Sometimes a family just can not afford a pet. But as luck would have a special rock and some moon beams grow to become a large multicolor beat that is Amy’s new best friend. The book sets itself up as a chapter book, but would work much better as a picture book with a simpler story. This story makes me sad. The happy ending does not make up for the sadness from the beginning.

Best Beast by Teena Raffa-Mulligan and Jess Smart Smile.
Amy sees a competition on the board at school for a holiday at the beach. She would love to win it. Only thing is she doesn't have a pet. She asks her parents but they say no. How will she get a pet by the day of the competition? This was a fantastic read with brilliant characters. My girls loved the pictures especially the beast. 5*. Netgalley and xist publishing.

A girl wants to win a contest so her family can go to the beach. Unfortunately it’s for pets, of which she has none and they’re too poor to get one. So the local crazy lady gives her a rock, and things go from there.
The artwork is more like colored sketches, but the newsflash here is the giant Pinocchio noses everyone on this family sports. Not the pet or the neighbor, just them.
This was cute, except for the part where her parents gave in way too easily.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

Best Beast

by Teena Raffa-Mulligan, Jess Smart Smiley

Xist Publishing



Children's Fiction

Pub Date 01 Jan 2017 | Archive Date 01 Aug 2017



I am reviewing a copy of Best Beast through Netgalley and Xist Publishing:

This brief book is a great read for young girls. The illustrations are cute and would likely be eye appealing to a Seven to nine year old, perhaps a little older if you have a reluctant reader on your hands.

A young girl wishes she could have a pet, in order to win a vacation by entering it into a pet show but her parents remind her they have no extra money to care for a pet! When a fairy Mother gives her a rock and tells her to draw a face on it so it comes to life, when she does she get' more than she bargained.

This cute little book gets four out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I was really enjoying the book up until chapter 4. The introduction of Loopy Lucy was extremely abrupt. Something like this should have been introduced in the book earlier rather than just being dropped in when our main character needs help. I'm also unsure what the message of the story is, since Amy essentially bullies herself into getting first prize at the end of the story. Definitely a book full of enjoyable moments, and I love the idea of a pet rock turning into a real pet, but I'm not sure what it adds up to in the end.