A Puppy, Not a Guppy [Paperback]

Holly Jahangiri (Author), Ryan Shaw (Illustrator)

Book Description

Irma wanted a puppy, a pet she could take on walks, not a few stupid guppies. Fish don't do anything, except roll over on their backs if they die. Sometimes, though, a girl has to make the most of what she has. Now, what can Irma do with three guppies besides stare at them as they stare at her?

Product Details

• Paperback: 50 pages
• Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984070850
• ISBN-13: 978-0984070855
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Fish

More About the Author

Holly Jahangiri is a professional writer with over twenty years' experience in technical writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. On a really good writing day, she claims (tongue-in-cheek) to be channeling the spirits of Edgar Allan Poe, Erma Bombeck, and O. Henry. On a really bad writing day, she claims to have poured every last ounce of her creative ability and energy into childbirth, and has two wonderful children - her son, William, and her daughter, Katie - to prove it. But regardless of whether it's a good day or a bad day, she's grateful for the love and support of her husband, J.J., who has put up with her for over a quarter of a century.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guppies are Boring, December 13, 2009

By 

Beverly Stowe McClure "Author" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Puppy, Not a Guppy (Paperback)

Irma wants a puppy, but her parents tell her all the reasons she can't have one. Irma's friend Jimmy has two dogs, a cat, a parakeet, and sixteen pillbugs. He also has a guppy about to have babies and offers Irma some of the babies when they are born. Irma thinks guppies are boring. She wants a puppy, not a guppy.

However, when Jimmy tells her he'll have to flush the babies down the toilet if no one wants them, Irma can't allow that to happen. Poor little guppies. With her mom's and dad's permission she accepts the guppies, even though they're only dumb fish. And Irma is in for a big surprise.

To learn how to take care of her guppies, Irma reads books and makes some amazing discoveries, not only about fish, but also about people and how their names might affect their feelings about themselves. I also learned neat facts about Irma's "boring" guppies and had fun in the process. Even Jimmy learns a thing or two.

Holly Jahangiri includes a "Learn More" section with a link to a Web site where children can discover all sorts of cool things about fish. The "Fun Facts" section of the book will have young readers, and parents, too, rushing to the pet store for fish of their own. This book would be great in elementary school science classes. I would have loved to use it when I was teaching fifth-grade science.

Ryan Shaw's drawings are just perfect for the story. The expressions on Irma's face, ranging from disappointment to surprise to all smiles, make the story even more fun. And the fish--you have to see them for yourself. A Puppy, Not a Guppy will make a great addition to school libraries, public libraries, and your own private library. A story for all ages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for encouraging interest in science and nature!, July 20, 2010

By 

Heather Shervey Kephart "Heather Kephart" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Puppy, Not a Guppy (Paperback)

I had the pleasure of reviewing A PUPPY NOT A GUPPY on my blog a while back. Here's my review:

Warning: This "ain't no" princess book! A Puppy, Not a Guppy is a delightful yarn that will appeal to both girls and boys alike. I'm not a child psychologist (shocking, I know) but it seems to me that after reading this book children will remember the protagonist Irma's positive example of:

* Coping skills
* Determination
* Imagination
* Kindness towards the underdog
* Mastering a challenge
* Scientific curiosity & experimentation

Irma is a lot like I was as a child. Admittedly, I liked my Barbie dolls. And Ken. And Skipper. And my dollhouse and Barbie Corvette and... you get the picture. But I also liked to hang out by the ditch near our local park and collect tadpoles, knowing that soon they would magically sprout little legs and begin to hop around our garage. The ones that managed to escape the wheels of my dad's Vega hopped their green selves right out the garage door towards a life of adventure, perhaps eventually making their way back home to the ditch. I like to think that they did. But I digress...

It's all about balance. There's nothing wrong with allowing your daughter to devour Cinderella, and there's everything right with buying her books like A Puppy, Not a Guppy that are certain to stoke her natural interest in science and nature.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for anyone who has, knows, or has ever been a child, July 11, 2010

By 

Anne (Union Hall, VA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Puppy, Not a Guppy (Paperback)

When Irma's friend Jimmy's guppy has babies Irma asks her parents if she can have a few. This is after her parents say no to a puppy. At first Irma is bored by her new finned friends, but soon learns there is more to these guppies than swimming and eating.

What a charming story! And yes, I read this to myself, by myself and enjoyed every minute. Everyone can learn a little something from Irma and her guppies. A Puppy, Not a Guppy is a delightful story and is a recommended read for anyone who has, knows, or has ever been a child.