Wonder Dogs!

by Linda Ashman

A tender and humorous ode to all dogs do — from the extraordinary to the everyday — celebrating the many ways dogs make our lives better.

Big Idea

Dogs give us loyalty, comfort, and joy — and the everyday heroes in our lives deserve to be celebrated.

Discussion Questions

1.What makes a dog a 'wonder dog'?
2.Which dog in the book did you like best, and why?
3.How do dogs help people in different ways?
4.What would your wonder dog do?

Classroom Activity

My Wonder Dog

Draw your own wonder dog. Give it a name, a special talent, and write one sentence about what makes it wonderful.

Lesson Plan

⏱ 35–45 minutes📦 Wonder Dogs! by Linda Ashman, drawing paper, pencils, crayons or markers, chart paper, marker

Learning Goals

Identify ways dogs bring loyalty, comfort, and joy to people in Wonder Dogs!
Use details from the words and illustrations to describe an extraordinary or everyday action that makes a dog wonderful.
Create a real or imaginary wonder dog with a name and a special talent.
Write, dictate, or complete one sentence explaining what makes the wonder dog wonderful.
Listen respectfully as classmates share and recognize different ways to help or comfort others.

Activity Steps

1.Read Wonder Dogs! aloud, pausing to examine the illustrations. Ask: “What is this dog doing?” and “How does that help someone or bring them joy?”
2.Discuss the book’s celebration of both extraordinary and everyday actions. Create a class list of wonderful things dogs can do, such as helping people, offering comfort, or making someone laugh.
3.Introduce “My Wonder Dog.” Model inventing a dog, naming it, and choosing a talent connected to helping or bringing joy. Explain that children may draw a dog they know or imagine one; owning a pet is not necessary.
4.Have children draw their wonder dogs and add details that show their special talents. Help children label each dog with its name.
5.Invite children to write or dictate one sentence using the frame: “My wonder dog, ___, is wonderful because ___.” PreK children may dictate to an adult; older children can write independently.
6.Hold a brief gallery walk or partner share. Ask children to explain their dogs’ talents, then conclude: “Who else makes our everyday lives better, and how can we celebrate them?”

Standards Connections

ELA: RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in the story.
ELA: RL.1.7 — Use illustrations and story details to describe what the dogs do.
ELA: W.K.2 — Use drawing, dictating, and writing to name a topic and provide information about it.
ELA: SL.1.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations, listening and responding to classmates.
SEL: Social awareness — Recognize and appreciate actions that provide help, comfort, and joy.

Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

Focus question: How does an author make a story about everyday dogs feel lively, loving, and fun to read? In Wonder Dogs! by Linda Ashman, the author celebrates dogs by showing both big, amazing dog actions and small, ordinary moments of care and companionship. The pacing moves quickly through many examples, then slows down to let readers enjoy sweet, funny, and heartfelt details about friendship and kindness.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pace	Read: Notice how Wonder Dogs! moves at a brisk pace as it lists and shows many things dogs do, from remarkable actions to everyday loving habits. The quick movement helps the book feel energetic, while calmer moments help the kindness theme shine. Classroom Activity: Write 3 short sentences about a pet or animal helper—2 fast action sentences and 1 slow, gentle sentence.
Plot	Read: Notice that the plot in Wonder Dogs! is not one big problem-and-solution story; instead, Linda Ashman builds the book by gathering moments that show how dogs help, comfort, and delight people. The sequence creates a growing feeling of appreciation for friendship and kindness. Classroom Activity: Make a beginning-middle-end plan for a short class book called Helpful Pets, with one kind action in each part.
Prosody	Read: Listen to how Wonder Dogs! sounds when read aloud. The lively phrasing, playful wording, and loving tone create strong prosody that matches the joyful celebration of dogs. Classroom Activity: Practice reading one page aloud in a happy, warm voice, then write 1 sentence you would read with excitement and 1 sentence you would read softly.
Word pause	Read: Notice where the words in Wonder Dogs! make you naturally stop for a beat before the next idea, especially when moving from a funny dog action to a tender one. These little pauses help readers absorb each example. Classroom Activity: Write a sentence about a dog or animal and add a slash mark where a reader should pause, like this: My puppy waits / right by the door.
Concept	Read: The central concept in Wonder Dogs! is that dogs matter in many ways—through bravery, loyalty, silliness, comfort, and everyday friendship. Linda Ashman stretches this simple idea across many examples to build a full picture of kindness. Classroom Activity: Finish this idea in writing: Animals can help people by ____ , ____ , and ____.
Voice & World View	Read: Notice the admiring, affectionate voice in Wonder Dogs! The world view is hopeful and grateful, showing dogs as important companions who make human lives better in both big and small ways. Classroom Activity: Write 2 sentences in a thankful voice about an animal, using words like wonderful, kind, helpful, or loyal.
Setting & Place	Read: Notice that Wonder Dogs! suggests many places where dogs and people share life together, such as homes, neighborhoods, and community spaces. These changing places help readers see that kindness can happen anywhere. Classroom Activity: Draw or name one place where a dog helps someone, then write a sentence that begins: In the ____, the dog ____.
Point of View	Read: Wonder Dogs! is told from a broad, celebratory point of view that invites readers to look at dogs from the outside and admire all they do. This point of view helps the book feel like a tribute to dogs everywhere. Classroom Activity: Rewrite one dog moment from the dog's point of view, starting with: I am a dog, and I ____.
Original Characters	Read: Instead of focusing on one single dog character, Wonder Dogs! presents many kinds of dogs doing different jobs and loving acts. This creates a cast of memorable dog examples that feel fresh, varied, and inclusive. Classroom Activity: Invent an original dog character with one special helpful habit and write 2 sentences introducing it.
Dialogue	Read: Even if the book is not built around long conversations, readers can imagine what people might say to these wonder dogs—words of praise, comfort, thanks, or delight. Imagined dialogue can deepen the friendship theme. Classroom Activity: Write 2 lines of dialogue between a child and a helpful dog owner, such as: “Look what the dog did!” “That was so kind!”
Details	Read: Notice how specific details in Wonder Dogs! help separate extraordinary dog deeds from ordinary everyday companionship. Small details make each dog moment feel real and lovable. Classroom Activity: Write one sentence about a dog using 3 details, such as what it does, where it is, and how it helps.
Descriptions	Read: Linda Ashman uses descriptions that make dogs seem active, sweet, funny, and dependable. These descriptions support the book's loving style and help readers picture friendship in action. Classroom Activity: Describe a dog in one sentence using 3 describing words, such as soft, busy, cheerful.
Strong First Lines	Read: Notice how the opening of Wonder Dogs! quickly invites readers into a celebration of dogs. A strong first line helps set the upbeat pace and tells readers this book will honor what dogs do. Classroom Activity: Write a strong first line for your own animal book that begins with excitement, such as: Here comes the kindest cat in town!
Immediacy & Engagement	Read: Wonder Dogs! keeps readers engaged by presenting action and feeling right away. The book quickly shows why dogs matter, so readers connect at once to the theme of kindness and companionship. Classroom Activity: Write a sentence that starts in the middle of action, like: The dog raced to help ____.
Story Scenes & Summaries & Unique Structures	Read: Notice that Wonder Dogs! uses a structure made of many short scenes and summary-like examples instead of one long storyline. This unique structure allows the book to celebrate many types of dogs and many forms of friendship. Classroom Activity: Create a 4-box plan with one dog moment in each box—2 action scenes and 2 summary sentences.
Flashback & Flash Forward & Cliffhangers	Read: Wonder Dogs! does not rely heavily on flashbacks, flash forwards, or cliffhangers, but readers can think about how a dog's past training or future kindness might add meaning. The book stays focused on present examples to keep the pacing flowing. Classroom Activity: Write 1 sentence that begins with Before, and 1 sentence that begins with Next, about a helpful dog.
Tension & Suspense & Surprise	Read: Some dog moments in Wonder Dogs! may create surprise when readers see how much dogs can do, from amazing help to funny everyday habits. The surprise keeps the pace lively even in a warm, gentle book. Classroom Activity: Write a sentence with a surprise ending, such as: We thought the dog wanted a treat, but really it wanted to ____.
Page Turns and Chapter Breaks	Read: In a picture book like Wonder Dogs!, page turns help reveal the next delightful dog example and keep readers curious. Each turn can bring a new action, mood, or kind moment. Classroom Activity: Fold a paper into 2 pages and write one dog action on page 1 and a surprise or sweet reveal on page 2.
Performance	Read: Wonder Dogs! invites performance because readers can use expression, gestures, and changes in volume to match playful dog actions and tender dog companionship. The book works well as a joyful read-aloud. Classroom Activity: Act out one dog action, then write the sentence you performed.
Personality	Read: The dogs in Wonder Dogs! come across with big personalities—brave, playful, gentle, eager, loyal, or silly. These personality traits make the celebration of friendship feel personal. Classroom Activity: Choose one personality word for a dog and write: My dog is ____ because ____.
Humor	Read: Notice the gentle humor in Wonder Dogs! The mix of marvelous dog abilities and ordinary dog behavior can make readers smile while still feeling the book's tenderness. Classroom Activity: Write a funny-but-kind sentence about a dog doing something unexpected.
Pause	Read: Some moments in Wonder Dogs! ask readers to pause and appreciate a dog's quiet loyalty or comfort. These slower beats balance the busier action and deepen the emotional pacing. Classroom Activity: Write one calm sentence that shows a quiet kind moment, such as a dog sitting beside someone.
Poetry and Poetic Devices	Read: Wonder Dogs! has a poetic, tribute-like feeling because it celebrates its subject with vivid language, rhythm, and emotional warmth. Readers may hear patterns, strong word choices, and image-making language. Classroom Activity: Write a 3-line poem beginning with Wonder dog, you ____.
Repetition	Read: Notice how repeated ideas in Wonder Dogs!—dogs helping, loving, guarding, amusing, and staying near people—build the theme. Repetition helps the book feel connected and memorable. Classroom Activity: Write 3 sentences that all begin with Dogs can ____.
Rhythm	Read: The sentences in Wonder Dogs! often move with a pleasing rhythm that supports read-aloud enjoyment. That rhythm helps the many examples feel linked rather than scattered. Classroom Activity: Write a short list sentence with a beat, such as: Dogs run, leap, nuzzle, and stay.
Punctuation	Read: Notice how punctuation in Wonder Dogs! helps shape excitement, warmth, and pacing. Exclamation points and stopping marks help readers know when to speed up, smile, or pause. Classroom Activity: Write 2 sentences about a wonder dog—one with a period and one with an exclamation point.
Questions	Read: While reading Wonder Dogs!, readers naturally begin asking questions such as: How do dogs know what people need? What makes dogs such good friends? These questions increase engagement with the text. Classroom Activity: Write one question you would ask a wonder dog, starting with How or Why.
Compare-Contrast	Read: A major pattern in Wonder Dogs! is comparing extraordinary dog deeds with ordinary everyday companionship. This contrast shows that both heroic and simple acts can be full of kindness. Classroom Activity: Complete this frame: Some dogs ____ , but all dogs ____.
Objects	Read: Think about the objects that belong in a dog's world in Wonder Dogs!—leashes, bowls, balls, beds, doors, or helpful tools. Objects can make scenes more vivid and show what dogs do each day. Classroom Activity: Pick one object a dog uses and write a sentence about how it helps tell the story.
Threes	Read: Wonder Dogs! can inspire writers to group dog actions in threes, which sounds satisfying and helps pacing. Three examples can feel complete and easy for young readers to follow. Classroom Activity: Write 3 dog actions in a row, such as: The dog watched, waited, and wagged.
Whitespace & Negative Space	Read: In a picture book like Wonder Dogs!, open page space can help the words and illustrations breathe. Whitespace slows readers down just enough to notice a sweet expression, a funny pose, or a caring moment. Classroom Activity: Make a mini page with one short sentence and a big blank space for a picture of a kind dog moment.
Art & Graphics	Read: The art in Wonder Dogs! works with the words to show action, emotion, and humor. Illustrations help readers understand the dogs' kindness, energy, and connection with people, which supports the pacing across the book. Classroom Activity: Draw a dog helping someone and add one matching caption sentence.
Interactives & Gamification	Read: Wonder Dogs! invites interactive reading because children can spot different dog actions, predict what a dog might do next, and connect the examples to dogs they know. This makes the celebration of friendship more participatory. Classroom Activity: Create a class chart called Wonder Dog Checklist and write one sentence about a dog action you can check off.

Pace-Write It!

20-Minute Classroom Flow\nRead (5 min): Read Wonder Dogs! by Linda Ashman aloud. Pause briefly to let students notice both amazing dog actions and quiet, everyday caring moments.\nNotice (5 min): Ask: What do the dogs do that feels fast and exciting? What do the dogs do that feels calm and kind? Chart student ideas in two columns: Big actions and Small kind moments. Point out how the book's pacing moves quickly through many examples and then slows down for loving details.\nWrite (7 min): Students write their own tiny tribute to a helpful animal. Give this frame: Wonder _____! You _____, _____, and _____. You help by _____. You are a kind friend. Encourage students to include 2 action details and 1 gentle detail.\nShare (3 min): Students read their writing to a partner or the group using expression—fast for the action parts, slow for the kind part.\nExit ticket: Complete this sentence: The pacing in Wonder Dogs! feels _____ because _____.

Pace-Write-Read Connection

Teach this book using the Pace-Write-Read method — Tool 20: Play.

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