PreS-Gr 2 Zoe wants a pet more than anything in the world. Her bedroom is furnished with pet decor; she has paw-print rugs and wears bunny slippers. In fact, she thinks about pets all day long. Zoe's mom tries to take the child's mind off her obsession by encouraging her to help make decorations for her Aunt Ellie's upcoming baby shower. That night, she dreams about a shower of baby animals falling from the sky. Zalben's wordplay is evident as a news clip inserted into the illustration adds to this whimsical tale. "It is really raining cats and dogs," reports the weatherman. The day of the shower, "lightning struck and thunder roared, followed by a whimper, a scratch, and a tiny bark." Readers will smile as a puppy appears on Zoe's aunt's porch. The cartoon-style illustrations create a pleasing interplay between text and pictures. Zalben's use of white space throughout the background draws readers to the warm colors, evoking a cozy mood of hearth and home. Some of the pictures are paired with alliterative phases ("Turtles tangled traffic!"), making this choice a fun family read-aloud. This sweet story ends with charm and wit, including the name of the newfound puppy: "Baby.""Melissa Smith, Green Valley Library, Henderson, NV" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
Leading up to her aunt's baby shower, Zoe, desperate for a pet, dreams that it rains kittens, puppies, bunnies, and piglets. After the party, she finds a dog huddled outside her aunt's apartment--and gets to keep it. The story tries to do too much; Zalben's well-crafted, warm-hearted illustrations attempt to keep up.
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