SOMETIMES YOU FIND A RED RHINOCEROS

Calamity ensues when a kid adopts a rhinoceros in this picture book.

Speaking directly to the protagonist and readers (“Sometimes you find a red rhinoceros”), the story chronicles a child who has a rhino for a pet. When the gigantic animal unnerves Mom and Dad, the kid reminds them that they “said I couldn’t have a dog.” But the rhino causes mayhem. On show-and-tell day at school, the animal knocks “over the nature center table,” which triggers the fire alarm, so “everyone has to leave the building.” After the kid barely manages to hide the beast from the suspicious “animal control guy,” the protagonist acknowledges that keeping the rhino is too difficult. Following a tearful apology, the child escorts the rhino to a welcoming new home at the zoo. As the kid exits the zoo walking an energetic dog, the tale concludes: “You finally wave goodbye...and run all the way home feeling VERY happy!!” Myer’s imaginative story has fun characters and silly scenes that will appeal to youngsters. The second-person point of view cleverly integrates readers into the tale. Despite the outrageous pet, many will relate to instances underscoring the importance of being a responsible animal owner. The author’s bold cartoon images feature amusing visuals, including the child washing the rhino. They also depict the kid’s White father and Black mother. The protagonist is shown minimally, as when an arm appears as the kid feeds the huge pet.

A humorous, wonderfully illustrated tale of animal hijinks.