Harry Houdini - Wonderdog! Levels- 27-28

Harry Houdini - Wonderdog! tells the story of Joe, who persuades his family to adopt a dog destined for death row. Naming him after the famous escape artist, Harry Houdini, Joe quickly falls in love with his new pet despite Harry's messy habits. The family, however, is less convinced and wants to return Harry to the pound. This humorous narrative features various text forms, including narrative lists and parenthetical remarks that add depth and amusement. The playful use of ellipses, italics, and capital letters enhances the storytelling style, while illustrations complement the text by providing visual humour and character insight. This book supports learning by encouraging prediction, persuasive writing, exploration of character attitudes, and understanding story structure within the themes of humour, family, and pets.

Educational Benefits:

• Encourages prediction and inference skills through engaging storytelling
• Supports understanding of persuasive writing and argument structure
• Enhances character analysis by exploring attitudes and family dynamics
• Introduces varied text forms and authorial techniques for reader engagement

Classroom Ideas:

• Write persuasive letters to convince family or friends to adopt a pet
• Create character profiles to explore different viewpoints within the story
• Role-play dialogues using humorous and expressive language
• Identify and discuss text features like ellipses and italics for effect

Information:

• Ages: 8-10 years
• Reading Level: 27-28 (Ruby)
• Format: Paperback, 32 pages
• Dimensions: 20.5 cm x 13.5 cm