Frisky Ferrets

Children's Literature - Debbie Levy

In this introduction to pet ferrets, Doudna offers basic information about the little critters. The first half of the book, illustrated with photographs, presents the essentials of ferret life: they sleep, they go out for leashed walks with their owners, they eat "food" several times a day, they go to the veterinarian, they cuddle and play. The second half presents a rhyming story, illustrated by Nobens' colorful drawings, about Garrett and his ferret named Faye. "Fun facts" and a glossary round out the book. This introduction is adequate, but Doudna is silent about some of the most fascinating characteristics of these cousins of weasels, skunks, and otters. Youngsters would surely be interested in ferrets' tendency to steal and stash all kinds of objects, for example, and how much ferrets seem to enjoy digging and crawling into small spaces—but they will not find such information here. The book is part of the publisher's "SandCastle Perfect Pets" series for emerging and early readers.