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Summary
Summary
When Ava and her sister Arlie see the "Write a Poem / Win a Pet" sign in Mr. Noah's pet shop window, Ava is sure the prize is going to be a dog and convinces Arlie to enter the contest with her. The girls write the best poem they can, and while waiting and hoping to win, they decide that "Lucille" would be the perfect name for a dog. But when Mr. Noah finally announces that they have won, Ava is so disappointed when she sees the prize, a parakeet, that she says, "You're not the real Lucille!"Ava must discover for herself that with a little patience, a little imagination, and a lot of love, her new pet will be every bit as much fun as a dog--and a fine friend besides.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
There's a new member in the club of disappointing pets that cajole their way into their reluctant owners' hearts: the parakeet Lucille. Her owner, Ava, is especially disheartened because she went to all the trouble of composing a special poem about the pet she really wanted--"A dog, a dog/ A big brown dog"--to enter into a local pet shop's contest (the prize was never specified beyond "Win a Pet"). But Lucille's winsome ways (like balancing on Ava's pencil while she does math homework), coupled with a minor health crisis (a seed gets stuck in Lucille's throat), bond her to Ava and even inspire a new poetic tribute: "She runs and jumps/ And kisses, too/ She's ALMOST like a dog/ And not a dumb old bird." Best (Easy as Pie) doesn't hurry her storytelling, but as readers get used to the novelistic pacing, they'll also develop a soft spot for Valentine's (Albertine's Got Talent!) potato-faced characters, whose dot eyes and stubby little noses become increasingly endearing as the pages go by. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Ava and her little sister, Arlie, win first prize in a poetry contest at their local pet store, with an unspecified pet as the prize. But instead of a longed-for dog, the pet turns out to be a parakeet--not what Ava had in mind at all. The girls had planned to name their prize-dog Lucille, so the parakeet is awarded the name instead and welcomed into the family by Arlie and the girls' mother. Ava resists, glaring at the bird and making snide, often hilarious comments. Gradually the girls come to understand their new pet, and bit by bit, the bird wins them over, leading Ava to proclaim the parakeet as "the real Lucille" in a concluding poem. The parakeet's minor illness adds drama and solidifies her importance to the family. The story unfolds gracefully with just the right amount of text, incorporating subtle humor, natural dialogue and interesting tidbits of information about parakeets. Softly shaded illustrations convey a nostalgic air, full of cozy details of the pleasant home shared by the mother, her daughters and little Lucille. A quiet, warm story with real emotions and a real plot. As a pet, Lucille is the real deal. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
When Ava and her sister, Arlie, enter a poetry contest to win a pet, Ava imagines that the prize will be a dog, and she even chooses its name: Lucille. They do win the prize, but Lucille turns out to be a parakeet. Ava doesn't hide her keen disappointment, but she gradually warms up to the companionable little bird. When something sticks in Lucille's throat and she can barely breathe, Mama, Ava, and Arlie lovingly nurse her back to health. Each character in the well-structured story is an individual. The text, with its short sentences and frequent dialogue, reads aloud well. In a bit of economic realism that many will appreciate, Mama calls the pet-store owner for medical advice, because a vet would be too expensive. Golden light suffuses the illustrations, giving a cozy look to the scenes, even when Ava is feeling let down and antagonistic. A warm story with its own quirky charm.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist