This vibrant, funny cautionary tale from the three-time Geisel Award recipient Greg Pizzoli proves you should be careful what you wish for!
Templeton the cat doesn't like his parents telling him to clean up, and he really doesn't like when his brothers steal his toys. So, he makes a wish on a magic diamond, and his family disappears! At first, Templeton is over the moon. He's free to lounge and play all day, and he never has to take a bath. But being alone might not always be as fun as he'd thought. Will another wish on the magic diamond get Templeton what he really wants?
Don't miss these other favorites from Greg Pizzoli:The Watermelon SeedGood Night OwlThe Book HogThe Twelve Days of ChristmasNumber 1 SamThis Story is for You Read more Continue reading Read less FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
PreS-Gr 2—In this riff on the "Be careful what you wish for" adage, Templeton, a neon orange kitten, is fed up with his parents for constantly telling him to clean up and wash up and annoyed by his little brothers, who always take his toys. When he sees an ad for a magic wish-granting diamond, he robs his brother's piggy bank to fund his purchase. Once on his own, Templeton, like any other youngster, goes wild. He promptly draws all over the walls and stops bathing. His enjoyment of this new freedom is short-lived, however, as being by himself makes him lonely and quite dirty. He wishes that his family were back, and he no longer resents their demands and impositions upon their return. The retro-style cartoonish illustrations are reminiscent of Ed Emberley's work, with their bold greens, oranges, and teals, and their tongue-in-cheek humor complements Pizzoli's spare prose. VERDICT A fun and relatable story that teaches kids an important lesson without being overtly moralizing, this book will find a place in most collections.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY REVIEW
"Pizzoli (Number One Sam) juices up the be-careful-what-you-wish-for theme with sly humor.Cheerful entertainment, with just a touch of snark."―Publishers Weekly

"The retro-style cartoonish illustrations are reminiscent of Ed Emberley's work, with their bold greens, oranges, and teals, and their tongue-in-cheek humor complements Pizzoli's spare prose. A fun and relatable story that teaches kids an important lesson without being overtly moralizing."―School Library Journal

"The complementary colors set eyeballs vibrating, and Templeton radiates a hepcat appeal."―Kirkus Reviews ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg Pizzoli is the creator of the Baloney & Friends series as well as a three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recipient for The Watermelon Seed(Medal winner), The Book Hog (Honor book), and Good Night Owl (Honor book). He is also the author-illustrator of This Story Is for You, The 12 Days of Christmas, Templeton Gets His Wish, and Number One Sam. His nonfiction for children includes the New York Times Best Illustrated Book The Impossible True Story of Tricky Vic: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, and he has also illustrated picture books written by authors such as Mac Barnett, Kelly DiPucchio, Jennifer Adams, and Margaret Wise Brown. He lives in Philadelphia. Read more Continue reading Read less