Spencer’s New Pet, great layout and patient story for wordless fans

Wordless books are awesome. They allow readers to use their imagination to entirely propel the story forward.  We don’t know anything about their character’s background or the people who are in the story. There are no names and it gives kids, provided they want to play along, a chance for them to tell their own story within the picture narrative that the author has established. Spencer’s New Pet is by Jessie Sima and has a couple neat hooks that will capture young readers.

The landscape layout of Spencer’s New Pet makes the book feel like you’re viewing a movie. That feeling is further driven home by the countdown 3, 2, 1 and then the title page as you open the book. Think of a silent film as it counts downs until the muted minstrel starts the show. The background of the pages even has white or gray blips of color on an otherwise black page that allow readers to imagine that they’re watching a lost film about Spencer and his pet.

The book is also laid out into three chapters with each one telling a story about Spencer and his pet. It’s not giving away the punch line to disclose that the ‘pet’ in question is actually a balloon. All one has to do is look at the front cover to realize that it’s a balloon dog on a leash.

The colors to the book add to its mystery because it’s presented in black and white, except for the balloon dog that is red. As Spencer walks around the city we see all of the dangers that his new pet encounter. There’s a hedgehog when Spencer has to take him to the veterinarian, some of the dogs at the park have sharp teeth and a stray breeze blows him all over the area. What’s a balloon dog to do-especially when he encounters another group of balloon animals?

Spencer’s New Pet is cute. We showed the book to a typical 7 year-old, with our similar interests and he didn’t get it. “Where are the words?” he asked. “Why aren’t there any words?” he countered with. Our focus group wasn’t a fan of the book. The book does require the right frame of mind. If you’re looking for a quick paced book that is laugh-out-loud funny, it’s not for you. If you’re looking for a slow boil book that lets kids get lost inside their own head as they figure out the jokes then this is your jam. Adults might think of Spencer’s New Pet as The Crying Game, except with balloons. This is wordless comfort food that those who dig the format will like, but it won’t win over any wordless fans.