Sharron was five when her father gave her the Friskative Dog. And just like the best-loved toys from The Velveteen Rabbit, Sharron has made ...
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Dec 21, 2011
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Sharron loves dogs more than just about anything in the world. Her favorite dog of all is the Friskative Dog.
Sharron's dad gave her the Friskative Dog when she was very little. Sure, he may be a stuffed animal to most people, but to Sharron he is real and just as much a part of the family as an actual dog would be. Especially since Sharron's dad left a year ago. Sometimes it seems like the Friskative Dog is the only connect More...
Sharron loves dogs more than just about anything in the world. Her favorite dog of all is the Friskative Dog.
Sharron's dad gave her the Friskative Dog when she was very little. Sure, he may be a stuffed animal to most people, but to Sharron he is real and just as much a part of the family as an actual dog would be. Especially since Sharron's dad left a year ago. Sometimes it seems like the Friskative Dog is the only connect More...
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Aug 05, 2011
For Grades 3–5—Now that Sharron's dad has been missing for a year, the toy dog that he gave her when she was five has taken on great meaning. Her mother and grandmother slowly realize that he has run off, but nothing is made clear to his confused daughter. The stuffed animal has become the center of her love and devotion, so much so that she has crossed the line between reality and imagination, and believes that The Friskative Dog is real. When her fourth-grade class is assigned career reports,
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Jun 15, 2009
Susan P
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This is a very quick read, but a wonderful and powerful story. Sharron's dad has recently left, and her stuff dog - a present from her dad when she turned five - is her constant companion. Sharron and her mom live in an apartment, and especially now that her dad isn't contributing, her mom is always worried about money. There are two girls in Sharron's class who come from wealthy families, and seem to have nothing better to do than to make fun of her because she's poor. When she brings the F
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Apr 24, 2008
Terri
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The stuffed Labrador retriever puppy Sharron's father gave her for her 5th birthday has been Sharron's favorite toy ever since. She has loved it so much that, in her mind, he has become "real" like the Skin Horse in her favorite book, The Velveteen Rabbit. Sharron knows The Friskative Dog (TFD for short) isn't alive, but she still talks to him and loves him as if he were. This is especially true since her father disappeared a year ago, and she clings to TFD as a lifeline connecting her
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Apr 12, 2008
babyhippoface
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Patience. Courage. Moving on but clinging to the Good Parts of the Past. Hope for the future--that the Good Parts of the Past will return, but even if they do not, Hope.
Sharron's daddy gave her The Friskative Dog for Christmas when she was 5 years old, and Sharron loves that dog so much that he has become real. No, he doesn't talk to her--he's not a live dog, he's a real dog. And now that her daddy has been missing for one whole year, The Friskative Dog (TFD) is that much more import More...
Sharron's daddy gave her The Friskative Dog for Christmas when she was 5 years old, and Sharron loves that dog so much that he has become real. No, he doesn't talk to her--he's not a live dog, he's a real dog. And now that her daddy has been missing for one whole year, The Friskative Dog (TFD) is that much more import More...
Dec 03, 2007
Sarah
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Sharron doesn’t have a real, live dog; rather, she has a stuffed dog. But, to her, The Friskative Dog is as real as any dog can be. She loves him with all of her heart and has had him ever since she was five. Even though she’s in fourth-grade now, she still knows that The Friskative Dog is more special than any of those other fancy dogs that some of those rich girls at school own.
The Friskative Dog might sound like a funny name to some people, but, to Sharron, it’s a perfect name. More...
The Friskative Dog might sound like a funny name to some people, but, to Sharron, it’s a perfect name. More...
Feb 25, 2010
Wendy
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This was such an endearing story of a brave young girl battling the abandonment of her father and a heartless, jealous bully from school. I really enjoyed the relationships built between characters and the colorful character of Ebonis's mother. Straight did a phenomenal job bringing her to life for me. I could see her finger waving in the face of Paige as her hand rested firmly on her hip as her head swayed bath and forth with vigor! I wish I had had as much courage as Sharron when I was a k
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Dec 12, 2009
Christian
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I was visiting a colleagues classroom and one of her students had this book on their desk. The cover intrigued me so I read the inside flap. I was intrigued.
I checked it out of the library and really enjoyed it. The author captures kid dialogue (especially in the early chapters) so very well and then presents you with kids that you hope exist in real life...ones brave enough to stand up to bullies, look out for their friends and take care of their needs.
A quick read th More...
I checked it out of the library and really enjoyed it. The author captures kid dialogue (especially in the early chapters) so very well and then presents you with kids that you hope exist in real life...ones brave enough to stand up to bullies, look out for their friends and take care of their needs.
A quick read th More...
Sep 09, 2011
Lori
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Might be a powerful read aloud in grades 3-5. Sharon's dad has seemingly abandoned them. She deals with the loss by pouring all her love into the stuffed dog he gave her when she was little. Classmates, like in real life, can be kind or cruel. I wanted a happy ending.....but it's realistic fiction, so thought the ending wasn't happily ever after, it was satisfying and rang true.
Sep 18, 2010
Ann
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Ages 8+
A fourth grade girl pretends her stuffed golden retreiver puppy is real. She deals with her absent father and two girls at her school who are bullies and make fun of the Friskative Dog.
A fourth grade girl pretends her stuffed golden retreiver puppy is real. She deals with her absent father and two girls at her school who are bullies and make fun of the Friskative Dog.
Jul 15, 2011
Lexi
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Good book to discuss themes. There were several. Very realistic fiction. Hope my students will like it too.
Jun 08, 2010
Bunni
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Best part - cute cover. The story just didn't work for me.
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Aug 13, 2008
Kristi
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The dog in this slim chapter book is a stuffed toy, but Sharron, even though she's entering the 4th grade still likes to pretend that TFD is completely real. He's loyal, true, and constant, unlike her dad who disappears one day leaving Sharron and her mom to fend for themselves. I didn't think I could take one more sad dog or deadbeat dad story, but I loved this one. A great choice for a book discussion or classroom.
Feb 07, 2011
Sydney
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I really liked this book. I loved the narration and the plotline, and the viewpoint of the protagonist. Also, I love the name of the stuffed dog, "Friskative." I see qualities of myself in the narrator.
Dec 16, 2009
Kristy
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Cute cover lured me in. The main character was flat and the secondary "friend" was not really a true friend, .i.e. never spent time with the main character. The theme of bullying was a good one, but it didn't work for me, dawg. Don't even remember the characters' names, I was that unimpressed.
Oct 04, 2008
Julie
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Sharron has been abandoned by her father, living with her mother, in a California town. She doesn't have any real friends only her toy dog. Tells how she finds the strength to stand up to mean girls at school.
Apr 26, 2010
msrouse
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Great selection by Mrs. Birdsall's 4th grade lunch bunch. I really enjoyed the book and the great discussions that we had about it.
Mar 12, 2010
Jennifer
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My 9 year old and I are reading this during our lunch breaks. . .i like the imaginary tone and it is set in a 4th grade classroom.
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