PENNY PANGOLIN WANTS A PET

A pangolin named Penny learns about responsibility in Kramer’s picture book.

When Penny Pangolin asks for a pet for her birthday, her parents give her a plant instead. Penny loves her new plant (a Venus flytrap) and treats it with great care, taking it with her everywhere: “Sometimes her parents made the plant stay home. ‘But it’ll be lonely!’ Penny protested.” The only trouble is that the plant is quiet, and not cuddly like other pets. So, Penny asks her parents again for a pet; having witnessed Penny’s dedication to her plant, they acquiesce. When Penny discovers a trapped baby red panda, the critter turns out to be orphaned, so the Pangolins adopt him (Penny names him Mooky). Zivanovic’s illustrations use negative space on white pages and simple backgrounds on full-color pages, drawing readers’ focus to the detailed characters. The illustrations blend realistic fine pencil work and three-dimensional textures for the anthropomorphic characters and their clothing. The prose is descriptive and vibrant, and Penny’s empathetic inner life gives the story sincere depth. (“Penny tried to feel happy that Mooky would get to go home, but inside she felt like crying.”) Readers are invited to search the pictures for delightful details, like a jeweled flower mantis in the garden, or a rogue Vietnamese pheasant in the woods, which are labeled at the end of the book.

Kindheartedness meets kismet in this charming tale.