What Pet Should I Get?
Classic Seuss Series
on Goodreads (5,515)
What’s inside...
A #1 New York Times bestseller, 'What Pet Should I Get?' by Dr. Seuss is a previously unpublished picture book centered around a brother and sister choosing a pet. The story captures the difficulty of making decisions and the importance of eventually making up one's mind. Complete with Dr. Seuss's classic rhyming style, this book is perfect for Seuss fans and ideal for various occasions. An Editor's Note provides insights into Dr. Seuss's pets, his creative process, and how the manuscript and illustrations were discovered.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-6
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What qualities do you think make a good pet?
If you could choose any pet, what would it be and why?
How do the characters in the book decide what pet to get?
What do you think are the responsibilities of having a pet?
How do you think having a pet would change our daily routine?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, ask your child what they know about pets and what pet they might like to have.
Pause at key moments in the story to ask your child how they think the characters feel about the decisions they are making.
Discuss the pros and cons of different pets portrayed in the book, relating them to your child's responses and daily life.
After finishing the book, encourage your child to draw or describe their ideal pet and what fun activities they would do together.
Use the book as a starting point to discuss the importance of caring for another living being, emphasizing empathy and responsibility.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Decision-making
Explanation: The story navigates through the process of a brother and sister choosing a pet, which illustrates the importance of making decisions.
Real-World Application: Children learn to evaluate options and make choices, a skill they can use when selecting activities or deciding between right and wrong.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Choosing a pet inherently teaches about the responsibility involved in caring for another living being.
Real-World Application: Children understand that their choices, like adopting a pet, come with the duty to provide care and attention.
Example Lesson: Acceptance of Limits
Explanation: The children must select only one pet, which teaches them about the limitations they must often work within.
Real-World Application: This helps children grasp the concept of limits in resources, such as time and money, in real-life scenarios like family budgets or personal allowances.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: Throughout the book, the siblings carefully consider their options, which shows the value of patience in decision-making.
Real-World Application: This reinforces to children the importance of thinking decisions through fully, rather than making impulsive choices.