The Great Gracie Chase

The Great Gracie Chase

 Stop That Dog!

Written by: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated by: Mark Ieague

Blue Sky Press 2001

31 pages

Fiction

            The Great Gracie Chase is about a dog who likes her house to be very quiet. One day painters come to her house and ruin everything. Gracie did not like the painters being so loud, so she barked and barked until they put her outside. Even though she knew she wasn’t suppose too, Gracie took a walk by herself. Before she knew it the walk became a run and the whole neighborhood started to chase her. This book seemed like it would be an exciting book to read with children. The illustrations are big and loud which students will enjoy.

            The illustrations were one of the very first things that jumped out at me. The shapes of the pictures help children know what the most important thing to look at is or when something exciting happens. The illustrations are cartoon like characters. The colors are warm and vibrant which lets us see the same excitement in which the words convey.

 

        Although this book is not my favorite, I think children will enjoy it very much. I think you could use this book for grades K-3. The Great Gracie Chase would be great to use as a read aloud book. Afterwards students could sequence out the events that take place. Another way to incorporate this book could be the use of cause and effect. You could have a chart to do with younger grades and as a class feel out the cause and effect part. For instance, Gracie got put outside because of her loud barking.