Horn Book Review
One morning, Lily saw something wonderful in her garden." She calls it "Doggy," but the lively illustrations reveal a bear. Her mother won't let her keep him, so Lily creates a poster (describing his un-doglike behavior), drawing the attention of the rightful owner (the zoo). Kids will love being in on the joke and will roar when Lily finds her next unusual pet: "Kitty! (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Lily's new pet is a real handful. One morning, little Lily spots "something wonderful" in her garden. It's big and brown and hairy, and she's always wanted one. Rushing outside, she interrupts a bear rooting through the garbage, and uses her scarf to improvise a leash. "Doggy!" she declares, and takes him for a walk. Busy Mom doesn't really look when Lily explains her discovery, suggesting that Doggy might be lost. To help Doggy's owner find him, Lily makes a big poster and tacks it to a tree, secretly hoping that nobody sees it. Meantime, she learns a lot about Doggy: He hates dog food but loves to raid the refrigerator. He likes to play in the park but hates to walk there. He won't fetch or sit or stay, but he loves being scratched. He doesn't like to get a bath but looks very pretty when he's clean. Of course somebody does see the poster, and comes to Lily's door. Zookeeper Theodore Wilde is immensely relieved to take "Doggy" back home to the zoo. But wouldn't you know it that the next morning, Lily spots another something wonderful in her garden: "Kitty!" Young readers should relate to Lily's curiosity and sense of adventure, well captured in Stower's pictures, which make the bear look mild-mannered and bemused. Still, it is but one of many odd-pet books out there. Funny enough, but it won't have much staying power. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
