Little Dog Lost - adventure reviewed by Diana Foster

Little Dog Lost by Marion Dane Bauer

Reviewed by Diana Foster

This is a sweet tale written as a narrative poem that tells the story of a boy and a dog and how they find each other.  The book is written from the multiple perspectives of Buddy, the dog and Mark, the boy and a lonely neighbor.  It is a bit confusing at first with the different perspectives and poetic prose, but eventually it becomes clear and leads the reader on a journey rooting for all of the characters to find each other.

Buddy’s owner is busy and often leaves Buddy alone. Mark is a lonely boy, yearning for a puppy to keep him company, but his mother doesn’t understand how important this is to Mark and won’t let him get a dog. And Mr. LaRue is a lonely old man who is misunderstood by his neighbors.  The three separate stories eventually intertwine, bringing these three together, creating friendships that heal the hearts of all of them.

This would be a wonderful book for fifth graders who enjoy animal stories and friendship. The poetic verse makes it interesting and it is accessible to struggling readers. I definitely recommend it for an elementary school library.