Eddie's Menagerie

Eddie Wilson #14

by Carolyn Haywood, Ingrid Fetz (Illustrator)

The adventure of Eddie as he gets a job in a pet shop and acquires a hat that soon becomes one of his most prized possessions.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Carolyn Haywood was an American writer and illustrator of children’s books, best known for her beloved “Eddie” and “Betsy” series, which captured everyday childhood with warmth and authenticity. Raised in a supportive, middle-class Philadelphia family, she developed her artistic talents early, studying art and later working as a teacher, an experience that inspired her to write for young readers. After formal training in fine arts and travel in Europe, she worked on murals before turning fully to books. Her debut, “B” is for Betsy, appeared in 1939, launching a prolific career built on close observation of children’s lives and feelings, continuing for decades.

Reviews

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I *think* this is this edition:



So, Goodreads says this is a book 14, which... makes more sense than it being a standalone book, certainly. I read this and was just a *bit* concerned that this boy Eddie loves animals SO MUCH that his parents have allowed him to have like a MILLION animals (and even end up getting talked into buying a horse!), yet in the book, he spends almost NO time with ANY of them.

...well, except the chameleon, which he then gives away on impulse. Which is absolutely a terrible thing to do to a pet, just hand it over like a Pokémon or something.

In particular, I'm concerned that he spends so much time in Mr. Cornball's* pet store to the point of impulse-selling someone a kitten... but not KITTEN SUPPLIES. Maybe that was just glazed over, but they describe the mother buying the kitten ONLY, no indication that they are at all prepared to just welcome a kitten into their forever home.

*what a name!

Also, the cats are fed milk. I've mentioned this in other reviews, but this is so bad, and cats need to eat CAT FOOD. It's not specified that it's kitten milk (and also, why are the GROWN cats drinking it?), so all of this adds up to "animal lover, but definitely not animal EXPERT."

Actually, the one significant part where his dogs come into play, where—like any stereotypical young boy—Eddie leaves his most valuable prized possession out for his dogs to destroy IMMEDIATELY... I don't want to say I *liked* that? But it definitely was a surprise, and not a story I see told very often. Like, it's not heartwarming at ALL (the opposite, in fact), and if anything, it's a cautionary tale, that "one cannot serve two masters" (you can either have all your stuff in perfect condition, or you can have dogs). I don't even care about the autographed baseball glove, but I do recognise that if I had something that rare, I'd keep a lot better care of it than Eddie apparently did, for exactly that reason.

I don't know if I'd recommend this, since it feels so dated, but take out the parts I didn't like, and it would probably be fine. Except the part where the "shopkeepers" complain to the school about children shoplifting, like... do they actually KNOW kids are shoplifting? This is pre-security cameras and all, so part of me has doubts. I know it's to make a story, but still, the prejudice. I don't know.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie works in a pet store and has many adventures involving animals.

I would have enjoyed this story more had the author not forgotten several details about Eddie. I understand that this is challenging, coming back to a series after so many years away, but the author seems to have forgotten every dog, cat, horse, parrot, and other critter that Eddie ever had (and he's had plenty!) It doesn't even feel like a true Eddie book, which was really disappointing.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie gets a volunteer job at a pet shop, helps his friends, makes friends with a baseball player, adopts some pets. I thought this would have more about animals, but it is mostly about Eddie and his interactions with his friends. It's a cute, wholesome story. Although it was written in 1978, it feels like 1950.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie is an independent fellow that loves taking care of animals. He befriends the man who owns the local pet store and thus his adventure begins!

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not as good as the rest.

[Jordan Lavallee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book ever written

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

eddie is the #1 animal lover,he has 3 dogs and a chameleon. He persuades Mr.Cornball the petshop owner to allow him to be a volunteer store detecter. Now Eddie is surrounded by almost every pet you can think of! Eddie can't stay away from the adventure,he helps the petshop owner save tons of animals and prevents shoplifting. What more can eddie do? READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! :D I loved this book because I am an animal lover too!

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Eddie's Menagerie. It was where he got a ton of animals and he worked at a pet shop. They got to go to a baseball game for free if they wore these hats that the petshops wife made. And the team that they were cheering for won. In the shop he was the person that made sure nobody would steal. And he liked the horse that he saw at the pet shop so he asked his Dad to buy it. There was always a fair. That's where he got the hat that was red, white and blue.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book I learned that just because people have something of yours doesn't mean they are stealing. Like in this book when a helpful person rode Eddie's horse to safety, not to steal her. Auryn, 12 years old, 2015

[Linzeyjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's book - good story - Eddie is an independent fellow that loves taking care of animals. He befriends the man who owns the local pet store and thus his adventure begins!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventures of Eddie as he gets a job in a pet shop and acquires a hat that soon becomes one of his most prized possessions.

[Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one with a young niece. What a fun little read. Illustrations are cute too.