The Pets You Get
What’s inside...
The book 'The Pets You Get' by Thomas Taylor is a children's story that explores the adventures and misadventures of a young protagonist who navigates the joys and challenges of pet ownership. The narrative may include themes of responsibility, friendship, and the bond between pets and their owners. Through colorful illustrations and engaging text, the book aims to entertain and educate young readers about the various aspects of caring for pets. The protagonist considers various exotic pets like an enormous brown bear, a tentacled beast from the sea, and a humongous smoky dragon that glows. However, they ultimately discover that even the smallest of pets can be surprisingly fun too.
Discussion points
What kind of pet would you like to have, and why?
How do you think you would take care of your pet?
What are some ways that the pets in the book showed they were happy or sad?
Which pet in the book was your favorite and why?
If you could create a new pet, what unique features would it have?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to convey the emotions of different pets in the story, making the reading session more lively and engaging.
After reading the book, encourage your child to draw their favorite pet from the story or even invent their own unique pet.
Discuss the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet, relating them to the pets in the book and asking your child how they would handle similar situations.
Connect the story to real-life by visiting a pet store or an animal shelter to see different kinds of pets and learn more about their needs.
Praise your child's responses to the questions to build their confidence in expressing their thoughts and opinions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story illustrates the importance of taking care of pets, highlighting daily tasks such as feeding and grooming.
Real-World Application: Children learn to adopt routines and take on responsibilities in caring for a living being, translating to better personal responsibility.
Example Lesson: Compassion
Explanation: Characters in the book show kindness and empathy towards the pets, teaching children to treat animals with care and respect.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to extend empathy and compassion to classmates and family members, fostering positive interpersonal relationships.
Example Lesson: Decision Making
Explanation: The narrative involves choosing a pet, which can help children understand the process of making thoughtful decisions.
Real-World Application: Children are inspired to weigh options and consider consequences in their own decisions, from choosing a snack to selecting a game to play with friends.
Example Lesson: Acceptance of Differences
Explanation: The variety of pets and their unique traits are celebrated, teaching children to appreciate diversity.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children to embrace differences among people they meet, promoting inclusiveness and reducing prejudice.