Pets have feelings, but Harvey doesn’t seem to know that. He treats his pets like toys or inanimate objects. The pets do not even want to be in the same room with Harvey…

The Tail of a Boy Named Harvey by Gregory E. Bray, and illustrated by Holly J. Bray-Cook

Harvey is full of energy like many young boys. He loves sports and loves to play with his friends and his pets. This book is bright and full of energy. The drawing are simple and relate well to the story. Children can understand just what is happening by looking at the pictures.

Harvey gets sent to his room for treating his cat poorly. A bad dream seems very real as Harvey becomes the pet and is treated roughly by his human. He sleeps in a basket and has to eat yucky smelling food from a bowl on the floor. The only good thing is that he can stay home from school and can play; he also has no chores to do. He plays so hard he needs a nap, but just as he is sleeping he is picked up to be “played with”. He is dressed in battle-army fatigues and tossed in the air as if he were a paratrooper. Luckily, he is caught before landing on the ground without a parachute, but still the trauma of the moment becomes very real to Harvey. When he awakes from the dream he is a changed person and his pets are now more willing to be in the same room with him.

This is an engaging story and will be good read to anyone with pets. After reading this story I gave thought to my own behavior as a child when I dressed my cats’ in doll clothes and now I realize that maybe they didn’t enjoy it either.

I think children will want to hear this story many times, so be prepared to read and re-read it.

Note: I was provided a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.