From Publishers Weekly
Pert colored-paper cut-outs illustrate this simple story about owning a pet. Five children have entered their pets in a show, and each takes a turn explaining the merits of his or her contestant, be it dog, cat, bird, hamster or lizard. Information on animal behavior, as well as care and feeding, are deftly woven throughout. All the entrants give such swell presentations that the judge has no choice but to award everyone some kind of prize. Halpern's (My River) straightforward text achieves an appealing balance of fact and emotion, and readers will relate to the characters' expressions of affection. The text also emphasizes the important responsibilities of pet ownership in an open, friendly tone. A zippy color scheme enlivens the goings-on. One small quibble-the children's mouths appear distorted when the artist attempts facial expressions other than smiles. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K?A pet show provides a multicultural group of children the opportunity to share a few details about the habits and care of their various pets, which include a dog, cat, parakeet, hamster, and lizard. The collage illustrations, created with paint and cut paper and framed with white space, add vibrancy to the somewhat stilted text and also provide an amusing subtext?while the owners wait in line, the creatures succumb to their instincts, at one point causing complete chaos. The youngsters are rendered in brilliant colors, and their affection for their pets is obvious. The show's judge is a nonthreatening older gentleman, eccentrically resplendent in a green hat, fuschia shirt, and purple tie. In a burst of ingenuity, he makes everyone a winner, awarding ribbons for categories such as "Best Tricks," "Softest Fur," and "Most Unusual." The simple story line and the minimal information make this an appropriate introduction to the subject for the very young.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 3-6. Snipped from jewel-toned, tempera-textured papers, then glued into place on white backgrounds, Halpern's cutout figures display an impressive array of expressions and details. They also present a diverse assortment of entrants in a pet show. Each child introduces his or her pet to the judge. As the contestants tell about their pets, the artwork expands upon their descriptions--Bucky the dog is shown in his bubble bath, and Raymond the lizard is seen hungrily eyeing a cricket. Unpretentiously incorporated into each pet's cameo is information about the care each animal requires. Between each child's presentation is pictured a series of humorous interactions among contestants as they nervously await the contest's outcome. Finally, the judge's deliberations are complete, and he presents a winning ribbon to each animal, recognizing its unique qualities. This is a highly appealing glimpse at a variety of pets and their care for young animal lovers. Ellen Mandel
From Kirkus Reviews
In this simple, informative book about pets, five children introduce their animals to a pet-show judge by telling him a little bit about their pets. There's Bucky the dog (who does tricks), Fern the cat (who purrs), George the bird (who sings), Sophie the hamster (who has soft fur), and Raymond the lizard (who is unusual). In the end, everyone gets a prize. Halpern's (Moving from One to Ten, not reviewed) painted cutouts are more interesting than the no-nonsense text that accompanies them, particularly on the pages where she depicts pet-show pandemonium getting under way. A warning to parents who don't want to get their children pets: The last picture is of a quaint little pet store, and underneath it is written, ``Which pet would you like to have?'' Pleasant, but lacks imagination. (Fiction/Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.