When The Poet’s Dog was hot off the press nearly ten years ago. I was eager to read the book. I loved Patricia MacLachlan Sarah, Plain and Tall, yet I never expected to be so moved by this book. I read it to myself, and read it aloud to my husband. Can sorrow and joy be wrapped up into one? Yes!
Patty (yes, she told me to call her Patty) was speaking at Mount Holyoke College, so Hubby and I drove out to hear her speak. When we entered the room, it was literature students only – a bit embarrassing, but we were invited to stay. She was funny, engaging, and quite a storyteller.
At the end, we were welcome to come forward. I told her The Poet’s Dog should have won the Newbery. She smiled. “Please call me Patty.” She and Hubby shared stories, and she called him her boyfriend.
Interestingly, in her display of books was a picture book I have, The Iridescence of Birds, about the artist Matisse as a child. “I have that book. Did you know Matisse’s grandson lives in my town?”
Silence. Patty was stunned. She asked if I could get his information so she could send him a copy of the book and tell him about how and why she wrote it. “Of course”, I said. “I taught his children.”
And that was the start of a friendship.
Here is the blog post I wrote when the book came out. It is still the best eighty-eight pages of literature I have ever read. Ever. This week my library reading group will discuss the book. I can’t wait!
“Dogs speak words. But only poets and children hear.”
Those are the opening words in Patricia MacLachlan’s new book, The Poet’s Dog. I have read the book twice, because there are many words not to be missed; words that are pure and don’t need added adjectives and text. MacLachlan’s writing stands alone in a field of masterful literature. Her eighty-eight pages are some of the best I have ever read. In the words of the publisher:
“Alone in a fierce winter storm, Nickel and Flora are brave but afraid. A dog finds them. Teddy speaks words and brings them to shelter. The Poet’s cabin has light and food and love. But where is the poet? Teddy will tell the story of how words make poems and connect to those who hear each other.”
Sylvan the poet constantly reads to Teddy. He reads Yeats and Shakespeare. He also reads Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Ox-Cart Man. Teddy learns how words follow one another.
I had no idea that Ox-Cart Man, one of my favorite children’s books, is actually a poem. I scrambled to find my copy and read the words again, this time seeing the words for what they are meant to be – a poem. When I read the book again to my preschoolers this month, it will be more beautiful than ever.
The Poet’s Dog is a story of adventure, survival, love and friendship, death, reading and poetry. The beginning is a fishing line that hooks the reader, and the ocean opens to… well, you will have to read the book The ending is as surprising as ever.
I told a friend and fellow teacher about The Poet’s Dog and quoted to her the first lines, “Dogs speak words. But only poets and children hear.” Our conversation went something like this:
She: “I hear my cat. I know what she’s saying.”
Me: “Then you must be either a child or a poet.”
She: “I’m a child. My heart is always a child. And I love poetry.”
She smiled a knowing smile. I did, too.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Based on your recommendation, I bought a used copy of this last year. We keep it here for our grandson to read when he visits, and hopefully the other grandchildren as they get older.
Best wishes, Pete.
I’m so glad to know that, Pete. 🙂
I love this book so much. I have my own copy and I gave one to my great-granddaughter. I can understand my dog, Dot. But then I am still a child myself and although not a poet, I am a writer. Lucky you to have met Patricia MacLachlan. She sounds like a nice person as well as a brilliant author.
I’m so glad you have (and love) the book! I am a child, too – aren’t we lucky? She was such a nice person. She had macular degeneration and eventually went blind. The last time I saw her speak, her daughter had to read the words aloud. I just learned that she and Jane Yolen were in the same reading group and were friends.
😊❤️🐶
I love all the coincidences in this post. No wonder you had to write about it!
Thank you, Frank. Yes, there were many, and I was ‘busting’ to write about it. 🙂
how lucky that you were able to attend and meet ‘patty.’ I absolutely loved this book and your post has inspired me to read it again. the world is such a small place and how wonderful that you found this very personal connection between the two of you. thank you so much for this post today –
Thank you, Beth. I was lucky, and I’ll never forget meeting her that day – the only non-students in attendance! Yes, the world is small. I hadn’t read the book in years, and I’m SO glad I read it again. There was much I’d forgotten, little things and words. Oh, her words. I highly recommend that you read it again!!
I had to go back and read your RIP blog post (https://jenniefitzkee.com/2022/07/10/r-i-p-patricia-maclachlan/) because I remember being first introduced to this book by you back then. I’m glad I did because it reminded me of my own experiences with this author’s book, Sarah Plain & Tall at the time of the release of the movie – Dear teacher, we are a part of history, ya know? These little vignettes (yours about Matisse’s grandson in your neighborhood would tickle Mr. You -Know-Who!) show how interconnected we all are in this life-line in time.
hugs.
I’d forgotten that I wrote a RIP post. Thank you, as I just went back to read it. I smiled. 😀 Sarah, Plain and Tall will forever be one of the best. Well, if I can be a teeny part of history, I’m very lucky. Okay, I’m racking my brain…who is Mr. You-Know-Who? Thank you so much, Laura!
Mr Rogers! 😉
Oh, yes!!! ❤️
Oh my goodness, what an opening line! Thank you for the introduction to “The Poet’s Dog”. xo! 🥰
Yes, it’s powerful. I hope you read the book! Many thanks!
I will! Xo! 🥰
Yes! And please let me know. 😍
The first line sold me, Jennie. And what a beautiful cover.
That first line sold me, too. Yes, I love the cover. I hope you read it; a big wow!
It sounds like a marvelous book, Jennie.
Thank you, Deborah. It is!
I missed out on this book. I see I have some catching up to do. Thanks for this lovely post, Jennie.
Thank you, Anneli. I hope you read it, your library should have the book. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I am getting that book! Thank you-Michele
Michele, you will love this book!! 💕
It sounds lovely, Jennie. Thanks for showing the images. Hugs.
Thank you, Teagan. Hugs!
A beautiful story, Jennie. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you, John.
You are welcome, Jennie.
Oh, I remember your post about The Poet’s Dog. It sounds like such a wonderful book.
Oh, it is! For a poet like you, it is book you need to read. I bet your library has the book. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you, Liz.
Oh, I love full-circle moments like that when you told Patty about your city connection to Matisse. Good to see you still meeting with your library group. I did eventually reach out our library, but they already have a similar group in place. They recently moved me to a room next to the cafeteria and suddenly the attendance for my seniors has gone up.
I’m glad that you’re not ready to retire. This is what you are meant to do, Jennie.
I was going to respond to your wonderful comment on my blog, but for some reason, my theme only allows me to reply once. Who knows where that came from? Do you also type responses lately and get an error message (“message can’t be sent,” or something like that?) Then I have to retype the entire thing, and it always goes thorugh the second time. That keeps happening to me on various blogs lately.
Almost back to 100%. Tomorrow, I plan to resume my normal activities. This is the first day I’ve been able to be up all day since Wednesday.
Full circle is really wonderful. Last night I went to Jane Yolen’s birthday party (she’s 86) and brought along a child who was in my class when I read aloud Owl Moon and went owling at school in 1986. Introducing her to Jane and telling the story was beyond wonderful. Blog post soon. And, I’m going to tell her the Matisse story via email since she and Patty were good friends. More full circle! I’m so tired this morning…
That’s good news about your senior reading group, but a little disappointing about the library.
I haven’t had those WP issues on my blog. Yet! What a royal pain!
Glad you’re better, Pete. How is everyone doing in Ryan’s family?
All well. They’re flying into San Francisco the first week of March. We got an AirBnb in Sonoma for five days.
That’s wonderful! You must be so excited. 😀
How lovely to meet Patty. The books sounds delightful
It was lovely! Thank you, Bella.
Hi – now that is pretty awesome that Matisse’s grandson lives in your town and that you taught his children….
and I need to check out some of The Poet’s Dog… sounds so good
Thanks, Prior. Yes, it is pretty awesome – what a small world, right? You will love The Poet’s Dog. Promise.
🙂
Hi Jennie, I remember this lovely book which I read on your recommendation
Ah, I’m so glad you read the book. Yes, it is lovely. Best to you, Robbie.
If you’re willing to listen so many opportunities to hear things. Love this post.
Yes, indeed! Thanks, Ally.
What a lovely post! How wonderful to have taught Matisse’s great grandchildren. The book sounds ideal for my little grandson. I’ll have to check it out.
Thank you, Stevie. That was something to have taught his kids. How old is your grandson? The book is for ages 8 to adult.
He’s 10.
Perfect! You should read it first.
Amazing story, Jennie. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you, Resa.
Welcome!
Wonderful. Thank you Jennie.
You’re welcome, Cindy. Much appreciated.
What beautiful connections you make Jennie…. I wish I had known you when my children were young… For your knowledge on children’s books and their authors is priceless..
Sending you much love dear Jennie… ❤ Enjoy your Day xx ❤
Lucky me, as I can’t really say how these connections happened. There’s a spirit in the universe, for sure. My love for children’s books is a passion, as you can tell. It’s such a foundation for children’s learning. Much love and many thanks, Sue. 💕
I’m sure Jennie, it’s all Divine timing and universally orchestrated lol 😆 😘😆💕 sending much love to you ❤️
Yes, it is! Best to you, Sue. 💕
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve never heard of it. I’m going to get for my kids. 🙂
I’m so glad. It’s for kids (and adults) over the age of 8.
I am so glad these things all came together for you, Jennie. Of course, they began with an effort on your part.
Thanks so much, Dan. They really came together! Every good thing starts with an effort, right?
Jennie, I’m not sure you realize this but You are a poem. Everything about you is poetry. No wonder the children love you so much. As I followed what you had written here, it felt lyrical. Had you been one of my teachers, I would have been quite a different person. You have that kind of impact. I’m almost 77 and you have that kind of impact on me! Imagining it on a child just beginning in this world. I hope they figure out how to clone you and keep you in this world forever. I know nothing of poems but you make me want to learn. My heart is moved.
Marlene! I am speechless and humbled. Thank you for your beautiful words here. Like you, my heart is moved. If I leave children feeling loved and filled with self worth, then the world can be their oyster. I’ll be 75 in a few months, I hope I can keep teaching ‘forever’. 💕
I hope you can keep teaching too, Jennie. Remember though, life can be very short. Don’t put anything off till later.
Well said, Marlene!
I had never read this book, but after reading this post, I was able to find both the audiobook and ebook on one of my apps. I did a read/listen and wow! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I am going to buy a copy for my grandkids. I know they will love it. I will always be a child at heart, so am able to talk to my granddogs easily. Most of the time, I can hear them as well. I know that Sarah: Plain and Tall is one of your favourites so am glad you got to meet Patricia MacLachlan and become friends with “Patty”.
Carla, I’m so glad you found this book, and I knew you would absolutely love it. Great story, great author. Yes, like me you will always be a child at heart. We are lucky! Talking to granddogs and hearing them is very special. Who knew this event would turn into connecting with Patty. Thanks so much, Carla. Best to you.