K-Gr 2-Despite her allergies, Emma wants a pet as a birthday gift. Her parents agree to her request-as long as she selects an animal without fur. Emma chooses a lizard, and she and her brother Max delight in its eating habits and changing color. When Emma realizes that Max is unhappy because he doesn't have his own pet, she convinces her father to get him a lizard. Little portrays real characters who bring everyday problems to satisfying conclusions. Simple, full-color line-and-watercolor illustrations do a great job of capturing expressions of confusion, worry, anger, and joy. An exceptional beginning reader.-Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

In this third installment in the series, Max wants a dog, but his big sister Emma is allergic to fur. A lizard is a good compromise, and caring for the new pet brings the siblings closer while sensitively resolving issues of Max's own status as a new, adopted family member. Both subject matter and writing are on target, and simply drawn, expressive characters gently guide the fledgling reader.

In this I Can Read book, the words are simple but the story is complex, with several chapters and a fair amount of dialogue to challenge readers' skills. The story also gives readers something to think about beyond translating letters into words. Max wants a dog, but his sister, Emma, is allergic. A family visit to the pet store eventually solves the problem--a lizard seems the perfect pet--but lessons are learned about animal care and family relationships before the sweet ending occurs.