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Little Dog, Lost
From Newbery Honoree Marion Dane Bauer comes the tale of a boy who needs a dog, and a dog who needs a boya match made in heaven, if only the two can meet.
Mark is a boy who needs a dog. But he can't get his mom on board with his plan.
Buddy is a dog who needs a boy. Buddy has an owner already, but not one who understands the kind of love and care -the 'something more' a dog needs.
Mr. LaRue is a neighbor who needs a community. He's alone all the time in his huge old house and everyone needs more than that.
Over the course of a summer thunderstorm and one chaotic town council meeting, these three characters cross paths and come together in a timeless tale ripe with emotions and told in verse that resolves with love, understanding, and a sense of belonging - plus a place to play a game of fetch!
Mark is a boy who needs a dog. But he can't get his mom on board with his plan.
Buddy is a dog who needs a boy. Buddy has an owner already, but not one who understands the kind of love and care -the 'something more' a dog needs.
Mr. LaRue is a neighbor who needs a community. He's alone all the time in his huge old house and everyone needs more than that.
Over the course of a summer thunderstorm and one chaotic town council meeting, these three characters cross paths and come together in a timeless tale ripe with emotions and told in verse that resolves with love, understanding, and a sense of belonging - plus a place to play a game of fetch!
208 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
43 people are currently reading
1058 people want to read
About the author
Marion Dane Bauer
170 books189 followersMarion Dane Bauer is the author of more than one hundred books for young people, ranging from novelty and picture books through early readers, both fiction and nonfiction, books on writing, and middle-grade and young-adult novels. She has won numerous awards, including several Minnesota Book Awards, a Jane Addams Peace Association Award for RAIN OF FIRE, an American Library Association Newbery Honor Award for ON MY HONOR, a number of state children's choice awards and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for the body of her work.
She is also the editor of and a contributor to the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.
Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing guide, the American Library Association Notable WHAT'S YOUR STORY? A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION, is used by writers of all ages. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.
She has six grandchildren and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her partner and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dawn.
-------------------------------------
INTERVIEW WITH MARION DANE BAUER
-------------------------------------
Q. What brought you to a career as a writer?
A. I seem to have been born with my head full of stories. For almost as far back as I can remember, I used most of my unoccupied moments--even in school when I was supposed to be doing other "more important" things--to make up stories in my head. I sometimes got a notation on my report card that said, "Marion dreams." It was not a compliment. But while the stories I wove occupied my mind in a very satisfying way, they were so complex that I never thought of trying to write them down. I wouldn't have known where to begin. So though I did all kinds of writing through my teen and early adult years--letters, journals, essays, poetry--I didn't begin to gather the craft I needed to write stories until I was in my early thirties. That was also when my last excuse for not taking the time to sit down to do the writing I'd so long wanted to do started first grade.
Q. And why write for young people?
A. Because I get my creative energy in examining young lives, young issues. Most people, when they enter adulthood, leave childhood behind, by which I mean that they forget most of what they know about themselves as children. Of course, the ghosts of childhood still inhabit them, but they deal with them in other forms--problems with parental authority turn into problems with bosses, for instance--and don't keep reaching back to the original source to try to fix it, to make everything come out differently than it did the first time. Most children's writers, I suspect, are fixers. We return, again and again, usually under the cover of made-up characters, to work things through. I don't know that our childhoods are necessarily more painful than most. Every childhood has pain it, because life has pain in it at every stage. The difference is that we are compelled to keep returning to the source.
Q. You write for a wide range of ages. Do you write from a different place in writing for preschoolers than for young adolescents?
A. In a picture book or board book, I'm always writing from the womb of the family, a place that--while it might be intruded upon by fears, for instance--is still, ultimately, safe and nurturing. That's what my own early childhood was like, so it's easy for me to return to those feelings and to recreate them.
When I write for older readers, I'm writing from a very different experience. My early adolescence, especially, was a time of deep alienation, mostly from my peers but in some ways from my family as well. And so I write my older stories out of that pain, that longing for connection. A story has to have a problem at its core. No struggle
She is also the editor of and a contributor to the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.
Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing guide, the American Library Association Notable WHAT'S YOUR STORY? A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION, is used by writers of all ages. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.
She has six grandchildren and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her partner and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dawn.
-------------------------------------
INTERVIEW WITH MARION DANE BAUER
-------------------------------------
Q. What brought you to a career as a writer?
A. I seem to have been born with my head full of stories. For almost as far back as I can remember, I used most of my unoccupied moments--even in school when I was supposed to be doing other "more important" things--to make up stories in my head. I sometimes got a notation on my report card that said, "Marion dreams." It was not a compliment. But while the stories I wove occupied my mind in a very satisfying way, they were so complex that I never thought of trying to write them down. I wouldn't have known where to begin. So though I did all kinds of writing through my teen and early adult years--letters, journals, essays, poetry--I didn't begin to gather the craft I needed to write stories until I was in my early thirties. That was also when my last excuse for not taking the time to sit down to do the writing I'd so long wanted to do started first grade.
Q. And why write for young people?
A. Because I get my creative energy in examining young lives, young issues. Most people, when they enter adulthood, leave childhood behind, by which I mean that they forget most of what they know about themselves as children. Of course, the ghosts of childhood still inhabit them, but they deal with them in other forms--problems with parental authority turn into problems with bosses, for instance--and don't keep reaching back to the original source to try to fix it, to make everything come out differently than it did the first time. Most children's writers, I suspect, are fixers. We return, again and again, usually under the cover of made-up characters, to work things through. I don't know that our childhoods are necessarily more painful than most. Every childhood has pain it, because life has pain in it at every stage. The difference is that we are compelled to keep returning to the source.
Q. You write for a wide range of ages. Do you write from a different place in writing for preschoolers than for young adolescents?
A. In a picture book or board book, I'm always writing from the womb of the family, a place that--while it might be intruded upon by fears, for instance--is still, ultimately, safe and nurturing. That's what my own early childhood was like, so it's easy for me to return to those feelings and to recreate them.
When I write for older readers, I'm writing from a very different experience. My early adolescence, especially, was a time of deep alienation, mostly from my peers but in some ways from my family as well. And so I write my older stories out of that pain, that longing for connection. A story has to have a problem at its core. No struggle
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January 27, 2013
I want a puppy so bad!!! But, I think if I had to go through all the drama of this book in order to get a puppy, that might not be worth it to me.
But PUPPY!
Sad puppy wants its own girl:
[image error]
Like Mark, I can’t have a puppy right now. Unlike Mark, I do not spend every waking hour researching puppies. I don’t think I have the devotion or sense of responsibility that Mark seems to have, but maybe when I grow up, I will, and then mymom HOA will let me have a puppy.
This story is in verse, and it is very sweet, and (SPOILER ALERT) it has a happy ending. It seems like it would be a fun book for a new reader who also has a new puppy. Probably not a good book to get a kid if you don’t want to buy said kid a puppy. There’s that Shel Silverstein poem about Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony, where Abigail says she’ll die if she doesn’t get a pony, and then she doesn’t get a pony and she does die. I think this could be a similar experience, where if you’re a kid and don’t have a puppy, you might die after reading this book. Just a warning for concerned parents.
_______________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for nothing.
But PUPPY!
Sad puppy wants its own girl:
[image error]
Like Mark, I can’t have a puppy right now. Unlike Mark, I do not spend every waking hour researching puppies. I don’t think I have the devotion or sense of responsibility that Mark seems to have, but maybe when I grow up, I will, and then my
This story is in verse, and it is very sweet, and (SPOILER ALERT) it has a happy ending. It seems like it would be a fun book for a new reader who also has a new puppy. Probably not a good book to get a kid if you don’t want to buy said kid a puppy. There’s that Shel Silverstein poem about Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony, where Abigail says she’ll die if she doesn’t get a pony, and then she doesn’t get a pony and she does die. I think this could be a similar experience, where if you’re a kid and don’t have a puppy, you might die after reading this book. Just a warning for concerned parents.
_______________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for nothing.
May 27, 2018
A bit like Because of Winn-Dixie but, imo, better. That one is all 'look at me how precious and wise I am' and this one is humbler, more fitting to the relatively light story. The poetry is not just prose shaped like a poem, either; not as powerful as Love That Dog but lovely, resonant, and engaging nonetheless.
It would make a terrific read-aloud.
Don't get me wrong, though; this is not a copycat book of the others, it's not redundant. It definitely has fresh appeal and new things to say.
p.30:
Like all towns,
Erthly had good folks,
and ornery ones too.
(There were even good folks
who were sometimes ornery
and ornery ones
who were sometimes good.)
p. 37:
(Why is the blood
that vampires thirst for
always said to be innocent?
Wouldn't guilty blood
taste just as good?)
Accidental reread. This time I'm reminded even more strongly of Kate DiCamillo.
This time I marked:
So much longing.
So many lives
filled
with longing.
It's what stories--
all our stories--
are made of.
And what is longing
made of
except hope?
It would make a terrific read-aloud.
Don't get me wrong, though; this is not a copycat book of the others, it's not redundant. It definitely has fresh appeal and new things to say.
p.30:
Like all towns,
Erthly had good folks,
and ornery ones too.
(There were even good folks
who were sometimes ornery
and ornery ones
who were sometimes good.)
p. 37:
(Why is the blood
that vampires thirst for
always said to be innocent?
Wouldn't guilty blood
taste just as good?)
Accidental reread. This time I'm reminded even more strongly of Kate DiCamillo.
This time I marked:
So much longing.
So many lives
filled
with longing.
It's what stories--
all our stories--
are made of.
And what is longing
made of
except hope?
February 25, 2012
Review of an advance copy:
In a lot of ways, this is a fairly typical dog book. Boy (Mark) desperately needs a dog. Dog (Buddy) desperately needs a boy. However, the telling of the story is quite lovely and what makes this stand out from other dog books. Buddy has lost her boy when his family moves to the city in an apartment which doesn't allow pets. Buddy is left with a friend, a well-meaning woman who doesn't understand dogs. But Mark understands dogs. He has understood them forever, and even pretends he has one of his own. So the reader happily anticipates some sort of happy ending once the two to cross paths. However, the path-crossing takes some interesting turns and very beautifully brings happiness not only to Mark & Buddy but also to a sad and lonely man and an entire community.
The text is written in free-verse format split into fairly short sections. The short sections might be good for those moments when you have just a few minutes to read or share but don't have enough time for a typical novel's chapter. The book would be excellent for a read-aloud or for small reading groups. The illustrations in the advance copy are absolutely lovely and complement the text very well. Small illustrations are interspersed with the text in addition to some full-page and double-page spreads.
Don't discount this one as "just another dog book." Sure, it's a dog book, but it is also a book that is well written, beautifully illustrated, and well worth reading. We can never have too many of those!
In a lot of ways, this is a fairly typical dog book. Boy (Mark) desperately needs a dog. Dog (Buddy) desperately needs a boy. However, the telling of the story is quite lovely and what makes this stand out from other dog books. Buddy has lost her boy when his family moves to the city in an apartment which doesn't allow pets. Buddy is left with a friend, a well-meaning woman who doesn't understand dogs. But Mark understands dogs. He has understood them forever, and even pretends he has one of his own. So the reader happily anticipates some sort of happy ending once the two to cross paths. However, the path-crossing takes some interesting turns and very beautifully brings happiness not only to Mark & Buddy but also to a sad and lonely man and an entire community.
The text is written in free-verse format split into fairly short sections. The short sections might be good for those moments when you have just a few minutes to read or share but don't have enough time for a typical novel's chapter. The book would be excellent for a read-aloud or for small reading groups. The illustrations in the advance copy are absolutely lovely and complement the text very well. Small illustrations are interspersed with the text in addition to some full-page and double-page spreads.
Don't discount this one as "just another dog book." Sure, it's a dog book, but it is also a book that is well written, beautifully illustrated, and well worth reading. We can never have too many of those!
September 2, 2018
"But nothing,
not even the sweetest love,
can be certain
of lasting
forever."
―Little Dog, Lost, P. 3
What does longing feel like? What makes up the urge we recognize within ourselves as longing, both when it's gentle, sweet, a soft tug on our hearts in the direction we feel inclined to go, and also when its desperation is darker and stronger, a storm of unstable inner intensity that will not be quieted by anything short of receiving the object of our longing, the catalyst behind the swirling existence of the fearsome storm in the first place. I think longing is more than just the panic of separation, though, a reflex response to the absence of someone we can't do without. I believe longing, in its most basic, uncluttered form, is the mechanism for forcing us out of our natural inclination toward being too timid to ever make waves. Longing, in its sweet yet unbearable presence in the moment, is like the Rack for the soul: a pulling, stretching, tearing machine that won't give us respite from the pain, no matter our good intentions, unless something is done to stop it, and it is exactly this sense of desperation to put an end to the torture that leads us to go farther than we ever would on our own, to do what we have to do to meet the demands of our longing when we would ordinarily be too scared to act. In looking back, if all goes well, the yawning emptiness of longing can even feel as if it were a blessing.
“So much longing.
So many lives
filled
with longing.
It's what stories―
all our stories―
are made of.
And what is longing
made of
except hope?”
―Little Dog, Lost, P. 113
Told in unpretentious yet often remarkably beautiful verse, Little Dog, Lost is the sort of story about separation between two who love each other that always seems to beget longing. Buddy the dog and the boy she loves and owns are happy living together as friends, their relationship formed out of all the little traditions that spring up between two who know each other so well after having spent so long together. When the family moves, Buddy is the only one left out of the loop about what's going on as the boy and his parents drop her off at a stranger's house and drive away. How is Buddy to know her boy couldn't keep her anymore at the apartment they were moving to, and had no choice but to leave her behind after much tearful protest? How is Buddy to know the only boy she ever loved, or ever cared to love, will never come back through those gates to see her, that their time as best friends is over and she never had any warning or say in the matter? How is Buddy to know the endless procession of nights and days she spends in vigilance with her nose pressed to the gates waiting, praying, knowing her boy will be back to retrieve her because he wouldn't just take off and never return, are already decreed to be in vain, because leaving Buddy behind was never his decision in the first place? How is she to understand the dark uncertainty of a world in which everything good can suddenly be...gone?
But Buddy and her boy aren't the only ones acquainted with the perimeters of longing, as familiar with all its nooks and recesses as only the downtrodden of heart can be. Living as son to the mayor in the same town where Buddy now resides, Mark has spent his young life in separation from any close friends or family members besides his mother. He has a few casual friends, but no father, no brother or even a sister, no dog to develop games with and gradually break in as a live-in friend until the relationship is as comfortable and natural as the friendship between boy and dog is supposed to be. Mark has humbly petitioned his mother, the mayor, to allow him ownership of his very own dog on many occasions, but her answer is always a curt and serious "No", forestalling any further attempts on his part to wheedle, beg, borrow or manipulate. There's no way Mark's mother is going to agree to let him have a dog, and when the mayor says no, she means business.
It doesn't take a genius IQ for Buddy to come to grips with the truth that life just isn't what it used to be back when she had her boy, who was everything a dog could need or want. Residing with the stiff, standoffish woman who seems to have taken charge of Buddy in the confusing and surely temporary absence of her real family, Buddy continues to wait outside by the gate for as long as her concentration will hold steady, though that isn't terribly long. A few idle digging motions, driven by the melancholic tedium of a life that no longer feels right and good as it once did, and Buddy finds that the soil below the gate moves freely. As much as her caretaker vocally disapproves of this activity, it doesn't take long for Buddy to exploit the landscaping loophole to her benefit, and in a jiffy she's free on the other side of her strange new prison home, free to take off after the trail of the only boy she could ever imagine belonging to, free to find him and kiss him the way she always did and make sure he never gets out of her sight again. It would be so much easier just to return to the other side of the gate to the woman who tolerates her, to go back to her familiar toys and the life she's been living and continue on with it in querulous unease, but the longing inside of Buddy is just too strong, too unyielding, too comprehensive to allow her any route but the one that will lead back home. "She had a boy. She knew she had a boy. Somewhere." This is what drives Buddy, is all that keep her going forward to find the one who means everything to her, the one who could make a thousand cross-country trips on foot worth the exhaustive effort. If only she can pick up on his trail, she's sure it will eventually lead her to him.
What does it take to bring a boy to the dog with whom he is meant to be, when neither has ever laid eyes on the other and shouldn't, by all logic, have any way of recognizing they are intended for each other? What does it take to bring a dog to the boy destined all along to be his friend, this dog he's dreamed of and hoped for even as he knew his mother would never give her okay to his vision taking hold as reality? I suppose it takes something less than a miracle, but more than everyday happenstance. In Little Dog, Lost, it takes the converging of three life stories of longing unfulfilled, the plaintive songs of three souls bumping around in the black of night without really realizing where they've been trying to go, only to end up meeting in the middle at that crucial juncture where paths serendipitously cross and all that's left is to figure out what to do about it. Life stories rarely come together in perfect symmetry, however, all aspects of each one fitting without flaw into the spaces of need left in the lives of the others, and reconciling the uneven and broken pieces is the first step toward finally finding a little bit of the relief from longing that Mark, Buddy and the third member of their trio have sought. But when the means to end our most fervent, tortured longing finally appears before our eyes, the merciful visage that causes our heart to leap for joy and our soul to relax after spending so much time clenched in the perpetual tension of unsatiated pining, it's a moment that makes all the waiting and all the heartache and all the worry that it might never happen for us worth the time spent crossing the treacherous terrain to get there. It's the imperturbable happiness of at last knowing we're exactly where we want to be, and the scars we bear from the arduous journey make the final peace we've found all the greater a reward.
Marion Dane Bauer has a keen writer's mind, to be sure, but she is also a dear heart, and that's what really comes across in this book. Little Dog, Lost would not be as deeply moving as it is were it not written by an author who so understands the human heart, and knows how to express to it the emotions of a story in a way it will understand intuitively. Marion Dane Bauer's poetry proves just as astonishing as her prose, such as in the following description of Buddy's confusion about her boy's sudden departure: "But Buddy knew nothing of the city that had swallowed her boy. She knew only that there was a place deep beneath her ribs that ached day and night." That is the type of powerful writing one comes upon often in this book. Then there's this line, about an old man living by himself in upkeep of a mansion he never really wanted, long after the girl he loved is gone: "But never in his saddest dreams had he thought he'd spend his last years dusting this enormous old house for no one at all." If it weren't for the end result of longing, the positive feeling to which longing always points―hope―then the sadness of Little Dog, Lost might be overwhelming. But what time is there to dwell on the nuances of sadness, to live under the dark cloud of despair and to focus on thoughts of longing unfulfilled, when there is a real happy ending to be found? Trust Marion Dane Bauer to lead you to that happy ending, past the scattered refuse of so much loss and so many hours of unanswered longing, and you won't be left holding an empty bag. The payoff for staying with Buddy and Mark through their hurts and tribulations is great, indeed.
This book may not be On My Honor, the novel Marion Dane Bauer was cited for with a 1987 Newbery Honor and which I consider to perhaps be the greatest eligible book ever to have not won the Newbery Medal; however, Little Dog, Lost also belongs in rare company, in my opinion, a novel of such genuine emotion and understanding that it, like On My Honor, could easily have been a leading contender in its Newbery year. Little Dog, Lost gives hope to all of us who are lost dogs looking for the boy we love, knowing he is still out there waiting for us to come to him; and to all the lonely boys, as well, hoping to come across the dog they were meant to be with from the start. I would give three and a half stars to Little Dog, Lost, and this is one book whose effect on me will not soon diminish.
not even the sweetest love,
can be certain
of lasting
forever."
―Little Dog, Lost, P. 3
What does longing feel like? What makes up the urge we recognize within ourselves as longing, both when it's gentle, sweet, a soft tug on our hearts in the direction we feel inclined to go, and also when its desperation is darker and stronger, a storm of unstable inner intensity that will not be quieted by anything short of receiving the object of our longing, the catalyst behind the swirling existence of the fearsome storm in the first place. I think longing is more than just the panic of separation, though, a reflex response to the absence of someone we can't do without. I believe longing, in its most basic, uncluttered form, is the mechanism for forcing us out of our natural inclination toward being too timid to ever make waves. Longing, in its sweet yet unbearable presence in the moment, is like the Rack for the soul: a pulling, stretching, tearing machine that won't give us respite from the pain, no matter our good intentions, unless something is done to stop it, and it is exactly this sense of desperation to put an end to the torture that leads us to go farther than we ever would on our own, to do what we have to do to meet the demands of our longing when we would ordinarily be too scared to act. In looking back, if all goes well, the yawning emptiness of longing can even feel as if it were a blessing.
“So much longing.
So many lives
filled
with longing.
It's what stories―
all our stories―
are made of.
And what is longing
made of
except hope?”
―Little Dog, Lost, P. 113
Told in unpretentious yet often remarkably beautiful verse, Little Dog, Lost is the sort of story about separation between two who love each other that always seems to beget longing. Buddy the dog and the boy she loves and owns are happy living together as friends, their relationship formed out of all the little traditions that spring up between two who know each other so well after having spent so long together. When the family moves, Buddy is the only one left out of the loop about what's going on as the boy and his parents drop her off at a stranger's house and drive away. How is Buddy to know her boy couldn't keep her anymore at the apartment they were moving to, and had no choice but to leave her behind after much tearful protest? How is Buddy to know the only boy she ever loved, or ever cared to love, will never come back through those gates to see her, that their time as best friends is over and she never had any warning or say in the matter? How is Buddy to know the endless procession of nights and days she spends in vigilance with her nose pressed to the gates waiting, praying, knowing her boy will be back to retrieve her because he wouldn't just take off and never return, are already decreed to be in vain, because leaving Buddy behind was never his decision in the first place? How is she to understand the dark uncertainty of a world in which everything good can suddenly be...gone?
But Buddy and her boy aren't the only ones acquainted with the perimeters of longing, as familiar with all its nooks and recesses as only the downtrodden of heart can be. Living as son to the mayor in the same town where Buddy now resides, Mark has spent his young life in separation from any close friends or family members besides his mother. He has a few casual friends, but no father, no brother or even a sister, no dog to develop games with and gradually break in as a live-in friend until the relationship is as comfortable and natural as the friendship between boy and dog is supposed to be. Mark has humbly petitioned his mother, the mayor, to allow him ownership of his very own dog on many occasions, but her answer is always a curt and serious "No", forestalling any further attempts on his part to wheedle, beg, borrow or manipulate. There's no way Mark's mother is going to agree to let him have a dog, and when the mayor says no, she means business.
It doesn't take a genius IQ for Buddy to come to grips with the truth that life just isn't what it used to be back when she had her boy, who was everything a dog could need or want. Residing with the stiff, standoffish woman who seems to have taken charge of Buddy in the confusing and surely temporary absence of her real family, Buddy continues to wait outside by the gate for as long as her concentration will hold steady, though that isn't terribly long. A few idle digging motions, driven by the melancholic tedium of a life that no longer feels right and good as it once did, and Buddy finds that the soil below the gate moves freely. As much as her caretaker vocally disapproves of this activity, it doesn't take long for Buddy to exploit the landscaping loophole to her benefit, and in a jiffy she's free on the other side of her strange new prison home, free to take off after the trail of the only boy she could ever imagine belonging to, free to find him and kiss him the way she always did and make sure he never gets out of her sight again. It would be so much easier just to return to the other side of the gate to the woman who tolerates her, to go back to her familiar toys and the life she's been living and continue on with it in querulous unease, but the longing inside of Buddy is just too strong, too unyielding, too comprehensive to allow her any route but the one that will lead back home. "She had a boy. She knew she had a boy. Somewhere." This is what drives Buddy, is all that keep her going forward to find the one who means everything to her, the one who could make a thousand cross-country trips on foot worth the exhaustive effort. If only she can pick up on his trail, she's sure it will eventually lead her to him.
What does it take to bring a boy to the dog with whom he is meant to be, when neither has ever laid eyes on the other and shouldn't, by all logic, have any way of recognizing they are intended for each other? What does it take to bring a dog to the boy destined all along to be his friend, this dog he's dreamed of and hoped for even as he knew his mother would never give her okay to his vision taking hold as reality? I suppose it takes something less than a miracle, but more than everyday happenstance. In Little Dog, Lost, it takes the converging of three life stories of longing unfulfilled, the plaintive songs of three souls bumping around in the black of night without really realizing where they've been trying to go, only to end up meeting in the middle at that crucial juncture where paths serendipitously cross and all that's left is to figure out what to do about it. Life stories rarely come together in perfect symmetry, however, all aspects of each one fitting without flaw into the spaces of need left in the lives of the others, and reconciling the uneven and broken pieces is the first step toward finally finding a little bit of the relief from longing that Mark, Buddy and the third member of their trio have sought. But when the means to end our most fervent, tortured longing finally appears before our eyes, the merciful visage that causes our heart to leap for joy and our soul to relax after spending so much time clenched in the perpetual tension of unsatiated pining, it's a moment that makes all the waiting and all the heartache and all the worry that it might never happen for us worth the time spent crossing the treacherous terrain to get there. It's the imperturbable happiness of at last knowing we're exactly where we want to be, and the scars we bear from the arduous journey make the final peace we've found all the greater a reward.
Marion Dane Bauer has a keen writer's mind, to be sure, but she is also a dear heart, and that's what really comes across in this book. Little Dog, Lost would not be as deeply moving as it is were it not written by an author who so understands the human heart, and knows how to express to it the emotions of a story in a way it will understand intuitively. Marion Dane Bauer's poetry proves just as astonishing as her prose, such as in the following description of Buddy's confusion about her boy's sudden departure: "But Buddy knew nothing of the city that had swallowed her boy. She knew only that there was a place deep beneath her ribs that ached day and night." That is the type of powerful writing one comes upon often in this book. Then there's this line, about an old man living by himself in upkeep of a mansion he never really wanted, long after the girl he loved is gone: "But never in his saddest dreams had he thought he'd spend his last years dusting this enormous old house for no one at all." If it weren't for the end result of longing, the positive feeling to which longing always points―hope―then the sadness of Little Dog, Lost might be overwhelming. But what time is there to dwell on the nuances of sadness, to live under the dark cloud of despair and to focus on thoughts of longing unfulfilled, when there is a real happy ending to be found? Trust Marion Dane Bauer to lead you to that happy ending, past the scattered refuse of so much loss and so many hours of unanswered longing, and you won't be left holding an empty bag. The payoff for staying with Buddy and Mark through their hurts and tribulations is great, indeed.
This book may not be On My Honor, the novel Marion Dane Bauer was cited for with a 1987 Newbery Honor and which I consider to perhaps be the greatest eligible book ever to have not won the Newbery Medal; however, Little Dog, Lost also belongs in rare company, in my opinion, a novel of such genuine emotion and understanding that it, like On My Honor, could easily have been a leading contender in its Newbery year. Little Dog, Lost gives hope to all of us who are lost dogs looking for the boy we love, knowing he is still out there waiting for us to come to him; and to all the lonely boys, as well, hoping to come across the dog they were meant to be with from the start. I would give three and a half stars to Little Dog, Lost, and this is one book whose effect on me will not soon diminish.
October 6, 2012
The title and cover art lured me into picking this one, and I am so glad it did. Ms. Bauer manages to pack so much emotion and so much story into a sparsely written text that is quick and easy to maneuver. I read the entire book in one short setting, and think the style and simplicity of language would be very suitable and appealing to reluctant readers.
The story is one of love and longing, and manages to weave the lives of three needy souls into a tale of realized dreams. The predictability of the outcome was obvious, but the journey was, in turns, sweet and heart-wrenching.
I have nothing negative to say about this book, and highly recommend it to young readers and teachers to use in their classroom.
The story is one of love and longing, and manages to weave the lives of three needy souls into a tale of realized dreams. The predictability of the outcome was obvious, but the journey was, in turns, sweet and heart-wrenching.
I have nothing negative to say about this book, and highly recommend it to young readers and teachers to use in their classroom.
Read
December 12, 2013This book is a very easy and quick read, but I did enjoy it. I really like reading books that are in poetic form, and this one was perfect. The author added a really cool layer. She describes this little dog in detail (poetically). Then she repeated this part throughout the book, which added a nice layer to the book. The only part that I did not like about this book is how the author spoke to you. Sometimes she said things like: "do you know what I am talking about... Maybe not... So I will tell you." This part seemed immature to me.
March 27, 2015
I have decided to try reading more juvenile fiction since I work in an elementary library and have tons of picture book recommendations for younger kids but haven't read many newer chapter books. This was a very quick read (I read it in bits and pieces in a single morning) and one I think kids who are animal lovers would definitely enjoy. The story is told in beautiful free verse rather than prose. I definitely recommend it!
October 15, 2013
Read this for a class I'm taking...SUPER great heart-tugging animal story! Loved it. Not really poetry, but the format would be nice for someone intimidated by a full-out chapter book. Liked that it still included a few illustrations here and there.
May 24, 2013
Mark wants a dog. Buddy's owner moves away. There's a lonely old man who lives alone in a mansion. Their paths cross.
It was a great book. I like animal books and this book was no exception.
It was a great book. I like animal books and this book was no exception.
November 2, 2017
Title: Little Dog, Lost
Author: Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Jennifer A. Bell
Genre: Picture book of poem(s) or chapter book written in verse
Theme(s): Friendship, Loneliness, Dogs, Parks, City life, Poetry,
Opening line/sentence: Little dog, lost. Little black dog with brown paws and a brown mask and a sweet ruffle of brown fur on her bum just beneath her black whip of a tail.
Brief Book Summary: Little Dog, Lost focuses on three charaters - Buddy, Mark, and Charles. Buddy is a dog who is given away when his family moves, Mark wants a dog but is not allowed by his mother, and Charles is a man that takes care of a larger mansion for its owner. When Buddy runs away, Mark begins to protest for a dog park, and Charles is willed the house when his boss dies their paths all come together. All three characters ultimately find the love and belonging they were searching for.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Horn Book Guide: (4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. More than anything, Mark wants a dog. His mom, the town's mayor, says no. More than anything, dog Buddy wants a boy. But hers has moved away. More than anything, shy Charles Larue wants to belong. But the town has labeled him as odd and shunned him. A chance thunderstorm fixes all their problems in this somewhat trite but sweet verse novel.
http://www.hornbookguide.com.ezaccess...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Hazel Rochman (CLCD, Booklist Vol. 108, No. 19): A stray on the streets of the small town of Erthly, little dog Buddy remembers her happy bond with a boy, whose family moved away to a city apartment where there was no room for Buddy. Then Buddy s new owner shooed her out, and she left, head low, / tail tucked, / airplane ears sagging. But Buddy is not the only stray in Erthly who is lonely and lost: So many lives / filled / with longing. There is Charles Larue, a shy, reclusive caretaker of a mansion. Does he have a dark secret? And then there is Mark, a young boy whose father took off before he was born, who desperately wants a dog and falls instantly, helplessly in love with Buddy, feeling the snuffle of warm breath / against his palm. But Mark s mother, who is mayor of Erthly, says no to a pet. The town kids want a dog park, and they organize a rally to support their cause, but can Mark confront his mom? Illustrated with occasional, expressive black-and-white drawings, mostly from Buddy s viewpoint of the world from the ground up, the rapid, immediate free verse will grab readers first with the longing and loneliness and then, in contrast, the boy and dog in bliss. Great for sharing with pet lovers.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both of the reviews on this book. One review calls the book “trite”, and while I can see why they say that, I do not necessarily think this is a problem as the story will still be of interest to many children in the age range it is aimed at. I could definitely relate to the clear feelings of loneliness that then change to love and belonging in the end. Overall it really is just a cute and simple story that many children will be able to connect to and enjoy.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The most obvious literary element in this book is that it is written in verse. I think books like this are really cool, but having read a few of them recently, I feel as though this book had the least reason to be written this way. The Crossover and Out of the Dust being written in verse I remember thinking were really cool, and while this book was fine, I think it could have been just as good having not been written this way. The book is very relatable for kids, as I’m sure many can identify with wanting a dog or at least the happiness and connection as the story ends. The cover is bright and shows a sad puppy, both things pulled me in, as I assumed there would be a happy ending and wanted to see the puppy find a happy place.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would be great for introducing verse writing for younger students. In my opinion, the book could have been written normally, so students could practice rewriting their own pieces in this form. This form of writing is often compared to poetry although it is not poetry, so this would be a great opportunity to look at the similarities and differences between the two. This book seems to be for somewhat younger kids than many other books written in this form, so I think this would be a great way to introduce this idea to these students.
Author: Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Jennifer A. Bell
Genre: Picture book of poem(s) or chapter book written in verse
Theme(s): Friendship, Loneliness, Dogs, Parks, City life, Poetry,
Opening line/sentence: Little dog, lost. Little black dog with brown paws and a brown mask and a sweet ruffle of brown fur on her bum just beneath her black whip of a tail.
Brief Book Summary: Little Dog, Lost focuses on three charaters - Buddy, Mark, and Charles. Buddy is a dog who is given away when his family moves, Mark wants a dog but is not allowed by his mother, and Charles is a man that takes care of a larger mansion for its owner. When Buddy runs away, Mark begins to protest for a dog park, and Charles is willed the house when his boss dies their paths all come together. All three characters ultimately find the love and belonging they were searching for.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Horn Book Guide: (4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. More than anything, Mark wants a dog. His mom, the town's mayor, says no. More than anything, dog Buddy wants a boy. But hers has moved away. More than anything, shy Charles Larue wants to belong. But the town has labeled him as odd and shunned him. A chance thunderstorm fixes all their problems in this somewhat trite but sweet verse novel.
http://www.hornbookguide.com.ezaccess...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Hazel Rochman (CLCD, Booklist Vol. 108, No. 19): A stray on the streets of the small town of Erthly, little dog Buddy remembers her happy bond with a boy, whose family moved away to a city apartment where there was no room for Buddy. Then Buddy s new owner shooed her out, and she left, head low, / tail tucked, / airplane ears sagging. But Buddy is not the only stray in Erthly who is lonely and lost: So many lives / filled / with longing. There is Charles Larue, a shy, reclusive caretaker of a mansion. Does he have a dark secret? And then there is Mark, a young boy whose father took off before he was born, who desperately wants a dog and falls instantly, helplessly in love with Buddy, feeling the snuffle of warm breath / against his palm. But Mark s mother, who is mayor of Erthly, says no to a pet. The town kids want a dog park, and they organize a rally to support their cause, but can Mark confront his mom? Illustrated with occasional, expressive black-and-white drawings, mostly from Buddy s viewpoint of the world from the ground up, the rapid, immediate free verse will grab readers first with the longing and loneliness and then, in contrast, the boy and dog in bliss. Great for sharing with pet lovers.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both of the reviews on this book. One review calls the book “trite”, and while I can see why they say that, I do not necessarily think this is a problem as the story will still be of interest to many children in the age range it is aimed at. I could definitely relate to the clear feelings of loneliness that then change to love and belonging in the end. Overall it really is just a cute and simple story that many children will be able to connect to and enjoy.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The most obvious literary element in this book is that it is written in verse. I think books like this are really cool, but having read a few of them recently, I feel as though this book had the least reason to be written this way. The Crossover and Out of the Dust being written in verse I remember thinking were really cool, and while this book was fine, I think it could have been just as good having not been written this way. The book is very relatable for kids, as I’m sure many can identify with wanting a dog or at least the happiness and connection as the story ends. The cover is bright and shows a sad puppy, both things pulled me in, as I assumed there would be a happy ending and wanted to see the puppy find a happy place.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book would be great for introducing verse writing for younger students. In my opinion, the book could have been written normally, so students could practice rewriting their own pieces in this form. This form of writing is often compared to poetry although it is not poetry, so this would be a great opportunity to look at the similarities and differences between the two. This book seems to be for somewhat younger kids than many other books written in this form, so I think this would be a great way to introduce this idea to these students.
September 6, 2017
When looking through the Poetry book list, Little Dog, Lost was the first to catch my eye. This is a touching book about two sad and lonely individuals, Mark and Buddy, who find happiness in each other. Buddy, the co-main character, a sweet and loving pet dog. She now lives with a family friend of her former owners. She has lost her spark and longs for her little boy, that will never come back. Mark, the other main character, is a clever little boy who longs for a pet dog but his mother always says no. Mark tries to satisfy his desire by getting a Dog Park built for his city; through his wit, help from his friends, and lots of planning he succeeds. Along the way he meets Buddy, who is searching for her little boy, and their hopes and dreams come true. Though their hopes are almost dashed when the family friend finds Buddy and tries to take her home, Mark is able to convince the friend with his immense knowledge of dogs, owning them, and a sweet plea to give Buddy to him.
This book has a good amount of text so I would recommend 3rd and up grades. The way the text is structured and versed allows for this book to be a great launching pad or example text for poems with non traditional formats and rhyme schemes. Though it doesn't have many pictures, the ones in the book are detailed and follow the plot. Though I do recommend knowing you're audience, due to the sad imagery and subtle hints of pet neglect within the description of how Buddy copes with not having her former owner anymore, I liked this book overall.
This book has a good amount of text so I would recommend 3rd and up grades. The way the text is structured and versed allows for this book to be a great launching pad or example text for poems with non traditional formats and rhyme schemes. Though it doesn't have many pictures, the ones in the book are detailed and follow the plot. Though I do recommend knowing you're audience, due to the sad imagery and subtle hints of pet neglect within the description of how Buddy copes with not having her former owner anymore, I liked this book overall.
Read
November 7, 2016Title: Little Dog, Lost
Author: Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Jennifer A. Bell
Genre: Chapter book written in verse
Theme(s): Dogs, loneliness, perseverance, do not judge a book by it's cover, never give up
Opening line/sentence:
Little dog, lost. Little black dog with brown paws and a brown mask and a sweet ruffle of brown fur on her bum just beneath her black whip of a tail.
Brief Book Summary:
Little Dog, Lost is a book about three different characters who live in the same town: Buddy, Mark, and Charles Larue. Buddy is a lost dog who, loses his previous owner and is now on a quest to find a owner who loves him. Mark is the Mayor’s son who desperately wants a dog and for their town to have a dog park. Charles Laure is an old man who lost his wife and is longing for a child, someone to love, or a dog. The three characters are separated at first but soon realize they need one another to make their dreams come true.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 19))
Starred Review* A stray on the streets of the small town of Erthly, little dog Buddy remembers her happy bond with a boy, whose family moved away to a city apartment where there was no room for Buddy. Then Buddy’s new owner shooed her out, and she left, head low, / tail tucked, / airplane ears sagging. But Buddy is not the only stray in Erthly who is lonely and lost: So many lives / filled / with longing. There is Charles Larue, a shy, reclusive caretaker of a mansion. Does he have a dark secret? And then there is Mark, a young boy whose father took off before he was born, who desperately wants a dog and falls instantly, helplessly in love with Buddy, feeling the snuffle of warm breath / against his palm. But Mark’s mother, who is mayor of Erthly, says no to a pet. The town kids want a dog park, and they organize a rally to support their cause, but can Mark confront his mom? Illustrated with occasional, expressive black-and-white drawings, mostly from Buddy's viewpoint of the world from the ground up, the rapid, immediate free verse will grab readers first with the longing and loneliness and then, in contrast, the boy and dog in bliss. Great for sharing with pet lovers. Grades 3-6
(PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2012.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2013)
The little dog Buddy had a boy once. They were perfectly matched and perfectly happy together. Then the boy’s family had to move to an apartment in the city, and Buddy couldn't come. She gets a new home in a new town with a woman who means well but doesn't know how to love a dog. When Buddy digs a hole in her yard and climbs under the fence, she doesn't intend to run away, she just can t find her way back. In that same town is a boy named Mark, who has always wanted a dog. Mark’s mother, the town's mayor, has always said no. Also in that town is Charles Larue, a man who is very shy and very lonely in the mansion he inherited from a woman he took care of for years. All the kids avoid the mansion because, well, Charles Larue lives there, and he never talks to anyone. No one knows a single true thing about him, so everyone (but the mayor, who doesn't gossip) makes things up. There's never any doubt that Marion Dane Bauer’s tale of a little lost dog and a dog-loving boy and a kindhearted man, all of whom need one another without even knowing it, is going to end happily. But the journey to that happy ending is pure delight, from its cast of primary and supporting characters (including a cat named Fido) to the surprising but perfect insights into characters and town alike, to the narrative’s rhythm and language in this novel in verse perfect for reading aloud. CCBC Category: Fiction for Children. 2012, Atheneum, 197 pages, $14.99. Ages 7-10.
(PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2012.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I agree with both reviewers when the comment on the fact that young kids will love this book about three lost souls who need to find one another in order to maintain their own happiness. The fact that the novel is in verse makes this an excellent and interesting read aloud for children. The free verse allows the reader to really get into the minds of the characters when they are lonely and when they are happy. The first reviewer comments on the black and white drawings of this story which I thought fit perfectly for the plot and characters in the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is very approachable to young readers because of the fact that it is about a dog that is longing for an owner, a boy who is longing for a dog, and an old man who is just longing for someone or something to love. The illustrations in the book also make the novel more interesting and engaging and really match perfectly with the tone of the story. The fact that the novel is in verse allows the reader to really understand how each character is feeling whether it’s happiness or sadness. The author also goes back and forth discussing separately what is happening with each character and then eventually merges all three characters due to the fact that they all need one another. The novel also does a lot of foreshadowing while separating the characters.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Although I believe this book would be a good read aloud, in my 3rd-5th grade classes, I would want my students to be reading this book on their own and then we would discuss the book together as a class. I would use this book as a fun and exciting view on poetry in my classroom. This way my students will enjoy poetry and appreciate it. I would talk to my class about foreshadowing and what they think will happen in the story. I will also talk about character development. For example, Mark originally wants a dog for himself and is scared of Charles Larue just because everyone else is but by the end of the story he wants a dog park for everyone to enjoy and he realizes that Charles Laure is just misunderstood. My class could discuss all the different characters and their development throughout the novel.
Author: Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Jennifer A. Bell
Genre: Chapter book written in verse
Theme(s): Dogs, loneliness, perseverance, do not judge a book by it's cover, never give up
Opening line/sentence:
Little dog, lost. Little black dog with brown paws and a brown mask and a sweet ruffle of brown fur on her bum just beneath her black whip of a tail.
Brief Book Summary:
Little Dog, Lost is a book about three different characters who live in the same town: Buddy, Mark, and Charles Larue. Buddy is a lost dog who, loses his previous owner and is now on a quest to find a owner who loves him. Mark is the Mayor’s son who desperately wants a dog and for their town to have a dog park. Charles Laure is an old man who lost his wife and is longing for a child, someone to love, or a dog. The three characters are separated at first but soon realize they need one another to make their dreams come true.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 19))
Starred Review* A stray on the streets of the small town of Erthly, little dog Buddy remembers her happy bond with a boy, whose family moved away to a city apartment where there was no room for Buddy. Then Buddy’s new owner shooed her out, and she left, head low, / tail tucked, / airplane ears sagging. But Buddy is not the only stray in Erthly who is lonely and lost: So many lives / filled / with longing. There is Charles Larue, a shy, reclusive caretaker of a mansion. Does he have a dark secret? And then there is Mark, a young boy whose father took off before he was born, who desperately wants a dog and falls instantly, helplessly in love with Buddy, feeling the snuffle of warm breath / against his palm. But Mark’s mother, who is mayor of Erthly, says no to a pet. The town kids want a dog park, and they organize a rally to support their cause, but can Mark confront his mom? Illustrated with occasional, expressive black-and-white drawings, mostly from Buddy's viewpoint of the world from the ground up, the rapid, immediate free verse will grab readers first with the longing and loneliness and then, in contrast, the boy and dog in bliss. Great for sharing with pet lovers. Grades 3-6
(PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2012.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2013)
The little dog Buddy had a boy once. They were perfectly matched and perfectly happy together. Then the boy’s family had to move to an apartment in the city, and Buddy couldn't come. She gets a new home in a new town with a woman who means well but doesn't know how to love a dog. When Buddy digs a hole in her yard and climbs under the fence, she doesn't intend to run away, she just can t find her way back. In that same town is a boy named Mark, who has always wanted a dog. Mark’s mother, the town's mayor, has always said no. Also in that town is Charles Larue, a man who is very shy and very lonely in the mansion he inherited from a woman he took care of for years. All the kids avoid the mansion because, well, Charles Larue lives there, and he never talks to anyone. No one knows a single true thing about him, so everyone (but the mayor, who doesn't gossip) makes things up. There's never any doubt that Marion Dane Bauer’s tale of a little lost dog and a dog-loving boy and a kindhearted man, all of whom need one another without even knowing it, is going to end happily. But the journey to that happy ending is pure delight, from its cast of primary and supporting characters (including a cat named Fido) to the surprising but perfect insights into characters and town alike, to the narrative’s rhythm and language in this novel in verse perfect for reading aloud. CCBC Category: Fiction for Children. 2012, Atheneum, 197 pages, $14.99. Ages 7-10.
(PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2012.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I agree with both reviewers when the comment on the fact that young kids will love this book about three lost souls who need to find one another in order to maintain their own happiness. The fact that the novel is in verse makes this an excellent and interesting read aloud for children. The free verse allows the reader to really get into the minds of the characters when they are lonely and when they are happy. The first reviewer comments on the black and white drawings of this story which I thought fit perfectly for the plot and characters in the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is very approachable to young readers because of the fact that it is about a dog that is longing for an owner, a boy who is longing for a dog, and an old man who is just longing for someone or something to love. The illustrations in the book also make the novel more interesting and engaging and really match perfectly with the tone of the story. The fact that the novel is in verse allows the reader to really understand how each character is feeling whether it’s happiness or sadness. The author also goes back and forth discussing separately what is happening with each character and then eventually merges all three characters due to the fact that they all need one another. The novel also does a lot of foreshadowing while separating the characters.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Although I believe this book would be a good read aloud, in my 3rd-5th grade classes, I would want my students to be reading this book on their own and then we would discuss the book together as a class. I would use this book as a fun and exciting view on poetry in my classroom. This way my students will enjoy poetry and appreciate it. I would talk to my class about foreshadowing and what they think will happen in the story. I will also talk about character development. For example, Mark originally wants a dog for himself and is scared of Charles Larue just because everyone else is but by the end of the story he wants a dog park for everyone to enjoy and he realizes that Charles Laure is just misunderstood. My class could discuss all the different characters and their development throughout the novel.
September 4, 2018
"Little Dog, Lost" by Marion Dane Bauer is a very well written and heart-warming story of a boy who has always wanted to have a dog. At first, I expected a typical story of a child who finally gets a dog (most children dream of getting a dog), but what I got was a story much greater than that. The main character, a young boy named Mark really wanted a dog and dreamed and prepared for a dog for quite some time. All the while, a neighbor Mr. LaRue felt lost and alone and needed a community. The author added a unique twist to the story by adding more than just the young boy's story, which I really liked. The story had a very nice ending and each of the characters crossed paths in a time that they needed it the most.
I enjoyed this story very much and thought it had a very nice ending as well. It was unsure what to expect having never read a verse novel before, but I found it to be an easy read. I would gear this story more towards older students, maybe fourth or fifth grade. I think this would be a great story to read aloud in class since it is split into smaller sections. It may be hard for a younger student to follow along if they have never read a verse novel before, so they may need time adjusting to this type of reading.
I enjoyed this story very much and thought it had a very nice ending as well. It was unsure what to expect having never read a verse novel before, but I found it to be an easy read. I would gear this story more towards older students, maybe fourth or fifth grade. I think this would be a great story to read aloud in class since it is split into smaller sections. It may be hard for a younger student to follow along if they have never read a verse novel before, so they may need time adjusting to this type of reading.
September 11, 2019
This book pulled on the heart strings from the very beginning as it talks about the love and the emotions shared between dogs and their owners. While the pages are brief they are full of stories following different dogs and their owners, while maintaining a focus on the characters Mark the young boy, and buddy the lost brown dog. Mark has always wanted a dog and his mother always gives a precise no. Mark then proceeds to focus his attention onto building a dog park so he can play with other people's dogs. While he creates a team to help rally at the council meetings things just so happen to fall right into place. His speech isn't needed to persuade his mother for the park and Charles Larue the city's outcast shows his true self and allows the dog park in his yard, and Buddy the dog gets to find a new loving owner in the same day. This would be a fun short novel for children ages 8-11 that like animals and adventure. While the pictures are few there are paw prints beginning each chapter which is a neat touch. This could be used in the classroom to help students build a timeline to help show sequences of events, or simply to connect with students who have lost a pet recently.
September 17, 2019
Boy (Mark) desperately needs a dog. Dog (Buddy) desperately needs a boy. The telling of the story is quite lovely and makes this stand out from other dog books. Buddy has lost her boy when his family moves to the city in an apartment, which doesn't allow pets. Buddy is left with a friend, a woman who doesn't understand dogs. But Mark understands dogs. He has understood them forever, and even pretends he has one of his own. While reading the book, you anticipate a happy ending once the two paths cross. Although, when they cross paths it takes some turns and bring happiness not only to Mark and Buddy but also to the sad and lonely and an entire community.
The text is written in free-verse format split into fairly short sections. I would recommend having this book in a classroom. The short sections might be good for those moments when you have just a few minutes to read or share but don't have enough time for a typical novel's chapter. The book would be excellent for a read-aloud or for small reading groups. The illustrations are lovely and really catch someone's eye and complement the text very well. Reading this book makes me want to cuddle with my dog.
The text is written in free-verse format split into fairly short sections. I would recommend having this book in a classroom. The short sections might be good for those moments when you have just a few minutes to read or share but don't have enough time for a typical novel's chapter. The book would be excellent for a read-aloud or for small reading groups. The illustrations are lovely and really catch someone's eye and complement the text very well. Reading this book makes me want to cuddle with my dog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2024
I loved reading this book, I thought that the book was very well written. In this book, Buddy is a little dog who loves having fun with her boy until one day her family moves into an apartment in the city where they can't take her. She is then given to a woman who tries to take care of her but doesn't really love her like her boy did. At the same time, Mark is a boy who wants a dog but his mom is not on board and Mr. Larue is a man who is feared but really needs his community after losing the love of his life. The story ends with the community banding together to achieve a common goal that positively impacts everyone! The only thing I would be weary about with students independently reading this book would be that the book shifts perspectives constantly so the reader must be aware of when this happens otherwise the book will get a little confusing. I would have this book in my classroom library, use it as a read-aloud, or have lit groups read it together while providing guiding/comprehension questions (especially when the perspectives change).
January 20, 2019
I love verse novels especially for children who struggle to read or aren't quite the biggest fan of reading. There are even illustrations on several of the pages which take up room so you can have a reader that feels like they have accomplished way more reading because the words don't take up the entire page. This book is about a lost dog named Buddy and her family moves away but leaves her with a woman to take care of her but this lady doesn't seem to know how to take care of her or even really play with her so Buddy runs away. She runs and runs and runs until she is lost. That's where the title comes into play, "Little Dog, Lost". This book looks into the themes of longing and loneliness as Buddy tries to find a new home which eventually turns into Mark. Since Mark's mother allowed him to keep Buddy, she said that since she is a girl dog she deserved a new name so they decided on Ruby and Ruby became "Little Dog, Found".
May 25, 2019
This is a novel in verse. Buddy's owner is moving and has to give him away. His new owner is an older woman that just doesn't know how to care for such an energetic dog. Soon Buddy digs a hole and escapes and begins wandering the town of Erthly.
Mark is a boy that is lonely and needs a dog. He is an only child and he needs the companionship of a dog. But his mom, the town's mayor, always says no.
Mark decides that his town needs a dog park. He gathers the other children and they decide to hold a parade and march to the town council to demand a dog park. Mark is chosen by the children to be the one to speak at the town council meeting. But of course, things don't go exactly as planned.
A sweet story but it also delves into very human emotions and situations...loneliness, fear of the unknown, judging others, making changes, relationships.
Mark is a boy that is lonely and needs a dog. He is an only child and he needs the companionship of a dog. But his mom, the town's mayor, always says no.
Mark decides that his town needs a dog park. He gathers the other children and they decide to hold a parade and march to the town council to demand a dog park. Mark is chosen by the children to be the one to speak at the town council meeting. But of course, things don't go exactly as planned.
A sweet story but it also delves into very human emotions and situations...loneliness, fear of the unknown, judging others, making changes, relationships.
September 8, 2021
This book was on a reading list for my LIT class and I am so glad I chose it! I thought it was going to be a tear-jerker and not like it, but it was so good! I loved how it had three different main characters with three different life stories going on at the same time. This novel tells the story of a dog named Buddy who had to get a new home due to his owner's family moving to the city, a boy named Mark who's mother won't get him a dog he really needs, and a man named Charles Larue who is lonely and needs something/someone to give his life more meaning. After a thunderstorm hits and a rowdy town meeting concludes, the main characters finally meet and their stories will combine. This novel is one that I will have my future students read and I'm sure they will enjoy every last bit of it!
September 11, 2019
Little Dog, Lost is such a wonderful little book written to make your heart melt. Telling the story of three ( a pup, a boy, and an old man) with a deep sense of belonging, and needing more than what they currently have. This is a great book to introduce novels to children. There are some beautiful illustrations tucked in here, but this is great for transitioning. I also think it'd be a great book for reading aloud to the class. I could see this book being for 3rd - 5th-grade students. This could also be a good conversation starter on responsibility and caring for pets and others. If I were a librarian I'd want to bring an adorable pup to class while I read - sure to get students excited.
October 28, 2020
I am a huge fan of books written in poetic prose... I love the way it guides your reading and intonation; I love that each word is necessary; and I love the white space it leaves on the page... perfect for students who find pages of text intimidating.
Little Dog, Lost is a beautiful, simple story, full of hope and love.
Buddy the dog is rehomed, when his beloved boy and his family move to the city.
Mark is desperate for a dog, but his mother just won't relent and allow it.
These two lonely characters are brought together through a series of happy coincidences - but will they be able to stay together?
Little Dog, Lost is a beautiful, simple story, full of hope and love.
Buddy the dog is rehomed, when his beloved boy and his family move to the city.
Mark is desperate for a dog, but his mother just won't relent and allow it.
These two lonely characters are brought together through a series of happy coincidences - but will they be able to stay together?
October 30, 2017
This was a heart-warming story of a dog in search of a boy, a boy in need of a dog, and a man in search of love. Buddy the dog is an endearing little thing who is left behind when her boy moves to the city. The woman she is left with doesn't really know what to do with a dog. Mark has always wanted a dog, but his mother says "no". Larue is living all alone in his big house too shy to interact with anyone even though he is desperately lonely. The storu has a happy ending for everyone through some creative problem solving, but I admit that I did cry at one point.
November 14, 2018
Better have tissues ready for this one. Buddy's owner moved and could not keep her, so they gave her to a home that they thought would love and care for her as much as they did, but she had never owned a dog before and didn't know what to do when Buddy cried for her family to come back. The lady yelled and Buddy left. Mark, the Mayor's son, wanted a dog - he needed a dog. Charles Larue was a lonely man who didn't think the town cared. Bauer found a way to make everyone find and get exactly what they needed.
March 30, 2025
“So much longing.
So many lives
filled
with longing.
It's what stories--
all our stories--
are made of.
And what is longing
made of
except hope?”
The moment I saw this book in the bookstore, it feels as if it's calling me to buy it and I just can't say no. I read this in around one to two hours and it touched me emotionally. I find it sad and emotional despite the happy ending—it is relatable to anyone except not everyone get their happy endings. I enjoyed reading it. It's something anyone should read at least once it their life.
So many lives
filled
with longing.
It's what stories--
all our stories--
are made of.
And what is longing
made of
except hope?”
The moment I saw this book in the bookstore, it feels as if it's calling me to buy it and I just can't say no. I read this in around one to two hours and it touched me emotionally. I find it sad and emotional despite the happy ending—it is relatable to anyone except not everyone get their happy endings. I enjoyed reading it. It's something anyone should read at least once it their life.
September 1, 2025
I think it’s a touching story. I also think it’s sad at the beginning and then he has to like run away from his new home I think that’s really sad but I think that was the right choice because now he is with Mark. And I also think that his old boy really loved him but I think Mike also really loves him so I don’t know what to say but this was a really touching story and it was sad, but it was also like happy I hope you think the same because I do and I really liked it. Spoiler alert, alert, alert. she has a happy ending and it’s not one of those really sad ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
Little Dog, Lost is the first story I've ever read in the verse. I kind of liked it. The author did an excellent job of keeping me engaged in the story and she had a keen eye for description and evoking an emotional connection to the story. I loved how the stories converged, and there were a few twists that surprised me, so in terms of writing, the plot was well crafted.
July 12, 2018
I absolutely love the idea of a novel told in verse and this book was just so well done- well told, well written, and a great story all around in addition to being wonderfully crafted verse. I picked this one up for a quick read for my daughter and found that I enjoyed it immensely! And I'm NOT a dog person at all, but this was such a heartwarming story!
July 9, 2019
A sweet story with a happy (predictable from the first page) ending. I am a sucker for stories about little pups, but this one didn't quite suck me in emotionally - the writing style seemed a little too detached for that to happen.
Can still see many of my 3rd graders enjoying this cute read, that also provides a little motivation to positively take matters into one's own hands.
Can still see many of my 3rd graders enjoying this cute read, that also provides a little motivation to positively take matters into one's own hands.
Read
February 28, 2022I found out recently that verse novels are, for the most part, written in the first person. I set out to find ones that were written in the third person, as I am writing my own in the third person. This was such a heartwarming read, and I took notice of how the third person narrative was used here, and thought it was well done and still managed to pack that emotional punch to the reader!
June 15, 2025
An easy read for younger readers about a boys (Mark) desire for a dog. A young boy owns a dog but must give his dog away as his family is moving to the city. When the very lonely and unhappy dog escapes from his new back yard, Mark discovers his "voice" and makes the best of giving a lost dog some happiness.
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