The Pet Potato
THE PET POTATO
by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Momoko Abe
Roaring Brook Press | 2022
Albert wants a pet more than anything else, but it’s a hard sell to his parents: they’re too busy. Mom is allergic, and Mom and Dad have said no to every pet Albert can think of. One day, dad gives him a pet potato, a classic dad-joke that frustrates Albert, but he discovers something special about this little potato. This relatable tale will spark discussions about families, pets, loss, gardening, and composting. Abe’s illustrations have a simple, engaging humor that complement the text.
Discussion questions
How might you convince your family to get you a new pet?
What types of pets might work best for a classroom? For a senior center? For a public library?
How is composting similar to recycling?
Vocabulary
No tricky words really
Video content
Publisher content
Activities
Make potato prints: How to Make a Potato Stamp (YouTube, 1:48m)
Create a set of positive felt potatoes and a little sign that says “Less haters, More Taters!” How to Make Felt Potatoes (YouTube, 11:41m)
Josh Lacey
Author
joshlacey.com
Josh Lacey was born in London. He worked as a journalist before he wrote his first book for children, A Dog Called Grk, which was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award. There are now eight books in the Grk series, each set in a different country around the world. Josh has written several other books for children including The Island of Thieves, The Sultan’s Tigers, Bearkeeper and the Dragonsitter series. He has also written one book for adults, God is Brazilian, a biography of the man who introduced football to Brazil. Josh regularly visits schools, libraries and literary festivals to talk about his books. He teaches creative writing to both children and adults. He lives in London with his wife and daughters.
Momoko Abe
Illustrator
momokoabe.com
Momoko Abe (pronounced as Ah-Beh) was born in Japan and has been drawing ever since she can remember. She moved to the UK to study filmmaking, and still works in the TV and film industry alongside her illustration work. Momoko is an AOI World Illustration Award Shortlist artist. She lives in London. She is the author and illustrator of Avocado Asks: What Am I? and the illustrator of The Pet Potato.
Companion books
SOPHIE'S SQUASH
Pat Zietlow Miller,
illus. by Anne Wilsdorf
Anne Schwartz Books, 2013
POTATO PANTS
Laurie Keller
Henry Holt and Co., 2018
CHARLOTTE AND THE ROCK
Stephen W. Martin,
illus. Samantha Cotterill
Dial Books, 2017
THE COUCH POTATO
Jory John,
illus. by Pete Oswald
HarperCollins, 2020