How to Keep a Werewolf: And Other Exotic Pets Which May or May Not a) Exist or b) Eat You

by Fiona Bowron, Tom Jennings (Illustrations)

Though there are many benefits to owning a pet, not everyone is content with conventional animals such as cats and dogs. In fact, the very adventurous pet owner might prefer a pet that is so exotic that it technically doesn’t exist. This book offer suggestions for crypto-zoological or mythological creatures. The main problem with owning such an animal is knowing how to look after it. A brief glance through the local paper will reveal a startling lack of ads offering baby bigfoots free to a good home, and little in the way of werewolf obedience classes. What, you may ask, does one feed a baby Mongolian Death Worm? Is the giant squid a good choice of pet if you live in a penthouse flat? This book gives a description of each animal, an assessment of its suitability for domestication, and tips on how to obtain and care for your chosen animal. Arranged in terms of dangerousness of animal, it is designed to be dipped into, so that the reader may quickly locate useful information such as how to remove the budgie from the jaws of a newly introduced pet sea monster, should the need arise. Armed with the information in this book, you’ll be ready to embark on the rewarding endeavor of owning your very own phoenix, dragon or bogeyman.

Genres: Fantasy

192 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those impulse buys that you're glad you made. A fun, fully illustrated book about getting cryptids as pets, this giftie tome is witty and wacky. Bowron is clearly well versed in cryptozoology as well as in modern discussions of the paranormal. There are some obscure critters listed in here among the more familiar Lock Ness Monster and Bigfoot. She also throws in some standard monsters such as werewolves, vampires, zombies, giants, and trolls. Never pausing to take itself seriously, this book pokes gentle fun at scientists who only believe when they have a dead body to dissect or are grabbed by a beast they declare can't exist. A silly, but amusing little treat.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had really wanted to like this book. I saw it and picked it up because I have a soft spot for cryptids in my heart. But this book needed... something more, whether that be an overarching format/tone, better decision about the order of cryptids, cultural sensitivity (given some of the choice in creatures)... probably all of the above. Additionally, at points it got repetitive (making the same references again and again), while also lacking consistency in its entries (which would be beneficial if it's supposed to be a reference guide for cryptids/exotic pets).

It was lighthearted, goofy, but lacking.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this to my daughter, age 8. She is a little young for some of the humour, and some of the longer words and sentences, but she enjoyed hearing about the cryptids (which she would love to own), and understood some of the situational humour. We read a couple a night, so she wasn't overloaded, and I have no doubt she will come back to it in years to come, as I think it would suit 12-15 better.

[M]

A book I picked up because it looked awesome, tbh! And, of course, I could not say no to having another book full of magical creatures on my shelf. I only wish it had been more well-sourced, with a proper bibliography, but alas ... it's mainly based on claiming that it's doing cryptozoology, so I suppose no sources is the proper thing to do. A bit repetitive, a bit too absurd, but all in all, a good-looking, funny little book.

[Ujwala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it in bits and pieces over days. An impulse buy that was quite funny especially as I started reading. As per one of the other reviews here it may have benefitted more from consistency in structure and some other aspects as book. But I can see the funny in this book and am going to read to my 7yr old. It will be a book you can return to for laughs and a light reading from time to time.
A fun and parodical version of the fantastic beasts and where to find them.

[Philip Guy · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this is how I imagine this book was created...
Some people down the pub had a few beers and one said "wouldn't it be funny to have a werewolf as a pet?"
"Yeah, or a yeti, or the Loch Ness monster"
"You should write a book about that!"
Most people would, in the cold light of day, have forgotten the idea as far less amusing than it seemed after six pints. Not in this case.
This book is a one joke concept, and that concept has outstayed its welcome by about page 20.
Not worth your time.

[Whitney Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. The humor was fun, but I think it would have been better if it had covered less cryptids and gone more in-depth on a selected few. Particularly as it covered so many different Bigfoot/yeti types and lake serpents despite the fact that most of them are pretty similar.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 13 year old bought this today and devoured it immediately after arriving home, then said, "You have to read this Right. Now. Mom!" It was funny and silly and I enjoyed it, even though it was not what I had actually planned to read this afternoon. 3 1/2 stars.

[Larrypalooza · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. It’s a repetitive joke about how silly it would be to make a pet out of mythological or make-believe creatures. I did not expect a sincere book, but it’s just the same jokes about likely being killed by your cryptid pet over and over. (I think some passages were almost verbatim repeated.)

[Ashley McGarr · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute book. For anyone who loves a good cryptid and likes cute little jokes, this is for you!

[Krista Kimball · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will be fun for a creative writing exercise .