Book Review: What Pet to Get? by Emma Dodd

Book: What Pet To Get?
Author: Emma Dodd
Illustrator: Emma Dodd
Published: 2008

Jack wants to get a pet, but doesn't know which one. An elephant? A lion? A Tyrannosaurus Rex? Mom shoots them all down, one after the other. Oh, dear! How will Jack ever decide what pet he wants?

This book takes a familiar situation and puts a hilarious spin on it. My favorite part was that Mom doesn't give adult-based reasons like, "It's too expensive," but instead offers practical considerations like, "How would we take it on vacation?" You can't put an elephant on the roof rack; it would squash the car. Dodd's big, simple illustrations are just goofy fun, especially in spreads that show the possible disasters that Mom predicts. And of course, the last page will provide you a big laugh just before you close the book.