Love That Dog (by Sharon Creech)

While the poems at first seem unconnected, the book is in fact tightly structured, and all the way through Creech is unobtrusively weaving together strands that come poignantly together in an emotional climax. Although many children will finish this book in one or two sittings, it bears numerous rereadings and much fruitful discussion, and is a gift to parents and teachers of reluctant readers who want to help their children learn to delve more deeply into literature.