Saturday, December 6, 2014

Holiday Gift Guide: Peeve, My Parents' Pet by Tom Ryan



Peeve, My Parents' Pet
written by Tom Ryan
illustrated by Kenny Durkin

A young boy is determined to hunt down Peeve, the mysterious and mischievous pet his parents talk about so often.


Although his parents' pet is apparently quite small, Peeve certainly causes a lot of trouble. Peeve leaves chocolate finger prints on the piano, toys all over the house, water on the bathroom floor, mud on the carpet, and crumbs on the couch. What kind of unusual pet is Peeve? And why do the boy's parents let such a wild pet live in their home? Both children and adults will relate to this humorous story, which will likely lead to a discussion about their own pet peeves. "Peeve, My Parents' Pet," wonderfully illustrated by Kenny Durkin and published by Mirror Publishing, is a fun story for kids ages 3 through 9 (more or less) and adults of all ages.

About the Author:
Tom Ryan grew up near Wausau, Wisconsin and attended UW-Madison, where he studied Journalism and Reverse Psychology. 

When he's not coaching youth sports, attempting to grow giant pumpkins or writing Haiku about his train commute, he works in the communications department at Miller Coors. Tom lives in the Milwaukee area with his wife, Kim, and two young sons.

Tom is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. 


The book, Peeve, My Parents' Pet, published by Mirror Publishing, is based on an amusing and confusing conversation Tom had with his six-year-old son: In the summer of 2013, Tom Ryan walked into his six-year-old son’s bedroom, pointed at the clothes, toys and books on the floor and said, “That is my pet peeve.”

Ryan’s son looked perplexed as he walked around his room, looking for the pet his father was pointing to. 

In the humorous exquisitely illustrated color picture book, a young boy is determined to hunt down Peeve, the mysterious and mischievous pet his parents talk about so often.


About the Illustrator:
Kenny Durkin is an extraordinarily talented cartoonist and illustrator who has worked with numerous musicians and celebrities. He is a member of the National Cartoonist Society. His work can be viewed online at www.durkinworks.blogspot.com

Peeve, My Parents' Pet can be purchased at major online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Visit Tom Ryan's website, http://www.thomaspatrickryan.com/ and follow him on Twitter.


Our Thoughts
I had to grab this one.  It sounded hilarious, and the pictures do it justice! My kid loves his books and big bright illustrations get his attention best.

You've got this little boy, whose parents talk about their "Pet Peeve" all the time.  He's never seen Peeve - and not only does Peeve seem to follow him around, but Peeve sounds like he's a heck of a lot of fun.  Peeve leaves crumbs, mud, water, and chocolate finger prints, but I think my favorite is the spaghetti on the restaurant wall.  The boy's innocent look says it all:


Or maybe my favorite is how he tries to set traps for Peeve, with a fishing net and cookies in the dryer . . . again.


No, I think my favorite is the last page, where he says he thinks he should wait to ask for a dog; to wait until his parents get their "Pet Peeve" under control.  Because some days, I'm sure that's what my house looks like, cute little blonde boy included!



I might be an adult, but I sure enjoyed this book and the illustrations really add to the hilarity of it all!  My son has been enjoying it, too - it's been his mealtime entertainment!



Looking for a holiday gift for the kids on your list?  Get Peeve, My Parents' Pet!

Just a note - The other part of the reason I wanted to grab Peeve, My Parents' Pet for review, is because of the illustrator, Kenny - or rather his wife, Andi, who runs Down Syndrome, A Day to Day Guide, a blog near and dear to my heart (and I think you'll recognize the artwork!) - on which you will soon see a guest post by yours truly regarding our journey with our son's seizures. 





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