Gwendolyn Hooks is celebrating! Her first book is 10 years old! Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to CAN I HAVE A PET? Happy Birthday to You!

Can I Have A Pet? Maybe, if you know what to ask for.

My first book was the hardest 34 words I've ever written. Out of hundreds of animals, I had to choose the perfect ones that a little girl would ask to take home from the zoo. She's smart, so it doesn't take her long to figure out how to make her mom say YES. It just takes the perfect pet. After 10 years, it's still thrilling to hear about young readers who enjoy my book. Like the Arkansas mom, "He loves reading it himself. Now he's wants an elephant to live in our backyard!" Join the party. Read Can I Have A Pet?.