Milo’s Pet Problem: A Laugh-Out-Loud Pet Adventure for Curious Kids

A charming, original story that is relatable and well-written.  The story is adorable and describes Milo's journey to find the perfect pet — a tale that will resonate with many children. You are hoping throughout the story that Milo finds his ideal pet, and one that his mother approves of.  The illustrations are adorable to look at and complement the storyline on each page.  There are plenty of giggles that accompany the story, especially when the animal in question behaves like a wild animal. However, it showcases the innocence of children when encountering animals.  Basically, for a child, any animal is lovable and worthy of being a family pet.  The pace and flow of the story is exceptional, engaging and smooth to read out loud to an audience.  You're excited to turn the page and find out what the next animal will be on Milo's radar. Overall, this is a wonderful story to read to children and use as a reading practice tool.  They will be enthralled with Milo's journey to find his perfect pet, and it's a story that wants to be re-read over and over again.

Milo’s Pet Problem by Romona Norton is an adventurous picture book following Milo, a young boy who lives deep in the woods. Milo has everything an outdoor child would like: trees to climb, rivers to splash in, and plenty of adventures in the woods. However, he misses one thing: a pet. He asks his mother for one, but she tactfully says no by asking him to find one in the woods. Milo begins his search for a pet in the woods, with some disastrous and hilarious outcomes, until he finally gets the perfect pet to keep. The illustrations in this picture book are large and polished, making it feel like you are ‘inside’ the setting. The background colors for objects like trees, the river, and flowers are soft, which are balanced by the bright and strong colors in the foreground. This technique creates a soft and warm mood while reading the story. The artistry also captures Milo’s sheepish, playful, concerned, and happy looks perfectly, as well as his mother’s reactions throughout the search for the ideal pet. Adventure is at the heart of this book, but the story also carries lessons in determination, curiosity, and the desire to fulfill a child’s wish. Children aged 5-10 may find this book delightful, as it offers ideas on the kinds of pets one can have and the outcomes of having particular types of pets. Enhancing the plot development can make this book more compelling and fun for young readers. The author can use more descriptions of the pet’s unique and odd characteristics, which can make the reading more memorable and hilarious for young readers. The descriptions would also help them compare the disastrous pets with the final ideal pet and create a feeling of accomplishment. It would also help the young readers understand why they should be careful when choosing their ideal pets. I highly recommend this book to parents with young readers aged 5-10.