Lisa Wheeler
Illustrated by Zachariah OHara
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Simon and Schuster, 2013, 978-1-4169-7595-3
A little girl wants a pet, but her parents say “Not quite
yet,” and they advise their daughter to do “research” and “Devise a scientific
plan” to determine which pet would be right for her. Not deterred by this
unusual demand, the little girl gets a notebook and “prepped to study in the
field,” she goes to a farm to see potential pets for herself.
Carefully the
little girl makes field observations of a cow, a chicken, a pony, a dove, and a
sheep. Though some of the animals seem promising at first, she soon realizes
that a farm animal will not work for her. The sheep is too smelly, the pony too
troublesome, and the chicken is downright aggressive. No, farm animals are out
of the question. Perhaps a zoo animal would be a better fit.
The little girl
is not at the zoo long before it becomes clear that a monkey, penguin, tiger,
polar bear, or hippo will not make a good pet. One might eat her, the other is
very odiferous, and could one ever get used to having a pet that eats raw fish?
And what about a pet that has fur that is “full of bugs and lice?” No, zoo
animals will not do at all.
Woodland animals
are not much better, so the little girl decides that she needs to try animals
that are perhaps a little less exotic. This time she will “bring some beasties
in” so that she can properly test out each potential pet in her home. Surely
one of the animals will end up being the right one.
Children who are
eager to have a pet of their own are going to enjoy this wonderful picture book
with its unique collection of poems. With plenty of humor and a clever use of
language, the author gives her readers a special poetry picture book
experience.
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