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About the
Book
Poor Ike! Sent to dog obedience school by his owner, Mrs. LaRue,
for a difference of opinion about his behavior at home, Ike is forced
to endure what he sees as prison-like treatment at the Igor Brotweiler
Canine Academy. The humorous story, told through newspaper articles,
letters home, and illustrations, conveys Ike's experiences with
"hardship and danger" (his words, of course!) at
the school, but ends happily after he escapes, rescues Mrs. LaRue
from an ongoing truck, and receives a huge party, complete with
his favorite tasty dishes. But wait! Look again at the funny side-by-side
illustrations of life at Brotweiler! Was existence there really
as dismal as Ike reported? (Don't the pictures show cheery room
accommodations and directions to the pool?) Readers with sharp eyes
will have to decide for themselves!
Set the Stage
Get students ready to read (or listen) by talking first about dog
behavior basics:
• Have you ever seen or known a dog that misbehaved?
• What did the dog do (chewed a slipper, jumped up on guests)?
· What was the owner's reaction?
Explain that
there are schools, called obedience schools, that train dogs to
behave. Often, puppies go there, but sometimes grown dogs go too.
Talk about the kinds of training dogs receive there (walk on a leash,
sit, come, stay, etc.)
Read aloud and
show the pictures up to Ike's letter dated October 1. Guide students
to see the humor and contrast in the pictures. Point out that the
color illustration shows the spa-like accomodations at Brotweiler
while the black-and-white illustration portrays Ike's exaggerated
depiction of his wretched life there. Have students look for the
side-by-side illustrations in the rest of the book and be ready
to talk about what they show.
Review
After students have enjoyed the book, lead a lively discussion with
these questions:
• Why did Ike's letters change from typewritten to handwritten
ones?
• What were some of Ike's complaints about Brotweiler Canine
Academy?
• How did Mrs. LaRue feel about Ike's return home?
• Why are the illustrations so important to understanding the
story?
Student Activities
You Can Quote
Me
This activity will check students' understanding of the story by
evaluating sentences about the plot. Have students draw a paw print
in front of each statement that Ike wrote in a letter home.
For younger students you can have them cut around the paw prints
at the bottom of the page and glue next to the correct sentence.
 Print
and Copy the Classroom Activity Now (PDF)
Dog Adventures
Draw a picture of Ike with some of the other dogs at Brotweiler
Canine Academy.Then create your own story about each dog's experience
in your picture.
Print
and Copy the Classroom Activity Now (PDF)
Related Activities
To extend students' enjoyment of the book, try these:
- Make a large illustrated flipbook entitled Doggy Dos and
Don'ts. Fill Side A with things dogs should not do to get
along with people (e.g., steal their food). Fill Side B with things
dogs should do to get along with people (e.g., save them from
oncoming trucks).
- Find out more about author/illustrator Mark
Teague in the Authors and Books section of our site.
- Working in pairs, have students role play an interview between
a television reporter and Ike, after Ike returns home. Have the
reporter question Ike about his experiences at Brotweiler.
- Suggest that students write letters to Ike, telling him what
they thought of his adventures.
- Encourage students to find out about the training dogs actually
receive in a dog obedience school in their area.
- Do students like dog books? Try these: Clifford series, McDuff
series, Dot the Fire Dog, Daniel's Dog, and Martha
Blah Blah, among others.
Lesson Developed
by Dr. Susan Shafer
Dr. Susan Shafer is a former elementary school teacher with more
than twenty years of classroom experience and a doctorate in education
from Teachers College, Columbia University. While teaching she received
special recognition for her innovative, theme-based teaching methods.
The author of two books for children and numerous articles for adults,
Susan is presently a freelance writer, editor, and educational consultant.
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