A Dog Called Whatnot

This is an adorable tale about a boy that wants a dog and he finds one in the park and they really like each other. The problem is that he is not allowed to have a dog because they all believe that his sister is allergic to dogs.

This book is a contemporary realistic fiction and also a picture book. This story could happen in real life. The setting is in present time, there is nothing that would date it in the past. The illustrations are very colorful and very true to the story. It looks like acrylic paints or watercolors are used for the illustrations.

Some  motivational activities would be to have the class draw an animal that they have or would like to have and then tell the class about it.

Another activity could be to have a class discussion about what to do when you find a stray animal.

Reader Response Questions:

1. How do you think it made Tim feel when he had to give Whatnot back to his owner? Why?

2. What would you have done if the dog kept coming back to you, but you couldn't keep him?

References

 

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2010). Literature and the child (7th ed.). Belmont, CA:      

                                Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.

 

Newbery, L., & Ripper, G. (2006). A dog called Whatnot. New York, NY: Crabtree Pub. Co..