Paired Texts > I'm Thankful for My Puppy

by Margarita Engle 2019

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Shyla, the Seeing Eye Puppy
Shyla, the Seeing Eye Puppy
Susan Yoder Ackerman

In "Shyla, the Seeing Eye Puppy," Courtney helps her big brother care for and train a guide dog for The Seeing Eye.

Pair “Shyla, the Seeing Eye Puppy” with “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” and have students compare how the characters feel about their puppies. How does Courtney feel about Shyla in “Shyla, the Seeing Eye Puppy”? How does the speaker feel about their puppy in “I’m Thankful for My Puppy”? The speaker of the poem shares that “I can’t imagine a whole day / of dull commands like down, sit, stay” (Lines 5-6). Do you think Courtney would agree with the speaker? Why or why not?

3rd Grade Informational Text 590L
A Fish Named Dog
A Fish Named Dog
Christyne Morrell

In "A Fish Named Dog," a young child who wants a pet dog learns an important lesson from a little fish.

Pair “A Fish Named Dog” with “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” and ask students to think about the relationship between pets and their owners. How do both the narrator of “A Fish Named Dog” and the speaker of “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” feel about spending time with their pets? Do you think that the speaker of “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” would feel upset about having a fish instead of a dog, like the narrator of “A Fish Named Dog”? Why or why not?

3rd Grade Short Story 670L
Friendship, Spelled D-O-G
Friendship, Spelled D-O-G
Barb Rosenstock

In the text "Friendship, Spelled D-O-G," Barb Rosenstock describes the special role dogs played in Helen Keller's life.

Pair “Friendship, Spelled D-O-G” with “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” to have students think about the friendship that can develop between humans and their dogs. What qualities do dogs have that helped Helen Keller according to “Friendship, Spelled D-O-G”? How would you describe the speaker’s dog in “I’m Thankful for My Puppy”? How can a special bond with a pet help humans during difficult times?

4th Grade Biography 830L
Drum Dream Girl
Drum Dream Girl
Margarita Engle

In "Drum Dream Girl," a young girl dreams of playing drums in a society that only allows boys to play the drums.

Pair “Drum Dream Girl” with “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” to share another poem by Margarita Engle. How does Drum Dream Girl find joy in “Drum Dream Girl”? How does the speaker find joy in “I’m Thankful for My Puppy”? How do both poems share a similar message about doing what makes you happy?

6th Grade Poem
Thank You, Sleep!
Thank You, Sleep!
Carolyn Dee Flores

In "Thank You, Sleep!," a sick speaker feels better after sleeping in this onomatopoeia poem.

Pair “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” with “Thank You, Sleep!” and have students compare how both poets use poems to say thank you. How do both the puppy in “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” and sleep in “Thank You, Sleep!” help the speakers feel happy? Why do you think the poets choose to use these poems to say thank you? Who or what is something you would want to thank through a poem? Why?

3rd Grade Poem
Cat
Cat
Marilyn Singer

In "Cat," a cat describes its favorite way to spend a chilly day.

Pair “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” with “Cat” to give students another example of a poem about pets. How would “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” be different if it was told from the dog’s point of view? How would “Cat” be different if it was told from the owner’s point of view? Is the message of both poems more similar or different? Why?

3rd Grade Poem
Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever
Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever
Diana Murray

In "Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever," a sweatshirt gets to play outside for the first time.

Pair “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” with “Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever” and have students discuss the specific poetic techniques that were used to write each poem. How is “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” an example of décima mirror poetry? How is “Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever” an example of a mask poem? Why would poets choose to write a poem that follows a certain structure? As an extension activity, have students select one of the poetic techniques used in either text and craft their own poem in the same style as the original.

4th Grade Poem
The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs
The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs
S. Blais

In "The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs," Gavi wonders what it means to "rain cats and dogs" until pets start to fall from the sky.

Pair “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” with “The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs” to have students think about how the new pet owners in “The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs” may be feeling. How does the speaker feel about their puppy in “I’m Thankful for My Puppy”? What do they do together? Who did Gavi deliver dogs to in “The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs”? How do you think that these people may feel about their new pets? As a creative extension, write a poem in the same style as “I’m Thankful for My Puppy” from the point of view of one of the new dog owners in “The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs.”

4th Grade Fantasy 650L