A Pet for Petunia Hardcover – Illustrated, January 25, 2011

I was drawn to this book originally at the library. It was among many books on display and I saw the front- our cat's name is Petunia and my daughter is 5 years old and looks a lot like the girl (short brown hair, etc). Sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover... when you're in a hurry.While reading this book, I realized that it's so CUTE! I love how it reads and so does my daughter. I'm surprised I haven't heard about it anywhere.I highly recommend this book for little girls around 5 or 6.Keep it mind that it's not really very educational and it's not a great book for bedtime (it's too fun). It'll give you a chance to explain how skunks use their scent and also how porcupines use their quills. But, there's a section where Petunia runs away from home into the forest (and encounters a skunk) and you might want to make sure your child understands how dangerous that would be if she tries to act it out- I presume some children might play act and there may be kids who would actually leave home if they don't realize the danger. This really shouldn't be a problem for most people (it's not a problem for us) but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Petunia wants a pet, but not just any pet. She wants a skunk (a live one, not a stuffed one like the one she carries around for almost the whole book). Her parents are naturally horrified by this, but Petunia is persistent. She promises to feed it and brush it and be responsible for it. Her parents tell her that skunks stink, but this does not seem to phase her. Will her opinion change once she runs into a skunk for real? I'll let you read and find out. I must admit the twist at the end surprised me. In a fun way of course, I laughed out loud catching the attention of a teacher walking by. This is a delightful book, perfect for sharing with young readers who desperately want pets of their own. The pictures provide a nice complement to the humorous text. There are few children who won't be able to relate to Petunia. However, you may wish to combine this book Sandra Markle's Skunks in order to discourage students from wanting skunks of their own.

Cute book! Petunia definitely possesses the characteristics of a child. I use it to teach opinion writing and my students love it.

This darling book will stir up some of anyone's childhood emotions of that desperation of wanting something. Charming illustrations and precious, convincing presentation of childlike debate just kept me smiling. . .I always thought I could and should have been able to have a monkey!!

I bought this book for my nephew, because it is funny. I love how she thinks skunks are awesome even after finding out they can be stinky.

The students in my classroom love this book.

Petunia likes skunks.No, that's not exactly right.Petunia LOVES skunks!Petunia can think of nothing better to have than her very own pet skunk. Using her toy skunk as a model, she extolls the the virtues and cuteness of skunks. They have stripes, big black eyes, and cute little noses!She tells her parents how responsible she'll be. She'll feed it everyday, take it for walks, read stories and draw pictures with it, and clean it's litter box every hour even! Petunia is aghast when her parents say no to such a perfect pet.When they explain that skunks stink, Petunia goes on an indignant tirade worthy of the Pigeon himself. She's wonderfully outrageous and everything she says will be very familiar to parents. She talks about how the situation stinks, how she needs a pet skunk and will die if she doesn't get one, they said no to the python and now the skunk, and even asks "Why did I have to get born into THIS family?" Petunia decides to take matters into her own hands."With such disappointing lunkheads for parents, naturally Petunia must leave home."She heads for the woods and wanders around where she briefly considers being eaten by bears. During her wanderings she stumbles upon the object of her obsession. The skunk was black and white, and had a cute little nose, big black eyes, stripes... She gives a little gasp of joy and then smells "the worst smell she has ever smelled in her whole entire life."It is not a small smell.It is not even a big smell.It is a STINK!Petunia immediately runs home with tears flowing from her eyes. Eventually she recovers from the shock of the skunk's stink and declares them "AWESOME!" That's right, skunks are awesomely stinky. But she looks down into the eyes of her faithful toy skunk and "decides that she already has a perfectly awesome pet."I am completely in love with Petunia. She's full of sass, energy, dramatics - she's Olivia and the Pigeon rolled into one skunk loving package! A Pet For Petunia is so wonderfully exuberant and bouncy, there's no way you can calmly read this book. Kids will love Petunia's over the top attitude and absurdly poor choice in pets. Schmid's cheerful illustrations are simple using only black, white, lavender, and the occasional yellow highlight. He captures his Petunia's vivacious attitude and skunks have never looked cuter or more snuggly!Featured at an Abundance of Books, read full review here - [...]