The Perfect Pet

Carol Bodrug is a former elementary-school teacher with the Durham Board
of Education.

Three pigs—Hamlet, Pygmalion, and Podge—want a dog for a pet “more
than wallowing in the mud on a hot summer’s day.” Every day the
three pigs stop by Mr. Pinkerton’s pet shop to view the prospects. Mr.
Pinkerton, understanding their dilemma in choosing the perfect pet,
allows them to take some of the dogs home for a trial run. The first to
go is Goliath, but he turns out to be too big. The next one, Baxter, is
smaller, but he turns out to be way too noisy and energetic for the
three pigs. Digby follows, but he turns out to have a digging problem.
The pigs try out a few more dogs for a while but they, too, are all
disastrous and back they go to the shop.

The young pigs then decide to make a list of all the characteristics
they want in their new dog—and all of those that they don’t
want—and take it to Mr. Pinkerton. The list requires some serious
thought, so Mr. Pinkerton asks them to come back later. When they
return, Mr. Pinkerton presents them with the PURRFECT pet named Socks.

Carol Chataway has written a delightful story. Children will chuckle at
the antics of the various candidates for the pigs’ affections. The
bold print is easy to read and the story would be perfect for reading
aloud. Greg Holfeld’s bright, bold, detailed, hilarious illustrations
enhance the witty text and add to the overall sense of fun. Highly
recommended.