Book Review: 'Spencer's New Pet' by Jessie Sima

✰✰✰✰✰ A young boy named Spencer is thrilled to have a new pet balloon. He loves to play with his new pet and takes it to the vet's office, the park, and a birthday party. Although these places are full of dangers for balloons, Spencer manages to steer his pet away from all disasters until...POP! With a surprise twist, happy ending, you'll never look at a balloon the same way again.

The Bottom Line: Told in four parts, the story in this picture book unfolds like a silent film. The author brilliantly tells this nearly wordless tale with a very limited color palette. The surprise twist at the end was clever; I didn't see it coming at all (and that's rare!). Very highly recommended for kids ages 5 - 8. This could be a top contender for my fave book of the year!

Details: Spencer's New Pet written & illustrated by Jessie Sima. Picture book published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2019. 56 p. ISBN: 978-1-5344-1877-6