I Wish I Had a Pet by Maggie Rudy (review)

An unseen narrator voices the wish of a little mouse to obtain a pet (in mouse world, an insect) of her very own and offers multiple nuggets of useful advice to would-be pet owners along the way (“A pet is not a doll. It might not like to play dress-up”). Although this gently humorous guide works well as a readaloud selection, the succinct, straightforward text will also make it accessible to primary-grade readers unafraid to tackle a few larger vocabulary words. It’s the illustrations that take center stage here, however, with digital photos capturing the three-dimensional handmade cloth mice in action with their creepy-crawly critters against a backdrop of found and created objects that will have miniature enthusiasts drooling with delight. Some scenes are simple, such as the group of mouse children offering “Free Roly-polies” from a cardboard carton, while others are more ornate: amidst sumptuous Victorian-looking surroundings, a rococo mouse drapes a fuzzy yellow caterpillar around her neck like a feather boa. Humorous touches add to the fun: for example, “And when your pet makes a mess, clean up after it” is accompanied by a picture of a mouse holding his nose while picking up his caterpillar’s frass with a baggy-covered paw. Readers will be fascinated by the imaginative tableaux and by the “how did she make that?” aspect. This would be a unique addition to a unit or story hour on pets or mice, and crafty kids may be inspired to make their own tiny scenes afterwards.