Charlotte and the Rock

PreS-Gr 2—Charlotte, like most children, yearns to own a pet; any kind will do. When her parents finally deliver, Charlotte is less than ecstatic to receive a pet rock. Her extraordinary pet is not the handheld type with googly eyes pasted on, but a huge boulder. Positives of the pet rock: Dennis is a great listener, doesn't require much maintenance, and is hypoallergenic. Negatives: he is extremely hard to walk, won't eat those pesky veggies that are dropped under the table, and doesn't really show affection. But Charlotte still manages to make the best of an odd situation, loving her rock and constantly wishing for it to love her back. Finally, one night, the rock instinctively knows that Charlotte needs a hug, so obligingly, it cracks open, releasing the baby dino (complete with spectacles) that has been incubating inside all along. In the end, Charlotte and her new dino pet are happier than ever. Vintage-style illustrations with spare coloring add to the appeal of this heartwarming story. Children will laugh at the surprise ending and may be inspired to try to hatch a pet rock of their own.