Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Book Review - The Perfect Pet


The Perfect Pet

By: Samantha Bell
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
ISBN: 978-1607186335
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: September 2013

Every girl and boy wants a pet, but sometimes the answer is “no, no, no!” One day the answer was “yes,” but just what kind of a pet would do? There were all kinds of animals at the pet store, including that slithering snake, the terrifying tarantula, and even a rascally looking rat. Just what kind of pet would do? “The kingdom Animalia / is where I’d start my search ... / a bear, a slug, a killer whale, / a catfish, or a perch.” It didn’t look like there would be a perfect pet in that bunch so it was off to think about another group. No invertebrates in Mom’s house!

Perhaps a crocodile, an anteater, or maybe, just maybe, that cobra. They all were very, very interesting and a croc in the tub would be awesome. “No reptiles or -- amphibians; / they are too hard to scrub. / You just can’t bathe a crocodile-- / it won’t fit in our tub.” Just what kind of pet would do? There were birds of all kinds and that elephant had big appeal. A lion or tiger or even a cheetah would look great on a bunk bed. Not. Just what kind of pet would do? There had to be a perfect pet somewhere!

This is a humorous story in rhyme that will delight any youngster who’s in search of that perfect pet. The verse definitely has charm and the flow of the story is perfect as animal classification is covered as a child's imagination thinks about the “perfect pet.” Naturally, a child’s notion of the perfect pet can greatly differ from one looked at from an adult perspective. The full-color, full-page illustrations are vibrant and lend a lot to the pet-appeal of the story. Newly independent readers can tackle this beginning nonfiction book with a bit of assistance with unusual terms such as Canis lupus familiaris. In the back of the book are several activities, including some that can be downloaded and printed from the publisher’s website. This would be an excellent book to read and discuss in the homeschool or classroom setting.

Quill says: This is a humorous, charming way to introduce young students to animal classification ... and that perfect pet!




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