What Do You Do if Your House is a Zoo?

This is a colourful big picture book about pandemonium caused when one Mum and Dad finally agree that their son can have a pet. Their son, Oscar, puts an advert on a noticeboard saying “Could you be the pet for me?”  Lots of very interesting replies then follow. The book is set out in letter form with different fonts representing the different animal’s handwriting.

The different pictures reveal the characters but so do the letters themselves. These are for a slightly older reader or to be enjoyed being read. The humour is multi layered so there is something for everyone. For example the Gorilla’s card reads “Greetings, tiny adorable human….You will be the perfect pet for me!”

All the animals think they will be perfect for Oscar and descend on the house which soon descents into chaos. At one point Mum can’t leave as the meerkat sentries have put bouncers on the gate! The cartoons are quirkily, sketchily drawn which gives lots of life and zaniness to the proceedings. There is a mixture of compartmentalised pages of pictures and big pictures which engages the reader AND a sweet ending. You might guess which pet Oscar goes for in the end but it doesn’t matter – it’s an enjoyable story with great animal fun.