The best pet of all

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Dutton Children's Books
Publication Date
[2004]
Language
English

Description

This boy-wants-dog story with a twist is both snappy and endearing. The little boy's mother won't let him have a dog. Dogs are too messy and too loud. But she says he can have a dragon for a pet&150if he can find one. Enter the coolest&150but naughtiest&150pet ever. The dragon is messier and louder than any dog. And he will not leave. How will the boy ever get a dog now?

Wry, stylish illustrations with an appealing retro look perfectly complement the spare, witty text. A comical, engaging story for anyone who's ever wanted a pet!

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ISBN
9780525471295

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Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dogs," and "dogs as pets."
These books have the genre "humorous stories"; and the subjects "dragons," "dragons as pets," and "boys."
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dogs," and "dogs as pets."
Prudence wants a pet - Daly, Cathleen
The characters of both of these books show optimism and determination in getting a pet of their choice. The Best Pet of All is bright,colorful, with nostalgic illustrations, whereas Prudence Wants A Pet is softly illustrated in watercolor. -- Shannon Brennan
Be gentle with the dog, dear! - Baek, Matthew J.
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dogs," and "dogs as pets."
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dogs," and "dogs as pets."
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dogs," and "dogs as pets."
These books have the genre "humorous stories"; and the subjects "children and pets" and "pets."
These books have the subjects "dragons," "dragons as pets," and "boys."
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dogs," and "dogs as pets."
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "parent and child," and "dogs."
These books have the subjects "children and pets," "dragons," and "dragons as pets."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These authors' works have the appeal factors funny, and they have the genre "humorous stories"; the subjects "dogs," "children and pets," and "boys"; illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations" and "colorful illustrations"; and characters that are "anthropomorphic characters."
These authors' works have the subjects "parent and child," "storytelling," and "imagination."
These authors' works have the appeal factors funny, and they have the genre "humorous stories"; the subjects "animals," "cats," and "boys"; illustrations that are "cartoony illustrations"; and characters that are "anthropomorphic characters."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

PreS-Gr. 1. Doesn't every child want a dog? A young boy keeps asking his mom for one, but she says dogs are too loud and too messy. So he asks if he can have a dragon; Mom says if he can find one, he can keep it. Surprise! There's one at the drugstore, reading a travel magazine. Unfortunately, the dragon is very loud and messy, roasting hot dogs in the living room and eating spaghetti in the bathtub. Too bad we do not have a dog, the boy says. Dragons do not like dogs. Mom agrees, and after posting a Dog Wanted sign in their window, it isn't long before a boxer comes knocking and the dragon is running scared--or is he? LaRochelle's prose is simple, repetitive, and wonderfully understated; it juxtaposes amusingly with the visuals of the dragon's out-there antics. The action pops to life in Wakiyama's stylized retro art with its candy-colored palette, clever use of thought bubbles, and comical touches (the dragon roasting hot dogs with his breath, or at the soda fountain, wearing shades and a porkpie hat). A happy wag of the kid-wants-dog tale, with guaranteed giggles. --Karin Snelson Copyright 2004 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

LaRochelle's (the Mad Mysteries series) comic timing and Wakiyama's (When It's the Last Day of School) retro art add sparkle to this witty variation on a universal theme, the child who wants a dog. Tired of his mother's refusals of his repeated requests for a dog, the towheaded narrator changes his tactic and asks instead for a dragon. "If you can find a dragon, you can keep it for a pet," she replies. After some searching, the boy locates a dragon at the drugstore, reading a magazine, but it takes some hard bargaining before the dragon agrees to come home with him. It turns out, however, that dragons wreak havoc: "They roast hot dogs in the living room" (the illustration shows the creature reclining in a wingback chair, breathing fire), and they dance to loud music all night (the scaly pet spins records on a turntable and strings paper lanterns from the ceiling). The nostalgic settings of Wakiyama's vignettes and spreads, which introduce old-fashioned soda counters and beach-bathing girls who could double for the Coppertone model, accentuate the naughty goings-on by the implied contrast. Kids will cheer the clever young narrator's solution to the problem-which nets him the dog he longed for-and will relish the image of boy and dragon exchanging an in-cahoots thumbs-up over the garden wall as the mother lovingly tends to the dog. A fresh, fun frolic. Ages 5-up. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-A young boy is desperate to have a dog. When his mother meets his repeated requests with firmer and firmer refusals, he modulates his demand and asks for a pet dragon instead. Thinking she is safe, she agrees that if he can find one, he can keep it. Unfortunately for Mom, he eventually manages to locate one, but the creature is disruptive and untidy. It won't clean up after itself, eats spaghetti in the bathtub, and roasts hot dogs (with its own breath) in the living room. When the youngster points out to his mother that dragons are scared of dogs, she finally agrees to get one. Domestic happiness is restored and the unwanted beast slinks off. LaRochelle captures the essence of the relationship between mother and son with dry humor and laconic text. The child's unfailing optimism triumphs over practical realities and his mother's initial opposition. The simplicity of the language is ideal for beginning readers, while the subtext keeps everyone amused. Wakiyama's nostalgic gouache illustrations evoke the 1950s. Dressed in capris, Mom irons print tablecloths and does dishes by hand. The appliances and decor are of the period, and the dragon is found in an old-fashioned drugstore. The bright, witty artwork complements the story to perfection.-Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Horn Book Review

When his repeated requests for a dog are denied, a boy asks for a pet dragon. ""If you can find a dragon, you can keep it..."" his mother says. The dragon he finds behaves badly, and his mother agrees to a dog after the boy tells her ""Dragons do not like dogs."" The retro-style illustrations lend an old-fashioned look to the slyly entertaining story. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, a little boy asks his mother for a dog, but the answer is no. On Thursday, when he asks for a pet dragon, she says if he can find one, he can keep it for a pet. After searching from beach to zoo, he finds a dragon in the drugstore sporting dark glasses and a hat. But the dragon doesn't put toys away, or help with chores, and makes a mess in the kitchen. When they roast hot dogs in the living room and dance all night to loud music, Mom insists the dragon leave, but he refuses and keeps eating spaghetti in the bathtub. The boy claims it's too bad they don't have a dog because dragons are afraid of them; Mom concedes and they put a "Dog Wanted" sign in the window: dilemma solved. Insouciant retro-looking illustrations add sly touches of humor, like the tow-headed boy and dragon giving each other thumbs up. Kids will grin at the clever, imaginative ruse that outsmarts a mom as only kids can. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

/*Starred Review*/ PreS-Gr. 1. Doesn't every child want a dog? A young boy keeps asking his mom for one, but she says dogs are too loud and too messy. So he asks if he can have a dragon; Mom says if he can find one, he can keep it. Surprise! There's one at the drugstore, reading a travel magazine. Unfortunately, the dragon is very loud and messy, roasting hot dogs in the living room and eating spaghetti in the bathtub. "Too bad we do not have a dog," the boy says. "Dragons do not like dogs." Mom agrees, and after posting a "Dog Wanted" sign in their window, it isn't long before a boxer comes knocking and the dragon is running scared--or is he? LaRochelle's prose is simple, repetitive, and wonderfully understated; it juxtaposes amusingly with the visuals of the dragon's out-there antics. The action pops to life in Wakiyama's stylized retro art with its candy-colored palette, clever use of thought bubbles, and comical touches (the dragon roasting hot dogs with his breath, or at the soda fountain, wearing shades and a porkpie hat). A happy wag of the kid-wants-dog tale, with guaranteed giggles. ((Reviewed June 1 & 15, 2004)) Copyright 2004 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2004 Booklist Reviews.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

LaRochelle's (the Mad Mysteries series) comic timing and Wakiyama's (When It's the Last Day of School) retro art add sparkle to this witty variation on a universal theme, the child who wants a dog. Tired of his mother's refusals of his repeated requests for a dog, the towheaded narrator changes his tactic and asks instead for a dragon. "If you can find a dragon, you can keep it for a pet," she replies. After some searching, the boy locates a dragon at the drugstore, reading a magazine, but it takes some hard bargaining before the dragon agrees to come home with him. It turns out, however, that dragons wreak havoc: "They roast hot dogs in the living room" (the illustration shows the creature reclining in a wingback chair, breathing fire), and they dance to loud music all night (the scaly pet spins records on a turntable and strings paper lanterns from the ceiling). The nostalgic settings of Wakiyama's vignettes and spreads, which introduce old-fashioned soda counters and beach-bathing girls who could double for the Coppertone model, accentuate the naughty goings-on by the implied contrast. Kids will cheer the clever young narrator's solution to the problem-which nets him the dog he longed for-and will relish the image of boy and dragon exchanging an in-cahoots thumbs-up over the garden wall as the mother lovingly tends to the dog. A fresh, fun frolic. Ages 5-up. (June) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-A young boy is desperate to have a dog. When his mother meets his repeated requests with firmer and firmer refusals, he modulates his demand and asks for a pet dragon instead. Thinking she is safe, she agrees that if he can find one, he can keep it. Unfortunately for Mom, he eventually manages to locate one, but the creature is disruptive and untidy. It won't clean up after itself, eats spaghetti in the bathtub, and roasts hot dogs (with its own breath) in the living room. When the youngster points out to his mother that dragons are scared of dogs, she finally agrees to get one. Domestic happiness is restored and the unwanted beast slinks off. LaRochelle captures the essence of the relationship between mother and son with dry humor and laconic text. The child's unfailing optimism triumphs over practical realities and his mother's initial opposition. The simplicity of the language is ideal for beginning readers, while the subtext keeps everyone amused. Wakiyama's nostalgic gouache illustrations evoke the 1950s. Dressed in capris, Mom irons print tablecloths and does dishes by hand. The appliances and decor are of the period, and the dragon is found in an old-fashioned drugstore. The bright, witty artwork complements the story to perfection.-Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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