The Birthday Pet
PreSchool-Grade 2—In this rhyming picture book, Danny decides he wants a pet turtle for his birthday. His family members, however, have different ideas and he gets a dog from his father, a kitten from his mother, a rat from his brother, and a bird from his sister. Finally, Danny convinces them that all he really wants is a box turtle, and while the others keep the pets they acquired, he finally gets his wish. While Javernick's verses are simple yet clever, it is O'Malley's energetic drawings that make the book shine. As each person speaks to him, Danny is shown wearing things that look turtle-ish, adding visual humor to the story. Meanwhile, there is a hint in the pictures and rhyme that forecast which pet he will receive next. The use of perspective as each new creature arrives grabs readers' attention and clearly shows how Danny feels about it. The bright pencil and marker illustrations practically jump off the page, while the large print makes the text easy to read. A brief note at the front informs parents that box turtles are challenging pets and need proper care. This is a great read-aloud, no matter what type of pet children prefer.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.