Return to Miss Stretchberry's class with Jack, the reluctant poet, who over the course of a year encounters new and challenging things like metaphors, alliterations, onomatopoeia, and one mean fat black cat!
The Newbery Medal-winning author of Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech, introduced Jack in Love That Dog, a New York Times bestseller. Both Love That Dog and Hate That Cat are approachable, funny, warm-hearted introductions to poetry told from the point of view of a very real kid wrestling with school assignments.
These books are fast reads that will be welcomed by middle graders as they too wonder how poetry and schoolwork connect with their interests and how to uncover their true voices.
In Hate That Cat, Jack is only trying to save that fat black cat stuck in the tree by his bus stop—but the cat scratches him instead! At school Miss Stretchberry begins teaching new poems, everything from William Carlos Williams to Valerie Worth to T.S. Eliot.
As the year progresses, Jack gradually learns to love that cat and finds new ways to express himself.
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"This was such a fun book. We listened to it on tape and it popped to life like a cork popping off a champagne bottle. The lyrics danced off the page and leaped around our car. So much fun for people who know a little about poetry or a lot. I can only imagine it would be fun for people who know a lot about poetry because I only know a little."
— Mike (4 out of 5 stars)
“Filled with funny observations.”
— Time for kids“Creech employs observant sensitivity and spare verse to carve an indelible portrait of a boy who discovers the power of self-expression.”
— Booklist“Readers will be touched and inspired.”
— School Library Journal“Teachers will welcome both Jack’s poems and Creech’s embedded writing lessons.”
— Kirkus Reviews" I enjoyed reading this book. It reminds me somtimes of my cat. i would recomned this book to people who dont like cats. this book will change your heart about them. "
— Audrey, 1/31/2014" I really like how the character's voice comes through his poems. The end made me teary because it is so beautiful and sweet. This book is perfect for teachers to use with students because it is an excellent example of poetry writing, and references many poems. You don't have to read Love That Dog first to appreciate Hate That Cat. "
— Michelle, 1/22/2014" if you like poems then this is an alsome book. it talks about cats and other animals. this book is sad and funny at most of the parts "
— Mikayla, 1/8/2014" Love that Dog is by far my favorite of these two, but truth be told I love them both. Both books are so full of life and heart. Recommend for upper elementary and lower middle school or to anyone looking for a good story with a poetic twist. "
— Katie, 1/3/2014" I want that in my house. :/ "
— Ashika, 1/3/2014" I love any book where the teacher has a great connection to her student! Another fun book, sure to get kids interested in poetry. "
— Marcia, 1/1/2014" I could try getting another dog but I don't know. "
— Leah, 12/10/2013" I think the book was like a poem it's self "
— Jaeden, 10/19/2013" Funny. Told through poems. Narrator is a boy. Mirrors poems read in class. Listened to it. "
— Tamara, 10/19/2013" Hate That Cat is a funny book about a boy that talks about a certain cat he dosent like. He tells everybody what that cat did to him. He also talkes about the mean cat in school and brags about it. The book has alot of short poetry and some of it isnt poetry but that is what makes it funny. "
— Collin, 9/22/2013" So Far Good.. I liked how Jack related famous poems to his life "
— Jonathan, 9/5/2013" I liked this even more than Love that Dog. The emotional journey, discerned merely through what are a child's seemingly frivolous poems, is so real. I loved how how he uses poetry to have a conversation with himself, his teacher, the writer, and the reader. Cannot WAIT to use this in a classroom. "
— Simone, 8/30/2013" I loved this book with all my heart. Sharon Creech is the master of eloquent prose, but her poetry is even better. The plot is engaging and the imagery is amazing. Also, she uses Poe. Poe rocks. "
— wunderkind, 8/11/2013" Hate That Cat was awesome! The narration by Scott Wolf was engaging. I really loved the poems and the main character, Jack. I loved how much Jack discovered his love for poetry. It was a fantastic, wonderful, and funny experience. I highly recommend this audio version. "
— Tressa, 7/15/2013" Good for 8-10 year old but I got bored. "
— Anna, 4/1/2013" I LOVE this book. I can't wait until April so I can read it to my students! This one and Love That Dog are PERFECT poetry teaching books. Not to mention completely amazing on their own! "
— Ilan, 12/26/2012" This is a good book. I don't normally like poetry but Creech has made it a fun. "
— Tweller83, 10/19/2012" Good sequel to Love That dog. "
— Matthew, 10/7/2012" unclear kinda......... but touched my heart "
— Rylee, 9/12/2012" Prose-ish poetry. Interesting story about a student communicating to a teacher via a journal. "
— Nykea, 6/20/2012" It was a good poetry book that sometimes you could not understand. I read it in one day so... "
— Hailey, 6/4/2012" A quick read. A boy explores poetry using a black cat in the neighborhood as subject matter. Reminded me of some poetry terms I haven't heard since college. "
— Chocoholic, 5/24/2012" I really loved this book.Since I like poetry, it was perfect! "
— Noelle, 12/3/2011" i think this book is good to read because it has poems why the kid in the story hate the cat and that he is sad that his dog sky died. "
— Catherine, 5/16/2011" I haven't read the first book in this series, but I mean to. I loved this book--absolutely loved it! I loved the way she told a story without telling a story. I loved the influence we saw of the poets Jack studied. It was wonderful. Really just wonderful. "
— Laina, 5/11/2011" Although this was not quite as great as Love That Dog, it is another super story and a great way to teach poetry! "Readers will be touched and inspired once more.-Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY "
— Emily, 5/11/2011" Very cute and very educational at the same time. The sixth graders were going over alliteration and onomatopoeia(sp?). AH and personification. So this was very helpful!!! "
— Beka, 5/9/2011" so much depends on <br/> <br/>a fat black cat <br/> <br/>helping Skitter McKitter <br/> <br/>I hope Miss. Sketchberry is teaching poetry again. What would Jack write about as a junior. LOVE THAT DOG and HATE THAT CAT have been very enjoyable reads. "
— Diana, 5/6/2011" I love, love, L-O-V-E<br/>this<br/>book!<br/>It has become<br/>one of<br/>my favorite<br/>read alouds<br/>E<br/>V<br/>E<br/>R<br/>;)<br/><br/> "
— Celeste, 5/5/2011" good some parts r funny "
— Ove, 5/5/2011" A great book to help children love reading poetry! Very clever and funny with a subject that all students can relate to a cat! A great way to incorporate exisitng poems into a "modern" book of poetry. An Iowa Children's Choice Award for 2011. "
— Anna, 4/29/2011" this book was amazingly surprisig. well because of a cat named scitter mckitter that showed sharon the beautiful nature of cats!!!!!this ook is also very good for children to learn. "
— Anamarie, 4/27/2011" This is great for teachers to use as an introduction or closing in a poetry unit. It's also awesome for struggling readers (grades 3-5) or reluctant readers. "
— Lenna, 4/20/2011Sharon Creech has written more than twenty books for young people and is published in over twenty languages. Her books have received awards in both the United States and abroad, including the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons, the Newbery Honor for The Wanderer, and Great Britain’s Carnegie Medal for Ruby Holler. Before beginning her writing career, she taught English for fifteen years in England and Switzerland.
Brittany Pressley has won several Earphones Awards as well as the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2018. She has recorded over one hundred titles and has received several nominations for American Library Association’s annual list of Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. She is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and voice actress. Her voice can be heard on national and international TV and radio commercials as well as several animated series and video games. She is a graduate of Columbia University.