John wants a puppy; his parents hope he'll settle for something quieter. While John falls in love with a cute black pup in the pet shop, they buy a gerbil, but—as John has foreseen—it yelps in the night (though only he hears it). Its replacement, a chameleon, keeps John awake by glowing in the dark (he says). Finally, the parents yield and buy the pup; maybe John's promises will be as reliable as his predictions. Not the best tactics—for parent or child—but the cheerfulness of their negotiation is exemplary. Griffith's concise narration is briskly humorous, while Smith's realistically painted figures, silhouetted on a clean white ground, have a lively appeal that recalls Ted Rand's illustrations. (Picture book. 4-8)