Synopses & Reviews
A
lonely boy’s new pet grows into a rather large dilemma — and a
Thanksgiving parade offers an uplifting solution — in this charming tale
from the author of The Boy and the Airplane and The Girl and the Bicycle.
When
Leonard takes a shortcut through the park, he finds an egg and takes it
home, where it hatches into a lizard (or so Leonard thinks). Leonard
names his new pet Buster and takes him all around the city: on the
subway, to the library, to a baseball game, and more.
But Buster keeps growing and growing — and Leonard gets the sense that Buster is longing for something Leonard can’t provide.
Before
long, Buster becomes too big to keep, and Leonard realizes he needs to
set Buster free. So Leonard comes up with an inventive plan, one that
involves all the balloons Leonard can find and the annual Thanksgiving
parade, in an imaginative plot twist that will spark readers’
imaginations — and touch their hearts.
Review
"A sweet story of friendship and life’s hidden wonders." Booklist
Review
"A sweet and subtle offering that lets readers discover new things about the story on each rereading."
School Library Journal
Review
"As independent as Max and Ruby, as creative as purple-crayon-wielding Harold, and as dedicated a friend as Charlotte's Wilbur, Leonard will delight kids of all ages, regardless of habitat." Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)
About the Author
Writer and illustrator Mark Pett has practiced his craft in Philadelphia, Prague, the Mississippi Delta, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to illustrating several books, Mark is the “authorstrator” of The Boy and the Airplane and The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. He is also the creator of the syndicated comic strips Mr. Lowe and Lucky Cow. He lives in Salt Lake City. Visit him at MarkPett.com.