Summary: A perfectly balanced mix of poetry partnered with the perfectly delightful subject of dogs. Simple poems meant to entertain, that also help children think about dogs in a fresh descriptive way. The pictures of real dogs partnered with well-crafted poems makes this book worth looking at.

Personal Response: I picked this book off of the shelf because I loved the cover. It shows a Boston Terrier blowing a big pink bubble. I was choosing books for National Poetry Month and this one caught my eye. Inside, the pictures and poetry only got better. I shared it with my mentor, and she wanted to buy it after she had passed through the library and heard me reading a couple of the poems to a group of second graders. I think I will buy this one for her as a gift for being my mentor this year.

Curriculum Connection: I read two poems from this book to all of my 2nd-6th graders this week. They had to respond to each of the poems and write about the image that came to their minds when I read the poems. I got great responses. I read The Battle of the Bone which was about two Chihuahuas fighting over a bone, and I read Clean Dog, Smelly Dog: A Tail of Woe. I ended up reading several more poems from this book because the kids did not want me to stop. I even had a third grade boy use this book for his poetry project where he is creating a “copycat” poem. I will definitely be pulling this book off the shelf each April for National Poetry Month. ( )

I can't account for my opinion on this one because the book is generally well done. I'm just not that enamored with the cuteness factor here. Some of my friends with more reading credibility than me (and an admittedly soft spot for dogs) love this book. I liked it, but that was about it. ( )

Simple, short poems that coincide with the photographs of dogs, posing with props. Font and text is layouted in such a way as to indicate movement of the words or pauses in speech. Photography is AWESOME. Animals lovers will agree. ( )

Schmidt, A. (2009). Loose Leashes. New York: Random House.

9780375856419

Created by a husband and wife team, Loose Leashes shares poems of dogs who are anthropomorphized in various ways. Honey doesn’t want to go to a groomer. Lewis and Clark seek adventure. Grace goes ice-skating. Pip and Squeak fight over a bone (Okay, so the last one is still typical dog behavior).

From the first poem, “Loose Leashes,” several dogs are free to do as they please and most seek adventure of some sort. A few dogs deal with overcoming their fears. But most just have fun.

The poems are cute and funny and lend support to the images they stand beside. For me, it’s the photographs that are most engaging. Surreal and fun, many kids will want to stare at them for a while, especially dog lovers.


Some may even try to pet the end papers, which feature photos of a white dog’s coat.


Activities to Do with the Book:

After seeing the photos of Loose Leaches and reading or listening to the poetry, students may be inspired to write their own poems or stories based on the photographs (It might be easiest to give each students or small groups a photocopy of one of the images and have them write the poems beginning with describing what they see).

Another option would be to have students pick their own favorite animal and draw them in strange settings or with various objects.

A teacher could also ask students if they’ve read any other picturebooks that feature animals in weird places. (I think Chris Van Allsburg’s Jumanji would be a natural beginning).

Although Loose Leashes does not list the dog breeds featured in the illustrations, a teacher could use the book to trigger a research project on various breeds.


Favorite Quotes:

“I’m going far—
Just need to learn to drive this car.”

“Sharing is always a hard thing to do,
Especially when one bone is given to two.”

“There once was a dog that could read
With amazing page-turning speed.”

For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com.

Wonderful variety of poem types featuring a special dog. The photos are as creative as the poems and shows the dog's personality. ( )