The Grumpy Pets

February 15, 2016
What happens when pets resemble even the youngest, grumpiest of owners? A mother takes her two kids--curmudgeon Billy and older sister Sara, both white--to Perfect Pets, a storefront animal rescue shelter. Mom worries about frown-wearing Billy, and she hopes that the trip to the shelter will bring a smile to her son's face. "Who couldn't help but smile with so much cuteness everywhere?" Billy, that's who. Unlike Billy, a diverse group of future dog owners grin as they hold, play, and hug prospective pets--even Sara finds joy with kittens. Billy, it turns out, "was not amused." Past the ranks of happy dogs in crates and beyond the food, toy, bed, and kibble aisles, Billy hears growls, barks, and hisses. There, in the back of the store, Billy finds the titular grumpy pets. Looking out from rows and columns of animal crates are scruffy, grouchy, crabby faces--not unlike the story's protagonist's. Billy, soon having found his match, points at a moody gray puppy and delivers the only three words of dialogue: "I'll take him!" A volunteer hands the puppy over to Billy, and for the first time since readers meet Billy, he indeed smiles. In a style reminiscent of Scott Campbell's in Hug Machine (2014), Lombardi's expressive illustrations and straightforward dialogue together deliver a benevolent, breezy tale. Though on the tame side, it's still a sweet story about a boy and a dog rescuing each other. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-When Billy's mother takes him and his sister to the Perfect Pets animal rescue, she hopes Billy will find a pet to make him smile. But Billy, a grumpy boy, is not amused by the pets, which range from happy to happier to way too happy. But soon he discovers the area in the back where they keep the grumpy pets-they are crabby, cranky, and moody-just like Billy. There he encounters a dog that matches him, grumpy look for grumpy look, and then gives him a big doggy kiss. With the dog in his arms, Billy smiles for a long time before reverting to his standard grumpy look. Using soft colors, great expressions, and just enough detail, Lombardi's illustrations perfectly capture the emotions among the animals and humans alike. The slew of grumpy animals-hedgehog, turtle, lizard, hamster-featured on the endpapers are a fun touch. VERDICT This book will resonate with those animal lovers of all stripes and is a good way to start a discussion on what makes pets grumpy and how to act around them.-Catherine Callegari, formerly at Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

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