Sparky!

I loved Sparky!Full disclosure: I'm a sloth fan. They are my spirit animal. They're truly wonderful creatures. So, perhaps I'm biased.But Sparky! is a wonderful story & a very needed one in this day of animals being used as accessories. It's not about a sloth doing un-slothy things, as in Seibold's equally wonderful Lost Sloth, or intended to be a cautionary tale about keeping exotic pets. It's about the expectation the narrator has about owning a pet & how no pet, even a pet that would go against all her mother's requirements (in other words: a normal pet like a dog or cat), could ever perfectly meet her expectations.Children often have unrealistic expectations about dogs & cats, mice & gerbils, fish & reptiles. Adults frequently do as well, sadly. Kids want their pets to be exactly the pet they want them to be, fitting perfectly into their daily life routine, available to play with them when they want to play & leave them alone when they want to be left alone.That's why the sloth is a perfect animal for the story - author Jenny Offill has chosen her animal hero wisely! Sparky doesn't respond to the narrator; he just lives his life, doing what sloths do - doing what all pets do, which is to say being the type of animal they are, whether it's a dog, cat, fish, lizard, etc. The use of a sloth, currently a very popular animal, one that is very unusual & has special requirements, exaggerates this point for young readers. (As with a lot of children's books, much of Sparky! is exaggerated; I mean the narrator orders a sloth through the mail! It's that whimsy, found throughout the book, that endears us to Sparky.) The story wouldn't be as effective had Sparky been a dog or cat, or some other *normal* pet.After her mother gives specific pet requirements, the narrator researches the best pet for her, with the help of a friendly librarian, and orders her sloth. Here's the thing: she got exactly the pet she decided she wanted and through her research she even knew what she was getting. But the problem is she wants him to be just like sort of pets her mother ruled out, she wants Sparky to be the pet she wants him to be. Sparky's demeanor is exaggerated to show this, especially in the way illustrator Chris Appelhans wonderfully drapes him on a tree branch rather than hanging like sloths usually do. He's not depressed, he's just being . . . slothy. I think the reader is meant to identify with Sparky, realizing what the narrator doesn't yet about her pet. I guess one could take if that Sparky is sad because his owner doesn't get it yet. But I prefer to think he's just being a sloth.Sparky! is about the realization that a pet is a living thing, not a toy that can be coerced into doing tricks or being the sort of pet the owner wants. Our pets can't communicate like humans, so it's up to us to fit them into our routine, not the other way around, & choosing the right animal, or even breed, is very important. Animals have temperaments that differ even within the same litter - just like people; even twins have different temperaments - & it's only when the narrator realizes that that Sparky can be the pet she needs, perhaps in a way she didn't realize she needed, that they bond as pet & owner. Sparky smiles at the end, not because he's finally happy (he's an animal, he's perfectly fine hanging out in a tree all day because that's what he does), but because his owner finally loves him for the animal he is. He's helped her learn that lesson just by being a sloth.I think that's a very important lesson for kids to learn about animals! (Adults, too.) I think the ASPCA would appreciate that lesson. Not only do we have to take care in what pet we choose, but when we bring that pet home to live with us, we must also choose the pet we got. Maybe that Beagle isn't as bouncy as you had wanted. Perhaps that cat is more active than you thought it would be. Some behaviors can be trained out, some can't. Learning to accept the pet you get and make room for their temperament in your life routine is very important.And as a metaphor for friendship, as in not putting expectations on friends to be the friend/person you want them to be & allowing them to be who they are, the book is equally effective. There is a lot of opportunity in Sparky! for parents to discuss these things with their kids.I found the ending touching and heartfelt. I imagine Sparky and his new friend will share many long hours together in the tree, watching the clouds, enjoying each others company. Offill and Applehans have created a funny, sweet, whimsical, and thoughtful book in Sparky! I'm gonna be giving a number of copies to kids I know! (And a few adults.) I would like to see more collaborations from this team!By the way, other reviewers have mentioned that the narrator, in her efforts to get Sparky to be like other pets, pokes him with a stick. While the narrator is depicted holding a stick in the illustration by the text about poking Sparky, it is not at all implicit that she used the stick to poke him! She had just mentioned that she (unsuccessfully) tried teaching Sparky to fetch, hence the stick, and she's pointing the stick in the air as if to throw it, not at Sparky. In the illustration, she is smiling & there is no malice in her at all. I think the book makes it very clear that, while the narrator doesn't fully understand her pet until the end of the story, she loves him and always treats him well. Always. Also, the book does not condone owning exotic pets. As stated above, it's clear that a sloth was used for a specific effect.

The illustrations are absolutely perfect and the story is sweet and funny and reminds us all that not everything (or everyone or every pet) needs to fit in a box.

This is an adorable book. Both the text and the illustrations are whimsical and sweet. The story is so cute and funny. The main message of the book is simple, profound, and never outrightly stated- To accept others for who they are.I care for six children, ages one year-old to nine years-old. The nine, eight, and seven year-olds laughed at the story the first time I read it aloud. They picked up on the subtle humor and gentle irony.The one year-old liked the pictures, and the four year-old twins loved the story and, with explanations along the way, could understand the humor of Sparky winning at a game of "statue" etc. =)(Just be prepared, after you finish reading the book aloud, to explain why we can't really order a sloth in the mail! =D)The older kids are always willing to read this story to the younger kids, and it's definitely a favorite.After we read this book the first time, the kids and I talked about loving others just as they are. They totally get it. =)I highly recommend this sweet book! =)P.S. Shortly after sharing this book with the kids, I ordered them each a "Hug a Sloth Kit (book with plush)" right here on Amazon. The kids LOVED their little sloths, and, not surprisingly, each named their sloth, "Sparky"! =)

I think the illustrations are very appealing and the subtle humor is sweet but the story is a little weak. Still I enjoy reading it to my preschool class and it brought up great conversations about pets and what we like about pets, what kind of pets and so forth.

Who doesn't love a little sloth in their day? This books is one of our favs.

Before I taught 5th grade I thought upper grades didn't like picture books and using them in the classroom would never work. I was mistaken. Sure they play it off like they're too cool and want nothing to do with them...but when I pull a book out and have them sit down and I start reading, not a SINGLE eye is looking anywhere but at the book! What fakers!This is one of those books they adore, and for good reason. It's a cute story about a girl who tricks her mom into getting a pet sloth. The sloth is always sleeping and this makes for a story that is just silly. This book is quirky but cute and when you add the watercolor pictures it just makes the whole thing darling. I definitely recommend this book.

My 3rd grade class loved it

It's cute of course but just so-so. Read it to my daughter but I doubt this one will be asked for a 2nd time. Fwiw, we both like funny books like Dragons love Tacos.

Cute story book for granddaughter and well written

Perfect for any sloth lover! Very well illustrated :-)

I am really picky about kids books.. I absolutely recommend this book.

Really enjoyed reading it together. Something different and great illustrations

Good book. My kid enjoyed it.