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What Pet Should I Get?
What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss Review: A Remarkable Posthumous Discovery for Young Readers
What Pet Should I Get? Is a posthumously published Dr. Seuss picture book, originally written between 1958 and 1962, that follows siblings Jay and Kay as they wrestle with an impossible choice inside a pet store — reconstructed from a rediscovered manuscript and published by Random House in July 2015, with a later edition in 2019.
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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.
Worth it if
You're drawn to the remarkable backstory of a posthumously recovered manuscript and want a genuinely Seussian early-reader that connects meaningfully to an existing classic.
Skip if
You're hoping for top-tier, fully polished Seuss — this is a careful reconstruction of an unfinished manuscript, not a revised final work, and its pet-shop-as-shopping premise will feel dated to readers attentive to modern attitudes around animal adoption.
What readers & critics say
The Guardian found the reconstruction "an almost spookily precise addition to the Seuss canon" that slots effortlessly onto the shelf with his other works, while Kirkus Reviews judged it a more satisfying posthumous release than other Seuss publications but ultimately of "more lasting interest to scholars than children." The New York Times praised it as a strong example of Seuss's genius for capturing both the spirit of his times and the timeless mindset of children, though noted it falls short of his very best work.
“Out of black-and-white drawings and faded typed rhymes, the team recreated an almost spookily precise addition to the Seuss canon.”
— The Guardian“Of more lasting interest to scholars than children — a tantalizing glimpse, and a far more satisfying experience than other posthumous Seuss publications.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Shows Dr. Seuss's particular genius for distilling both the spirit of his times and the timeless mind-set of children.”
— nytimes.comPreview the book
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- 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.
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Our Review
We review the evidence: published critics, reader verdicts and BookTube reviews, gathered and weighed with AI assistance and edited by LuvemBooks, rather than one reader's first-hand take.
What the Book Is and What It Contains
The Remarkable Story Behind Its Discovery
Its Significance in the Seuss Canon
Strengths: Authentic Seussian Voice and Reception
Genuine Limitations to Consider
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
en.wikipedia.org
- 2
penguinrandomhouse.com
- 3
- 4
- Further reading
- 5
Dr. Seuss, LuvemBooks
- 6
- 7
- 8
seussville.com
- 9
- 10
chicagotribune.com
- 11
commonsensemedia.org
- 12
Kirkus Reviews
- 13
nytimes.com
Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 3–6
who it suits
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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