Genre
Humorous stories
Picture books for children
Subject
Circus
Elephants
Elephants as pets
Human/animal relationships
Loneliness
Loneliness in senior women
Mistaken identity
Parks
Pet adoption
Pets
Senior women

This book is so funny, and so strange at the same time.

Peanuts! Come and get your peanuts! Bring the circus home with you. That’s exactly what Mildred did one day in the park. While sitting on a cold, hard, green, bench, Mildred found what she was looking for. She’d always thrived for a pet, and her wish came true. Along came Peanut, a stray elephant that Mildred took in and made him her own. But some things can’t last forever and life goes on.
Becca Porter ( )

Mildred is a lonely old lady, and she goes to look for a pet. She finds a elephant and thinks it's a puppy. She names the elephant peanuts because that's his favorite thing to eat. She brought peanut to the dog park and he looked different from all the other dogs. A man sees Mildred with the elephant and tells her that she has found his missing elephant. Mildred is very sad and lonely again. ( )

Mildred, an elderly woman, often sits by herself in the park. One day she finds a stray "puppy", takes it home and names it Peanut. Mildred takes Peanut to the park on sunny days. A man from a circus discovers Peanut and Mildred at the park, and, thanking her for finding their missing elephant, leaves with Peanut. Mildred, lonely once again, visits Peanut at circus and decides he's more at home there. When the circus leaves town, Mildred still sits on the park bench where, one day, she finds a stray "kitten" and decides to bring it home.

Alsenas' humorous picture book holds a simple, but vivid story. The illustrations truthfully depict Mildred's up and down emotions in a readily identifiable way. The contrast between Mildred & Peanut vs. other pet owners and their animals is quite comical, as we tend to think that owners and pets often look alike. Although readers are asked to do a fair share of "suspending disbelief", you'll find no talking animals or hard-hitting morals here - just the tale of a lonely senior and the "puppy" that brings joy into her life once more. "Peanut" is a splendid book that can be read to anyone anywhere anytime.

Awards/Reviews:
Parenting Magazine, 2007 Book of the Year for Ages 2-4
Oppenheim Toy Porfolio, 2008 Platinum Award Winner
Library Media Connection, starred review
New York Magazine, Top Five Summer Reading Picks for Kids ( )