Illustration of a scared kid in a spooky backyard with a pair of yellow eyes watching
Art by Dave Clegg
Fiction,

The Lost Little Dog

When a strange creature follows Benny home, everyone gets a big surprise.

By Lisa Yee | Art By Dave Clegg
From the October/November 2022 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will use inferences to determine what happens in the story.

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose & Levels of Meaning
    The story is about a boy who finds and falls in love with a lost dog. On another level, it’s about doing the right thing when faced with a difficult decision.
  • Structure
    The story is in the third person and is chronological.
  • Language
    The language is mostly conversational and includes a lot of dialogue.
  • Knowledge Demands
    No prior knowledge is needed.
Lexiles: 500L-600L
Guided Reading Level: M
DRA Level: 20-24
Featured Skill: Inference,
Other Key Skills: inference, text features, vocabulary, cause and effect, compare and contrast, visual literacy, supporting details, key details, connecting to the text, figurative language, character, expressing an opinion, narrative writing
Standards
  • Common Core
    RL.1, RL.2, RL.3, RL.4, RL.6, W.3, SL.1, L.1
  • TEKS Grade 3
    1a, 1c, 3a, 3b, 6a, 6c, 6f, 6g, 7b, 7c, 7f, 7g, 8b, 8c, 10c, 10d, 12a

Presentation View
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Think and Read: Inference

An inference is something you figure out by putting together clues in a story. As you read, look for inferences that help you understand what is happening in the story.

Benny did not like scary movies. But his friends had talked him into seeing one. He was glad that the movie wasn’t too scary. Still, it gave him the jitters. 

On his walk home, Benny heard strange noises. He could feel eyes staring at him from the bushes along the sidewalk. Benny kept glancing behind him, but no one was there. The sounds continued as he walked. He knew that someone, or something, was following him. Something horrible. A monster.

When Benny slowed, it slowed. When Benny sped up, it sped up. Finally, Benny spun around to face the terrifying monster.

“Watch out!” Benny shouted, holding up his fists. “Huh?” His  eyes widened as he looked down. “You? You’re what’s been following me?”

Benny took a closer look at what had been creeping behind him. The monster was white and fluffy. Except it wasn’t a monster at all. It was a dog. 

PAUSE AND THINK: What did Benny think was following him home?

A Squishy Marshmallow

Art by Dave Clegg

The dog was no bigger than a stuffed animal. It looked just like one too. It reminded Benny of a squishy marshmallow. 

“You’d better go home,” Benny told the dog. “And stop scaring people!”

But when Benny got home, the dog was still following him. It looked up at Benny and wagged its tail. Benny sighed. He couldn’t leave his new friend, even if it did look like a piece of fluff.

“Well, you might as well come in,” Benny said, opening the door. He had always wanted a dog. But his parents kept saying, “A dog is a big responsibility. It’s too much work.”

Benny gave his fluffy friend a pat. “We’ll think of something,” he told the dog. “In the meantime, you need to hide before my parents get home.”

That night, as Benny’s family sat down to dinner, they heard a loud crash come from Benny’s room. They raced up the stairs, and Benny’s sister pushed the door open. A pair of Benny’s underpants was running in circles. Benny heard his mom gasp. He saw his dad’s jaw drop. 

Benny grabbed the underpants. A fluffy white head poked out.

“He was lost,” Benny said softly.

“No dogs,” his dad said firmly.

“He needs our help,” Benny begged. 

“Well,” his mom said. “I suppose we could keep him while we look for his owner.”

PAUSE AND THINK: Why does Benny try to hide the dog from his parents?

Art by Dave Clegg

The Lost Dog

The next day, Benny and his mom called dozens of animal shelters and vet offices. But no one had reported a missing dog.

The pup quickly became part of the family. He followed Benny’s mom around the house. He gobbled the food Benny’s dad snuck under the table. And he became Benny’s best friend. 

At the end of the week, Benny’s dad brought home a doggy bed, toys, and a lot of treats.

“Does this mean we can keep him?” asked Benny hopefully.

“Yes,” Benny’s dad said. “You’ve done a great job taking care of him. You’ve shown that you can handle the responsibility.”

Benny smiled at his new friend. “It’s time to give you a name! What about Bruiser? It’s a tough name for a sweet little pup.” Bruiser licked Benny’s hand.

That afternoon, as Benny and Bruiser walked to the park, Benny saw a flyer on a store window. On the flyer were a photo of Bruiser and a phone number. The flyer said:


Lost Dog

Little, White, and Fluffy

Answers to the name Mr. Wilson

PAUSE AND THINK:  Why does Benny get to keep the dog?

Art by Dave Clegg

Doing the Right Thing

Benny felt terrible, like he had been punched in the stomach. He ripped down the piece of paper and shoved it into his pocket.

“Come on, Bruiser, we have to get out of here!”

On his way home, Benny saw the “Lost Dog” flyers everywhere. Whenever he saw one, he tore it down. When Benny got home, he hid them all under his bed. Benny looked at Bruiser and said, “We can’t let anyone know about this, or they’ll take you away.”

The next morning, Benny felt bad about ripping down the signs. By dinnertime, he felt even worse. He knew what he had to do. He went downstairs.

“Bruiser,” Benny began telling his parents, “. . . lost dog . . .”

He burst into tears and handed his parents the stack of flyers. “I found them all around town. I took them down because I didn’t want to return Bruiser.”

“It’s OK, Benny,” his mom said softly. “Thank you for telling us. It took a lot of courage to do the right thing.”

“Do we really have to call the number?” Benny asked.

“Think of how you would feel if you lost Bruiser and no one told you,” his dad said. Benny thought about this. 

“OK,” Benny said. “Let’s call.”

PAUSE AND THINK: Why does Benny feel terrible?

Mr. Wilson

Benny’s mom called the number and got the owner’s address. Then the family packed up Bruiser’s bed, toys, and treats and put Bruiser in the car. When they arrived at the house, Benny felt a stab of sadness. The door opened, and Bruiser started barking and jumping up and down.

“Mr. Wilson!” a lady cried out.

She put her cane down and pulled Bruiser into her arms. Her hair was as white as his fur. Benny was sad, but he could see how much Bruiser and this lady meant to each other.

“My name is Mrs. Paul. I was so lonely when Mr. Wilson went missing,” the lady explained. “You see, I live by myself. When no one answered my flyers, I thought he was gone for good.”

Benny looked up at her. “I took the flyers. I’m so sorry. It’s just that Bruiser and I . . . that is, Mr. Wilson and I . . . well, we’re best friends . . .” his voice cracked.

Mrs. Paul smiled at Benny. “You know, I’m not as active as I used to be. Do you know anyone who might be willing to take Mr. Wilson for walks?” 

Benny looked up quickly and grinned. “I would love to do that.”

PAUSE AND THINK: Why does Bruiser bark and jump when he sees Mrs. Paul?

A New Friend

Benny started visiting Mrs. Paul four days a week. At first, they mostly talked about Mr. Wilson. But later, they discussed everything from skateboarding to scary movies. And they decided to officially rename the dog Mr. Bruiser Wilson.

“Benny,” Mrs. Paul said one day. “I realized something last night. Losing my dog turned out to be a wonderful thing.” 

“It did?” Benny asked, looking surprised. “Why?”

“Because I found something too,” she said, smiling at him. “A new friend.” Mr. Bruiser Wilson barked in agreement.  

PAUSE AND THINK: Why was losing Mr. Wilson a good thing for Mrs. Paul?

THINK AND WRITE

Imagine you are Benny. Write a journal entry describing how you feel about returning the dog to Mrs. Paul.

Slideshows (1)
Audio ()
Activities (7)
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Slideshows (1)
Audio ()
Activities (7) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Can't Miss Teaching Extras

For another heartwarming story about a lost pet, have your students read “Missing” by Nora Raleigh Baskin. Ask: How are Benny and Linus alike? How are they different?

In this story, Benny makes a hard decision to admit to something he feels guilty about. For another story that teaches an important lesson about doing the right thing, share “Who Stole My Cactus Arm?” from the October/November 2020 issue. 

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Close Reading

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Differentiate and Customize

Striving Readers, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Readers

1. Preparing to Read

Set a Purpose for Reading/Preview Text Features

  • Ask students to predict what this story will be about based on the title, subtitle, and images on pages 10-11. Review the predictions after reading.
  • Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 10 and the Think and Write box on page 15. 

Introduce Vocabulary

  • Show or assign the Vocabulary Slideshow to preview challenging words. Then assign the Vocabulary Skill Builder before or after reading.

2. Close Reading

  • Read the story as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the Read-Aloud. Use the Pause and Think questions at the end of each section for a quick comprehension check.

  • Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions. (Alternatively, use all or part of the Learning Journey Slide Deck.)

Close-Reading Questions

  • Read the first section. How does Benny feel as he walks home after seeing the scary movie? (cause and effect) As Benny walks home after seeing the scary movie, he feels nervous. He imagines that whatever is following him is a terrifying monster.
  • Read “A Squishy Marshmallow.” How does Benny’s response to the lost dog change during this section of the story? (compare and contrast) At first, Benny tells the dog to go home and stop scaring people. The dog keeps following him, and Benny realizes he can’t leave his new friend. He invites the dog inside and hides the animal in his room. 
  • Look at the picture on pages 12 and 13. Why do you think this picture is included in the story? (visual literacy) I think this picture is included because it shows the part of the story where Benny, his sister, and his parents find the dog running in circles under a pair of Benny’s underpants. It’s a funny picture that shows how each person feels when they see the dog.
  • Read “The Lost Dog.” Find three details in this section that show that the dog has become an important part of Benny’s family. (supporting details) Details that show the dog has become an important part of the family include: The dog follows Benny’s mom around the house; Benny’s dad feeds the dog under the table and brings home a bed, toys, and treats for the dog; the dog becomes Benny’s best friend; Benny is allowed to keep the dog; and Benny gives the dog a name.
  • Read “Doing the Right Thing.” What does Benny do when he finds a “Lost Dog” flyer? What would you have done in his place? (key details, connecting to the text) Benny rips down all the flyers he finds because he doesn’t want Bruiser’s real owner to find him.  Answers to the second question will vary.
  • Why does Benny agree to call the number on the flyer? (inference) His father asks how Benny would feel if he had lost Bruiser and no one told him that his dog had been found. Benny realizes how terrible he would feel. He understands that calling Bruiser’s real owner is the right thing to do.
  • Read “Mr. Wilson.” When Benny arrives at Mrs. Paul’s home with Bruiser, he  feels “a stab of sadness.” What do these words help you understand? (figurative language) The words “stab of sadness” help you understand how horrible Benny feels when he thinks he’ll never see Bruiser again.
  • Why does Mrs. Paul ask if Benny knows anyone who might walk her dog? (character, inference) Mrs. Paul understands how much the dog means to Benny. She wants him to continue to be a part of her dog’s life by walking Mr. Wilson.

Critical-Thinking Question

  • After Benny admits that he took down the flyers, his mom says, “It took a lot of courage to do the right thing.” Do you agree? Explain your answer with details from the story. (expressing an opinion) Answers will vary.

Class Discussion: Doing the Right Thing

  • In the story, Benny feels guilty about ripping down the flyers. He decides to do the right thing by telling his parents the truth, even though it might mean losing his best friend, Bruiser. Start a discussion about the importance of doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. Ask students to think about a time when they had a tough decision to make. How did they make their choice? If they could go back in time to that point, would they do anything differently?

3. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Inference

  • Distribute or digitally assign the Inference Skill Builder and have students complete it in class or for homework.  

  • Ask students to write a response to the Think and Write prompt on
    page 15. 

Differentiate and Customize
For Striving Readers

To help struggling readers with making inferences, play the audio of the story as students follow along in their magazines. Pause at the end of each section to discuss what happened, and together write a one- or two-sentence summary.

For Multilingual Learners

The story includes a variety of lively action words (sped, spun, creeping, raced, reported, gobbled, shoved, tore, arrived, and cracked) that may be less familiar to your multilingual learners. Help solidify the terms’ meanings by having students act them out. Write each word and its definition on the board. Review this information with your students. Then write each word on an index card and turn the cards facedown. Have students take turns choosing a card and acting out the word on it while their classmates guess which one it is.

For Advanced Readers

Instruct students to write a journal entry from Mrs. Paul’s perspective about the day Benny and his family returned her dog. Encourage students to use their imagination to include what Mrs. Paul thought and felt during the entire day.

Text-to-Speech