What Pet To Get?

by Emma Dodd

A common kid question leads to uncommon results in this terrifically charming picture book!

Jack's mother says he can choose a pet . . . but what pet to get? An elephant? (So difficult to take on vacation.) A polar bear? (It wouldn’t like the central heating.) What about a Tyrannosaurus Rex? (Unfortunately, it’s been extinct for 65 million years.) The gatefold on the last page reveals Jack’s final choice, and a big surprise -- literally!

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Dogs, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

Emma Dodd Author/Illustrator

Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The polar bear illustration on the dust jacket lets the prospective reader know right away that this is not the typical "dog or cat?" familiy discussion. Children love animals, but dogs and cats can be seen everywhere. Jack proposes wild beasts one after the other. His mother calmly explains why that particular animal would not be a good choice for a pet. When Jack announces that a polar bear would be fun to play with, his mother suggests that "it would not like the central heating."


This fun book has oversize illustrations which explode from the page. And it's delightful that his mom lets Jack dream big. This is sure to be a fun title for any elementary school library.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that the boy says the pets that he wants to get. And I love how calmly and rationally his mom hears the suggestions and quietly points out the things that might be tough with that pet.

** Talking Points: What pets do you have now? What pets do you have in your life? What do (or did) your parents think about pets? If you could have any pet you wanted, and if it would be nice, what animal would you want for a pet?

** Essential Oil Pairing Tip: I'd roll on doTERRA's Thinker essential oil blend when reading this book. The boy in this book does a lot of thinking on the perfect pet to get. And Thinker is especially formulated for children to help at times when they have a lot of thinking to do.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Dodd came up with some delightful reasoning about why not to get certain unusual pets. I especially loved the one about why not to have an elephant for a pet.
The mom doesn't actually forbid her son from thinking outside the box, so the payoff to the story actually isn't that unreasonable. At least their house won't be burgled any time soon.
The best part about this book is that it can be used to start conversations about why some animals make better pets than others, and what you could do about it. It's also a good story about imagination, because both the boy and the mom display lots of it, during their discussion about pets.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book. I didn't like how the mom would answer her child ending with "dear". That really bothered me. It didn't flow that well for me. A lot of the animals mentioned that the boy wants as a pet are wild animals and I was looking for more of a book that had traditional pets. Overall you and/or children might enjoy this book. And the illustration are alright. They're not bad, but they're not amazing.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, pleasantly repetitive story of a child asking his mother whether various imagined pets would be the right one for him to get. Appropriate for pre-schoolers, with interesting vocabulary threaded throughout and a nice fold-out-page surprise at the end. Main character is white, with kids of other skin tones depicted in the backgrounds.

Themes: Pets; Animals; Imagination

[Tiffany S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious interactive picture book perfect for any prospective pet owner! :) I just loved how imaginative the child would get trying to come up with animals that the child would like and how maybe just maybe you don't need a alligator or a polar bear as a pet. It showcases a few ways a parent can positively respond to their child's requests.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mom in this book does a great job at validating the kid's ideas for pets and coming up with reasons why the kid agrees each pet isn't a great choice. I love that positive aspect because it can also show parents another way to respond their child/ren's out-there requests.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a kid trying to figure out an acceptable pet to get. I love the way the story is a back and forth between the boy and his mother.
The illustrations are simple and cute. I liked the ending with the fold out page.
Cute story over all that I would probably recommend.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack decides he wants a pet, and his mother supports the decision. But Jack's suggestions are a little wild (an elephant and lion being his first two choices!), and Jack's mother has to convince them why they might not be the best choices. They finally settle on a pet dog.

Storytime:
Pets

[Jessalyn Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Emma's writing and art style. It is cute and quirky and fun. Her books are great at introducing simple concepts to learn in a very smooth way. This one was fun to read to my toddler and our favorite part is the secret foldout at the end of the book!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy imagines all sorts of pets he would like to get, from a T-Rex to a polar bear. What does he end up with? You'll have to read it and see!

Themes: dogs, pets, humor, imagination
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2006

[Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute. Too long for a baby lapsit, but it would work well with an older group.

[Asha McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for my 3 year old and he was hanging off the pages to see which animal would come next.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be great for my pet or animal theme.

[Rachael Knudsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great and entertaining illustrations ☺️

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A preschool and up book about a child trying to convince their parent to get the child a pet. Many pets are explored.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A child goes through a list of wild animals before settling on a dog.

[Owen and Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best by Dodd

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book with a great ending!

I loved all the exotic pet ideas but Fang was by far my favorite. Good illustrations as well.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booklist (March 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 13))
Preschool-Grade 2. Jack’s mother says he can have a pet, but what to get? Jack has some ideas, but for each suggestion of exotic wildlife, his mother has a logical reason the animal won’t do. Taking an elephant on the family vacation might squash the car; a lion could frighten, perhaps even eat, the mail carrier; a Tyrannosaurus rex is extinct. After Jack works his way through giraffe (too tall), rhino (too wide), and bison (too smelly), he proudly announces, “I’ve got it! Let’s get a dog!” What does he choose? A huge, scraggly, wolfhoundlike canine revealed behind a gatefold. Similar stories of pet requests are plentiful, but Dodd’s bold, broad, bug-eyed, in-your-face illustrations take this one over the top. The pictures run off the pages of the large format, which is a stage for comical and hilarious scenes: Jack brushing a crocodile’s teeth with a mammoth toothbrush and avoiding a shark in the bathtub. Pair this with Steven Kellogg’s Can I Keep Him? (1982), and giggles are guaranteed.


Horn Book (Fall 2008)
Jack just can't decide what kind of pet to get. For every outrageous suggestion he makes, his mother has at least one good reason to disagree. Cheery outsize cartoon illustrations with strong black lines and muted colors give personality to Jack's imaginary menagerie. By the end, a dog seems perfect.


Kirkus Reviews (February 15, 2008)
Surprising fact: There still aren't as many children's books about wanting pets as there are children who desperately want a pet. What distinguishes Dodd's "What pet can I get?" story, a previously published British import, are her comical, cartoonish double-page spreads whose borders simply can't contain the colossal elephant, lion, Tyrannosaurus rex, giraffe, bison, rhino, crocodile and shark that inhabit young Jack's wildest pet dreams. Funny foreshadowing and clever visual details abound, such as in the first spread where the boy's shark and elephant drawings are taped to the refrigerator. Jack and his patient mother work through the pet options rationally: " 'A polar bear would be lovely, dear,' replied his mother. 'But I don't think it would like the central heating.' / 'Hmm, I suppose not,' agreed Jack." When Jack wakes up wanting a regular dog, the punch line unfolds in a gateway spread; Mom is imagining "a lovely little puppy" while Jack envisions the proud ownership of an enormous spiky beast named Fang. Familiar but fun. (Picture book. 3-5)


Publishers Weekly (February 11, 2008)
Young Jack wants a pet and proposes a host of possibilities, from an elephant ("I could ride it to school") to a T. rex (I could take it for walks"). Mom, unseen, gently but firmly squelches each candidate; she effectively counters Jack's suggestion of a polar bear by conjuring up an image of it having a hot flash in the living room ("I don't suppose it would like the central heating," she says mildly). The premise is shopworn, as is the wrap-up (Jack ends up with a "lovely little puppy" so huge that it occupies a horizontal gatefold), but both get a big boost from the computer-assisted cartooning on these exuberantly oversize pages. Filling in her thick black outlines with a mixture of digitally manipulated textures and densely saturated colors, Dodd (Just Like You; No Matter What, reviewed above) creates a daffy, winning cast of googly-eyed creatures whose ids run rampant. The T. rex's hide seems to be made of netting and camouflage, while an ungainly rhino appears to be upholstered in gray Naugahyde. Lots of fun. Ages 3-5. (Mar.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.


School Library Journal (March 1, 2008)
K-Gr 2-What little boy doesn't want a pet? Jack is no exception, and he begins to come up with some rather impractical choices to run by his mother. She never rises to the bait but instead tells him logically why each one might not be right for them. Mom explains how an elephant might be hard to take on vacation, how a lion might frighten the mail carrier, and how T. Rex has been extinct for some time now. As the long list dwindles, Jack has a brainstorm. "Let's get a dog!" Mom agrees and they head off to pick out a "lovely little puppy." Jack is winking at readers as they open the gatefold to see a huge, unkempt, somewhat wild-looking dog named Fang riding in the car. Everything about this book works. Its large trim size fits Jack's oversize imagination perfectly. The animals spill over the spreads, convincing readers that perhaps Mom was right after all. And who can say whether Fang is a puppy or not? Pair this story with Lynne Jonell's I Need A Snake (Putnam, 1998) to explore the idea of convincing someone of your idea.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

[Mansour · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely funny short picture book. It talks about young boy planing to get a pet than, he stated talk to his mother about that. I really loved the graphics in that book, they painted in a funny way that make the kids enjoy reading it or listen to it.

I liked the author's imagination for the story, whenever the young boy asks his mother about some kind of pet for example, an elephant then the mother tells him that the elephant can't fit the car, then you will see at the book a big funny elephant at the top of a small car. Also, I loved the funny way that the author ending the story that in the end the boy choose the right pet and it was a dog you will see in the end of the book picture of a boy with the leash, then you will think it normal dog but, when turn the page you will see a big wild dog.

I'm really glad to have that book. I really enjoyed reading it and I'm happily recommend it for everyone to read it to your kids, they definitely will love it and enjoy reading it.

[Ruhama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack asked his mom for a pet and she countered with her own question: what do you want? Jack works his way through a list of wild (but fun) animals that would make super pets and his mom doesn't bat an eye. Instead, she has him see reason about each of them--and not always with the usual size, food or cleanliness issues. Eventually, Jack narrows the list down to a dog, though there is a lovely twist at the end of the story, even with the less exotic pet choice. The pictures are fun and colorful and not too busy. Jack is cute and I love the way his mom treats each suggestion: acceptance, but a dose of realism, too. This book reminds me of Steven Kellogg's Can I Keep Him? and would work well for a pet storytime, surprise ending storytime or an imagination storytime.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun. Can be a teensy bit long for little-littles, but it's fun with lots of animals and discussion about why each might not work as a pet.

Early Literacy Playbook March 2026
February Storytime Favorites:
What Pet to Get? by Emma Dodd – Choosing a pet can be difficult, especially if the pet you want is too big, too scary, too hairy, too...extinct. Will Jack ever find the perfect pet?

Early Literacy Hint: Your child can identify the animals throughout the book. Talking about what problems each animal might pose, and what solutions your child might have is a great way to spark their imagination.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book about picking pets (would be good for a pet storytime)and I like that the illustrations of crazy animals Jack picks are textured like the real rhino, i.e. the rhino's skin looks like a rhino would and the same for the alligator. I love the big black-outlined brightly colored illustrations and the way Jack's mum quietly tells him no. For some reason, lately I seem to gravitate towards English author/illustrators for their big bold illustrations without really realizing it, ie this book and Sam Lloyd's "Mr. Pusskins" as an example.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack's mother said he could get a pet... but what pet should he get? An elephant would be too hard to take on vacation. A polar bear won't like central heat, T-Rex - well they are extinct and the last page shows the pet Jack decides to get. Kindergartners and first grade could discuss basic survival needs of animals and what you need to do to take care of a pet. In science you could discuss the various habitats of animals and math you could estimate and compare the weights of the animals.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy asks his mom if he can get a pet. He chooses all kinds of outlandish pets, and his mother gives reasons why those pets won't work. Finally, the two settle on a dog (of course, the picture of the dog at the end is pretty outlandish itself). Kids will have fun with this humorous story.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story about a boy named Jack who wanted a pet. His mom was okay with that, but when Jack thought about the pet he would get, his mom had a reason why that pet wouldn't work for them. Finally, Jack chose a pet that he could get.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a must read for those finally caving in on the pet question. This is such a cute book, but I think it would also be a great way to get your kids thinking about what different pets need and which would fit best with your family.

[Rowen Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that Jack was coming up with crazy ideas about what he should get for a pet. I didn't like that there were problems for all but one of the animals and the one was a dog. All the other ones Jack's mom said there was something wrong with it.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack really wants a pet so he starts big by asking his mom for outrageous animals such as a polar bear, bison and giraffe. In the end he has a eureka moment and tells his sleepy mom that he would like a dog. However, I don't think it's the dog his mom imagined.