Saturday, July 18, 2009

Ann M. Martin's A DOG'S LIFE


Squirrel was a lonely street dog. She had been through tough times almost all her life. Torn from her mother and separated from her brother, she went wandering from city to city. Sometimes she spent an entire season in the woods, sometimes in the countryside, sometimes she got a companion, yet most of the times she wandered all alone. Twice she was “adopted” – and twice disappointed by man. In cold lonely nights she glanced at fireplaces through people’s window, desiring to be invited in – but no one opened the door. Until one snowy night came, that changed her days forever.

If you are a book-lover, pet-lover, and children-lover, I do recommend you read this book by Ann M. Martin, nominator for the Newberry Award. A Dog’s Life is a valuable book for both children and parents.

The reason why I treasure this book is that, personally (though the author might not put it that way), this story of a lonely street dog comes as a metaphor of human life. Most of human emotions, thoughts, and life-trials are depicted quite similarly to the life of the story’s main character: a wandering dog.

It is only human to experience sadness, forlornness, separation and struggles, just as it is natural for every person to long for warmth, acceptance, attention, appreciation, kindness and love. This story helps to sow the values of friendship, loyalty, humanity and kindheartedness in the hearts of our young ones.

In A Dog’s Life, we glimpse and reflect on the life of man. We learn from it, and become wiser and kinder.

I hope you enjoy and treasure this book as much as I do.

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