Can I Keep It, Please?
Published on 28. August 2025
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-6659-5556-0 (ISBN)
Description
From the award-winning author of Kitten and the Night Watchman comes a tender and relatable picture book about what makes a pet truly special.
Evie's pet is Sasha the cat. Sasha is the best pet ever. But Jenny has a friendly ferret. Garrett has cuddly guinea pigs. And David has a squawking parrot. Suddenly, to Evie, Sasha seems plain. And that makes Evie wonder...could there be a better pet for her? Until she realizes that all pets are special if you love them.
Evie's pet is Sasha the cat. Sasha is the best pet ever. But Jenny has a friendly ferret. Garrett has cuddly guinea pigs. And David has a squawking parrot. Suddenly, to Evie, Sasha seems plain. And that makes Evie wonder...could there be a better pet for her? Until she realizes that all pets are special if you love them.
Reviews / Votes
"Sullivan offers a sweet and well-paced take on responsible pet ownership, starring a protagonist who's keenly aware of her animals' needs. Gibson's colorful cartoonlike illustrations set a cheery tone." -- <I>Kirkus Reviews</I> "Cheery digital cartooning by Gibson alternate domestic and school scenes, while light animalian anthropomorphism effectively conveys that different beings have different natures-and that the best pet is the one that chooses you." -- <I>Publishers Weekly</I>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
f-c digital (jkt spfx: spot gloss + emboss); coated stock
Dimensions
Height: 262 mm
Width: 264 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6659-5556-0 (9781665955560)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Persons
John Sullivan received the Ezra Jack Keats Award and Margaret Wise Brown Prize for his debut picture book Kitten and the Night Watchman, also named a best book of the year by The Boston Globe, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and BookPage. He is also the author of Ethan and the Strays, Stanley's Secret, and Can I Keep It, Please?. John is a cat lover and tap dancer who formerly worked as a night watchman. He lives in Chicago. Visit John at JohnSullivanKidBooks.com.
Jessica Gibson is a freelance illustrator from the riverfront area of Detroit, Michigan. She started her career after graduating from Wayne County Community College and has produced illustrations for a number of publishers and brands, including picture books, editorial spot pieces, packaging design, and surface patterns. Her books include Acorn Was a Little Wild by Jen Arena and Can I Keep It, Please? by John Sullivan.
Jessica Gibson is a freelance illustrator from the riverfront area of Detroit, Michigan. She started her career after graduating from Wayne County Community College and has produced illustrations for a number of publishers and brands, including picture books, editorial spot pieces, packaging design, and surface patterns. Her books include Acorn Was a Little Wild by Jen Arena and Can I Keep It, Please? by John Sullivan.