The Poet's Dog
Written by Patricia MacLachlan
Narrated by Michael Curran-Dorsano
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
From Newbery Medal winner Patricia MacLachlan comes a poignant story about two children, a poet, and a dog and how they help one another survive loss and recapture love. ""Just what I needed,"" raves Brightly. ""It's a heart-warming story of loss and love that filled me with hope for a better future and renewed my belief in good.""
Teddy is a gifted dog. Raised in a cabin by a poet named Sylvan, he grew up listening to sonnets read aloud and the comforting clicking of a keyboard. Although Teddy understands words, Sylvan always told him there are only two kinds of people in the world who can hear Teddy speak: poets and children.
Then one day Teddy learns that Sylvan was right. When Teddy finds Nickel and Flora trapped in a snowstorm, he tells them that he will bring them home—and they understand him. The children are afraid of the howling wind, but not of Teddy’s words. They follow him to a cabin in the woods, where the dog used to live with Sylvan . . . only now his owner is gone.
As they hole up in the cabin for shelter, Teddy is flooded with memories of Sylvan. What will Teddy do when his new friends go home? Can they help one another find what they have lost?
Patricia MacLachlan
Patricia MacLachlan (1938-2022) was the celebrated author of many timeless books for young readers, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. She was also the author of many beloved picture books, a number of which she cowrote with her daughter, Emily.
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Reviews for The Poet's Dog
91 ratings17 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One of my favorites by Patricia MacLachlan. The cover art by Kenard Pak, of the big dog and small children walking through the snow to a cabin in the forest is as gorgeous as the story. It is not easy to write a story with a dog (or any animal) as the narrator, but MacLachlan pulls it off with aplomb. Her writing is simple, straightforward, full of beauty, honesty, and wonder. This is one I read over and over, for it's humanity, animality, and comfort in the face of sadness.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lyrical and lovely. MacLachlan knows children, dogs, and relationships. Her storytelling reminds us that our humanity is enriched when we listen to and love each other.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book is weird. Nice story, though.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I picked up this book because of the title. I had never read the author before but I recognized her previous titles, notably Sarah Plain and Tall. The Poet's Dog is a simple story, with a small setting and gentle plot. If feels more like it's a book about words and talk, through an animal we don't attach words to. The book feels quiet and personal, rather than something intended to speak to a crowd.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I enjoyed this little book very much, although I did have a couple of issues with it. The tone seems a bit uneven (it starts off being somber and borderline dark and then ends much more popsicle-like), and I also think it would be better as a full-length novel - there's much more that could be explored and fleshed out in the story. So, not MacLachlan's best, but still worth a read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a special one, indeed. A mystical, magical sweet little book about children lost in a snow storm and the journey to find meaning in life. The story's narrator is the dog who was beloved by a poet who is deceased. The dog and the children are searching for something. A lovely story that gives a sense of hopefulness about the connections forged between people and between people and dogs.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I haven’t read a book by Maclachlan in many years. I recall reading Sarah, Plain and Tall early on in school. I remember enjoying it, but not much other than that. The Poet’s Dog was a great way to rediscover this author. I feel that reading it as an adult maybe even have given me a better appreciation for the story.
What I enjoyed most about this book was that it’s told from a dog’s perspective. Specifically a dog’s first person point of view. I don’t think it’d have been as effective any other way. That includes if it were in the third person. There’s was a certain charm and insight given because of how this book was written.
This was also a very emotional book, especially for one written with a young audience in mind. Despite this, I feel that most children can handle the happy and sad tones within the pages. Some readers, of any age, maybe need a box of tissues, though. Despite it being a quick read, it packs a punch. Be ready for that. This is definitely not a book to pass up. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Minimalist and sweet. Dreamy and realistic. I enjoyed taking my time with this quicker novel.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Narrated by "I am a dog," Teddy speaks only to children and poets.His story of rescues has many sad moments, but ends mostly redeeming,though the Jewel connection was needlessly over the top.Plot will inspire consideration of choices: Should a mother ever leave her children alone in a car by the side of the road in a snowstorm? Should kids ever leave the car where they were told to stay?Why didn't the people who told the kids about the car being towed rescue them?Why didn't they go with the tow truck?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Patricia MacLachlan again shows her mastery of words. She can create powerful stories in short form. She’s the kind of author who, as a school librarian, want to share with non-readers, the kind that come in and ask for a short book they must read for a book report. Imagine being lost in a snow storm with only a dog, but a dog who can talk and heard by children. This magical story could be read several times and the reader will pick up something new about relationships and caring for one another.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Teddy, a dog once owned by Sylvan the poet, rescues a couple of children in a blizzard. He takes them to the cabin where they stay until they can get out. The story is told through the dog's voice. The poet taught him words. I don't want to give away too much, but this book would be great for elementary school kids to read and enjoy. It would also work well as a read aloud book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Written by Newbery award winning author Patricia MacLachlan, I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read other books by her since she wrote Sarah Plain and Tall, and was not very impressed. I recently ordered this book for the school library, and I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it as much as I did. The writing was succinct and simple, yet the story had depth and caused me as the reader to connect with the dog (main character) and the children that he rescued in the snowstorm. The ending made it that much better. There was redemptive hope for the dog who lost his owner to illness. Touching. I would use this book to recommend to my third grade classes that are currently reading Sarah Plain and Tall in their classrooms. This would be a great book for comparing books by the same author.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The story is narrated by an Irish wolfhound named Teddy. Teddy comes across a pair of children in the woods during a winter storm and brings them back to the cabin of his recently deceased owner, a poet named Sylvan. The children and dog wait out the storm for days while getting to know each other. Flora the younger and Nickel are able to understand Teddy’s speech. Teddy tells them about Sylvan’s getting sick and eventually dying and how Ellie, one of Sylvan’s poetry students, has been coming to the cabin to take care of Him since Sylvan’s death. Meanwhile, the children wait to be reunited with their parents—after their mother’s car skidded off into the ditch. She went for help and couldn’t make it back before the car was towed by authorities to keep it from getting buried in the snow and and ending with, well reader you will find out soon. This a short, precious little book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm never disappointed by the books of Maclachlan. She writes with depth of feeling and wonderment that lasts after the book is finished.An Irish Wolfhound who was previously rescued by her poet owner Sylvan, finds two children in the snow. As the sleet and gusting winds pound them, the dog walks them to safety.As the power flickers off and on, and the snow pelts the windows, all is calm and cozy in the cabin. In grief, Teddy the dog misses his owner who died. In hope, the children long to know that their parents will find them.The images are soft. A light reflected from the cabin window unto the piles of snow, the taste of simple meals scrounged together, a soft fire with plenty of logs to sustain them all work together to paint calm and serenity.This is a lovely book to read during the holidays when we are reminded that those who give are given to in many miraculous ways.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A sweet and heartwarming story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Teddy, an Irish wolfhound, tells the beautiful story of being rescued and how, in turn, he becomes the rescuer. Read it, it's lovely.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This a quick, beautiful read, a little gem of a book. Teddy is an Irish wolfhound whom Sylvan, a poet and poetry teacher, rescued from a shelter. Teddy can successfully speak in a quiet, thoughtful voice to poets and children - being able to talk to Teddy is a sign of having achieved poet status. He's a wise fellow, but at loose ends when Sylvan unexpectedly becomes sick and passes away. "And he closes his eyes, his hands still on my neck. By the time Ellie gets there he is still. Silence”. Sylvan has left him a house in the woods, with someone to stop in and take care of him. In a blizzard, Teddy rescues two lost children, and they all pull together in the house to survive the storm. They talk to one another about being left behind and being rescued, and Teddy tells the children about his beloved time with Sylvan. It feels timeless in the cozy house together, but the storm will pass, and what will happen then? The resolution is true and satisfying, and this is a magical little book. Madame MBH and I loved it.