A review by mat_tobin
Melissa's Octopus and Other Unsuitable Pets by Charlotte Voake

4.0

Voake is a British author and illustrator whose stories (often about cats) usually revolve around families and animals. Working in ink and watercolour, we are greeted by a richly coloured double-page spreads of a children with their associated pet. The unusual element being that these are pets that children generally wouldn't have: giraffes, warthogs, moles and - adding to the book a deliciously dark twist - a crocodile (my favourite). There is an element of Dahl and Edward Lear to this story and I think young children will delight in the absurdity of the animals, the beautiful illustrations and the humorous ending.