True story, journey, Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, North Africa, Morocco, friendship
Spirit Dog
by Steve Bonham
Key information
Author: Steve Bonham
Illustrator: Tasia Graham
Release date: 23rd April 2024
Star rating: ★★★★
Book type: Picture book, 76 pages, paperback
Reader level: Growing reader/shared with younger
Age: Year 2+
Overview
The Spirit Dog is a heartwarming and true story about a mysterious dog named Black who adopts author Steve Bonham and his friend Moha as they journey through the High Atlas Mountains towards the Sahara Desert.
Through the heat, rocky mountains and deep valleys, encountering deserted kasbahs, streams of salt water, remote villages, a young snake and packs of wild dogs, this is an enchanting and haunting tale of adventure and companionship.
Key themes/concepts
- Travel
- Friendship
- Resilience
- Determination
- Nature
Key considerations
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Curriculum links
Geography - North Africa, Morocco, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, Berber people
Additional Teaching Opportunities
1. Writing
- Setting description (model)
- Setting description (from illustrations)
- Diary entry
- Speech (between guides and Steve)
- Non-chronological report
- Travel brochure
- Instructions (how to survive in the Sahara Desert)
2. Art
- Desert landscapes
- Mountain landscapes
- Moroccan architecture
- Sketching dogs (focus on movement/fur texture)
3. History
- History of Morocco (Berber people)
Vocabulary
Spirit Dog is very rich in vocabulary, especially Tier 3 vocabulary linked to North Africa/Morocco and would be a great resource for supporting children's writing
| Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| oasis, trudging, mules, slender, crested, bounding, appeal, consciously, twilight | Morocco, Berber people, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, panniers, Mount Toubkal, Imazighen, oleander plants, |
Illustrations
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