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The Forever Dog
No one knows exactly what kind of dog Corky is, but if you ask his owner, Mike, the answer is "He's my dog." Mike and Corky are best friends; they do everything together. In fact they even make a plan. Mike tells Corky that they will always do everything together—forever. It is their Forever Plan. And it works well. From one year to the next Corky is right there with Mike. Until one day, when Mike comes home from school and Corky isn't there . . . The story of how Mike comes to accept Corky's death forms a simple, poignant portrait of a special friendship that both celebrates the joys of owning a pet and becomes a heartfelt guide for anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 1, 2018
It almost mad me cry... I am sad now
February 25, 2018
I like this book, even though it’s not among the funniest children’s books I’ve read. It’s about a boy who gets a dog, loves him, and then looses him. So it is one of those books where the dog dies at the end. It is a difficult subject for a children’s book, but I think it is well handled. The story is good, and the illustrations too.
October 23, 2014
Children’s first experience with loss is often the death of a family pet. Author Bill Cochran offers his 2007 picture book, The Forever Dog to parents and teachers looking for a book to support a grieving child.
This is a tender story of the love and friendship between a young boy, Mike, and his dog, Corky. Through the text and pictures, the readers clearly sees the depth of this relationship. The pair is always shown together and even make a promise to be “forever friends". Until one day when Mike returns from school to find Corky that Corky is ill and dies at the vets. Mike is heartbroken and then angry. The family gently carries the young boy through his mourning period and helps him find peace with this sad event.
Dan Andreasen’s watercolor illustrations capture the joyful spirit of this relationship as well as the sadness felt by Mike. The pictures and the text work well together. The pictures depicting Mike’s memory of his happy times with Corky are shaded slightly blue and signal to children that a memory is being described.
The book clearly describes Mike’s feelings of anger about Corky’s death. Adults reading this book to grieving children should consider the relevancy of the anger issue to the child in need and adjust the story if necessary.
Bill Cochran is not afraid to tackle difficult subject matters. While he used humor in My Parents are Divorced, My Elbows Have Nicknames, and Other Facts About Me, he handles death in this book with age appropriate language and sensitivity. The Forever Dog is a Cooperative Children's Book Center recommendation for children preschool age through 3rd grade.
This is a tender story of the love and friendship between a young boy, Mike, and his dog, Corky. Through the text and pictures, the readers clearly sees the depth of this relationship. The pair is always shown together and even make a promise to be “forever friends". Until one day when Mike returns from school to find Corky that Corky is ill and dies at the vets. Mike is heartbroken and then angry. The family gently carries the young boy through his mourning period and helps him find peace with this sad event.
Dan Andreasen’s watercolor illustrations capture the joyful spirit of this relationship as well as the sadness felt by Mike. The pictures and the text work well together. The pictures depicting Mike’s memory of his happy times with Corky are shaded slightly blue and signal to children that a memory is being described.
The book clearly describes Mike’s feelings of anger about Corky’s death. Adults reading this book to grieving children should consider the relevancy of the anger issue to the child in need and adjust the story if necessary.
Bill Cochran is not afraid to tackle difficult subject matters. While he used humor in My Parents are Divorced, My Elbows Have Nicknames, and Other Facts About Me, he handles death in this book with age appropriate language and sensitivity. The Forever Dog is a Cooperative Children's Book Center recommendation for children preschool age through 3rd grade.
May 16, 2010
The Forever Dog, by Bill Cochran and illustrated by Dan Andreasen. This is a story of a boy name Mike and his dog Corky. Mike and Corky are the best of friends and do everything together. Mike taught Corky tricks, where to do his business, and how to play fetch. He would take Corky on walks and would always be there for Corky. They had a forever plan which meant that they would be together forever. One day Mike comes home from school and Corky isn’t there. He asks his mom what happened and she explains that Corky was very sick and had to go to the vets. This could change Mike and Corky’s forever plan. To find out what happens to Mike and Corky I would recommend reading this book.
An excellent book for children; it’s enjoyable, entertaining, and full of adventure. The illustrations are great; children will enjoy the illustrations as well as the book. Any child age 5 to 8 would enjoy reading this book or having the book read to them.
An excellent book for children; it’s enjoyable, entertaining, and full of adventure. The illustrations are great; children will enjoy the illustrations as well as the book. Any child age 5 to 8 would enjoy reading this book or having the book read to them.
July 16, 2008
After reviewing lots of different books in Barnes and Noble I stumbled upon this picture book. Thinking it was a cute cover, I picked it up and read. By the end of the story my eyes were filled with tears.
Not knowing how to handle death of pets in a school setting, this story could be recommended. It is about a little boy who has a dog for his best friend. The heartfelt tale explains feelings the little boy encounters after the death of his dog. Children can connect to this book on a number of different levels.
Not knowing how to handle death of pets in a school setting, this story could be recommended. It is about a little boy who has a dog for his best friend. The heartfelt tale explains feelings the little boy encounters after the death of his dog. Children can connect to this book on a number of different levels.
September 15, 2008
This is a fantastic book but it resulted in a lot of tears. I love the way this book accurately depicts all of the feelings we experienced in the loss of our dog (sadness, anger, loneliness). I also love the way the book explains that even though your dog is gone physically, she will always live in your heart. I think this book is amazing, but it made me cry when I read it to Collin.
February 13, 2018
About losing a dog. Boy loves his dog, they do everything together. Years go by. Then the dog gets sick and dies. The boy is angry b/c they planned to be together forever. Then his mom reminded him, the dog would be in his heart forever. It still hurt, but helped to know he would be with him forever, as planned.
October 12, 2018
I am such a wuss. i can never read this book without crying. I keep trying, and it never, ever works. Why do I hurt myself this way? Anyway, super sweet book, guaranteed to make you cry.
December 1, 2018
A wonderful presentation of love between a dog and child. The demonstration of coping with loss is deeply moving and comforting.
February 1, 2019
This book teaches about grief. The stages of it, the reasons for it, and illustrates one boy's journey through it. Great teaching book for littles that have lost someone dear to them.
January 26, 2020
...for anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one...
[Truth from the book jacket]
[Truth from the book jacket]
July 10, 2022
This should be 1 star for hitting too close to home
November 17, 2023
A sweet story about having and losing a dog. Perfect for sharing with children who have experienced any loss.
November 4, 2016
The Forever Dog is a tear-jerking story written by Bill Cochran and illustrated by Dan Andreasen about a little boy who believes he and his dog will be best friends forever…until his dog passes away. Sad and angry, the boy seethes about his dog’s broken promise until his mother says that his dog is still his forever dog—the dog lives inside the boy’s heart now and will be with him always. The death of a pet is always difficult, even more so for preschoolers who might not understand this concept. This concept book was made to help children cope with the fact that their beloved animals will not last forever.
This book runs a little long at 32 pages, especially because there are usually two paragraphs worth of text per page. Sometimes there are fewer sentences per page, but the dialogue is still long. This is not a book that is meant for children under the age of 4. This concept might be hard to understand and Bill does a great job of explaining a pet’s legacy, how they will live on, just not in their physical form, but the illustrations are very realistic and subtle, not using bright colors but rather subdued blues, greens, and browns. The fact that there isn’t rhyming, there is a lot more descriptive language, and the illustrations aren’t bright and showy makes this inappropriate for children under the age of 4. Children ages 4 and up have a higher attention span so they can pay attention to the longer text, and are able to understand these concepts that are more relatable to them. This heart-warming book is sure to help them cope with the death of a pet.
This book runs a little long at 32 pages, especially because there are usually two paragraphs worth of text per page. Sometimes there are fewer sentences per page, but the dialogue is still long. This is not a book that is meant for children under the age of 4. This concept might be hard to understand and Bill does a great job of explaining a pet’s legacy, how they will live on, just not in their physical form, but the illustrations are very realistic and subtle, not using bright colors but rather subdued blues, greens, and browns. The fact that there isn’t rhyming, there is a lot more descriptive language, and the illustrations aren’t bright and showy makes this inappropriate for children under the age of 4. Children ages 4 and up have a higher attention span so they can pay attention to the longer text, and are able to understand these concepts that are more relatable to them. This heart-warming book is sure to help them cope with the death of a pet.
February 12, 2017
No one knows exactly what kind of dog Corky is, but if you ask his owner, Mike, the answer is simple: "He's my dog."
Mike and Corky are best friends; they do everything together. In fact they even make a plan. Mike tells Corky that they will always do everything together—forever. It is their Forever Plan.
And it works well. From one year to the next Corky is right there with Mike. Until one day, when Mike comes home from school and Corky isn't there . . . The story of how Mike comes to accept Corky's death forms a simple, poignant portrait of a special friendship that both celebrates the joys of owning a pet and becomes a heartfelt guide for anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one.
Mike and Corky are best friends; they do everything together. In fact they even make a plan. Mike tells Corky that they will always do everything together—forever. It is their Forever Plan.
And it works well. From one year to the next Corky is right there with Mike. Until one day, when Mike comes home from school and Corky isn't there . . . The story of how Mike comes to accept Corky's death forms a simple, poignant portrait of a special friendship that both celebrates the joys of owning a pet and becomes a heartfelt guide for anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one.
May 7, 2023
What an amazing first sentence, typical of the writing prowess of Bill Cochran:
Corky was one of those dogs that seemed to be built from other dogs' spare parts.
Oh, which do I enjoy more as this Forever Plan saga unfolds?
* The magnificent illustrations by Dan Andreasen. (The hero Mike, and everything else, are simultaneously very adult real and also child-sized.)
* The simple-and-spare-and-understandable narrative.
Both! Equally I enjoy that ending, courtesy of Mike's wise mother. Oh, I'd love to tell you about the third from final paragraph, but that would be a spoiler.
I can tell you this: I laughed so hard. I cried such a lot, with good tears.
And the funny thing is, I don't even like dogs. But I do recognize powerful Teaching Tales whenever I find them.
Corky was one of those dogs that seemed to be built from other dogs' spare parts.
Oh, which do I enjoy more as this Forever Plan saga unfolds?
* The magnificent illustrations by Dan Andreasen. (The hero Mike, and everything else, are simultaneously very adult real and also child-sized.)
* The simple-and-spare-and-understandable narrative.
Both! Equally I enjoy that ending, courtesy of Mike's wise mother. Oh, I'd love to tell you about the third from final paragraph, but that would be a spoiler.
I can tell you this: I laughed so hard. I cried such a lot, with good tears.
And the funny thing is, I don't even like dogs. But I do recognize powerful Teaching Tales whenever I find them.
December 20, 2015
We have a 15 year old dog who we love dearly, and are preparing to say goodbye to in the near future. It is heartbreaking for us all. I read this book to my 4.5 year old son tonight. We had had an opening talk about our pets not living forever this afternoon, but I think this book, and our talk tonight helped by giving him another boy and his dog to talk about.
Honestly, I wept the first time I read this book, and I teared up again reading it to my son tonight. The book is good, the subject matter difficult.
Honestly, I wept the first time I read this book, and I teared up again reading it to my son tonight. The book is good, the subject matter difficult.
September 6, 2008
Mike & his dog, Corky, are best friends whose plan to be together forever seems to be ruined when Corky gets sick and dies. Mike moves from sadness because his friend is gone to anger at Corky for not keeping his promise to be with Mike forever. Both the illustrations and the simply-told story are sentimental but not saccharine. School counselors may want to keep this hand for helping children move through the stages of grief.
Read
May 15, 2009A perfectly written book about life and death. A boy and his dog create a forever plan to be together. As life speeds ahead the boy grows and the dog eventually becomes ill and dies. The mother explains to the son that he will never forget his dog, and his memories will be the continuing of the forever plan. gr. K-4.
March 24, 2011
This book is so sad! I think it is a great book to teach about what happens to pets when they die, and it also provides comfort to those who have lost pets. Even though it has a sad story line, it does teach a good lesson about pets and friendship. I would definitely have this book in my classroom for the older grades.
July 16, 2011
This is a nice book to help a child who is coping with the loss of pet. In this story, Mike adores his dog, Corky, and the two of them do everything together. I thought Cochran did a nice job of helping explain what is happening and what it feels like to lose a pet. I'm going to remember this one so that I can hand it to kids who are coping with that loss.
October 27, 2016
When his dog unexpectedly dies, Mike is overcome with anger at his dog for not keeping his end of the bargain to be forever friends. His mother explains that Corky will be in Mikes heart because of all the wonderful memories he has of his beloved pet. This is a gentle book about losing one's pet for ages 3 - 12.
April 21, 2009
I'm making an effort to be more prepared when I get the occassional request for books to help children deal with the death of a loved one. Be it a relative or a family pet, literature is often looked towards for help.
July 31, 2009
Our dog passed, and I found this book really helped my 4 year old son understand more about death. Of course when Corky dies in the book that's the saddest part. It helped our son understand that although our dog is no longer physically here, she'll always be in our hearts and our memories.
May 4, 2011
This is one of the books that you need to buy if you ever plan on getting a pet for you or a child... because eventually you will need it. It does its job wonderfully. I still miss my Bogart though....
May 27, 2010
realistic feelings addressed concerning the loss of a pet. Good adult picture book.
March 8, 2011
I think this book is great for losing a pet. Great illustrations too!
See more here: http://kraftyellenwrites.com/2011/03/...
See more here: http://kraftyellenwrites.com/2011/03/...
April 4, 2011
This book gives kids a way to still love their pets that pass away.
December 9, 2011
I would use this in my classroom to help students understand the death of a pet. I would talk about feelings and emotions. I would include a writing activity at the end of the story.
October 11, 2012
I really liked this book. The book does great job of covering a hard topic. The death of a pet is something many children can relate with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews