{"id":1971,"date":"2015-10-17T01:34:03","date_gmt":"2015-10-17T01:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside-of-a-dog.net\/?p=1971"},"modified":"2015-10-17T01:36:22","modified_gmt":"2015-10-17T01:36:22","slug":"sparky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inside-of-a-dog.net\/?p=1971","title":{"rendered":"Sparky!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_5596\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The narrator of this bittersweet story (a special favorite of my youngest) really, really wants a pet, but her mother keeps saying no.<\/p>\n

I asked her every day for a month, until she finally said,
\n“You can have any pet you want as long as it doesn’t need
\nto be walked or bathed or fed.”
\nI made her promise.<\/em><\/p>\n

Then (with the help of the school librarian) she finds a pet that actually fits the criteria: a sloth. When he arrives, she finds the reality of “Sparky” doesn’t conform at all with what she thought having a pet would be like.<\/p>\n

While kids seem to focus on humorous aspects of the situation, adults will notice there is a lot going on here about what happens when expectations don’t match up with reality. Come for the laughter; stay for the loss, grief, and love (or is it the other way around?). <\/p>\n

Author: Jenny Offill
\nIllustrator: Chris Appelhans<\/p>\n