SuitabookIf I Had a Dog
Carolyn Jackson
- Reading
- Read it together and pause before each new kind of dog. Invite the child to explain a safe response in their own words, then compare the imagined dog’s signals with Maxine’s enthusiasm.
- Themes
- Reading dogs’ signals: Maxine learns how to notice dog language and how to approach and greet different dogs, including working, guard, old, young and aggressive dogs. The guidance is presented as practical information within a child-centred story, encouraging attention to the dog’s situation rather than assuming every encounter is alike.
- Wanting a dog: Maxine draws dogs, wears dog-themed clothing, brings neighbours’ dogs home and hopes to have them stay; her parents have a dog-related surprise planned. The wish for a dog is described as an important, affectionate part of Maxine’s experience, while the story places it alongside a surprise her parents have planned.
- Worth knowing
- Pay particular attention when the book discusses guard or aggressive dogs and the meaning of canine signals. A child may benefit from pausing to distinguish observing a dog from deciding to touch it.