My Pet Wants a Pet

by Elise Broach, Eric Barclay (Illustrator)

Overview

A charming picture book that cleverly captures a universal wish—to love and care for something—and shows that you're never too little to share in that dream, by New York Times­-bestselling author Elise Broach.

Once there was a boy who wanted something to take care of. Something of his very own. He begged his mother for a puppy. Until she said YES!
The boy loved his puppy. He fed him and played with him and cuddled him. But soon, the dog wanted something to take care of—something of his very own. So the dog gets a pet cat; then the cat gets a pet bird; the bird gets a pet worm; the worm gets a pet flea . . . and on and on it goes as utter chaos ensues.

Christy Ottaviano Books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250109279
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	03/06/2018
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Elise Broach is the award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of books for children and young adults, including The Wolf Keepers, Shakespeare's Secret, Masterpiece, and the Superstition Mountain Mysteries series as well as The Miniature World of Marvin and James, James to the Rescue and Trouble at School with Marvin and James. She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Eric Barclay is the creator of I Can See Just Fine, Hiding Phil, and Counting Dogs. He has also illustrated several books for young readers. He lives in Texas with his family.

Editorial Reviews

12/18/2017
A familiar conceit—a child begs a parent for a pet—takes a humorously absurd turn when that pet, a frisky puppy, wants (and gets) a pet of his own, an orange kitten. “Truth be told, the boy was surprised at this choice,” writes Broach (The Wolf Keeper). “ ‘Dogs chase cats,’ he told the puppy.” Before long, the kitten decides she also wants “something of her very own” to take care of, and adopts a bird, who then takes in a worm that gets a pet flea. By this point, the boy’s mother, who has begrudgingly acquiesced to each new creature, is out of patience: “That flea is the pet of the pet of the pet of the pet of your pet!” Barclay’s simple, cheery ink-and-watercolor pictures foreshadow each adoption and emphasize the joy shared by the boy and the many pets, if not by Mom. Broach’s language is similarly straightforward as she underscores the responsibilities and rewards of caring for another and the expansive possibilities of family. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"This sweet story with beautifully vivid illustrations demonstrates how caring for others leads to personal happiness. A winning choice for storytime and family sharing."—School Library Journal

"Barclay’s illustrations are jaunty and cartoonlike, reminiscent of the work of Richard Scarry, with all characters—two-legged, four-legged, or no-legged—having a fantastic time playing and chasing each other. . . Great comedy throughout, with an inspiring closer."—Booklist

"Barclay’s simple, cheery ink-and-watercolor pictures emphasize the joy shared by the boy and the many pets . . . Broach’s language is similarly straightforward as she underscores the responsibilities and rewards of caring for another and the expansive possibilities of family."—Publishers Weekly

"From Broach and Barclay comes a story about the affection that grows between living beings who care for one another. . . . A sweet choice for a simple story that parents and children will enjoy laughing at together."—Kirkus Reviews

"Warm and funny."—The Horn Book

An Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee

From the Publisher

04/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2–There was a boy who wanted a pet. He begged and begged for a puppy of his own to take care of and do fun things with. The boy's mom finally relents and get the boy a puppy. He and puppy are such good companions that the boy decides his pet needs a pet. Thus begins a whole chain of pet acquisitions in the boy's house. This sweet story with beautifully vivid illustrations demonstrates how caring for others leads to personal happiness. While the story structure and repetition are similar to many classic children's tales, this book's kind message and colorful illustrations set it apart from the rest. VERDICT A winning choice for storytime and family sharing.—Nicole Detter-Smith, Homestead High School, IN

School Library Journal

2018-02-03
From Broach and Barclay comes a story about the affection that grows between living beings who care for one another.A boy looks out the window of his brownstone home at the people walking and driving with their dogs. He begs his mother for "something to take care of," until finally she says yes. They walk home, the boy with a puppy on a leash and the mother struggling with large bags filled with pet supplies. The boy and his puppy love each other and have so much fun together that one day, the puppy decides that he also wants a pet. The boy's mother thinks this is a terrible idea. But the boy cannot refuse the puppy, who chooses a kitten as his pet. They love each other and have so much fun together that—guess what? The kitten wants a pet. And the cycle continues, until the pet's pet's pet's pet's pet has a pet. But the mother grows so unhappy that the boy has to find a solution to make her happy too. The charming pen-and-watercolor illustrations add to the humor and fun of this adorable book, investing each of the pets with its own personality (the worm in a beret is a special treat). The boy is brown-skinned with tightly curled black hair, and his mother is tan with straight brown hair. A sweet choice for a simple story that parents and children will enjoy laughing at together. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews