John wants a puppy; his parents hope he'll settle for something quieter. While John falls in love with a cute black pup in the pet shop, they buy a gerbil, but--as John has foreseen--it yelps in the night (though only he hears it). Its replacement, a chameleon, keeps John awake by glowing in the dark (he says). Finally, the parents yield and buy the pup; maybe John's promises will be as reliable as his predictions. Not the best tactics--for parent or child--but the cheerfulness of their negotiation is exemplary. Griffith's concise narration is briskly humorous, while Smith's realistically painted figures, silhouetted on a clean white ground, have a lively appeal that recalls Ted Rand's illustrations. (Picture book. 4-8)
