The Perfect Pet: A Play Book with Removable Animals
2007
illustrations by
What’s inside...
Phoebe and her brother Mark want a pet, but they can't agree on what to get. This book has detachable animals which can be slotted into the children's arms.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
16 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What kind of animal would you like as a pet and why?
How do you think taking care of a pet might change our daily routine?
If you could create the perfect pet, what special features would it have?
Why do you think each animal is important in its own way?
How do you feel when you meet new animals?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the animals in the book to any animals they know or have seen, fostering a personal connection.
Discuss the responsibilities involved in caring for each animal presented in the book, linking it to nurturing and empathy.
Invite your child to use their imagination to think of their own unique animal, enhancing their creativity.
Share your own experiences and thoughts about pets to create a meaningful two-way conversation.
After reading, consider visiting a pet store or animal shelter to give the concepts discussed a real-world context.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Children learn about the responsibilities of pet ownership as they interact with the removable animals in the book.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by helping take care of family pets or understanding why certain tasks are important in pet care.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: By taking care of the book's removable animals, children can develop empathy as they consider the needs and feelings of the animals.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to be more considerate and understanding towards animals and people in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Decision Making
Explanation: The book encourages children to make decisions about which pet would be perfect for them, promoting critical thinking.
Real-World Application: Children can use these decision-making skills when faced with choices in schoolwork or in social settings.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Interacting with the removable animals allows children to creatively engage and imagine different scenarios for the pets.
Real-World Application: This creativity can be expressed in other areas such as drawing, storytelling, or problem-solving tasks at school.