The Junkyard Dog
on Goodreads (247)
What’s inside...
With the advice of her stepfather, eleven-year-old Katie takes on the job of feeding an abused junkyard dog and building it a doghouse for shelter during the hard winter. When Katie sees the shivering, emaciated dog locked in the junkyard, she knows she has to save him. But dogs aren't allowed in her housing project, and money is scarce at home. Then brutally cold weather hits, and Katie knows that the dog will die without shelter--unless she can figure out how to help him. Written in spare prose, here's an inspiring story of responsibility and commitment for young feminists and animal lovers alike.
Age
9-12
Length
185 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the relationship between the boy and the dog change throughout the story?
What do you think the junkyard symbolizes in the story?
What can we learn about friendship and loyalty from the dog's actions?
How do you think the boy felt when he first met the dog, and how did his feelings change by the end of the book?
If you could give the dog a name, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, relating it to their own experiences with friendship and empathy.
Discuss the importance of caring for others, using examples from the book to illustrate acts of kindness and compassion.
Use the evolving relationship between the characters to talk about trust and loyalty, asking your child to consider how these values are important in their own life.
After reading, ask your child to draw a scene from the book they found memorable, and discuss why it stood out to them.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Friendship
Explanation: In 'The Junkyard Dog', the bond between the characters illustrates the importance and strength of friendship, regardless of one's background.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate and nurture friendships, understanding that true friends support and uplift each other in various situations.
Example Lesson: Compassion and Kindness
Explanation: The story shows characters expressing empathy and kindness towards each other, especially in helping the junkyard dog.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be compassionate and helpful towards others in need, fostering a caring attitude in real-life interactions.
Example Lesson: Courage and Overcoming Fears
Explanation: As characters in the book face challenges, they show bravery and overcome fears, which is pivotal in rescuing the junkyard dog.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of facing their fears and the role of courage in overcoming obstacles they encounter.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and Taking Action
Explanation: The young characters take responsibility to improve the situation for the junkyard dog, showing initiative and proactive behavior.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of taking responsibility for their actions and the impact they can have on their environment by taking positive steps.
Example Lesson: Judgment and Understanding
Explanation: Characters learn to make judgments based not on superficial appearances but on deeper understanding, as they get to know the junkyard dog.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to look beyond appearances and make informed decisions based on understanding and empathy.