
A parent should reach for this book when their child is in a silly mood and enjoys stories that are a little spooky but not at all scary. Perfect for the lead-up to Halloween or for any child fascinated by skeletons, this book offers a gentle, humorous take on perseverance. The story follows a big skeleton and a little skeleton on their quest to find the perfect pet. After a few comical failures with a puppy, a parrot, and a goldfish, they discover that the best companion for them is just as unique as they are. It's a charming tale for preschoolers about not giving up and the joy of finding a friend who fits you perfectly, wrapped in delightful, absurd humor.
The protagonists are skeletons, an obvious reference to death. However, the book's approach is entirely metaphorical and humorous, with no mention of loss, grief, or the afterlife. The tone is secular, light, and playful. The resolution is purely hopeful and comedic.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe ideal reader is a 4 to 6 year old with a quirky sense of humor who is intrigued by 'spooky' characters but needs the context to be safe and funny. It's perfect for a child who loves visual gags and silly what-if scenarios. The simple, repetitive text also makes it excellent for an early emerging reader.
This book requires no special preparation and can be read cold. The humor is straightforward and well-supported by the illustrations. A parent might want to quickly peek at the ending, where the dog is revealed to be a skeleton, just to ensure it will be received as funny by their particular child, but the cartoonish art style keeps it from being gruesome. A parent has noticed their child is curious about skeletons (from a museum, a TV show, or science class) and wants a fun, age-appropriate way to engage with that interest. Or, a parent is looking for a Halloween-themed book that is sweet and funny rather than scary.
A younger child (3-4) will focus on the slapstick visual humor: the dog bone falling through the skeleton's ribs, the parrot flying through the skull. An older child (5-7) will better appreciate the narrative arc of perseverance, the humorous logic of the problems, and the clever twist at the end. They may also begin to recognize it as part of Ahlberg's larger collection of funny family stories.
While many books explore choosing a pet, this one stands out due to its wonderfully absurd premise. By making the main characters skeletons, Allan Ahlberg turns the mundane challenges of pet ownership into a series of hilarious, impractical problems. Its uniqueness is in this creative, funny framing of a familiar childhood experience.
A big skeleton and a little skeleton from the "Happy Families" series decide to get a pet. They visit the local pet shop and try out several animals. A puppy proves too slobbery for their bony frames, a parrot's squawks go right through their empty skulls, and a goldfish is impossible for them to see. Dejected, they head home, only to be followed by a stray dog. When a rainstorm washes the dog's 'skin' away, they are delighted to discover it's a skeleton dog: their perfect pet.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.