From the "New York Times"-bestselling author of "The Curious Garden" comes a unique and laugh-out-loud twist on the perennial first pet theme, as h...
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Jan 28, 2012
edh
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When Lucy the bear brings Squeaker the little boy home from her jaunt in the forest, Mama Bear tells Lucy that "children make terrible pets!" And although Lucy and Squeaker have fun frolicking together, she discovers that Mama just may have been right. Lucy learns the age-old lesson that wild creatures belong with others of their kind, as when Squeaker disappears only to find his way back to his family of humans (who all squeak too! So that's how we sound to bears). Peter Brown's cu
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Feb 11, 2011
Diane
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In this cute little story about a bear and her boy, a spoof about children and pets, Lucille (Lucy) Beatrice Bear finds a cute little boy in the woods, hiding behind some bushes. Lucy brings the boy home, hoping to convince her mother to let her keep him as her pet. She wants to name him "Squeaker", because all he does is squeak. The two do everything together: the play together, nap together and eat together, but all was not fun and games. Squeaker, destroyed the furniture, and began
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Feb 07, 2011
Adih
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(major spoiler alert!)
Lucy, a young bear, took home a human boy he found squeaking behind bushes. Keeping him a pet, Lucy finds children make the worst pet to take care of (aside from the fun of it). She too will learn that, for the pet, keeping it as one is not always the best thing.
This is Peter Brown's picture book following Curious Garden, and Children is as fun as Garden is, and more. His drawings are something to marvel over and over again. One can immediately More...
Nov 18, 2010
Janessa
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I picked up this book when I was perusing stock at Barnes and Noble and never put it back down. It is hilarious. Seriously. My three and five year old boys love it almost as much as I do. Lucy, a brown bear in a pink tutu, is walking through the woods when she finds the perfect pet. A little boy. She brings him home and begs her mother to keep him, to which her mother reluctantly agrees. At first Lucy has a wonderful time with her pet boy (whose word bubbles are filled with small squeaks
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Oct 30, 2011
shranicky
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This picture storybook by Peter Brown is such a cute little story about a young bear named Lucy. She is made out to be very girly. One day, she came across a little boy behind a bush while she is practicing her twirls. She proceeds to bring the little boy home with her and asks her mother if she can keep him as a pet. Her mother warns her that children make terrible pets and that she will not be responsible for taking care of him! Lucy promises to take care of the little boy all on her own. The
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Sep 23, 2010
David
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Check out this rollicking, humorous, and heartwarming twist on the classic "first pet" story about a young bear and her favorite pet boy!
When Lucy, a young bear, discovers a boy in the woods, she's absolutely delighted. She brings him home & begs her mom to let her keep him, even though her mom warns, "Children make terrible pets." But mom relents, and Lucy gets to name her new pet Squeakers.
Through a series of hilarious & surprising scenes, readers can jo More...
When Lucy, a young bear, discovers a boy in the woods, she's absolutely delighted. She brings him home & begs her mom to let her keep him, even though her mom warns, "Children make terrible pets." But mom relents, and Lucy gets to name her new pet Squeakers.
Through a series of hilarious & surprising scenes, readers can jo More...
Dec 28, 2010
Eva
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Oh man, I wish I should just carry around a picture of the bear when she finds the book. It has to be one of the best, most great-feeling-generating pictures ever. I love it. Julia loved it. I knew when I saw the title and cover in Book Page's December 2010 issue that we'd probably adore it and we did.
The lesson is there - don't keep animals you find in the wild. But it's so much more. It really is a barrel of laughs and it's oh so fun to read. I love the illustrations and so many times e More...
The lesson is there - don't keep animals you find in the wild. But it's so much more. It really is a barrel of laughs and it's oh so fun to read. I love the illustrations and so many times e More...
Feb 07, 2011
An Abundance of Books
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Lucy is an exuberant, melodramatic, beribboned young bear. One day, "while practicing her twirls" Lucy realized that she was being watched. She demanded that her "secret admirer" show himself, and the little boy did, with a squeak. Lucy jumped up and down and enthusiastically declared him "the cutest critter in the WHOLE forest!" The little boy just squeaks. Because, really, what would you do when faced with a bear wearing a tutu? She immediately takes him home to s
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Oct 20, 2011
Rachel
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Picture Storybook: Peter Brown's Children Make Terrible Pets is an adorable story about a young bear, named Lucy. Lucy is personified with girly tendencies. She comes across a little boy behind a bush while she is practicing her twirls and brings the boy home to ask her mother if she can keep him as a pet. Her mother warns her that children make terrible pets and that she will not be responsible for taking care of him. Lucy, just like any child, promises that she will take care of him. The boy w
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Nov 29, 2010
Becky
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 25, 2011
Joanne
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Offspring think this book is hilarious. It's about a small bear who finds a small boy in the woods and takes him home because he is SO CUTE. Her dismayed mother says, "Children make terrible pets," but the small bear promises she will take care of him. And they have lots of fun playing together, until the small boy refuses to be potty trained and ruins the furniture....and then she has to let him go back where he belongs, and acknowledges that her mother was right.
Charmi More...
Charmi More...
Jan 26, 2011
Kristy
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A fun role reversal story about Lucy the bear who finds a little boy and wants to keep him as a pet, Lucy loves the boy but he causes lots of trouble. Cute illustrations, I especially love the picture when she is trying to litter box train the boy. I also love that the character's words are in little cartoon-type text bubbles coming out of their mouths-it shows kids that the squiggles on the page are really words/thoughts/things people say. The story and pictures also present lots of opportu
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Sep 20, 2011
Felicity
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In this book, a bear found a kid for a pet. He kept him and she asked her mother if she could keep him for her whole life. And her mom said that children make terrible pets. And the bear didn't care about that, but he was really trouble. And one day he was gone. And the bear looked for him everywhere until she went to his house and said bye. And she told her mom that children really do make terrible pets. At the end she found an elephant for a pet, which couldn't fit into her house. I like this
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Jun 30, 2011
Marika
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Every child goes through a phase in which a pet is necessary in order to live a normal life. Besides, everyone else has a pet.... Children Make Terrible Pets puts a new twist on this classic situation when Lucy the Bear brings home a human child. Her mother (like any sane mother) is not pleased. The pet, named Squeaker, is going to mess up the furniture and cause trouble- he needs to be left in his natural habit. This is a sweet and silly book that will have kids giggling, and just maybe abandon
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May 07, 2011
Candice
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A humorous take on "can I keep him?" Lucy the bear finds a boy in the woods and asks her mother if she can keep him as a pet. Her mother is not enthusiastic about the idea and warns Lucy that children make terrible pets. However, she relents and tells Lucy that Squeaker, the boy, will be Lucy's responsibility. Lucy and Squeaker do have fun. They eat, play and nap together. But it is not all fun and games, as Squeaker seems to cause problems wherever he goes. Any child who has be
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Oct 12, 2010
Lisa
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I think my favorite part of this book is the author bio. when Peter Brown's mom asked him, "would you like it if a wild animal made YOU a pet?" he gave a kids' honest answer: "absolutely!"
and so that's the basis of the silly book, wherein a bear in a tutu makes a human child her pet. Humor ensues when "Squeaker" refuses to use the litterbox or settle down for a tea party, and finally runs away--home.
I don't know if kids will get the message the animals More...
and so that's the basis of the silly book, wherein a bear in a tutu makes a human child her pet. Humor ensues when "Squeaker" refuses to use the litterbox or settle down for a tea party, and finally runs away--home.
I don't know if kids will get the message the animals More...
Jul 29, 2011
Mrs.
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Have you ever thought, "what if we were pets?" In this book, Lucy the Bear finds a new pet, a little boy! In this story, Lucy the Bear speaks aloud and when the little boy speaks, he only "squeaks"! When Lucy brings the little boy home, Lucy's mom tells her that "children make terrible pets" and that he is her responsibility! At first they have lots of fun, but then when the little boy starts to act, well, like a little boy, Lucy realizes having a child for a pe
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May 26, 2011
Peacegal
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What child hasn’t dreamed of owning a bear, monkey, or other wild animal as a pet? Unfortunately, some of those kids never get the message that these animals aren’t lapdogs, and they grow up to be the folks driving the tragedy-filled exotic pet trade.
With humor and wit, Children Make Terrible Pets advances a gentle lesson. Lucy the bear is playing outdoors when she discovers a little human boy. May I keep him?, she begs her mother. Mama bear reluctantly agrees, until they realize ju More...
With humor and wit, Children Make Terrible Pets advances a gentle lesson. Lucy the bear is playing outdoors when she discovers a little human boy. May I keep him?, she begs her mother. Mama bear reluctantly agrees, until they realize ju More...
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Feb 23, 2011
Ann
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This is too funny!
I'm a huge fan of Peter Brown's Flight of the Dodo and his absolutely fantastic The Curious Garden (if you haven't read this one - you simply must!).
Therefore, I was thrilled when I saw this latest edition to Brown's collection.
And what's not to love here? A humorous story where the tides have turned and a young bear decides to take in a child for her pet. Honestly, I think aspects of this might be funnier for adults than children, but definitely ther More...
I'm a huge fan of Peter Brown's Flight of the Dodo and his absolutely fantastic The Curious Garden (if you haven't read this one - you simply must!).
Therefore, I was thrilled when I saw this latest edition to Brown's collection.
And what's not to love here? A humorous story where the tides have turned and a young bear decides to take in a child for her pet. Honestly, I think aspects of this might be funnier for adults than children, but definitely ther More...
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Nov 15, 2010
Lisa
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My favorite line was “Woof!” I giggled at that. The whole story and its pictures are adorable.
This is a very cute story that children will identify with, especially those who long for unconventional pets or who care about wildlife. Lucy the bear finds a child she calls Squeaker and brings him home and begs to keep him. By the end of this experiment Lucy realizes that her pet belongs with his own kind and she also learns a bunch of reasons why children make terrible pets. And, then t More...
This is a very cute story that children will identify with, especially those who long for unconventional pets or who care about wildlife. Lucy the bear finds a child she calls Squeaker and brings him home and begs to keep him. By the end of this experiment Lucy realizes that her pet belongs with his own kind and she also learns a bunch of reasons why children make terrible pets. And, then t More...
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Feb 16, 2011
Kathryn
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Lucy, young bear, finds a very adorable creature (a little boy) in the woods one day and promptly brings it home to be her pet. Her mother warns that "children make terrible pets." But, Lucy is convinced that she and her boy will be very happy together. And they are--for awhile. But, when the boy goes missing one day and Lucy sets off to find him, she discovers more than she bargained for.
I think Peter Brown is special because he can be funny and touching and offe More...
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May 03, 2011
Brenna
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In this story a young bear finds a child and asks her mother if she can keep him. He turns out to be very difficult to train and so Lucy decides that "children make horrible pets." This story has wonderful large illustrations that make it great for read alouds or shared reading. It would be a great story to use as a model for teaching different points of view or fractured stories. It was a finalist for the 2012 Irma Black Award and was on the New York Times Notable Books of the Year li
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Feb 22, 2011
Dolly
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This is a sweet tale about a little girl who finds a new pet and wants to adopt him, despite her mother's warning that "Children make terrible pets." The juxtaposition of the animal and the child create an ironic and funny twist in an otherwise common childhood story. The illustrations are great and our girls loved that the humans only said "squeak." Our girls narrated the "squeaks", while I narrated the rest of the story, which made for a fun collaboration.
Jan 04, 2011
Savannah
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I'm sorry, I know there are other more touching and poignant books being talked about for the Caldecott, but I freakin' loved this one. Everything about it was, I thought, pitch perfect - very attractive illustrations, and I especially loved the way the text was done; I'm a sucker for handwritten text and tactile text, and this book has both in very bright colors that add a lot to the overall charm. And besides making me laugh out loud several times, it actually was kind of poignant.
Jan 27, 2012
Sharon
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Ultimately, a tale about not keeping wild animals as pets. Lucy, the twirling, girly bear, finds a little boy in the woods and decides to keep him as a pet, since he is the cutest thing EVER! Alas, she discovers that wild animals make messes and ruin things at home. He belongs with his family and she makes the toughest decision to let him return home. We love the illustrations and details found on the beautiful pages - easily became one of our favorites at bedtime.
Sep 17, 2011
Kimberly
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Picture Book/Concept Book - 2010 This book was hilarious! I enjoyed the story line - a young bear finding a boy for a pet to bring home to his bear family! The illustrations are also very cute. Although the story line is not overly complex, I think I would use this with my third graders to support conversation about the use of dialogue in stories. The dialogue is presented in the illustrations in a way that would support instruction.
Dec 13, 2010
Christiane
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Lucy the bear finds a little boy in the forest and convinces her mom to let her keep him, even though everyone knows children make terrible pets! Very funny with a lot of the humor coming in the wonderful illustrations; for example, on one page the text reads: "He ruined the furniture." The picture shows the little boy bouncing on the broken couch, feather's flying everywhere from torn up pillows.
Oct 01, 2010
Reader
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Everything is funnier when the roles are reversed. Here we see a bear (Lucy) take on an unexpected pet - a human boy. The pair are inseparable (mostly because Lucy won't let go), embarking on all sorts of adventures. But when the pet boy disappears, and Lucy tracks him down, she realizes that it might be best for her and her pet to part ways. Inventive illustrations and lettering complete this odd crowd-pleaser.
Dec 03, 2010
Pamela
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This book has the best cover, a bear loving on her pet little boy. The boy's face is priceless. This is about a bear who takes home a boy for a pet and his mom says children make terrible pets. The illustrations are wonderful. You will see Lucy the bear trying to potty train her little Squeaker in a cat box and more. Pick up this book and I believe anyone who reads it will laugh.
Sep 27, 2011
Joelyne
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I thought it was going to be a funny and entertaining children's picture book, but I didn't find it amusing. I love pets and this book was kind of geared towards helping parents get out of their kid having a pet. I suppose if for some reason or another if you can't have a pet, this book is okay. However, I just found it sad and was annoyed at the direction it took.
