Sometimes getting what you want means beating around the bush; a straightline is not always theshortest distance between two points. Amelia employs this strategy when she decides she wants a dog...ifher parents refuse, why not ask for the impossible? From an eagle to a whale, from a horse to anelephant, Amelia¿s attempts to convince her father become increasingly absurd.In addition to being a funny tale about mischievious children and distracted parents, the story stands outfor its distinct structure. Tim Bowley uses repetition and a cumulative structure -- techniques of the oraltradition -- to capture the reader¿s attention. A colourful work based on mixed media and collage, ithelps children understand concepts like the responsibility of caring for pets, and the differencebetween domestic animals who live with humans and wild animals who need to be free.
