Love this author. . .

My first exposure to Sharon Creech was her Newberry winner, Walk Two Moons. I read it in two nights and wondered how I could not have read this author before. Quick Confession: I almost always read the end of a book in the beginning, but for some reason this time I didn't. I was so surprised by the ending that it nearly reformed me. I loved this book and as a result suggest it often. It is rarely on my shelves.

Two weeks ago, I picked up Love That Dog on a slow morning in the library. To be honest, I was looking for an excuse not to have to re-shelve books. . . I read the whole book. It is the story of a fifth grade boy, Jack, who is learning about poetry and begins to write letters in poetry form to his teacher. I brought the book home and read it to Tommi. Lance and Levi sat on the couch and listened in (that's a clue to the quality of this book). . . Spoiler warning: you may want tissues near at hand.

At the end of the book, I wanted to know more about the poetry that the fictitious Miss Stretchberry used (the poems are included in the back of the book) in her lessons. Heck, I wanted to become Miss Stretchberry. Sharon Creech has a new(ish) book: Hate That Cat. Jack opens the story like this. . .

Room 204 - Miss Stretchberry

September 12

I hate that cat
like a dog hates a rat
I said I hate that cat
like a doge hates a rat

Hate to see it in the morning
hate to see that
F A T black cat.

September 13

Sorry
I didn't know
you liked cats.
Didn't know
you have one.


I LOVE a book with a good hook. . . This one grabbed me from page one and I was sorry to leave Jack at the end. If you haven't read poetry in awhile, this is a gentle re-introduction and that will leave you wanting to read more. I love this author. . .