CURIOUS CHRIS
by Cindy B. Witty illustrated by Sally Garland
A little boy has his heart set on adopting a flamingo for a pet in Witty’s picture book.
“Why is the sky blue?” “Why doesn’t the sun smoke if it’s so hot?” In this quirky picture book, a little boy named Chris asks so many “why? why? why?” questions that his parents can’t keep up. Would a pet divert their son’s attention? At the animal shelter, Chris knows just what kind of pet he wants: a flamingo, or as the youngster refers to it, a “falingmo,” because it can stand on one leg in a yoga pose, has pink feathers (Chris’ favorite color), and eats Chris’ favorite food (shrimp). Sadly, there are no flamingos, but several cats and dogs need homes. Will Chris find that his perfect pet was waiting for him all along? The author, whose biographical note reveals that the book’s inspiration was her own family’s animal adoption story, imbues Chris’ choice with touching warmth and a child’s understandable logic when retrofitting his reasons for wanting a flamingo to the furry pet that ultimately captures his heart. Prolific illustrator Garland reflects the book’s tone with soft colors, expressive characters, and comic touches. Chris imagines his flamingo wearing sunglasses, lounging on a floaty, and holding a shrimp cocktail.
A gentle, visually engaging appeal to raise awareness about the rewards of pet adoption.