Skip to main content

Five Faves: Unusual Pet Picture Books

One of the funniest Christmas songs in my opinion is I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Who sees a hippo and thinks, I want that guy as a pet? Well, following this Christmas spirit, here are some other unusual pets in fun picture books that you might want to consider for your pet possibilities. 


How to Walk a Dump Truck

Written by Peter Pearson
Illustrated by Mircea Catusanu
Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2019. Picture Book.

A dump truck can make a great pet if you know how to take care of it, so here is your guide to being a great pet owner of your very own dump truck! This book is humorous and delightful for children, following familiar tips for pet owners everywhere. 

Written by Vicky Fang
Illustrated by Tidawan Thaipinnarong
Sterling Children's Books, 2020. Picture Book. 

Katie wants a pet, but not just any pet. She won't settle for anything too ordinary. She needs something special. When she is given a machine that lets her invent her own pet, she must decide exactly what it is she wants. After, sorting through her first few crazy combinations of course! This book is bright and fun for pet lovers!

By Jessie Sima
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019. Picture Book.

This wordless picture book plays out like a 3 part silent film where Spencer adventures with his pet balloon animal, saving him from danger and keeping him out of trouble. The whimsy in this book will leave you wanting more!

Written by Lisa Mantchev
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015. Picture Book. 

When a boy and his pet elephant get banned from the pet club for being unusual, they find others and their unusual pets to form a club that welcomes all. This is a darling story about inclusion that is at the top of my favorites!

Written by Kate DePalma
Illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff
Barefoot Books, 2020. Picture Book.

When her Uncle stops by and has Cora watch his bread pet, a sourdough starter, it keeps growing and growing until it becomes too much to manage and the family has to come up with a plan to keep it under control. 

Written by Paul Czajak
Illustrated by Cathy Gendron
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020. Picture Book. 

Abigail wants a pet for her birthday and after considering all the options, she decides that she wants a tree. Abigail explains why her pet tree Fido is the perfect pet. Open it up and see if you agree!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

De la hora del cuento: La letra "F"

Cuentos Gustavo: el fantasmita timido Por Flavia Z. Drago Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2020. Libro ilustrado. "Conoce a Gustavo. Ɖl es un fantasma y como a cualquier ser paranormal le encanta hacer lo que le es normal: atravesar paredes, hacer volar objetos y brillar en la oscuridad. TambiĆ©n le encanta tocar el violĆ­n. Pero Gustavo tiene un problema. Ɖl es muy, muy tĆ­mido, y aunque su deseo mĆ”s grande es tener amigos, nunca se ha atrevido a hablarle a ninguno de los monstruos en su pueblito. Con el DĆ­a de Muertos cerca, ¿se atreverĆ” Gustavo a dejar que lo vean?" --Editor Cuentitos ¡Yo sola! Por Sumana Seeboruth y Maribel Castells Concord : Barefoot Books, 2023. PequeƱo libro ilustrado. "Yo sola. ¡No, no, no! Puedo hacerlo. ¡Vete, vete, vete! Esta niƱa no quiere que la ayuden ... hasta que su hermana mayor necesita ayuda. ¡El trabajo en equipo es divertido!" --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "F" El bosque en familia Maisy juega fĆŗtbol Lo...

Review: Alina in Her Roots

Alina in Her Roots Written by Shenaaz Nanji Illustrations by Beena Mistry Toronto, ON : Second Story Press, 2026. Intermediate. 91 pages. Alina is traveling by herself from her home in Canada to Nairobi, Kenya. But it's more than just a vacation to visit her favorite cousin Safi—Alina is on a secret mission to find her roots. Her family history started in India with her great-great-great-grandparents. Her parents were born in Kenya, then moved to Canada where she was born. She's heard stories about Kenya but wants to know where she fits in and to find what she is missing. Nairobi is a welcoming, vibrant, exciting place where so much feels so different. Alina writes journal entries to her Nani about her experiences, finding ways to make her own stories through matatu rides, trips to the market, a safari, and meals shared with new loved ones. This is a really well-written, cheerful and reassuring realistic fiction about the adventure of exploring different places and cultures. 

From Story Time: The Letter "F"

Preschool Time Family of Friends Written by Varsha Bajaj Illustrated by Ishaa Lobo New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025. Picture Book. Isha can't wait for her birthday party. Nani, her fun-loving grandmother, is coming all the way from India to be there! So when Nani has to postpone her trip, Isha is crushed. She no longer feels like celebrating. Fortunately, she has a whole neighborhood of friends to cheer her up, and they all work together to make her day truly special. This moving intergenerational story shows the impact that chosen family can have and is a wonderful reminder to appreciate all the important people in our lives. --Publisher Preschool Time Found By Salina Yoon New York: Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, 2014. Picture Book. Upon finding a toy rabbit in the forest, Bear tries his very best to return it to its home but by the time its owner appears, Bear has become attached to Bunny. --Editor Toddler Time On All Fours By Gaƫtan DorƩmus Brooklyn...