Module 14: My Dog, My Hero

My Dog, My Hero

By Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey, and Laurie Myers

Summary: This book begins with a newspaper article stating the hunt for a hero.  The article is followed by eight chapters.  Each chapter represents one dog hero.  This impressive dogs save their owner from a bull, rescue a neighbor from a snake, and save a baby trapped in a car.  The story concludes with another article stating each award the dogs one and the grand winner as well.


Byars, B., Duffey, B. & Myers, L. (2000). My dog, my hero. New York, NY: H. Holt.

My Impression:  I give this book an A+ for elementary readers.  This is a fun collection of short stories that will excited animal lovers.  This is perfect for reluctant readers as they have closure at the end of each chapter.  The realistic nature of the author's writing keep the readers interested and wanting to know who the winner will be. 
Professional Reviews:

Booklist (January 1, 2001)

 Gr. 3-6. Newbery Medal-winner Byars and daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers--dog lovers all--collaborate for the first time in this collection of eight stories about extraordinarily heroic dogs. Each of the first-rate tales is told from the point of view of a contestant entering a dog in the My Hero contest. Among the entries is one from a gruff gardener who has no use for dogs until one alerts him to a poisonous snake lurking in his petunias. In another, a 93-year-old woman relates how a dog's cold nose and loving touch transformed her after she'd given in to depression in a nursing home. Drama, humor, excitement, and love fuel these short, well-written stories that are certain to be relished by dog lovers. The selections can also provide students in English classes with excellent examples of point of view, characterization, and plot construction. Loren Long's evocative full-color artwork not only shows off each canine but also invites readers into the crises and emotions of the episodes.

Mandel, E.  (2001, January 1). My dog, my hero [Review of the book My dog, my hero, by B. Byars, B. Duffey & L. Myers]. Booklist, 97(9), 954. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Library Use:  This title would be fun to use during Children's Book Week.  Have an elementary school wide read athon and each teacher could read one or two chapters a day and then the students could vote on who they think derserves the My Hero award.  The final newspaper article announcing the award can be read over the intercom as a school.