K10: A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace

The Kidliterati Ten is an interview series with young readers. We ask them about a favorite book and hope that you enjoy their answers.

Tell us a little about yourself: what is your first name, how old are you, and what is your favorite ice cream flavor?
I'm Meghan and I'm 8 and I love lots of ice cream flavors. Right now I would eat vanilla and chocolate swirl.

What book did you read and why did you choose it?
A Dog Called Kitty. I picked it out because I liked the cover.

Can you describe this book in one word?
Awesome!

What was your favorite part of this story?
The part where there were wild dogs attacking a baby cow, and Ricky's dog fought the wild dogs even though he was smaller. I also liked the part when the name of the book made sense. Ricky's mom would feed the cats and say, "Here kitty!" and the dog would come, which Ricky didn't like because he was afraid of dogs. He liked cats.

If you had a problem similar to the main character's problem, what would you do?
I'd get freaked out because Ricky got attacked by a dog when he was little. I'd hope to make friends with dogs, eventually, like he did with Kitty.

What would you say to your best friend to convince them to read this book?
That I read it and thought it was really good. It made me cry near the end.

What do you think about the book's cover?
It made me want to read the book because it has a dog and a barn. I love dogs. I pretty much love all animals!

Would you want to read another book about these characters? Why or why not?
I'd want to read a book about Ricky and the new dog he gets at the end of the book.

Can you name another book that reminds you of this one?
Um… *thinks for several seconds* *laughs* I can't!

If you could ask the author one question about this book, what would it be?
I'd ask: What happens to the other dog that Ricky finds in the barn?

Unfortunately, the author of A Dog Called Kitty, Bill Wallace, passed away in January 2012. We'll never know what happened to Ricky and his new dog, but Bill Wallace wrote many books about other kids and their animal friendships, such as Red Dog, Pick of the Litter, and Beauty.

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Thank you, Meghan, for sharing A Dog Called Kitty with The Kidliterati!

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A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace
The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail -- and Ricky was afraid of him! No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost. But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving. If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die -- but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!

 ----- Ashley -----