Poetry-Review #2-Kristine O'Connell George

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2002. Little Dog and Duncan. Ill. by June Otani. New York: Clarion. ISBN 061811758X


Plot Summary—

This is the story of two dogs, Little Dog and Duncan, told exclusively through poems. Duncan is an Irish Wolfhound who comes to stay with Little Dog and his owners for a time. Readers watch the relationship between the dogs build and strengthen from the beginning of the visit to the inevitable parting upon the return of Duncan’s owners. Dog lovers will notice behaviors seen in their own dogs. Duncan and Little Dog pout and mope when Duncan is left. They each want what the other has. They both get the leashes tangled up around Little Dog’s owner and Little Dog defends his territory by hiding his toys and growling to claim his owner’s lap.


Critical Analysis—

George uses free verse to tell the story of Little Dog and Duncan. Each poem is a vignette of the time Little Dog and Duncan spend together. She uses placement of the words on the page to lend rhythm and emotion to each poem. For example, in the poem Hello!, readers can feel the uncertainty of Little Dog and Duncan’s first meeting.
Hello!
Little Dog and Duncan
touch noses,
wiggle,
wag.
Friend?
Friend!

In the poem Equality, the placement of each line helps convey the action of sharing back and forth between each dog. This blog does not seem to always publish text exactly as it is typed. The "Little Dog" sentences below should be indented about 6 spaces.
Equality
Duncan gets a hug.
Little Dog gets a hug.
Duncan gets pats.
Little Dog gets pats.
Duncan gets a cookie.
Little Dog gets a cookie.

Fair is fair.


Otani used watercolors for the illustrations in Little Dog and Duncan. Each picture is simple with white space around so that the reader’s eye is drawn to the most important elements in the illustrations and to the placement of the words in the poem. Both the word placement and pictures contribute to the emotional appeal of the book.


Review Excerpts—

PlanetEsme.com—Esme Raji Codell- “Besides being a tender and observant ode to canine life, O'Connell's natural, almost conversational free verse surreptitiously shows children what a poem can be.”

School Library Journal—“George has a real knack for choosing ordinary moments and describing them in accessible yet lyrical language, transforming the mundane into the magical. The poems have been pared down and polished to perfection; although written in free verse, they have the elegance and quiet eloquence of haiku.”

Book Magazine—“ Elegantly simple, short poems and appealing watercolors capture the excitement of the fun and friendship the dogs share and the slight tensions that spring from their different sizes.”

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award-2003


Connections—

*Identify the emotions conveyed in the book. Help students compare and contrast those emotions to how they feel when someone comes to stay with them for a while.

*Read the first poem book about Little Dog and his owner.

• Little Dog Poems Ill. by June Otani ISBN 0395822661

*Read other poem picture books by Kristine O’Connell George.

• Toasting Marshmallows Ills. by Kate Kiesler ISBN 061804597X
• The Great Frog Race and Other Poems Ill. by Kate Kiesler ISBN 0618604782
• Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems Ill. by Kate Kiesler ISBN 0618752420
• Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems Ill. by Barry Moser ISBN 0152023259