Unlovable Dan Yaccarino Analysis

Even though Children’s literature is mainly directed towards children, it can also apply to teens. The book Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino is a good example of this. Unlovable illustrates how real world connections can be made to teens using a children’s book. The book is about a pug named Alfred that thinks he is unlovable due to some of the neighborhood pets telling him mean things. He then talks to a new dog, Rex, through a fence who quickly becomes his friend. Alfred is then scared that Rex isn’t going to like him if he knows what he looks like; Alfred lies about his breed so Rex wouldn’t think he was unlovable too. Alfred and Rex finally meet and they look the exact same. Rex likes Alfred just the way he is and they become best friends. Alfred finally realizes that he is enough and feels lovable.

No one could love you’” and “‘Unlovable! Squawk! Unlovable!’” (Yaccarino 2-3). Getting bullied is a familiar feeling for many teens as they grow up. Many kids get bullied at least a few times in their lifetime whether it be in elementary, junior high, high school, or college. Kids and teens are constantly told that they’re ugly or not good enough by bullies when, in fact, that’s not true. Sometimes people contribute to the bullying by not speaking up or by agreeing with it just because someone else said it. In the book, the goldfish “gurgled in agreement” (Yaccarino 11). Some people may just agree with the bully so that they don’t get picked on instead. Bullying isn’t always your typical getting lunch money stolen or tripping on the sidewalk. Name calling seems to be a big factor in bullying that can really put people