THE SNAGGLEGROLLOP

Sam wants a pet. Dad doesn’t want to have to walk a dog, and Mom doesn’t want cat hair on her furniture. Sam asks for a snagglegrollop, and his parents indulgently agree. Imagine their surprise when he comes home with one the next day. Sam’s new pet is a huge, green-furred, horned, trunk-nosed creature that needs a lot of care and attention. It tells great jokes, and it is an excellent dancer. Despite all the fun they have, it turns out Sam’s is a little lonely. When Sam’s friend Emily comes over with a quibblesnuff, the two pets hit it off and fly away together. Thanks to his show of responsibility, Sam’s parents are now ready to consider a dog. Price’s bright, goofy watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are the best feature of this entry in the I-want-a-pet genre. The crazy perspectives and the little white dog that hides in most spreads add a bit of fun to this otherwise also-ran British import. (Picture book. 3-7)