Rockwell: A Boy and His Dog
What’s inside...
This tale is based on a true incident in the lives of Norman Rockwell and Scotty Ingram, a kid who often posed for Rockwell's illustrations. In this story, Rockwell is having trouble finding exactly the right model to pose with Scotty for a series of four calendar illustrations. Young Scotty Ingram, who is posing for Norman Rockwell's Four Seasons paintings, keeps his eyes open when the artist has difficulties in finding just the right dog for a model, in this fictionalized account of an actual relationship.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-9
Length
28 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Rockwell feels about his dog, and why?
What are some ways Rockwell shows care for his pet?
Can you think of a time when you felt a strong bond with a pet or a friend? What made that bond special?
Why is responsibility important when taking care of pets?
What would you do if you were in Rockwell’s place?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive read-aloud techniques to bring the story to life, changing your tone of voice to match different characters and emotions.
Pause at key moments in the story to allow your child to reflect on the illustrations and the events, fostering a deeper understanding.
Relate the story to your child’s experiences by discussing your family pets or their relationships with friends.
Encourage your child to guess what might happen next in the story, promoting predictive skills.
After reading, consider exploring more about the specific breed of Rockwell’s dog or general pet care to extend learning.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story illustrates the protagonist, Rockwell, taking care of his dog by feeding, walking, and ensuring its well-being, which teaches children about the responsibilities involved in pet care.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by helping with family pets or taking on small responsibilities at home to build their sense of duty and care.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As Rockwell attends to his dog’s needs and shares emotions with his pet, children learn to understand and share the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children in recognizing emotions in classmates and family members, promoting compassionate interactions.
Example Lesson: Friendship
Explanation: The bond between Rockwell and his dog highlights the value of companionship and mutual trust.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to nourish friendships and trust in their relationships, mirroring the supportive connection seen in the book.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, Rockwell encounters and solves various challenges that arise while caring for his dog, demonstrating critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Real-World Application: This promotes children’s abilities to think critically and solve problems they might face in school or in social settings.
Example Lesson: Commitment
Explanation: The story exemplifies Rockwell's long-term dedication to his pet, showing that caring for another being is a continuous commitment.
Real-World Application: This instills in children the understanding that relationships require ongoing effort and loyalty, important for their interactions and personal growth.