First published 2016
Gus has seventeen sheep on his farm, and he considers them his pets. For his school essay, he decides to share everything he knows about these woolly companions. Sheep live outdoors and grow thick wool coats. They refuse to learn skateboard tricks or climb trees no matter how much you try to teach them. Sometimes the sheep wander into the house, which always gets Gus into trouble with his parents. Living with seventeen sheep plus himself means every day brings new chaos and unexpected adventures. Gus discovers that while sheep might not be traditional pets like dogs or cats, they make life on the farm anything but boring. His essay reveals the funny reality of what happens when a boy treats farm animals like household pets.
Genres: animals, family-life, comedy
Vibes: cozy, emotional, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Farm
40 pages · Library Binding · Knopf Books for Young Readers