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If I Had A Gryphon with read along CD
When a kitten sneezes it's adorable. When a dragon sneezes? It's a fire hazard!Sam is already bored of her new pet, a rather sedate hamster. Inspired by her book of mythological creatures, Sam longs for a more exciting pet. But she soon realizes that taking care of these magical beasts might not be as wonderful as she thought. Unicorns are shy, gryphons scare the dogs at the dogpark, and having a fire extinguisher handy at all times makes dragons seem like an awful lot of work. In the end, Sam realizes that her hamster is a pretty sweet and safe pet ... or is he? If I Had a Gryphon is a raucous rhyming read-aloud about fantastical beasts in everyday situations--and the increasingly beleaguered heroine who has to deal with them. The perfect primer on mythological and fantastic beasts for young kids not quite ready for Harry Potter!
Audio CD
First published February 9, 2016
8 people are currently reading
968 people want to read
About the author
Vikki VanSickle
18 books236 followersEverything I need to know in life I learned from children's literature. My work ranges from contemporary middle grade fiction to magical, storytime-ready picture books.
I am currently living in Toronto where I work in children's publishing in addition to writing. All kids' books, all the time!
I am currently living in Toronto where I work in children's publishing in addition to writing. All kids' books, all the time!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
February 9, 2016
Sam receives a hamster for a pet, yet she finds the hamster to be quite boring. She dreams of having mythological creatures as a pet instead but soon comes to realize the challenges and reality of having mythological creatures as pets. I absolutely loved this book! With engaging rhymes and stunning illustrations, If I Had a Gryphon was incredibly fun and cute to read
March 24, 2020
A young girl finds her new pet hamster rather boring in this delightful new picture-book from author Vikki VanSickle and illustrator Cale Atkinson. "If only I could have a pet / With strange, exotic powers, / I know that I'd find lots to do / To while away the hours," she muses, going on to consider all the magical creatures she might have as a companion. Although concentrating on the pleasures involved in consorting with such creatures at first, she also begins to consider the drawbacks, from the legendary shyness of unicorns to the many fires started by dragons. Eventually she concludes that her hamster is just right...
With a rhyming text that scans well and has a rollicking rhythm, and charming illustrations that capture the color and magic of the creatures being imagined by the girl narrator, If I Had a Gryphon would make an excellent read-aloud selection. Children who enjoy reading about fantastical creatures, from gryphons to hippogriffs, will be particularly pleased with this selection, although they may be surprised at the sweet ending, in which the girl is reconciled to the idea of having a hamster as a pet. I appreciated the very end, in which the plump little hamster starts dressing up as the creatures in the little girl's book. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books with rhyming text, or featuring imaginative children.
With a rhyming text that scans well and has a rollicking rhythm, and charming illustrations that capture the color and magic of the creatures being imagined by the girl narrator, If I Had a Gryphon would make an excellent read-aloud selection. Children who enjoy reading about fantastical creatures, from gryphons to hippogriffs, will be particularly pleased with this selection, although they may be surprised at the sweet ending, in which the girl is reconciled to the idea of having a hamster as a pet. I appreciated the very end, in which the plump little hamster starts dressing up as the creatures in the little girl's book. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books with rhyming text, or featuring imaginative children.
February 13, 2016
Adorable. Sam is the new owner of a hamster, but finds that it's not quite as dazzling as the creatures in the mythological book she's reading. She imagines herself owning everything from a unicorn to a chimera, and in the process, realizes that taking care of those animals might be pretty difficult, too.
Full of charming and delicate verse, fantastical creatures (the phoenix is my favorite), and colourful illustrations that will appeal to both kids and parents. This book is perfect for your four-to-six year old who is interested in animals and loves the zoo. Entice them with the hippogriff, dazzle them with the (purple) unicorn...and then remind them that the pet you have at home is always best of all.
I could see If I Had A Gryphon read in classrooms and libraries, then used for language arts and English to develop imagination: imaginative play and art (create the costume of the mythical creature you wish to own; then walk, talk, dance like him/her), storytelling from child to adult, and much more. In short, this is a keeper for your home, classroom, or library.
I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review (but, just to let you know, I have already purchased three copies for the children in my life! Enjoy!)
Full of charming and delicate verse, fantastical creatures (the phoenix is my favorite), and colourful illustrations that will appeal to both kids and parents. This book is perfect for your four-to-six year old who is interested in animals and loves the zoo. Entice them with the hippogriff, dazzle them with the (purple) unicorn...and then remind them that the pet you have at home is always best of all.
I could see If I Had A Gryphon read in classrooms and libraries, then used for language arts and English to develop imagination: imaginative play and art (create the costume of the mythical creature you wish to own; then walk, talk, dance like him/her), storytelling from child to adult, and much more. In short, this is a keeper for your home, classroom, or library.
I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review (but, just to let you know, I have already purchased three copies for the children in my life! Enjoy!)
October 6, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
THIS WAS SO ADORABLE!!!! I loved the images and the story. I liked that this was about mythological creatures but also about the very real pets we get as well. I will have a full review plus an interview with Vikki VanSickle on Books Are My Fandom on October 24th!
THIS WAS SO ADORABLE!!!! I loved the images and the story. I liked that this was about mythological creatures but also about the very real pets we get as well. I will have a full review plus an interview with Vikki VanSickle on Books Are My Fandom on October 24th!
February 10, 2016
'If I Had a Gryphon' by Vikki VanSickle with illustrations by Cale Atkinson is a laugh out loud book of "what if" choices for pet owners.
When Sam gets a hamster for a pet, she is a bit underwhelmed. She imagines what owning grander (and imaginary) pets might look like and discovers that they would hold their own excitement. Perhaps a bit too much. She thinks about owning a dragon, a gryphon, a hippogriff, a kraken and many others. They all pose their own problems. Imagine what happens when a dragon sneezes? Or the fact that you need the proper gear to hang with your pet kraken.
The prose is in perfect lilting rhyme. I had to find someone to read it out loud to, and it was perfectly metered. And the illustrations are the best! I laughed out loud at the story and pics and I know younger readers will too. This will be on my gift list for friends and family with young readers.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House of Canada Limited, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this hilarious ebook.
When Sam gets a hamster for a pet, she is a bit underwhelmed. She imagines what owning grander (and imaginary) pets might look like and discovers that they would hold their own excitement. Perhaps a bit too much. She thinks about owning a dragon, a gryphon, a hippogriff, a kraken and many others. They all pose their own problems. Imagine what happens when a dragon sneezes? Or the fact that you need the proper gear to hang with your pet kraken.
The prose is in perfect lilting rhyme. I had to find someone to read it out loud to, and it was perfectly metered. And the illustrations are the best! I laughed out loud at the story and pics and I know younger readers will too. This will be on my gift list for friends and family with young readers.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House of Canada Limited, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this hilarious ebook.
October 23, 2021
If I had a Gryphon is a written by Vikki VanSickle. This book was one of Book Riot's 50 Must-Read books for kids in 2018. It was also an award recipient of CCBC's Best Books for kids and teens in 2019.
This book jumps into the imagination of a young child, dreaming about exotic pets one could have. VanSickle integrates teachings of animals through the pets she writes about. I could see this being a very fun and funny book for a kindergartner or first grader to read. The illustrations truly embellish the story and make it come alive.
I highly recommend this wonderful, fantasy picture book to very young kids all the way to Kindergarten. It really is too juvenile for kids over 6/7 years old in my opinion. Great, fun read!
This book jumps into the imagination of a young child, dreaming about exotic pets one could have. VanSickle integrates teachings of animals through the pets she writes about. I could see this being a very fun and funny book for a kindergartner or first grader to read. The illustrations truly embellish the story and make it come alive.
I highly recommend this wonderful, fantasy picture book to very young kids all the way to Kindergarten. It really is too juvenile for kids over 6/7 years old in my opinion. Great, fun read!
November 22, 2017
So cute, loved the illustrations!
March 29, 2016
If I Had a Gryphon is a fun little picture book about a girl who, at first, is uncharmed by her ordinary hamster and imagines how great it would be to have a mythic creature as a pet. While she goes through a wide assortment of cool beasts, she comes to a conclusion that may surprise you. It has some neat illustrations by Cale Atkinson, too.
I don't normally go around reading picture books--that's not really my style--but I work at a book store and, as I set this book up for a new promotion today, I thought, "Eh, why not?"
I don't normally go around reading picture books--that's not really my style--but I work at a book store and, as I set this book up for a new promotion today, I thought, "Eh, why not?"
December 28, 2015
This book was incredible fun and super sweet. I love children's books that rhyme and its always a plus in my book if they have something to do with mythical creatures. Each page was filled with vivid color and amazing art, the way Vikki VanSickle mimicked actual brushstrokes in her artwork was just wonderful. With a little one's birthday coming up for good friend of mine I'll be sure to pick up a copy of this to add to their chills library.
March 21, 2016
This is a cute rhyming book featuring beautiful full-page illustrations and a diverse main character. It is guaranteed to keep kids engaged and even has a bonus of teaching them about mythological animals! There is quite a bit of imagination contained between the covers.
This unbiased review is based upon a copy won through the Goodreads First Reads program.
This unbiased review is based upon a copy won through the Goodreads First Reads program.
August 22, 2016
Really enjoyed this one.
It introduces mythological creatures while using lively rhyming text, like this bit about a unicorn: "We'd prance through fields of posies and nibble nectarines/I'd shine her horn with candy corn to get a starry sheen."
I mean, great stuff. Shout out to terrific illustrations too.
It introduces mythological creatures while using lively rhyming text, like this bit about a unicorn: "We'd prance through fields of posies and nibble nectarines/I'd shine her horn with candy corn to get a starry sheen."
I mean, great stuff. Shout out to terrific illustrations too.
February 22, 2016
Love the illustrations and the story was really cute.
August 14, 2019
If I Had a Gryphon is a children's picture book written by Vikki VanSickle and illustrated by Cale Atkinson, which centers on an imaginative little girl dreams of an exotic pet.
VanSickle's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. With simple rhymes, the narrative of a girl with ochre skin, rosy cheeks, and square-framed glasses imagines life with an array of mythological creatures as pets, because she is already bored with her hamster. Atkinson's illustrations are wonderfully done and depicted the narrative rather well in a fun and silly manner when depicting the pros and cons of owning each mythological creature.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Sam just got a hamster, her first pet, and she is far from impressed. She imagines owing more exotic and mythological creatures such as unicorn, hippogriff, sasquatch, gryphon, kraken, dragon, kirin, jackalope, phoenix, manticore, harpy, chupacabra, fairy, basilisk, chimera, mermaids, and spirits. However, in the end, after listing all the pros and cons, she is happy with her hamster.
All in all, If I Had a Gryphon is a wonderful and charming children's book that is brisk and bright, if a tad one-dimensional.
VanSickle's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. With simple rhymes, the narrative of a girl with ochre skin, rosy cheeks, and square-framed glasses imagines life with an array of mythological creatures as pets, because she is already bored with her hamster. Atkinson's illustrations are wonderfully done and depicted the narrative rather well in a fun and silly manner when depicting the pros and cons of owning each mythological creature.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Sam just got a hamster, her first pet, and she is far from impressed. She imagines owing more exotic and mythological creatures such as unicorn, hippogriff, sasquatch, gryphon, kraken, dragon, kirin, jackalope, phoenix, manticore, harpy, chupacabra, fairy, basilisk, chimera, mermaids, and spirits. However, in the end, after listing all the pros and cons, she is happy with her hamster.
All in all, If I Had a Gryphon is a wonderful and charming children's book that is brisk and bright, if a tad one-dimensional.
February 23, 2021
If I Had a Gryphon; written by Vikki Vansickle and Illustrated by Cale Atkinson is a 2016 fantasy children’s book. Written with a pleasant rhyme scheme, the story is told through the young narrator Sam, who just got a hamster for a pet. Excited about the possibility of the fun with his new companion, it turns out the hamster is not as riveting as anticipated. Through their imagination, Sam envisions fantastical and mythological creatures that would serve as a more fulfilling pet. Though the illustrations are simple, they are still extremely colorful. This is a story that serves well for young readers between the ages of 3-7. This would be a good story to implement for a handful of reasons: for emerging readers to help them with their reading fluency because of the rhyme scheme, to convey the importance of building companionship with a child’s first pet. Furthermore, it also acts an endorsement for young readers to be inspired by their own imagination living in a tangible world!
November 4, 2018
This charming, hilarious story (now in board book format) features a little girl who wants a pet that's slightly more exciting than her hamster. She imagines having a pet gryphon, unicorn, and manticore, as well as many other mythological creatures. In the end she decides that the care and maintenance of these pets would be a bit more than she can handle, and that her hamster is just fine.
The rhymes and plot of this kids' story are great, but it's the details in the illustrations that really make it funny. I loved the zany chupacabra, the gleeful expressions on the fairies' faces as they wreaked havoc, and the scared kelpies who wouldn't come out of the closet. These monsters are silly, not scary, and are sure to have both caregivers and children laughing!
Thank you to Penguin Random House and LibraryThing for the advanced copy of this board book!*
*This did not affect my review or rating.
The rhymes and plot of this kids' story are great, but it's the details in the illustrations that really make it funny. I loved the zany chupacabra, the gleeful expressions on the fairies' faces as they wreaked havoc, and the scared kelpies who wouldn't come out of the closet. These monsters are silly, not scary, and are sure to have both caregivers and children laughing!
Thank you to Penguin Random House and LibraryThing for the advanced copy of this board book!*
*This did not affect my review or rating.
February 15, 2018
2nd and 3rd year lower elementary students thought this was a great read. They loved learning about all the different creatures and we were able to then look at other books on some of those creatures. I would read this again with another group.
September 8, 2018
This is such an adorable book and goes through so many mythological creatures! The illustrations are wonderful and the rhyming lines flow easily so it is a great read-a-loud book.
July 23, 2018
This is such a delightful and fun book about having a "boring" pet but realizing the perils of having such critters. (However, I need a kirin, not your logic.)
July 24, 2023
My boyfriend and I enjoyed the illustrations throughly, however, I must admit that the pace was inconsistent which resulted in the last quarter of the book (4ish pages) left a lot of juicy and interesting mythological details off the literary table.
picture-books
February 26, 2017ADORABLE. I loved the illustrations.
March 2, 2016
A hamster is a great pet for younger children just learning to care for their pets, but some might find them a little boring. But what kind of magical creature would be the best replacement?
My daughter and step daughter enjoyed this book. My step daughter is an older child who is currently reading chapter books and my daughter is three. My step daughter enjoyed it but it is below her reading level and my daughter likes it because it rhymes and has pretty pictures. But she was too young to recognise most of the creatures in the story.
As for the artwork, the pictures are very good, if a bit dark at times. Both girls liked the brighter pictures more than the darker ones.
The book reads well and rhymes, which helps with the flow of the story.
I personally like it very much. I grew up wishing I could have any one of these creatures, though I didn't know about most of them at such a young age.
I feel there is a very small margin of children who would know what these creatures are and still young enough to want to read it. After explaining each creature to my daughter she enjoyed the book much more than before. A wonderful book for kindling the child's imagination.
I won my copy on Goodreads Giveaways.
I also have permission from the author to use the image above.
My daughter and step daughter enjoyed this book. My step daughter is an older child who is currently reading chapter books and my daughter is three. My step daughter enjoyed it but it is below her reading level and my daughter likes it because it rhymes and has pretty pictures. But she was too young to recognise most of the creatures in the story.
As for the artwork, the pictures are very good, if a bit dark at times. Both girls liked the brighter pictures more than the darker ones.
The book reads well and rhymes, which helps with the flow of the story.
I personally like it very much. I grew up wishing I could have any one of these creatures, though I didn't know about most of them at such a young age.
I feel there is a very small margin of children who would know what these creatures are and still young enough to want to read it. After explaining each creature to my daughter she enjoyed the book much more than before. A wonderful book for kindling the child's imagination.
I won my copy on Goodreads Giveaways.
I also have permission from the author to use the image above.
December 29, 2015
Sam is a girl after my own heart.
And I would have loved this book when I was her age.
Even dinosaurs weren’t exotic enough for me when I was young; just as her hamster seems a bit boring to Sam.
We love monsters. Fascinated by the gryphon, manticore, and chimera, to imagine these sorts of creatures is much more interesting than real animals (whether a pet or extinct). And the diversity of mythological creatures is amazing - especially for a children’s book.
And the rhymes and pictures (along with the animals) just made me smile throughout, reminding me of my love for fantastic creatures. It makes me wish my kids were still in preschool or kindergarten so I could read this to them.
Highly recommended - especially if you have a little one with a big imagination.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Tundra Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
And I would have loved this book when I was her age.
Even dinosaurs weren’t exotic enough for me when I was young; just as her hamster seems a bit boring to Sam.
We love monsters. Fascinated by the gryphon, manticore, and chimera, to imagine these sorts of creatures is much more interesting than real animals (whether a pet or extinct). And the diversity of mythological creatures is amazing - especially for a children’s book.
And the rhymes and pictures (along with the animals) just made me smile throughout, reminding me of my love for fantastic creatures. It makes me wish my kids were still in preschool or kindergarten so I could read this to them.
Highly recommended - especially if you have a little one with a big imagination.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Tundra Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
January 11, 2016
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If the cover of this upcoming children's book isn't enough to draw you in then definitely take my suggestion and pick this up.
It is so fantastical. A young girl gets a hamster and thinks she might want something a little more exciting. As she imagines have a gryphon, a kraken, a Sasquatch and many other exotic pants from the fantasy books she reads she starts to realize that the hamster is actually the perfect pet for her.
The art style is amazing and it has a lot of vibrant colors but also has a bit of a whimsical vintage feel to it.
I think this is one of the best children's books I have read recently and I loved the rhyming pattern. I think this will be a big hit.
I received this book from netgalley.com and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If the cover of this upcoming children's book isn't enough to draw you in then definitely take my suggestion and pick this up.
It is so fantastical. A young girl gets a hamster and thinks she might want something a little more exciting. As she imagines have a gryphon, a kraken, a Sasquatch and many other exotic pants from the fantasy books she reads she starts to realize that the hamster is actually the perfect pet for her.
The art style is amazing and it has a lot of vibrant colors but also has a bit of a whimsical vintage feel to it.
I think this is one of the best children's books I have read recently and I loved the rhyming pattern. I think this will be a big hit.
I received this book from netgalley.com and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2022
I think a lot of people will love this, and rightly so. It just didn't quite wow me, not sure why. Anyway, I love the bright art, and the matter-of-fact diversity in this brown girl's community. I, personally, found the pictures just a bit overwhelming, but my eyes are old so, again, the target audience is much more likely to love them.
And, bonus, I learned a new magical creature. Have you ever heard of a Kirin? I sure hadn't!
And, bonus, I learned a new magical creature. Have you ever heard of a Kirin? I sure hadn't!
February 5, 2016
Sam has an ordinary pet hamster and from her books learns about the multitude of extraordinary creatures that she could keep as pets. I love the colourful illustrations of beasts from kelpies to manticores through to jackalopes. Entirely told in verse with the heartwarming ending for any petlover.
July 25, 2016
Kiddo wants this on repeat and loves the fantastical creatures. I, however, wanted more...more about the creatures and how they would be as pets. I really wanted to go further down that road -- at least about having a gryphon! -- but I'm sure the rhyming was quite the limitation on this. The illustrations are fun-lovely.
Kiddo: 4.5
Mama: 3.5
Kiddo: 4.5
Mama: 3.5
December 30, 2015
I read an ARC copy of this book and it was delightful. I love rhyming children's books, and the rhyming was perfect. A very imaginative way to state a simple theme of being happy with what we have :) The illustrations were lovely, and jumped off the page.
July 8, 2016
This might be my new favourite Vikki VanSickle book yet. I cried! I laughed! And it has a girl named Sam. :)
March 2, 2016
This book was just so dang cute. The illustrations were just BEAUTIFUL and all the different creatures were so much fun. Definitely a must buy!
December 24, 2015
Adorable. I will be giving this to library kids who aren't quite ready for Harry Potter. *I read a digital ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews