How does Sharron feel when her father disappears? How do you think she uses her stuffed dog to help her feelings?

This is a discussion prompt for The Friskative Dog by Susan Straight. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

What are some ways Sharron shows she is brave and strong, even when she is sad?

This is a discussion prompt for The Friskative Dog by Susan Straight. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

If you had a special toy like Sharron's dog, what would you tell it when you felt big feelings?

This is a discussion prompt for The Friskative Dog by Susan Straight. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

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The Friskative Dog

Name: The Friskative Dog
ISBN: 9780375837777

by Susan Straight

When Sharron's father disappears, she clings to a stuffed dog to cope with her grief and wait for his return in this moving story about family and hope.

About This Book

Sharron's father has disappeared, and she tries to cope with her feelings of loss through the love of a stuffed dog he gave her.

Concepts

Sadness & Grief Love & Family Resilience & Perseverance Loneliness & Belonging Self-Confidence & Identity Empathy & Kindness Parent Deployment Growing Up Family & Siblings Dogs

Heads up, parents

separation_from_parent

mental_health_themes

Wonderlit Review

Susan Straight's 'The Friskative Dog' is a tender and emotionally resonant chapter book that addresses the difficult topic of a parent's disappearance and a child's subsequent feelings of loss. The story centers on Sharron, who finds immense comfort and a tangible connection to her absent father through a beloved stuffed dog he gave her. The book handles the sensitive topic of a parent's disappearance with a gentle, metaphorical touch, focusing on the child's emotional experience rather than the specifics of the absence. It is secular in its approach, emphasizing the power of love and memory. The emotional arc of the book begins with profound sadness and confusion, gradually moving towards a narrative of coping, resilience, and the enduring nature of love. Sharron's journey demonstrates how children can find strength and comfort in cherished objects and memories during times of great emotional upheaval. This book is specifically for children who are grappling with the absence of a parent due to various reasons, such as separation, deployment, or an unexplained disappearance, or any child experiencing a significant, ambiguous loss. A parent would reach for this book when their child is struggling to process the absence of a loved one and needs a story that normalizes these big feelings and offers a pathway to comfort and coping. Parents should be prepared to discuss the concept of a parent's disappearance and the feelings of loss it evokes. The book's ambiguity regarding the father's exact fate allows for flexibility in discussion, enabling parents to tailor the conversation to their child's specific situation. Younger children (4-6) will primarily connect with Sharron's sadness and the comforting role of the stuffed dog, while older children (7-11) may engage more deeply with themes of resilience, memory, and the complexities of enduring love despite absence. What sets this book apart is its focus on a 'disappeared' parent, offering a unique narrative for ambiguous loss that differs from stories explicitly about death, providing a valuable resource for a specific, often underserved, emotional need.