Fleabag...

Fleabag by Helen Stephens was another irresistible book I picked up on my recent book shopping jaunt.  Why?  One reason.  My 12-year-old.  I immediately thought of her when I picked this one up!

     My daughter has been begging for a dog since she was old enough to point!  She devours books about dogs.  There's an audible "Ahhhhh" each time we see someone walking a dog.  Once, when she was about five, she got a heart-shaped pad of sticky notes from Granny (Thanks, Granny) and left at least 75 notes around the house--refrigerator, toilet lid, bookbag, computer screen--"Dad, a dog would be nice!  Woof, woof!  I think we need a dog!  Have you seen my puppy?"  And, I won't even mention every dog we've seen online on Big Dogs, Huge Paws or at the pound that is looking for a home.  Trouble is... much to her chagrin, we still don't have one (although we came close with a Newfoundland puppy last year)!  Instead, I buy great books about dogs... it's a long story!  I know what you're thinking... I may just have to give in soon (No mean dad comments... it's just that two of us can barely breath now)!

    Fleabag is a quaint story about a homeless dog that is "found" by a little boy named Bob... "A boy without a dog and a dog without a boy meet each other in the park."  I loved this story, it almost tugged hard enough at my "we need a dog" heartstrings to consider getting one... almost!  The illustrations are wonderful and full of whimsy... who knew you could say so much with two little black dots on a scruffy puppy!

     Hasn't every child at one time or another gotten a puppy, found a lost animal, "ran away" from home, or looked longingly in the pet shop window--this is the perfect book to activate a "memory" write for young writers.  The premise is familiar and weaves a wonderful tale that I think could inspire young writers to do some writing in their writer's notebooks.  Fleabag will be the perfect nudge. 

    Fleabag ended up getting a permanent home with his new family in the book and Fleabag will be the perfect addition to your permanent collection of "Books about Pets" in your classroom!