The Night I Followed the Dog

Laden, N. (1994). The Night I Followed the Dog. New York: Chronicle Books.

Read on Storylineonline.com

Lexile Score: 530L

Summary: This is a cute story about a boy who follows his dog one night and ends up in an amazing dog fantasy otherwise known as the doghouse. It’s no ordinary dog house though. It’s a world of doggy glamour.

Evaluation: I didn’t seem to find any stereotypes mentioned in this picture book. It is a very carefree, fun, and exciting read if you’ve ever wondered what dogs do and where they go at night. Therefore, the story is extremely interesting to children, especially if they have a dog of their own. It allows children to think creatively and outside of the norm.

However, there really isn’t any conflict, or lesson to be learned. There aren’t values being explored because it’s a very simple storyline that leaves a lot for children to think about on their own. It’s meant to be just a fun read.

The illustrations really allow children to go on an adventure with the owner and the dog. You can clearly visualize what is going on, which is very important for young children especially. Although this story is definitely far-fetched, it allows readers to use their imagination and truly engage children of all ages.  

Literary Elements: Illustrations- You can see artistically see what the dog goes through each night and it makes the reader a little jealous of their night life.

Voice- You can clearly hear the dog talk to his owner and understand what he’s thinking just based on the dog’s dialogue.

Personification- You get a look into what the dog’s secret life is. Dog’s don’t actually dress themselves or talk to their owner about their night life.

Mini lesson: Have the students chose a pet, or if they don’t have one, let them pick their dream pet and use personification in a story about that pet. Before they start writing, review what personification is and how it’s used in this story. Then, allow the students to be creative with their stories about their pet’s fantasy life.  

Target audience: K-8 because it’s a quick fun read with literary elements that even 8^th graders need to remember, review, and use in their writing.