Sometimes getting what you want means beatingaround the bush, a straightline is not always theshortest distance between two points. Amelia employsthis strategy when she decides she wants a dog...ifher parents refuse, why not ask for the impossible?From an eagle to a whale, from a horse to anelephant, Amelia¿s attempts to convince her fatherbecome increasingly absurd.In addition to being a funny tale about mischieviouschildren and distracted parents, the story stands outfor its distinct structure. Tim Bowley uses repetitionand a cumulative structure -- techniques of the oraltradition -- to capture the reader¿s attention.A colourful work based on mixed media and collage, ithelps children understand concepts like theresponsibility of caring for pets, and the differencebetween domestic animals who live with humans andwild animals who need to be free.
