and you have kids you should have this book in your library.