leland_hw's review against another edition
5.0
This was a wonderful gift from a friend who knows my wife and I have a great soft spot for sloths. Upon reading it my wife says " this book just summed up every reason I want a sloth". Me too.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
3.0
Fantastic beginning and lots of subtle humor, but an unresolved/anticlimactic ending.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
4.0
This book is too cute. Love the story! The pictures are fun and work well with the story. Very enjoyable.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
This really shouldn't work. But Sparky the sloth isn't hurting anybody. And the pet owner is happy enough. And the writing is pretty good. And the art is beautiful. Its kind of like a message book with a garbled message. Acceptance perhaps? Just vaguely sweet. 3.5 of 5.
jallertep's review against another edition
5.0
I want to give this book a hug and read it 100 times!
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the watercolor artwork in this book, and it's a simple and endearing story of a girl who gets a sloth as a pet. However, the book just kind of...ends.
snowelf's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of those 2015 Caldecott contenders I had had no interest in picking up for the longest time, because 1) How could reading about a sloth be all that exciting, 2) Why would I want to read a book with the title "Sparky!", 3) I honestly found the cover illustration both bland and dull. Well, I read it and now I like it. The story is actually interesting in a quiet sort of way, and although the idea of getting an unusual pet is not all that original per se, I thought the storyline managed to carry the anticipation of discovering something unforeseen at the end. The illustrations, while fairly muted, are actually really cute, expressive and funny, and nowhere as bland as the cover had led me to expect.
I still don't get why she had to call him "Sparky" however, unless it was to illustrate how generally unrealistic the expectations of the little girl were for her pet sloth. If so, that's quite funny too.
I still don't get why she had to call him "Sparky" however, unless it was to illustrate how generally unrealistic the expectations of the little girl were for her pet sloth. If so, that's quite funny too.