Spotlight Friday: Hello Goodbye Dog blog tour - 7.28.17

Time to get ready for the weekend!

Kick up your feet and find a good place to read.

Sharing #booklove for your classroom or library.

Spotlighting a book or two because these books deserve the spotlight!

There is nothing more that appeals to most young readers than stories about dogs.  Dogs and puppies have a way of sneaking into the hearts of all youngsters.  They are some of the most engaging stories I know and even those readers who don't find themselves "dog people" still have these stories sneak into their hearts!

Hello Goodbye Dog

written by Maria Gianferrari

illustrated by Patrice Barton

published by Roaring Brook Press

I love this new picture book by Maria Gianferrari!  Moose the dog just wants to stay with his young owner, especially as she goes to school.  Why?  The reader is let in on a secret before Moose even knows the secret - we see that he loves listening to stories and he is very good around all of the children.  Finally at the end, the adults in Moose's life understand he would make a great therapy dog to go to school and listen to the children read their stories to him.

The illustrations are done by the amazing Patrice Barton (illustrator of The Invisible Boy).  I can always tell her illustrations.  The soft touches she gives the characters always make them seem like  more life-like, even though they are illustrations!  There is something inviting about them that draws (no pun intended!) the reader into the story.

I love that this book is so versatile in how you are able to use it as a mentor text in your class.  Here are some ideas you can try:

Writing craft moves

• Take a look at how Gianferrari uses metaphors to explain what hello and goodbye means to Moose.  How do the metaphors enrich the understanding, how do the metaphors help the reader understand Moose?
• The words hello and goodbye are compared throughout the story.  Make a list of other oppositional words that could be compared within a storyline.  

Reading moves

• Have students notice the pattern in the story - looking at the words hello/goodbye.  What do they notice?  Thinking about the pattern they notice what does that tell them about the characters, about the meaning of the story?

Social/emotional

• I love that Gianferrari includes information at the end of the book about the importance of therapy dogs.  Take some time to explore and understand more about therapy dogs.  How do they help schools?  Students?  You can even hold a debate - the benefits vs challenges of a therapy dog at school.

Whether you use this book as a mentor text or as a read aloud, your students will visit this story again and again.  Would you like a chance to win a copy of this book for your library!  Be sure to enter below!

Take a moment and check out the other stops on the Hello Goodbye Dog blog tour!

HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!

GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24^th:                               Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!

*Two for Tuesday, July 25th:             Librarian’s Quest

Reading for Research

*Wednesday, July 26th:                        Homemade City

*Thursday, July 27^th:                             Kid Lit Frenzy

*Friday, July 28^th:                                   Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

*Monday, July 31^st:                                Picture Books Help Kids Soar

*Tuesday, August 1^st:                            Bildebok

*Wednesday, August 2^nd:                     The Loud Library Lady

*Thursday, August 3^rd:                         DEBtastic Reads!

*Friday, August 4^th:                                Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

*Monday, August 7^th:                             Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

EXTRA: August 25^th:                              Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton

Goodreads summary:
For Zara's dog, Moose, nothing is more important than being with his favorite girl. So when Zara has to go to school, WHOOSH, Moose escapes and rushes to her side.

Hello, Moose!

Unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed at school and Moose has to go back home.

Goodbye, Moose.

But Moose can't be held back for long. Through a series of escalating escapes, this loyal dog always finds her way back to Zara, and with a little bit of training and one great idea, the two friends find a way to be together all day long.

About the author:
Maria writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books from her sunny, book-lined study in northern Virginia, with dog, Becca as her muse. Maria’s the author of the Penny & Jelly books, Coyote Moon, an ALA Notable Book, and a Junior Library Guild Selection, Officer Katz & Houndini and Hello Goodbye Dog. She has additional titles forthcoming from Roaring Brook Press, Boyds Mills Press, GP Putnam’s Sons and Little Bee. To learn more about Maria, visit her website: mariagianferrari.com, on Facebook and Instagram.





Roaring Brook Press has generously donated a copy of Hello Goodbye Dog to be given away to one lucky winner!  Please fill out the form and cross your fingers!  The giveaway is open for U.S. residents until Thursday, August 3rd at 7pm EST.  Good luck!