Emma's Strange Pet

Jean Little is the author of more than twenty-five books for children. In addition to Emma's Magic Winter, her first I Can Read Book, Ms. Little's works include the novels Lost and Found, Different Dragons, From Anna and Hey World, Here I Am, illustrated by Sue Truesdell. Jean Little has always been interested in adoption, and she had a first-hand experience with it when her sister adopted two children several years ago. The family has nine pets, the most recent addition being Henry Higgins, a talking African gray parrot. Although Jean Little was born with scarred corneas that severely impair her vision, she has always loved to read and to write. She writes with a voice-activated computer and travels widely with her Seeing Eye dog, Pippa. Ms. Little lives in Ontario, Canada.

Jennifer Plecas's illustrations appear in many popular books for children, including Wrapping Paper Romp, a Growing Tree book by Patricia Hubbell, and Rattlebone Rock by Sylvia Andrews, as well as the ALA Notable Book the Outside Dog, an I Can Read Book by Charlotte Pomerantz. Ms. Plecas lives in Blue Springs, Missouri.

“Little portrays real characters who bring everyday problems to satisfying conclusions. Simple, full-color line-and-watercolor illustrations do a great job of capturing expressions of confusion, worry, anger, and joy. An exceptional beginning reader.” - School Library Journal (starred review)
“The pet topic is a natural, and Little manages both easygoing charm and conveyance of authentic sibling irritation.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Children’s emotional interactions with their pets and siblings are deftly handled, as are the issues of family membership and adoption.” - Chicago Tribune
“Simple illustrations do a great job of capturing expressions of confusion, worry, anger, and joy. An exceptional beginning reader.” - School Library Journal