FICTION

The Perfect Pet

by Marianne BERKES
9781607186212. ea vol: 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95; pap. $9.95; ebk. $9.95.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Both of these books are designed to teach a lesson, and the plots are pretty thin and not very interesting. The first book focuses on a child chosing a pet, with Mom rejecting all reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, before finally declaring Canis lupus familiaris to be acceptable. In the second story, Polly Possum looks for just the right home before her babies are born. Both books read much like the short stories found on standardized tests. The illustrations have an old-fashioned, somewhat generic look. Both titles conclude with four pages of learning activities, giving facts about animals or other topics that come up in the stories.—Trina Bolfing, Westbank Libraries, Austin, TX
Polly Possum, expecting babies, goes from animal to animal (spider, robin, bee, etc.) in search of a home; each refusal is a transparent opportunity to teach the reader about the animal's habitat ("We built our nest way up high to keep predators like you away!"). Awkward storytelling and amateur illustrations hamper the information. Learning activities are appended.
Reviewed by Trina Bolfing , Nov 01, 2013

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