Books Make Good Pets

By Author / Illustrator

John Agard, Momoko Abe

Genre

Picture Books

Age range(s)

Publisher

Hachette Children's Group

ISBN

9781408359877

Format

Hardback

Published

03-09-2020

Synopsis

Books make good pets and don't need going to the vet.
You don't have to keep them on a lead or throw them a stick.
They'll wag their words whenever you flick their dog-eared pages.
Even howl an ancient tale for the inward-listening ear.

Did you know that a book can take you anywhere? You only need to turn the pages of a story, and in a moment, you and your book could be crossing the waves in a pirate ship... or diving with mermaids... or even snoozing with a dragon.

Books really DO make good pets! Why don't you peep inside this one, and take your mind on an adventure?

This delightful original picture book poem is the perfect gift for anyone who delights in the magic of a good book. Agard's evocative, lyrical style is perfectly complemented with illustrations by Momoko Abe, whose colourful visuals add character, transporting the reader into an enchanting world of imagination.

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Reviews

Books make good pets and don't need going to the vet.

The idea and vision of this book is clear to see and I can see what the author has tried to achieve. But for me, he has missed the mark with his target audience. The book is recommended for 3-5 year olds, however, I think the language and poetic devices used are above them.

However, the illustrations by Momoko Abe are bright, beautiful and enjoyable to look at. They help tell the story of how books can take you anywhere, as long as you have the imagination to carry you there.

Going forward, I think this is a lovely addition to a poetry section of a school library and I believe that it could become a helpful tool for a KS2 class studying poetry. It also opens up the chance for older children to immerse themselves in a picture-heavy text....something which is lacking for these older children.

I will certainly share this with my colleagues but I do feel that the younger target audience will struggle with this text.

Picture book / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Kyle Matravers, teacher