Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, October 2015 A charming introduction to some very surprising but most unsuitable pets! Melissa loves her octopus but soon finds that an octopus is a tricky pet to keep – especially at bath-time! Betty has trouble of a different kind with her pet. A chameleon is all very well but it can be vey difficult to find…And it turns out that a worm, a giraffe and an elephant all have their difficulties too. But there is no doubt that Kevin and Bertrand have the very worse pet of all…and that’s all because of his very, very sharp teeth! ~ Julia Eccleshare
The author says, "I always wanted an armadillo when I was little – but I don't think it would have been a very happy pet. I now have two cats, four hens, and a small parrot called Gwen... The cats are frightened of the hens and terrified of the parrot! "
Melissa's Octopus and Other Unsuitable Pets Synopsis
In this laugh-out-loud, riotous new book from picture book master Charlotte Voake, follow Melissa, her friends, and all their rather unsuitable pets! There are certain animals that make suitable pets, like a cat, a dog or a guinea pig. Then there are other animals that definitely make unsuitable pets, like an octopus, a warthog or an elephant. They are much too large, too messy and, well, just a tad free-spirited. They also have a tendency to break things ...like floors, ceilings and tables. But can you guess what makes the most unsuitable pet ever? Here's a clue ...he has a long, scaly green tail and very sharp teeth.
Charlotte offers a lesson on how to draw a less than furry friend on The Guardian Children's books web page: click here!
Charlotte Voake is a distinguished and much-loved illustrator of children’s books. She was born in Wales and studied at the University of London. Her first illustrations were published while she was studying there in 1978. She has won the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Smarties Book Award twice. She has been shortlisted for both the Kurt Maschler Emil Award and her picture book, Ginger, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and won the Smarties Book Prize Gold Award. Charlotte visited Mount Caburn while preparing the illustrations for this book, and found it "an extraordinary place. I could well imagine Elsie Piddock skipping there with Andy-Spandy, Flea-Foot and Heels-o'-Lead. The atmosphere is magical." Read more about the author here.
