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No Plain Pets!
A child enumerates the many exotic pets there are from which to choose, from big black gorilla to an imaginary thing with six legs sticking out of its head
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
40 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 13, 2012
When I first read this book, I was just blown away by the surrealistic images in this book! “No Plain Pets!” is a children’s book by Marc Ian Barasch along with surreal illustrations by Henrik Drescher and it is about how a young nameless boy tells his mother that he wants an unusual pet, in other words, “NO PLAIN PETS!” “No Plain Pets!” might be a bit too surreal for some children to handle, but it is a brilliant book that everyone should read!
One night, a young boy tells his mother that he wants a pet and while his mother agrees with him, he goes on to explain to his mother that he wants an unusual pet, not just a plain pet. For instance, the boy wants a big black gorilla that seems to eat buildings and then he goes on to saying that he wants a flying fish and then he wants a camel to ride on. Will the boy find his perfect pet? Read this book to find out!
I was just so blown away by this book beyond all reason! I never would have imagined seeing a more surreal look at a child’s desires at having an unusual pet in this format! Marc Ian Barasch has certainly done an excellent job at writing this book as his poetic writing is silly and creative as the boy imagines that his pets could do surreal things such as having his bullfrog jump through a ring of fire or having a fish that flies through the air. Also, I loved the way that Marc Ian Barasch makes the story in rhyming proses as it reminds me of a somewhat wild version of Dr. Seuss’ works. Henrik Drescher’s illustrations are at their best here as each character looks surreal such as the young boy being dressed in purple overalls with wild and many creatures popping out of other creatures’ mouths (weird is it not?), which is Henrik Drescher’s signature characters. I also loved the constant smiles that the boy displays on each page as he shows his enthusiasm at being with every different pet he conjures up.
For parents and children who do not like surreal images, this book is full of surreal images. Some of the images in this book that might cause a bit of concern for small children might be the image of the boy lying on the tongue of a huge lizard as the boy is seen inside the mouth of a huge lizard and the image of the imaginary creature having six feet sticking out of its head. I think the right word for these types of images might be “morbid,” but this book is told in a hilarious way that maybe some small children might still enjoy this book for its wackiness.
All in all, “No Plain Pets!” is one truly unique and creative book that both children and adults who love reading about pets can easily enjoy for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since some of the images in this book might scare younger children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
One night, a young boy tells his mother that he wants a pet and while his mother agrees with him, he goes on to explain to his mother that he wants an unusual pet, not just a plain pet. For instance, the boy wants a big black gorilla that seems to eat buildings and then he goes on to saying that he wants a flying fish and then he wants a camel to ride on. Will the boy find his perfect pet? Read this book to find out!
I was just so blown away by this book beyond all reason! I never would have imagined seeing a more surreal look at a child’s desires at having an unusual pet in this format! Marc Ian Barasch has certainly done an excellent job at writing this book as his poetic writing is silly and creative as the boy imagines that his pets could do surreal things such as having his bullfrog jump through a ring of fire or having a fish that flies through the air. Also, I loved the way that Marc Ian Barasch makes the story in rhyming proses as it reminds me of a somewhat wild version of Dr. Seuss’ works. Henrik Drescher’s illustrations are at their best here as each character looks surreal such as the young boy being dressed in purple overalls with wild and many creatures popping out of other creatures’ mouths (weird is it not?), which is Henrik Drescher’s signature characters. I also loved the constant smiles that the boy displays on each page as he shows his enthusiasm at being with every different pet he conjures up.
For parents and children who do not like surreal images, this book is full of surreal images. Some of the images in this book that might cause a bit of concern for small children might be the image of the boy lying on the tongue of a huge lizard as the boy is seen inside the mouth of a huge lizard and the image of the imaginary creature having six feet sticking out of its head. I think the right word for these types of images might be “morbid,” but this book is told in a hilarious way that maybe some small children might still enjoy this book for its wackiness.
All in all, “No Plain Pets!” is one truly unique and creative book that both children and adults who love reading about pets can easily enjoy for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since some of the images in this book might scare younger children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
November 6, 2009
"No Plain Pets" is one of Marc Ian Barasch's best children's books ever created. In this story, a young wild haired boy imagines having pets that are not considered normal to have, such as a camel, a huge lizard, and a flying fish. Marc Ian Barasch's poetic writing is silly as the boy imagines that his pets could do surreal things such as, having his bullfrog jump through a ring of fire. Henrik Drescher's illustrations are at their best here as he makes each character look surreal, such as the young boy being dressed in purple overalls with wild hair. The image that probably stood out the most for me was the image of the boy imagining owning a huge lizard and the boy is seen inside the mouth of the lizard lying on its tongue like he was relaxing on a beach or somewhere. "No Plain Pets" is certainly a book that both children and adults would enjoy for many years.(less)
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May 2, 2016In No Plain Pets, a little boy fantasizes about owning an exotic animal, but admits in the end that what he wants most is ANY pet he can call his own. The lyrical writing is outstanding and the surrealist images fantastic, but if the artwork seems unsettling to you, try If I Had a Gryphon for a cutesier take on the same subject.
December 23, 2010
Odd, but fun rhyming ditty about the types of pet this boy would like to have. The illustrations are very bizarre and colorful, typical of Henrik Drescher. We enjoyed reading this book aloud together and discussing our preferences for pets afterward.
April 20, 2009
My kids liked this book especially the part where the kid says it's time to get a pet and the mom just says "Alright." But, "No Plain Pets" didn't do too much for me. I've decided that I don't like this illustrator. The boy in the story is just plain ugly so this story doesn't inspire me!
February 14, 2016
Very fun little rhyme about a little boy wanting to get a pet - but not a plain one. He goes on to explain to his mother all sorts of fun pets he could get.
Wacky, colorful illustrations.
Wacky, colorful illustrations.
September 20, 2019
3 1/2 stars
The illustrations are bizarre and that's what drew me to the book in the first place. It was fun reading this to the preschool group who got a kick out of the pictures as well.
The illustrations are bizarre and that's what drew me to the book in the first place. It was fun reading this to the preschool group who got a kick out of the pictures as well.
April 13, 2012
This book is really fun. It is about a boy who wants a pet, but not just any pet. He wants a unique pet: a gorilla, camel, or maybe an eel. The illustrations are strangely wonderful and incredibly detailed. The book is written in rhyme, which I am a big fan of. I think picture books are more fun if they rhyme.
April 3, 2012
This is a poem about a child trying to convince his mother that various exotic pets will not cause a problem. There's a new verse on each page, scrawled in a child-like font, with large double-page watercolors in a zany sketchy style. The illustrations are a highlight.
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February 7, 2009Henrik Drescher illustrator
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews