"When his parents threaten to teach him responsibility by giving him a whale, Billy Twitters isn't worried: 'It's not like you can just have one delivered to your house overnight.' But he's wrong. Rex's (Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich) howler of a double-page spread shows an enormous trailer attached to a 'FedUp' truck, an equally massive blue whale suspended from tow straps. Rex's Mad magazine — style artwork — realistic enough to drive home the humor and full of clever touches — is the perfect choice for Barnett's high-concept debut. Billy hauls the whale to school behind his bike, a skateboard under the creature for easier sliding; confronts the school bully and the school geek (new allies, in league against him); and struggles with blue whale upkeep, like collecting 10,000 gallons of seawater at mealtime ('Try the ocean, son,' his father suggests). Billy never names his whale — it's more of a burden than a pet. The abrupt ending disappoints somewhat, given the uproarious pages that precede it (the contributors also work in scientific information about blue whales — though readers, between laughs, may not notice). Still, tons of fun. Ages 3 — 7. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

When Billy Twitters neglects to clean his room, among other things, his mom threatens to buy him a blue whale. So Billy figures he's safe--where the heck's she gonna get a blue whale--and continues his slovenly ways. Then one day, an oversized package arrives, and guess who has to sign for it? And feed it? And bring it to school? And back home again? If Mrs. Twitters thinks Billy's has time to clean his room now, she's got another thing coming. Luckily Billy comes up with the perfect solution.

A blue whale is longer than thirty dogs lined up nose to tail. Its tongue weighs as much as four hundred cats. Blue whales make terrible pets....Just ask Billy Twitters.

When Billy Twitters fails to clean his room (again), his mom makes good on a threat to buy him a pet. However, the pet he gets is a blue whale. Luckily, Billy knows just what to do with it, in this hilarious tale of a boy and his whale. Full color.