Spencer's New Pet

by Jessie Sima

From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a classic tale of a boy and his dog—except in this unique story, one of them is a balloon!

When Spencer gets a new pet, he’s excited to do all the things that pets do—taking walks in the park, going to the vet, and attending parties together.

There’s just one Spencer’s new pet is a balloon.

And that means No. Sharp. Objects.

No drooling dogs at the park. No prickly porcupines at the vet. And absolutely no pinning tails on any donkeys!

Spencer’s New Pet is a story of pure fun about a boy, his dog, and a friendship that endures life’s sharpest...and most unexpected twists.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Humor, Dogs, Fantasy

56 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Jessie Sima is an author and illustrator of picture books. They grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey and now write and draw in a creaky house in New York State. When not making books, Jessie can be found reading graphic novels, watching spooky movies, and playing outside with dogs.

Visit them online at jessiesima.com!

Reviews

[M. Lauritano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more of a 2.5 star book, this one is memorable to say the least. The art is clear and competent with a few fun silent film era design flourishes (notably the countdown at the start of the book). Title character Spencer has adopted a balloon dog as a pet, doing his best to protect it from various sharp and deadly items in the world. This gets pretty redundant, but it’s all in service of a bizarre twist. When a blindfolded child attempts to pin the tail on the donkey (we see the pin heading straight for the dog), a page turn reveals the dog alone with a pair of glasses. Spencer, whom we have perceived as a human child, has popped, having been some kind of balloon animal all along. What on earth?! That poor blindfolded kid must have been traumatized. Apparently all ends well because a balloon artist whips up a fresh Spencer, who, like some kind of rubber Frosty the Snowman, comes to life once he gets his glasses back. The balloon dog, who is less anthropomorphic and doesn’t necessarily come across as alive like his popped and recreated master, seems unbothered by this turn of events.

I am flummoxed as to what Sima was trying to achieve here. She definitely surprised me! But it was not the kind of surprise that made me laugh or that made me think. I was just left with a lingering feeling of unease. Is this a commentary about how we have more in common with our pets than we realize? A humorous send-up of helicopter parenting? IMMORTAL BALLOON CHILDREN LIVE AMONGST US AND WE HAVE BEEN IGNORANT ALL THE WHILE!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling book with a surprise twist! I was aw'ing and oooh'ing and then I was HOWLING!

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the biggest kick out of this book. It is written like you are watching an old silent film. The title will fool you. There is a plot twist that me and a bunch of professional children's book writers and readers did not see coming. This title was actually read to us by the author at an event. The adult audience was at the end of our seats the whole time. There was real suspense! I would love if this title received some Caldecott love.

[Effie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I did not see that twist coming.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb inside the front cover for this wordless picture book is perfect:

"This is the classic tale of a boy and a dog. One of them just happens to be a balloon."

It's a little black-and-white silent movie of a book, with the boy and dog spending time together at home, romping in the park, visiting a birthday party, always with the dangers---the spikes of a hedgehog, the teeth of a bulldog, the pin of Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey---horrifying to a balloon.

Delightful.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an odd book that relies heavily on one (potentially creepy) punchline. The format is modeled after silent films, but it would be hard for kids who have never seen such a film to recognize that. For me, the story had a lot of build-up toward one moment that felt more like gimmick than climax. My kids also didn't gravitate toward it.

[Abby Johnson]

This is a delightful wordless picture book! Spencer has a new pet - a balloon dog - and he's taking it everywhere he goes. But danger lurks everywhere - a hedgehog's spike at the vet, a bee's stinger at the park... so many sharp things to avoid! Can Spencer keep his new pet safe?

Tension builds as Spencer and his pet carry on with their day and then there's a surprise ending! A fun and different take on pet stories. Hand this to fans of THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA by Mo Willems. :D

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordless picture book
Spencer's pet is a balloon and cannot get near sharp objects for obvious reasons.
Sima creates a typical day in their lives and pulls the reader in.
Sadly, the balloon pops and reader are treated to a surprise as to who was the balloon. Fortunately, a balloon artist can remake the pet and lead to a happy ending.
Simple details in the illustrations bring this book to life.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy plot twist Batman!
I love the illustration style and minimalist color palette.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE OF MY TOP FAVORITE KIDS BOOKS OF ALL TIME. Delightfully clever wordless story with a surprise ending. LOVED!

[Jena Cruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly the best wordless picture book I’ve ever read because it kept you on your toes!

[Tegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did NOT expect that ending.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am counting this wordless picture book as it is something people need to know about. It has (big spoiler) one big screwy, creepy ending! However, things might not be exactly what they seem! Great illustrations, but the "story" might not be everyone's cup of tea.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most wonderfully original and completely surprising picture books I’ve experienced in quite a long time. A book I have already been compulsive sharing with my co-workers and scheming to include in presentations about visual literacy.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was an unexpected ending. You’ll immediately have to go back and read it again.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This primarily wordless picture book follows a young boy named Spencer and his dog. That seems simple enough until the author/illustrator changes a couple of things. First the dog is clearly a balloon animal and second, the story is told like an old silent movie with a countdown and everything. Each primary scene is introduced with a black screen shot and a few words. The action takes place completely in the illustrations. The first scene revolves around the boy's playing, feeding, and bathing his dog before taking it to the vet, where they meet a hedgehog. A hedgehog with sharp spines! Yikes. On to scene two, wherein Spencer and the dog visit a park and enjoy being around other people and their dogs. Except the balloon dog is threatened with popping a bunch of times before fleeing into a birthday party. The boy pursues his pet through the party hoping to catch the dog before disaster strikes. At this point in the story I thought I knew what was going to happen. I was wrong. The author/illustrator throws in a completely unexpected event leading to an ending I did not see coming at all. I didn't think the book was spooky at all until I got to the end. Now that I've had a chance to think about it, I think I'd be careful using this with really young children, it might startle or scare them. Older children on the other hand might really enjoy the surprise and twist at the end. The black-and-white illustrations with just a touch of red work really well for this story as does the silent movie style presentation. A entertaining new look at life with a pet.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully creative book, with a delicious, unexpected twist at the end. Set up like an old fashioned silent movie, the end pages count down to the title page which is set as the opening titles of a silent movie. Part one introduces us to Spencer and his new pet, leaving a carnival and doing all of the things that a boy would do with a dog - eating, taking a bath, learning tricks and even peeing on a fire hydrant while on a walk. In "Part 2 - The Park" the boy steps in to protect his dog from many dangers that exist for a dog of this kind. Part 3 -The Party, sees more protection and....well, the twist. There is a happy ending where everything gets fixed. This is a wildly entertaining story time audience pleaser.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! We’re back from our vacation with a new review: Spencer’s New Pet by Jessie Sima, a deliciously odd and unexpected tale.

Borrowing elements of a silent movie (such as title cards to indicate the story’s three “parts”, film grain over select spreads, and even a leader countdown), this textless story introduces us to a boy, Spencer, and his new pet… a balloon animal. Besotted with the balloon beastie, Spencer takes him home from the carnival and dutifully cares for him, getting pet supplies, going for walks, playing, attending parties, and sharing plenty of (gentle) hugs. It’s at a visit to the veterinarian that a complication of having a balloon animal for a pet presents itself: when the pet drifts a bit to close to a prickly hedgehog, Spencer clutches his pet to his chest and backs away in fear. And it’s in Part II of the story (“The Park”) that this foreshadowing is expanded upon; breaking loose from Spencer’s grip, the balloon begins to careen toward a gauntlet of sharp, pointy, or hot things that threaten its well-being. Spencer tears after his friend, desperate to save it from a grisly fate – can he protect his pal in time?

Delightfully strange. Sima has a talent for telling unusual yet heartwarming stories, and this may be her most original yet. To discuss the last third of the book any further would do any prospective reader a disservice; the ending was so unexpected (yet so BRILLIANTLY foreshadowed) that I laughed out loud once I realized what was going on. And while the more subtle winks may fly over the heads of younger readers, it’s an ending that’s both silly and sweet enough to charm any age. The wonderful “silent movie” patische introduces elements of a genre that few other pictures books (if any) do, and gives a book a wonderful and unique visual style. Sima’s illustrations are charming as always, and fans of her previous works will enjoy the Easter eggs hidden in backgrounds and crowd scenes. The length is fine, and JJ and I loved it. A thoroughly entertaining tale, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! So sweet - love a good boy and his dog story! The red dog really “pops” on each page, the surprise ending is great fun - makes you want to read the book again. Love the little star by each threatening pointy thing, the boy reading to his dog, and of course, the border collie at the dog park!

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at work after cataloging it. My name is Spencer, I pretty much had to.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. The old, film-like art style is incredibly charming and eye catching. It told such a lovely story despite being almost completely wordless. Plot the twist at the end was completely unexpected! Really cute book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be SO much fun to read aloud with students!

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Loved the old time cinematic feel. Loved it from the beginning to the end.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book flows like an old black and white movie, which is perfect for a wordless picture book. A boy and his dog go walking along, but one is a balloon. Surprise twist at the end!

[Annese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie Sima does it again. I love her books!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense followed by relief and joy

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can HEAR the film strip countdown on the end papers. A gripping journey with an unexpected twist!

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virtually wordless story with some charm, but a nothing plot. However, the ending reminds us to always question our assumptions.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was totally NOT expecting that! I love books like this! May be my new favorite wordless book. Very, very clever.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picturebook really had me stressed out, wondering what was going to befall Spencer's little balloon dog. I did not see that ending coming!

[Ciera Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting storytelling. The most elite plot twist of all time.