When a girl's father says no to a pet, she decides to work with what she already has, and attempts to transform her father into the perfect pet.

Plum never takes no for an answer, so when dear old Dad says no to her latest request, she finds a way to get what she wants anyway. Her desire, a pet...his answer NO...her answer, DAD is now her pet. Sounds good in theory...for a while...but in practice, not so much. It turns out Plum wants the full experience, and Dad isn't quite ready to paper-train or munch on random yard clippings. Through trail and error, and perhaps a time out, Plum and her new "pet" finally come to an understanding...it's HOW you ask for things, and WHAT YOU DO that add up to the results you want. A great way to remind kiddos how far good manners will go...and perhaps a way to nudge the 'rents into revisiting the whole "I want a pet" issue lest they end up wearing a collar!


**copy received for review ( )

A little girl named Plum longs for a pet dog, but her father says no. Plum, who doesn't like to take 'no' for an answer, decides that her dad will make an excellent pet substitute. Unfortunately, 'Pet Dad' is a little bit difficult to train - he won't roll over, or go on a newspaper - until Plum figures out that hugs can get her to the result she wants...

I see that many other online reviewers have found author/illustrator Elanna Allen's Pet Dad charming, and a lovable father-daughter story. For my part, I read through it with a growing sense of unease, as I recognized the way the narrative validated every one of Plum's disrespectful, self-centered actions. I winced at the casual acceptance of the fact that Plum "never takes no for an answer," cringed at each new degrading demand made upon her father, and felt nothing but dismay when I got to the two-page spread that demonstrated how "NO + HUG = YES!" Cute artwork or no, this isn't a healthy father-daughter relationship being depicted at all, and I'm at a loss to spy the 'charm' in it. Not recommended. ( )