One little girl is determined to find her perfect pet at a wonderfully unusual animal shelter. The Copley County Animal Shelter has an aardvark, a lizard, a goose, a weasel, and plenty more. But do they have a dog? Our little girl has even turned up with a trolley to take home a dog – and she will not take ‘no’ for an answer! This hilarious subversion of the standard you-cannot-have-a-pet trope is a wonderful read-aloud text with repetition and build up of drama. The fun of the story could even lead to a wider discussion about what pets it is really possible to have.

Review
　　“Agee, an absurdist of long and beloved standing . . . knows how to build on and milk a fine premise. This is a very fine one . . . and Agee’s cartoonish but deadpan watercolors strike just the right comic tone.” ―The New York Times Book Review

　　“This is a great storytime read-aloud and a wonderful addition to any library collection. This cheerful story is sure to inspire bouts of laughter from young children.” ―School Library Journal

　　“Agee’s cartoon drawings of the hapless animals are winning, but it’s the child’s implacable resolve that sees the story through.” ―Publishers Weekly

　　“Beginning readers will love the child’s firm reiteration of priorities . . . This entertaining, engaging read makes the most impossible pets seem…well, possible.” ―Kirkus

　　“Agee (The Wall in the Middle of the Book, 2018) brings his unique charm and gentle absurdity to an otherwise-straightforward dialogue . . . his artwork elevates the story, rendering so much humor (and, somehow, pathos) through deceptively simple expressions and gestures. With Agee, readers are always in for a treat. ―Booklist

　　“The charm here is in the subversion of the standard you-cannot-have-a-pet trope, with the youngster playing the practical, no-nonsense realist, and the grownup tending toward the outlandish and frantic.” ―BCCB