A Pet for Petunia
About Petunia:
Petunia’s story was inspired by the campaigns waged by my daughter for various eccentric pets. She worked us over through the years for a pet Tasmanian Devil (“They’re soooo cute!”), a velociraptor (“If I found a velociraptor egg, could I hatch it and keep it?”), bats, dragons, turtles, snakes, rats, etc. She wanted nothing to do with dogs. (One plucked a sandwich out of her inattentive hands when she was a toddler. She never forgave that work of villainy and promptly wished the world were flat so all dogs would fall off.)
From Maurice Sendak:
A simple, beguiling story greatly enhanced by pictures by an artist with a superb eye for line & composition. Bravo Paul!
Nancy Pearl says:
...made me laugh out loud - Petunia's smile is infectious & the denouement is spot on.
From the librarian blogger Mr. Schu:
I have read 1831 books during 2011. If you asked me to name every title, I couldn't. If you asked me to name the picture book I have recommended to the most kids during 2011, the answer would spring from my mouth in one billionth of a second: A PET FOR PETUNIA. Paul Schmid deserves one of my paychecks, because he makes my job easier. Whenever I find Petunia in the book drop, I dance around the library singing its praises to anyone who will listen… I want you to read A Pet for Petunia. Now! You will laugh, smile, and feel an urge to share it with every child in your life.
Thank you, Paul Schmid, for creating a hugely successful picture book.
Teacher Tatiana said:
This picture book was a hoot, and my 5-6 year old students got a good laugh out of the antics of Petunia and her persistent bid for a pet skunk.
