
The Bookworm
The Bookworm
Debi Gliori
Bloomsbury, 2019
32pp., hbk., RRP $A21.99
9781408893036
Max really wants a pet. But all his suggestions are met with objections from his parents, or indeed, Max himself. Puppies chew things, kittens make awful smells; penguins melt; sharks have too many teeth and dragons don’t exist. Goldfish are boring; birds too chatty; wasps unfriendly and flies, while friendly, have revolting habits.
But then Max discovers the ideal pet – one even his parent approve of – or is it?
There are lots of stories about children wanting pets and having to search for just the right one, but this one is a little different with an ending that surprised even me (and I’ve read a lot of endings!) Of course a book with this title is always going to appeal to a teacher librarian, but I also love Gliori’s work and knew it would be more than just an intriguing title. I wasn’t disappointed.
Something quirky and just right for our young readers who want to combine both reading and the perfect pet!