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Maggie Rudy
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I Wish I Had a Pet Hardcover – Picture Book, July 1, 2014

by Maggie Rudy (Author, Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 35 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Smartly dressed mice give sage advice on all elements of proper pet care in this photographic picture book.

Who hasn’t yearned for the perfect pet? The mice in this book—hand-sewn and inhabiting enchanting, diorama-style scenes—know all about critter care, and they’re here to share wise words about choosing and keeping animal companions.

Whimsical images of the mice with their own petite pets, including bumblebees, ladybugs, and butterflies, complement the warm humor of this extraordinary picture book that’s truly like no other!
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD510L
  6. Dimensions
    9.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
  7. Publisher
    Beach Lane Books
  8. Publication date
    July 1, 2014
  9. ISBN-10
    144245332X
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1442453326
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Do you wish sometimes that you had a pet? Permit me to speak for the children of Earth: Yes! Well, a cast of cute mice is here to give you some advice. First things first—what makes this book stand apart from the pack are Rudy’s squeal-inducing photographs of the quirky dioramas she has created with mouse figurines, miniature props, and backdrops in the form of evocative collages of textbook pages, leaves, stamps, acorns, and more. Each one feels like a single frame from a Rankin-Bass stop-motion animation, and readers will practically die that these play sets aren’t for sale. Anyway, back to the pet advice. The mice urge kids to choose a pet that’s not too big (see the poor little mousie dangling from his pet pigeon); that’s fun to care for (see the mouse clipping the fingernails of a robin); and that you can make comfy (dig that mouse who knits a sweater for his salamander). It’s whole gobs of fun watching the mice react with shocked, studious, or satisfied expressions, which will likely be mirrored by readers. Grades K-2. --Daniel Kraus

Review

"Quirky dioramas illustrate this explication of pet care. Rudy's carefully composed scenes feature clever components and unexpected details, including felted figures, repurposed household objects, torn paper and objects from the natural world. . . . The illustrations, meanwhile, provide offbeat extensions of the simple text." ― Kirkus Reviews, April 2014

"What makes this book stand apart from the pack are Rudy’s squeal-inducing photographs of the quirky dioramas she has created with mouse figurines, miniature props, and backdrops in the form of evocative collages of textbook pages, leaves, stamps, acorns, and more...readers will practically die that these play sets aren’t for sale.... It’s whole gobs of fun watching the mice react with shocked, studious, or satisfied expressions, which will likely be mirrored by readers." ― Booklist, May 2014

* "This ordinary pet book is transformed by Rudy's (The House That Mouse Built) beguiling handmade mice, which she poses and photographs in scenes made even more fetching with dozens of small props. That the pet-owners are small, pet-worthy mice is the source of many smiles. . . . The layout is spare and elegant, and the typography clear and understated. With lots to look at on each page, readers have the chance to imagine what life would be like on an entirely different scale." ― Publishers Weekly, April 2014, *STARRED REVIEW*

"[S]nuggle up to I Wish I Had a Pet and revel in the world that Rudy has created. . . . Each spread is a marvel of a little mouse world where young children will want to explore all the details. Through these amazing scenes, Rudy offers wise advice about pet ownership. . . . It will be hard to resist the call for a pet after reading this treasure to your pet-starved youngster." ― BookPage, June 2014

"Using found art and some handmade items, Rudy has created an imaginative world filled with mice and the pets they might make their own—or not. . . . This tale would be useful as a model for writing about the pets children want, and art teachers could make a lesson exposing children to using found objects in their work." ― School Library Journal, July 2014

"Where you find children, there you will find pet owners—or at least children who aspire to have creatures all their own, which they double-triple swear they will take care of, promise! In "I Wish I Had a Pet". . . Maggie Rudy moves this familiar yearning from the human world to a hilarious series of photographed tableaux featuring felt-and-fabric mice so cunningly devised that they almost look real. . . . Ms. Rudy's narration emphasizes that pets require conscientious care and a certain amount of respect. . . . This sweet, visually detailed picture book would be ideal for a 3- to-7-year-old whose parents show signs of succumbing to a please-may-I-have-a-pet campaign." ― The Wall Street Journal, June 2014

"Fashionably dressed mice give advice about owning a pet. . . . The book features adorable photographic images of the mice with their own pets such as bumblebees, ladybugs, and butterflies." ― Library Media Connection, October 2014, Recommended

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beach Lane Books (July 1, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 144245332X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1442453326
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD510L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 35 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Maggie Rudy

    Maggie Rudy

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    Maggie Rudy has been making mice and their worlds for 25 years. Her father was a biologist and her mother and grandmother were artists, so her childhood was full of nature outings and making things. She spent part of her childhood living in England, where she encountered her first felt mice in a Lancaster toyshop, and visited Beatrix Potter’s farm in a formative third-grade field trip.

    Maggie's first picture book was published in 2011, and her illustration style is unique and according to Booklist, “squeal-inducing”. To create the pictures she builds 3D characters and scenes, mostly with salvaged materials, and photographs them as miniature stage sets. Her work stars mice and other small woodland creatures, and is firmly grounded in the natural world. She says, "I believe that young children have an innate affinity with nature and it’s my desire to kindle and sustain that connection through humor, appealing characters and detailed,gorgeous pictures".

    After the publication of each book, the completed scenes travel with Maggie to be displayed in bookstore windows, where they are a major attraction with children and their parents.

    Maggie works in her home studio in the woods in Portland, Oregon, where her creatures and sets will soon overtake her house. For more about her work, visit maggierudy.com.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Maggie Rudy

    Maggie Rudy

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
35 global ratings
These mice are very smart and dispense great advice about a pet owner’s duties ...
5 Stars
These mice are very smart and dispense great advice about a pet owner’s duties ...
A bunch of delightfully enchanting, fancily-dressed mice are here to assist you as you navigate the rocky waters of choosing and caring for your very first pet! These mice are very smart and dispense great advice about a pet owner’s duties – making sure the pet is clean and fed, exercised, and of course, that you are enjoying eachother’s company! They learned this great advice through caring for their own bumblebees, ladybugs, birds, butterflies, beetles and more!“I Wish I Had a Pet” is filled with some truly hilarious passages, mostly because they are truths! For instance, the mice show us the importance of making sure our pet is not too big (or ferocious!) to manage, and making sure we don’t have allergies to our new friend! Oh and get ready to clean up after your messy – and stinky – pet!This book is designed by author Maggie Rudy. It is such an interesting medium to look at. The images of the mice are hand-sewn and set in a diorama scene. There’s so much detail within each setting to discover, each turn shows a truly remarkable piece of art! The charming “sets” use dollhouse sized pieces of furniture and clothing, old crates and cigar boxes for walls, stamps for home artwork and buttons for frisbees. The faces of these little mice are so expressive, so sweet with their little pink noses, and funny as they hold their nose in a “P U!” as they clean up after their poopy pet! I adore this incredibly creative and heartwarming book and I can promise you will too! Not to mention you may learn a thing or two about proper pet care! Read more at www.diapers-and-daydreams.com
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Top reviews from the United States

Yuki A.
5.0 out of 5 stars BUY THIS BOOK!
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
Adorable little characters. You can even "read" it to a 1.5 year old by asking questions ("Where's the mouse?" etc) and having the child point things out even if they can't speak well yet. I have loved all of Maggie's books ever since she came out with The House That Mouse Built - I have every one of her beautiful books!
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MLP
5.0 out of 5 stars The cutest mice!
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
I love this book. I also make mouse houses but sculpt my mice from oven-baked clay. Rudy's mice are far cuter and have more personality than any I've been able to make. I'm lending my book to our church's Religious Education head to read at the Blessing of the Animals service.
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Wilma Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars ADORABLE BOOK!
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2014
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"I Wish I Had a Pet" book is absolutely ADORABLE! Children and adults alike will be unable to read this exceptional book without huge smiles on their faces. After reading the book children will give a lot of thought and second thoughts to choosing the right pet for themselves. The mice characters, which author/artist Maggie Rudy handmade for the book, are VERY creative, artistic, expressive and oh so cute! Readers automatically fall in love with them and their background scenery.

I collect children's mouse stories and have many, but this is my favorite for subject matter and creativity. Definitely a 5 star book!
2 people found this helpful
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baba2
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the author's work!
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful book that can be enjoyed by all. My daughter, an art teacher, introduced me to the author's website. She shall be using this book as an instructional tool as well as in Story Time before her lesson. The author is an artist who brings her work to life. It is beautiful, and children could readily relate to it. I received it well packaged and quickly from the seller.
One person found this helpful
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JM
5.0 out of 5 stars clever story, love at first read
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
I love this book. It’s so cute I bought 4 to give as gifts but I’m keeping one for me. Sweet story and fun illustrations
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars So imaginative and fun!
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
My daughter read the book to me immediately it was delivered. The book is so cute and we laughed about the cute little "pets". We studied each photo for all the little details. So imaginative and fun!
One person found this helpful
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klm
5.0 out of 5 stars Precious!
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
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So sweet! Love Maggie Rudy and her gorgeous art!
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voteforpedro
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is adorable! A very original story that will engage adults ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2016
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This book is adorable! A very original story that will engage adults and children. The pictures are darling and the writing is simple but humorous and very sweet.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sylvi
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
love, love, love a gorgeous book for very little money, new condition
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