My Pet Wants a Pet

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. [em]Author’s agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Mar.) [/em]