If I Had a Gryphon
If I Had a Gryphon | by Vikki VanSickle | illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Sam just got a hamster for a pet. But the hamster is kind of boring ... he just eats and sleeps and gets his shavings wet. 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. Sasquatches are messy, unicorns are shy, hippogriffs 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?
Distinctions: Finalist, OLA Forest of Reading (2017)
Ideal for:
International Literacy Day September 8
Take Me Outside Day October 20
Family Literacy Day January 27
World Read Aloud Day/ Winter Walk Day February 2
World Poetry Day March 21
DEAR: Drop Everything and Read Day April 12
Education Week May.
If I Had a Gryphon. Text © 2016 Vikki Van Sickle Illustrations © 2016 Cale Atkinson. Reproduced by permission of Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, a Penguin Random House Company, Toronto.
Sam is excited to get a pet for the first time ever, but her hamster doesn’t do much other than eat, sleep, and hide. When Sam reads a book about mythological creatures, she decides they would make much more satisfying pets than her real one.
In a series of imaginative encounters, she pictures herself with an array of exotic beasts, including a unicorn, a hippogriff, a sasquatch, a griffin, a kraken, a dragon, a kirin, a jackalope, a phoenix, harpies, chupacabras, fairies, kelpies, mermaids, sprites, and a basilisk. While each is thrilling in its own way, they also come with monster-sized problems.
In a sweet and satisfying conclusion, Sam comes to see what is good about her hamster, not least the fact that “I am his and he is mine.”
If I Had a Gryphon is a funny take on the perennial theme of being dissatisfied with what you have and failing to notice and appreciate what is right in front of you. It could also be used to explore the meaning of grace and the diverse and imperfect nature of the family we call the Church. None of us is perfect, but we are beloved and we belong.
Biblical and Theological Themes: movement from discontent to gratitude, family, love and belonging, perfection and imperfection, grace, belonging to God and God’s family
Making Connections:
Strange Creatures in the Bible: Part of the fun of If I Had a Gryphon is learning about an assortment of mythological creatures from cultures around the world. The bible has its own share of mythological creatures, which we often skim over, either in a rush to get on with the story, or because we’re puzzled by what to do with them. Look them up: Leviathan (sea monster mentioned in Isaiah 27, Psalm 74, and Job 41); Cherubim (Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 10) and Seraphim (Isaiah 6:1-7); Behemoth (land monster mentioned in Job 40); Nephilim (giants that are a cross between gods and humans, mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4 and Numbers 13:33); and of course, angels of all sorts. Choose one and draw what you imagine it might look like! Would you want to be friends with each of these beings? Why or why not?
Pet Portrait: If you have a pet of your own, make a list of what you love most about your pet, or draw a picture of the two of you together. If you don’t, imagine what kind of pet you would like to have and what you would do together.
Remember Your Baptism: Have you ever felt overlooked, taken for granted, or not appreciated for who you are (a bit like the hamster at the start of this story)? Has anyone ever made you feel like you don’t belong or that other people are more interesting or worthwhile? What do you do when you feel like this? Talk to someone? Write in your journal? If you have been baptized, try dipping your fingers in some water and making the mark of the cross on your forehead as a reminder that you are loved just as you are and that you belong to God and to God’s family.
