A cute story about a boy who wants a pet but his parents say they are too big or too busy. When he sees a turtle at the park, he thinks it will make the perfect pet (and fits his parents' criteria). He soon discovers, however, that the turtle may be happier back at the pond. The last two pages of the book contain facts about turtles. This would be a fun book to read when reading other books about pets like "A Pet for Petunia". Although a young boy would love to have a pet of his own, his parents say no to his request for a dog, a monkey, and a bird. During a walk in the nearby park, he spots a turtle and brings it home. But the turtle, named Melvin, is not a happy pet. He spends most of his time hiding inside his shell, and only comes out when it's bath time. The boy realizes that the turtle would be happier back in the park, where he can visit Melvin every day. The acetone transfer illustrations also use markers and watercolor to bring the story to life. Backmatter includes two pages of facts about turtles. Add this one to a growing collection about children who are dying to add a pet to their family.
What do You think about Melvin And The Boy (2011)?
Love the simplicity. Beautifully made book, all the way down to the paper it is printed on.
—nimo
Cute picture book about finding the right pet or not.
—Aastha
