Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Bayport Public Library | EASY VAN | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Sam just got a hamster for a pet. But the hamster is kind of boring. he just eats and sleeps and gets his shavings wet. Inspired by her book of mythological creatures, Sam longs for a more exciting pet. But she soon realises that taking care of these magical beasts might not be as wonderful as she thought. Sasquatches are messy, unicorns are shy, gryphons scare the dogs at the dogpark, and having a fire extinguisher handy at all times makes dragons seem like an awful lot of work. In the end, Sam realises that her hamster is a pretty sweet and safe pet. or is he?
Author Notes
Vikki VanSickle is the author of the acclaimed Clarissa books, including Words that Start with B , Love Is a Four-Letter Word and Days that End in Y . Vikki's most recent middle grade novel, Summer Days, Starry Nights , has been called "Summer reading at its best" and is a finalist for the 2015 Red Maple Award. After obtaining an MA in Children's Literature from UBC, Vikki's career began in bookselling at The Flying Dragon Bookshop, which earned her the 2011 CBA Young Bookseller of the Year award. She is a popular children's lit blogger and is frequently called upon to speak about kids' books for radio panels, conferences, and as Lainey Gossip's YA mentor! Currently she balances writing with her duties as the Marketing and Publicity Manager for Young Readers at Penguin Canada. The author lives in Toronto, ON.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Every child wants a pet, but most are oblivious to the attendant responsibilities. While many dream of owning a dog or cat, others want something different. In this fun tale, after reading a book on mythological creatures, a girl dreams of having a pet with exotic powers. As she contemplates her special pet-mulling over a variety of creatures including a unicorn, hippogriff, sasquatch, gryphon, mermaid, and basilisk-she realizes that although fantastical creatures are wonderful to read about, they might not fit well into her life and modern society: "Harpies are too screechy;/Chupacabras like to bite./Fairies play too many tricks/And kelpies hate the light." As the story progresses, the little girl spends less time enjoying her pet and more time managing their unusual behavior. By the end, she decides that a hamster, although it spends a lot of time sleeping and eating, is actually just about right because "I am his and he is mine/And that's enough for me." Vansickle uses catchy and clever rhymes to move the story briskly along, while Atkinson captures perfectly the mounting frustration and dismay of the resourceful but increasingly dispirited heroine. The story ends with a twist, and the final wordless page suggests that maybe even an ordinary pet will have surprises for its owner. VERDICT A great read-aloud that will get children excited to learn about the amazing creatures that can be found within the pages of a book.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Already bored with her new hamster, a girl with ochre skin, rosy cheeks, and square-framed glasses imagines life with an array of mythological creatures as pets. VanSickle (Summer Days, Starry Nights) and Atkinson (To the Sea) have a blast envisioning the possibilities, revealing the pros and cons of each monster. A handsome lavender unicorn would mean prancing through fields of flowers and snacking on nectarines, but they can also be shy (Atkinson shows the girl and her friends looking unimpressed as the horse cowers under the bed). A hippogriff-whose bird half is more blue jay than eagle-doesn't do well at the dog park, "Kirin needs a field of grass/ At least an ocean wide," and "Jackalope needs sturdy reins/ for bumpy, jumpy rides." VanSickle's rhymes are unflaggingly exuberant as the girl puts up with noisy harpies, biting chupacabras, and mischievous fairies, and Atkinson fills the pages with visual comedy. In one of the funniest scenes, a dopey-looking kraken grins innocently as its tentacles snag an ocean liner and a rather perturbed whale. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Sally Harding, Cooke Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
An imaginative little girl dreams of an exotic pet. Sam, who wears big square glasses and a serious expression, just got a hamster, her first pet. He mostly sleeps and eats, she notes, "and gets his shavings wet." She is far from impressed. Why can't she have a unicorn? They'd "prance through fields of posies," and she could "shine her horn with candy corn." Or what about a hippogriff? He might scare the dogs in the dog park. A pet sasquatch could be fun (except for combing out its snarled fur), or what about flying on the back of a gryphon? If she had a kraken, she could go on deep-sea dives. A kirin needs acres of grass, a jackalope requires "sturdy reins for bumpy, jumpy rides." If Sam had a dragon, she'd probably need a fire extinguisher, and a manticore would require intensive dental care. What about a harpy? Too screechy. A basilisk? Too slippery. Mermaids brush their hair all day, fairies play too many tricks, kelpies are hard to catch. Sam looks at her hamster again, staring at her with big bright eyes, cute tiny feet, and a furry belly. Just right after all. VanSickle delivers lean, bouncy verse and an impressive array of offbeat creatures, while Atkinson's illustrations are bold and hint at dynamic motion. Sam is depicted as a bespectacled, dark-skinned girl with long, brown hair and wearing plaid flannel. Brisk and bright, if a tad one-dimensional. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Sam isn't all that thrilled with her new hamster. She would much rather have an exotic, exciting pet like the animals gracing the pages of her copy of Mythological Creatures. She imagines what it would be like to have a unicorn, hippogriff, chupacabra, and jackalope, among many others. While the wow factor of owning such beasts is undeniable, Sam also considers their less desirable traits. Jewel-toned illustrations (created with Photoshop as well as fairy dust and phoenix ash) show her sitting, fire extinguisher in hand, by a sleeping dragon, and flying through a rainstorm as she exercises her gryphon. Suddenly, a hamster doesn't seem like such a terrible pet after all. Rosy-cheeked, chestnut-skinned, and bespectacled, Sam makes an adorable guide to these unusual creatures, all of which appear in rather friendly incarnations. Though the roster of books about unconventional pets is lengthy, few pack in as many candidates as this one. Kids are sure to get a kick out of this practical glimpse at magical creatures.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
