Many children’s books use contrived rhyming. However, Robert Bahrns in The Perfect Pet uses natural rhymes. In addition, the text uses a sing-song type rhyming that makes reading this book both fun and interesting. Math Bob wants a pet. He wants a pet dog but struggles to ask his mom. Finally, he asks his neighbor how she approached her mom about buying a dog. Her answer spurs Bob to make a chart of all the beneficial things a pet dog does for a child. Follow Bob as he investigates different options for a pet. Maybe a frog, chick, worm, or another animal will fulfill his need for a pet. But, nope. It has to be a dog. Join Bob as he discovers why other animals won’t do and why he picks a dog as a pet.

Robert Bahrns knows the importance of teaching children life skills such as logic and communication. In The Perfect Pet, Robert teaches the need to use logic to make decisions. Then he shows how important communication is as Math Bob shares with his mom the reasons a child needs a dog. After the story ends, there are several pages of animals asking questions. These questions are observational and help children learn how to be more observant. Parents need to read to or, better yet, have their children read this book as they discuss the reasoning behind owning pets. This discussion can help your children learn logic and how to properly discuss decisions. Books like this are meant to draw parents into their children’s learning process. The Perfect Pet is the perfect book for parent/child bonding.

The Perfect Pet is the first book in The Early Adventures of Math Bob Series by Robert Bahrns, an adventure that encourages children to search for the right pet. In an engaging rhyming story, Math Bob wants to have a dog as a friend, but he doesn’t know how to ask his mom. He thinks that she will never let him have a canine companion. And so begins the story where he starts considering other pets to have instead of a dog. But for each pet he thinks about, there is a corresponding disadvantage that goes with it. A frog can’t do tricks. A fish can’t leave the house. A mouse would have to live in a box. He even thinks of getting a fox, a groundhog, and a snake, but a slithery reptile would make his mom squirm. He keeps thinking of what other animals he can have as a pet, and finally has the idea that his next-door neighbor is the key to him getting the perfect pet.

The Perfect Pet is a fun, rhyming, and well-illustrated educational book for early readers where the illustrations blend smoothly with the verse to draw readers easily into this pet search adventure. As Robert Bahrns focuses on different pets ranging from domestic to exotic, the main focus is a dog that Bob wants to own. The story brilliantly portrays how he makes a presentation, extolling the virtues of a dog to his mother. This is much how most children when wanting to have a pet talk to their parents about the advantages of a dog or a cat or whatever pet they choose. The book’s fun search and counting activities at the end encourage children to focus, which is a great exercise for their cognitive skills. I urge parents and teachers to get this book for their children and students, as young readers will enjoy an entertaining read that is also educational.

Imagination, logic, and resourcefulness are the perfect trifecta in The Perfect Pet: The Early Adventures of Math Bob written and illustrated by Robert Bahrns. Young Bob wants a dog but he doesn’t think his mom will let him have one so he goes through a long list of pet alternates, like catching a frog but then he remembers that frogs can’t do tricks. He thinks of buying a fish but a fish can’t leave the house, then has the idea of catching a mouse but a mouse would have to live in a box. Poor Bob thinks about the pros and cons of having other types of pets, even going so far as to entertain the thought of having a groundhog, a bear, and even a worm! Just when he’s about ready to give up, Bob remembers his neighbor’s pup. He quickly goes over and asks his neighbor how she asked her mother for a dog. She tells Bob that she had given her mom a list of all of the goods things a dog could do. Inspired, he races home and makes a list of five good things a dog can do and then presents them to his mom…

The Perfect Pet is an excellent combination of a colorful picture book and a smart protagonist that identifies his problem and then uses imagination, logic, and resourcefulness to identify and solve his problem. Bob considers a broad range of very different animals and why they don’t make the ideal pet. In each case, his analysis is simple and gets to the heart of what makes each pet not the right one for him. Each illustration is colorful and full of energy, perfect for engaging the attention of young readers. The end of the book contains a variety of questions that challenge children to see how closely they were paying attention. A smart picture book that engages and entertains, The Perfect Pet is a must-read for young children.

In The Perfect Pet by Robert Bahrns, we are introduced to Math Bob who wants a dog as a friend more than anything else. He wants to ask his mom about it but is unsure of the best way to do this. Even when he thinks about choosing another animal, it just doesn’t fit because his heart is set. He goes down the list from frogs, chicks, fish, and mice but nothing really seems quite as right as a dog. Bears, foxes, flies, and snakes are also out of the question. Finally, he has an idea and asks his neighbor how she got her dog and not some other random animal. When he finds out that she made a list of good things a dog can do, he realizes that this is the perfect plan to get his furry canine friend. Luckily for Bob, his list really gets his mother thinking. Seeing all the positives of having a dog, she agrees that they should have one so the search for the right pup begins.

I thought The Perfect Pet was a perfect book. I remember being little and wanting a dog so badly, but unfortunately, I grew up in a small apartment building with four siblings so it was out of the question. As an adult, I have two dogs that I love more than anything so it’s always nice to read a story like this. Bob was so determined and knew that there wasn’t any animal except a dog for him. He’s a well-thought-out character that children will instantly connect with. The illustrations are also colorful and fun which will keep their attention. The plot is relatable to kids mainly because lots of kids want dogs. Overall, I think Robert Bahrns has done a wonderful job with this children’s book. I can’t wait to read more of his work.