Lester's Dog

by Karen Hesse

Illus. in full color. "A sensitive story about a boy who, with the help of a deaf freind, conquers his fear of a neighbor's dog that bit him years earlier. In the process, he saves a kitten and befriends an elderly, recently widowed man. Carpenter's pictures give vivid life to Hesse's gripping story, set in a 1940s neighborhood. Children will beg to tell their own stories after hearing this one."--(starred) School Library Journal.   

Genres: Picture Books

1 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 1993

About the author

Karen Hesse is an American author known for her children's and young adult literature, often set in historical contexts. She received the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust (1997), a verse novel about a young girl enduring the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Hesse’s works frequently tackle complex themes, as seen in Witness (2001), which explores the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in a 1920s Vermont town, and The Music of Dolphins (1996), which tells the story of a girl raised by dolphins. Her novel Stowaway (2000) is based on the real-life account of a boy aboard Captain Cook’s Endeavour. Over her career, Hesse has received numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2002 and the Phoenix Award for Letters from Rifka (1992).

Reviews

[Hannah Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lester's Dog" by Karen Hesse is a summertime tale about a boy overcoming his fears and doing something kind for an old widower. The story follows a young boy and his deaf friend Corey, who save a kitten and help find it a new home. The setting is a dreamy small town in the sweltering summer heat, where our protagonist is dragged down Garrison Avenue and past the dog that bit him when he was only six, which terrifies him to this day. Corey leads his friend to a homeless kitten, and they bring it back with the hopes of finding it a home. Passing the house where Lester's dog lives, the dog begins to charge and attack Corey's friend, tearing his shirt. But this time, the boy is not afraid. Instead he is angry that this dog is trying to attack such a small precious kitten. He lets out a yell and scares the dog back beneath its porch. Walking back to the house, Corey and his friend see Mr. Frank, a widower who "has been broken," since his wife passed. Noticing the joy in Mr. Frank's eyes when he holds the kitten, Corey and his friend realize that they have found a home for it, and they walk home arm in arm.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful and paint a picture of small town life. The characters are charming and multidimensional despite the short length of the story, and the message that it conveys- being brave in the face of fear, is relatable and inspiring. Within the classroom, this book could be accompanied with a writing assignment on overcoming a personal fear, how the student did this, and the result. It could also lead into a lesson on deafness and other disabilities, and how people with these disabilities are just as wonderful as those without them. In addition, the story portrays a respectful relationship with the elderly and acknowledges death, which is something difficult to acknowledge in lower grade levels, but also is important to talk about in an age appropriate manner.

[Christine Kallner]

I like dogs fine, but I’m not a “dog person.” The whole premise of this book that a young boy needs to get over his fear of an aggressive dog (who has bitten him in the past and left a scar) just doesn’t sit well with me. His fear wasn’t irrational or unwarranted, sometimes we are fearful for good reason. The whole time I was reading, I just kept wondering and where exactly is Lester and why is his dog allowed to terrorize the neighborhood?! I did enjoy the storyline with the abandoned kitten and the lonely widower, but it was overshadowed by the other incidents.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally enjoyable!! Careful reading this to today's kids. You'll need to explain the difference in time. Per 1st graders: I love this story! It was kinda sad when the kitten was crying under the building. It's a great story. It was scary when Lester's dog bit his shirt.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd book...