Back to             
2005
finalists.

2005 Hackmatack

Children's Choice Book Award/Prix littéraire - le choix de jeunes

Brady is a dreadful card player and he doesn't like dogs. His mother has moved him across the country to be near his grandfather who insists on playing (and winning) endless games of Crazy Eights and whose ornery, ancient dog makes Brady's life miserable. Abra, next door, is nice to him, but she dresses like a witch and she's a girl. The only way that Brady can see to make real friends in his new home is to enter the upcoming dog show, but how is he going to do that without a dog?

Becky Citra lives in a tiny community called Bridge Lake in British Columbia. She is the author of the Max and Ellie series – Ellie's New Home, The Freezing Moon, Danger at the Landings and Runaway – pioneer stories set in early nineteenth century Ontario. Unlike her character Brady in Dog Days, she has no trouble getting along with animals: she has six horses, a dog and a cat to look after!

Orca Books provides a pdf teacher's guide for this book here.

Thematic Links

• Dogs, dog shows, training dogs
• Getting along with grandparents; the role of grandparents
• Friendship
• Self-esteem

Suggested Activities

• Try to teach your dog or a friend's dog a trick. Keep a journal of your results.
• Interview a dog trainer or attend a session at a dog obedience school.
• Hold a mock dog show or mock circus where all the tricks are performed by pretend animals.
• Interview a grandparent or an older person about some of their interests.
• Research dog breeds. Make a Guinness Book of Records listing the oldest breed, heaviest breed etc.
• Make an illustrated list of your pet peeves.
• Go to a dog show.
• Hold a real or imaginary pet show at your school or library.