Summer Challenge Week Ten: Dog Days!

 

It's the final week of the Read, Discuss, Do! Summer Challenge, and we are wrapping things up by celebrating dogs! What better way to enjoy the "dog days of summer"? Besides spending lots of time at the pool, of course. We hope this week's theme inspires you to read a few books about some of our favorite furry friends. Whether you have a dog in your family or not, there are plenty of ways to celebrate dogs!

Ideas for books to read:

• Hello, Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferarri, illustrated by Patrice Barton. A heartwarming story about a dog who insists on following his girl to school.
• Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings. A fun book in which a dog writers letters hoping to convince someone to adopt him.
• Bark Park! by Trudy Krisher, illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes. Especially good for the younger readers, this book is full of fun doggy antics.
• A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker. A poignant, wordless picture book about dealing with the loss of a pet.

Ideas for things to discuss:

• What was your favorite part of the book?
• Was this story happy or sad? 
• Do you like dogs? Why or why not?
• What do you think is the best thing about dogs?
• If you have a pet dog, talk about what makes your dog special.
• If you don't have a pet dog, talk about what it might be like to have one. What would you name your dog? Where would your dog sleep?

Ideas for things to do:

• If you have a dog in your family, go on a special walk or visit a dog park. 
• Read to a dog! Check out our post, Ten Tips for Reading with Pets for some helpful tips.
• Make treats for your dog or a friend's dog. You can find a recipe at this post.
• Visit a dog shelter. Consider making a donation to help out.
• Make some dog-themed art, such as a drawing, painting, or a collage.
• Would you like to adopt a dog or puppy? Make a list of they types of dogs that would fit well in your family. Be sure to do some research! Here is a good place to start: 9 Great Dog Breeds for First-Time Owners.