If I Had a Gryphon

A young girl has just gotten her first pet, a hamster, and she is definitely not impressed. But what if she could have a more exciting pet? Perhaps something mythological and unbelievable? The girl imagines what it would be like to have to care for all kinds of other animals: a unicorn, a jackalope, a hippogriff, a kraken, and more. When viewed in the light of how hard all these other animals would be to take care of, suddenly the hamster seems like the perfect pet!

Readers of all ages will love If I Had a Gryphon. The little girl is adorable, and her imaginings of what it’d be like to have all kinds of fantasy creatures will surely inspire young readers to think about their ideal pet. Author Vikki Vansickle has a great way with words, and the rhyming prose that makes up this wonderful picture book flows so nicely that it’s truly a pleasure to read. Pictures by Cale Atkinson, meanwhile, are colorful and exciting, depicting all manner of unusual creatures with style and smiles. This is a fantastic book!