The Parakeet Girl

Poor Emily Tuttle can't find a pet that loves her until she finds Henry the parakeet who loves her until Kate the female parakeet comes along. Emily is very sad until Henry and Kate have baby parakeets that take Henry's place. The book is very humorous and the illustrations are very warm. What I especially like about the book are the morals that life changes and we have to understand changes in others feelings and eventually things work out for the better.

This enjoyable book teaches the responsibility of having a pet, and how unintended things can happen (the dog loves someone else more than they love you; you're allergic to the cat; a fish is boring). However, when young Emma Tuttle finds her ideal pet, a beautiful green parakeet named "Henry,", the author indulges in some fun, fanciful adventures. Together, Emma and Henry watch TV, and go to piano lessons and the dentist.After some initial resistance from her teacher, Mrs. Crump (don't teachers who abide by the rules ever have friendly-sounding names?), Henry becomes the teacher's--and the class--pet! However, when Emma's brother acquires a female bird, "Kate," Henry's thoughts turn to love. All is resolved when the two birds have two babies, and Emma and the teacher have four birds to love (and sharpen their pencils!).A fun book for the young reader and animal lover, with 48 nicely illustrated pages. The publishers list this as a "Step 2 Book: Grades 1-3."