At a glance
First published2015
SettingA pet store, mid-20th-century America
AudienceChildren (3-6)
ISBN0525707352
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for: Seuss fans and parents of early readers (ages 3–6) who want to explore a fascinating piece of literary history and an authentic, if unfinished, addition to the Seuss canon — especially those already familiar with One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
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What Pet Should I Get? is a posthumously published Dr. Seuss picture book following siblings Jay and Kay as they wrestle with the impossible choice of selecting just one pet from a store full of tempting animals. Reconstructed from a manuscript Seuss wrote between 1958 and 1962 and published by Random House in July 2015, it is a genuine literary discovery that reads as authentically Seussian — though critics, including the New York Times' Maria Russo, note it falls a step below his very best work, as one would expect of a manuscript never fully finished or revised by its author. It's an ideal pick for Seuss fans and early readers ages three to six, provided families understand they're encountering a remarkable recovery rather than a polished final creation.
- Is it worth reading?
- For Seuss fans and families with early readers, What Pet Should I Get? is well worth picking up as a genuine literary discovery — a manuscript that reads as authentically Seussian and draws on a universal childhood dilemma that resonates strongly with the three-to-six age group. The New York Times critic Maria Russo praised it as a strong example of Seuss's genius for distilling both the spirit of his times and the timeless mindset of children. The key caveat is calibrating expectations: this is a remarkable recovery from an unfinished manuscript, not a polished final work on the level of The Cat in the Hat, and Russo herself noted it is 'if not top-flight Seuss.' Families should also be aware that the pet-store-as-shopping premise is dated by contemporary standards, though Random House's edition includes a publisher's note encouraging children to find pets at shelters.
- Similar books
- Readers who enjoy What Pet Should I Get? will find much to love in other Seuss classics: The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham both showcase the same Beginner Books format and Seuss's genius for simple, rhythmic text that captures the logic of childhood. Oh, the Places You'll Go! offers a slightly different Seuss register — more reflective and sweeping — but shares the same wit and warmth. Beyond Seuss, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle are essential picture books in the same age range that deal with big feelings and imaginative worlds, while Charlotte's Web by E. B. White is a natural next step for young animal-lovers ready for a longer story.
- Who should read this?
- What Pet Should I Get? is aimed squarely at early readers ages three to six, making it an ideal read-aloud for parents, caregivers, and pre-K through early elementary classrooms. It will resonate most strongly with families already familiar with Jay and Kay from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and with dedicated Seuss fans who will appreciate the book's extraordinary backstory as a rediscovered manuscript. It also holds real interest for adults curious about the history of Seuss's creative process — the story of how the manuscript was found among papers labeled 'Noble Failures' is compelling in its own right.
- What age is it for?
- Best for ages 3 to 6. What Pet Should I Get? is part of the Beginner Books series, designed for early readers in the pre-K through early elementary range, with simple rhythmic text and illustrations suited to that comprehension level. The central dilemma of choosing just one pet maps directly onto experiences children in this age group know well, which is a key part of its appeal.
- About Dr. Seuss
- Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American children's author, illustrator, animator, and cartoonist. He published under the pen name Dr. Seuss, and his work remains a cornerstone of children's literature worldwide.
- How does it compare to other Seuss books?
- Critics, including the New York Times' Maria Russo, place What Pet Should I Get? below Seuss's top-tier work — noting it is 'if not top-flight Seuss' — which is an understandable assessment given it was never fully finished or revised by its author before his death in 1991. That said, the manuscript reads as authentically Seussian, a tribute to both the quality of the original material and the reconstruction work of Cathy Goldsmith, the Random House associate publishing director who authenticated and colored the original black-and-white illustrations. Its connection to Jay and Kay from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish gives it a satisfying place within the broader canon, functioning both as a standalone early reader and as an unofficial companion to that 1960 classic.
- How authentic is this as a Seuss book?
- The manuscript's authenticity was carefully established by Cathy Goldsmith, a Random House associate publishing director who served as art director on the previous six Seuss books and is reportedly the last Random House executive to have worked directly with Seuss — she dated the manuscript to between 1958 and 1962, partly on the basis of the Jay and Kay characters matching those in One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Goldsmith reconstructed the text and colored the original black-and-white illustrations for publication. The result reads as genuinely Seussian, though it is important to note it was never fully finished or revised by Seuss himself — making it an authentic but unpolished addition to his body of work.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
What age is it for?
About Dr. Seuss
How does it compare to other Seuss books?
How authentic is this as a Seuss book?
Summarize this book
What Pet Should I Get? follows Jay and Kay — the same brother-and-sister duo from Seuss's 1960 classic One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish — on a visit to a pet store where they must choose just one pet before the clock strikes noon. The pair consider a vast array of possible animals, building to a deadline-driven tension before ultimately settling on a choice whose identity is left tantalizingly unrevealed. The story is structured as a classic Seussian dilemma: the universal childhood experience of wanting everything and having to pick only one thing. Reconstructed from a manuscript Seuss wrote between 1958 and 1962, it was published by Random House in July 2015 after being discovered among papers set aside from his archive.
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 3–6
Best for: Ages 3–6 — simple rhythmic text and picture-book format suit early readers and pre-K comprehension levels.
Skip if you want a fully polished, author-approved final work rather than a reconstructed manuscript.
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