“Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be in the spot light, and to have your allotted fifteen minutes of fame all the time?” “Would it not be great to be asked to be on Leno and lazily live your life in your upscale million-gazillion dollar mansion?” It sounds like a great life, but not for a dog.
“Holly Woof! Celebrity Dogs Bite Back” is a book designed for reluctant readers. The book is a collection of pictures of celebrities and their dogs. The celebrities all look like they are enjoying the attention, but the dogs have something a little different to say. Each picture is sprinkled with captions from the dogs themselves. The dogs try to tell everyone around them that they don’t really enjoy the constant photography and dumb costumes, but a dog can’t necessarily tell anyone their opinion when they are constantly being dragged by the neck with a leash. In response to the opinion shut out, they have written a book full of opinionated dog banter.
Even though this book is more picture than words, it could help young adult readers understand the skill of analyzing photographs and pictures. It is not really a novel that teachers could use to start a deep discussion, but can be used within Art classes or even some English and History classes to help the students understand how to take photographs and pictures and analyze what is happening in the picture. The skill of analyzing falls very high on Blooms Taxonomy and many times, a curriculum calls for primary source analysis, especially in History and Art classes. This book could be a good start for analyzing modern primary source pictures. The students could analyze the pictures, make their own analysis of what the dogs are thinking, and then move on to more historical documents. The book is very good, for those students that do not have good reading skills or analysis skills. The only real weakness of the book, is that there is some obscene and mature language, that may not be appropriate for younger readers and its not much of a detailed read.
“Holly Woof! Celebrity Dogs Bite Back” is a book designed for reluctant readers. The book is a collection of pictures of celebrities and their dogs. The celebrities all look like they are enjoying the attention, but the dogs have something a little different to say. Each picture is sprinkled with captions from the dogs themselves. The dogs try to tell everyone around them that they don’t really enjoy the constant photography and dumb costumes, but a dog can’t necessarily tell anyone their opinion when they are constantly being dragged by the neck with a leash. In response to the opinion shut out, they have written a book full of opinionated dog banter.
Even though this book is more picture than words, it could help young adult readers understand the skill of analyzing photographs and pictures. It is not really a novel that teachers could use to start a deep discussion, but can be used within Art classes or even some English and History classes to help the students understand how to take photographs and pictures and analyze what is happening in the picture. The skill of analyzing falls very high on Blooms Taxonomy and many times, a curriculum calls for primary source analysis, especially in History and Art classes. This book could be a good start for analyzing modern primary source pictures. The students could analyze the pictures, make their own analysis of what the dogs are thinking, and then move on to more historical documents. The book is very good, for those students that do not have good reading skills or analysis skills. The only real weakness of the book, is that there is some obscene and mature language, that may not be appropriate for younger readers and its not much of a detailed read.
~Amy Vercillo
7 comments:
It might not be the most intellectual book to read, however it can probably be twisted to focus on animal cruelty or something. It might be a good book to get the discussion started, and then transition into what a "dog" really needs to stay healthy. It should be a quick read so it shouldn't waste too much time.
Celebrities use animals as accessories. I agree with Mallory's post about animal cruelty, the animals never look happy. Unfortunely, many people see celebrities as gods and providers of elite behavior - I see them as selling themselves and publicity seekers. I hate the trend of animals as accessories. Everyone is doing it now no matter the income bracket. I would hate to be born as a small dog!
I don't see anything educational about this book, but I guess it made the award list because it is about celebrities and poeple seem to need to know what celebrites and rich people are going with their privilaged lives and money. We always want to see the other side of the fence, we always think its greener and better over there.
That's hilarious that this is actually a book - but you make some pretty good points about the how something this silly could actually be useful!
I have this book! It's great but not sure if it would be good in a classroom.
Stu1980:
That's a thought that also crossed my mind. I knew there could be some value to this book, but I'm not sure if I would be quick to bring it into my classroom and start using it right away. I think I would have to get some permission first.
If you were to use it in a classroom, maybe it could be part of a journalism lesson, where you have students create their own newspapers or magazines to address certain issues, such as animal cruelty or whatever else.
I was curious about what this book was going to be about. I believe that this book would be great for a reluctant reader who is into keeping up with the celebrities. I love books that give the unexpected side of the story, and I think this is a fun idea. Like others have stated, I think this would be too much of an easy read, and would not use it in the classroom.
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