Petunia really wants a skunk. She pleads with her parents. She makes promises she won’t keep. She won’t listen to a very good reason that a skunk may not be the best choice for a family pet. And then she meets a real skunk and sees that maybe her parents were right — skunks are stinky! The plot is not necessarily original, but A Pet for Petunia is so charming that you can’t help wanting to share it with every child you see. In fact, I read it to a group of kindergarten students, a group of 6-8 year olds, and I even snuck it in at the end of my 6th grade literature group. The 6th graders may not admit it – but they were cracking up! Especially when we reached the last page.
