My Favorite Pets, by Gus W. for Ms. Smolinski's Class

by Jeanne Birdsall, Harry Bliss (Illustrator)

A hilarious picture book from New York Times bestselling author of The Penderwicks Jeanne Birdsall and New York Times bestselling illustrator Harry Bliss about one child's outrageous school essay on his "pet" sheep.
 
Things to know about
Sheep live outside.
Sheep have wool.
Sheep will not learn to ride a skateboard.
Sheep will not climb a tree.
Sheep will come into the house...but this will get you into trouble.
 
Seventeen sheep plus one Gus means that life is never dull on the farm! From National Book Award winning author Jeanne Birdsall and New York Times Bestselling illustrator Harry Bliss comes a hilarious tale about man's other best friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Humor, Childrens, School, Writing, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 5, 2016

About the author

Jeanne Birdsall grew up in the suburbs west of Philadelphia, where she attended wonderful public schools. Jeanne had lots of great teachers, but her favorites were: Mrs. Corkhill, sixth grade, who encouraged her intellectual curiosity; Mr. Tremonte, eighth grade algebra, who taught Jeanne to love and respect math; and Miss Basehore, second and fourth year Latin, to whom Jeanne (and Mr. Penderwick) will be forever grateful.
Although she first decided to become a writer when she was ten years old, it took Jeanne until she was forty-one to get started. In the years in between, Jeanne had many strange jobs to support herself, and also worked hard as a photographer, the kind that makes art. Some of Jeanne's photographs are included in the permanent collections of museums, including the Smithsonian and the Philadelphia Art Museum. Her work can be seen in several galleries, including the R. Michelson Galleries in western Massachusetts.
Jeanne's home now is with her husband in Northampton, Massachusetts. Their house is old and comfortable, full of unruly animals, and surrounded by gardens.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheep are awesome. I don't know why I didn't have a sheep shelf. All those Tiffany Aching books!

This brings me to the end of my Birdsall readathon. It was great fun. I may well do it all again when her next book comes out. The Penderwicks still hold first place, but the picture books are also charming.

Library copy

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The eponymous Gus W. writes about his pet sheep in a report-card for Ms. Smolinski's class in this amusing picture-book, chronicling the ins and outs of interacting with his favorite ovine companions. Sheep have their quirks, and Gus lays them out here - they won't climb trees, and can't be taught to skateboard - while also reporting on some of the 'quirks' of his family, from his father's pique when Gus lets his little brother ride one of the sheep, to his mother's horror when he lets his "pets' into the house.

A humorous tale, one which offers a dual narrative of sorts - it is as much the story of Gus and his family, as it is a report about pet sheep - My Favorite Pets pairs a hilarious story from Jeanne Birdsall, author of the middle-grade Penderwicks series, with appealing ink and watercolor illustrations from artist Harry Bliss, who has also worked on such titles as Diary of a Worm and its sequels. The final page, which gives Ms. Smolinski's response to Gus's report, is particularly amusing! Recommended to anyone looking for fun, entertaining new tales for the picture-book set.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just so you know where I stand...I think this is a practically perfect picture book by a more-than-talented set of creators. Humor, perspective, writing, parenting, siblings, farm animals, dialog, POV, persuasion--this book has it all. Recommended for those who like a little humor in the picture books and especially for schools.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I am one of the world's biggest non-fans of Birdsall's Penderwicks series, which I find to be annoying attempts at imitating great girl books of the past. So I approached this new turn in Birdsall's career with my best cynic's hat on.

Surprise, surprise. Okay, sheep are funny and work well with snark. But Birdsall shows a positive flair for it here. This is sort of as if you took the Sheep in a Jeep series, added a nice spoonful of The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash, a pinch of Doreen Cronin's work, stirred well, and added Harry Bliss's terrific illustrations.

A bit derivative, but in a good way. More of this, Ms Birdsall, and less saccharine Eleanor Estes/Maud Hart Lovelace/Melinda Enright wannabe. This, you're pretty good at doing.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because you can try to teach sheep to skateboard and other things, but they will just eat grass. You can put them in a wheelbarrow and in a car, but don't let them into your house.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Favorite Pets is a wildly comical and highly entertaining tale that will have readers young and old giggling with delight.

Gus turns in his school report about his favorite pets and the tale that unfolds is priceless and informative. For those who may not know... sheep look silly in pajamas, shouldn't wear a scarf (especially if it doesn't belong to you), and under no circumstance should they be allowed to come in your home. These valid points and many more are made clear in Gus's well researched and vividly detailed report.

I loved this story. It had me laughing out loud and was so enjoyable I read it again for good measure. The illustrations are also fantastic and add to the amusement. I got a kick out of the expressions on the sheep's faces as Gus's antics play out. My Favorite Pets is just the kind of book my sons would have adored when they were little. It's certainly a book children will want to hear again and again.

I highly recommend picking up a copy.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: My favorite pet is sheep. We have seventeen in our yard. Seventeen sheep are still sheep, not sheeps.

Premise/plot: Gus is writing a report for his teacher. It is ALL about sheep and then some. As his report progresses, it gets wackier and wackier. It goes from "A boy sheep is a ram. He has horns" to "Sheep won't ride a skateboard, no matter how long you teach them." I must say that it reveals more about Gus himself than the sheep he professes to love.

My thoughts: I like this one. I do. The narrative voice is very strong with Gus. I like the format, seeing the 'handwriting' of this report. The dialogue is also nice. But I think more than anything, I love the illustrations.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why?

What was this?

Ok, no smart-elbow remarks about this being a boy's report about sheep, duh. This is obvious. But the point of this book was not. So strange. Did he like the sheep? Not like the sheep? I couldn't tell. Half of the book it seemed like he really did NOT like the sheep and the other half made it seem like he was just using them to torture his little brother.

All in all just very confusing.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, clever book! You're teaching me about sheep, about families, about writing, and about behavior while making me laugh and want to read more about the main character's life. I am thoroughly entertained. More!

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this picture book written in the form of a class report. Light on story of course, but with great illustrations that encourage going through the book multiple times and examining all the amusing details. Best spread: "A boy sheep is a ram. He has horns. The horns do not come off."

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! I loved this "report" on sheep which is really a look at the sheep disaster at Gus' house. Harry Bliss's illustrations are hilarious. Some small boys I know are going to find this one very funny.

[Niki Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uproarious. Framed as a school report for his teacher, this book (written by Gus) outlines the shenanigans Gus puts his family's sheep through. Appeal for the troublemaker in us all

[Karyn The Pirate · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has sheep - what can I say?

[pati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious - also, I am reconsidering the whole sheep-as-a-pet thing!

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sheepishly good read!!!

[Cosette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gus writes a school report on his favorite pet, sheep.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful blend of story, humor, and illustrations.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Gus has a homework assignment to write a report on his favorite pet, and he picks a sheep. He lives on a farm where there are seventeen of them. Using ruled lines and readable childlike print, Gus begins his report with a few realistic facts about sheep. However before long the story becomes playful as he tries to make his little brother ride one, Gus gives it a shave, helps it climb a tree, ride a wheel barrow, etc. When the seventeen sheep all enter his house, pure bedlam occurs. With Harry Bliss' fanciful and gorgeously rendered black India ink and watercolor illustrations, hilarious details are depicted such as a sheep wearing underpants with his hoof and leg piercing a picture frame, another sheep sports a vase on his head, while another is feasting on a pot of spaghetti. These examples capture only a few of the many ingenious visual details the children will spot. The story ends with his teacher giving Gus a B+. The combination of Jeanne Birdsall's clever text, and Harry Bliss highly ingenious illustrations is a real hoot!

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful marrying of text and art! Delightful story of a boy named Gus writing a report about his favorite pet(s), following the basic advice for a report: write what you know. Gus knows sheep, and he passes along his knowledge and advice in the most entertaining fashion. For example, "A baby sheep is a lamb. If you trade your little brother for a lamb, your mother will say, "Why is Sammy covered in hay?"

Since the story is based on Gus's school report, I love the art detail of the text given on the familiar manuscript paper with the dotted line to guide students print neatly between top and bottom solid lines.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming funny book with a practical touch of the absurd to it and an ernest attempt at communication. Written from a school age child's eye view, the attempt to conform to the format and language he think the teacher wants, while running with his imagination, this calmly tells the tale. Clearly a bold spirit is trying to fly within the report constrictions. Words and a warmly illustrated back story combine to make a book with both a heart and a soul. A lovely book to share and ponder over.

[Katie Bruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys' favorite pet is sheep. One of his sheep ate a scarf Ms. Smolinski loaned him. Then the boy, Gus, cut a chunk of hair off the sheep aand made it into a beard for himself. This gives humor and entertainment to young children reading this. The sheep also destroyed the house, and love to chew up everything in the living room. Gus's dad wants him to get some sleep, and not worry about his sheep. Gus says goodnight.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing take on the typical picture book about having a pet.

For Gus W., supposed to be the author of a school report, the humor is in the details. Details about the sheep. Details in the illustrations.

My favorite quip:

If you trade your little brother for a lamb, your mother will say,
"Why is Sammy covered in hay?"

FIVE STARS, FOR SURE

Highly entertaining text by Jeanne Birdsall.
And equally entertainingly hilarious pictures by Harry Bliss.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some funny parts to this story. In some places, however, the author goes "too far."

Readers will enjoy looking at the detailed illustrations.

Connections: inferencing, intro for writing a research paper (K-1st grade)
Audience: 1-3

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy has to write a report about his favorite pet. In this case, it's sheep. It's a very cute story about all the fun things he does with the sheep on his family's farm.

Illustrations are quite funny!

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find Harry Bliss's illustrations really pleasing. Very cute, with facial expressions that really tell a tale. Combine it with Birdsall's story of a mischievous boys's classroom composition about his favorite pets (sheep!) and you have a winner.

[Olivia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little conflicted on this one. Great illustrations, good sense of humour, probably a fairly accurate view of sheep. Just not sure about annoying sheep this much, or if these are in fact pets. #veganproblems.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan winter reading 2017, children's book, picture book, animals, sheeps, pets, trouble makers, prek, kindergarten, writing, reports, first grade, second grade

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funnier than it should have been.

[Gps · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun illustrations and a silly theme, but just not that great a read,