I liked this book for two reasons. First, I liked the way that the book flowed. It was paced very well with a new idea on each page. One page would be talking about getting a python, and then the next page was talking about getting a flock of sheep. This made the book go by very smoothly and quickly, but it wasn’t an abrupt change from page to page. The other thing I liked about this book were the illustrations. They were very detailed throughout the entire story and really represented Tony’s imagination. In the story, Tony kept coming up with crazy ideas of animals that he wanted as a pet. His dad would answer his request with a question regarding how he would take care of the animal in some way, and Tony always had a response. His requests were always outrageous and the illustrations showed them perfectly. For example, towards the end of the story, he says that he wants to get a dolphin and a baby whale and says that they can fill their apartment with water. The illustration on this page shows Tony filling his apartment with water using a hose, as his dad answers the door to two crates with a dolphin and baby whale inside. The illustrations make it much easier to picture exactly what Tony was thinking.
I think the big idea of this book is compromising with others. During this story, Tony asks for insane animals to have as pets and his dad continuously turns them down for different reasons. However, at the end of the book, Tony suggests getting a puppy and his dad finally agrees to it and Tony gets his pet. ( )

This book was an easier read and about an young boy who wants an elephant. They go through a list of animals and how they would provide for these animals in their small apartment. In the end they settle for an animal that would be just right for their family. Good book to talk to students about what kinds of animals are "wild" vs. "for the home" ( )

Another good persuasive text, though it veers off into other animals as the elephant idea is picked to pieces by his father. It ends with a more reasonable request and all is well that ends well. It would pair nicely with I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff. ( )

A really cute story of a boy who is trying to talk his father into getting a pet. The outrageous requests for elephants, pythons and dolphins ultimately gets the little boy a puppy. Pretty clever! ( )

This is a very funny book children will enjoy. The various exotic animals take over the apartment and often make aside comments in speech bubbles. Another clever element is the story progresses as the father and son get ready for their day...so you see them doing their daily routine of breakfast, shaving, etc in the midst of all of the imaginative pet circumstances.

The book would make a good read out loud for library story time because it is so funny. Children could point out many of the silly things they see the animals doing. Following the book, the children could share what animal they would like as a pet if they could choose any animal in the world. They could draw a picture of that animal at their house and the things they would need to keep that animal happy. Depending on the age of the children, they could write a story about it as well.