I really want to have a pet too!
Cute dogs, cats, hamsters… As someone who’s a bit clumsy, I’m dying to have a pet! But wanting to get a pet just because it’s “cute” can actually lead to a lot of challenges. You have to feed it on time, play with it, take it to the vet… As someone who’s a bit clumsy, I wonder if I can really learn how to become a true family member to my pet. This book is packed with essential stories you need to know before bringing a pet into your home. Come join Teacher Han and let’s find the key to solving all your pet-related worries!

This book is a pet-care guide written from a child’s perspective by ecological expert Han Young-shik. It helps children move beyond simply loving pets and naturally learn to respect life and develop a sense of responsibility. The book gently explains pets’ habits, behaviors, and the basic principles of pet care, making it a trusted companion for kids who are welcoming a pet for the first time. It’s a must-read for children who want to welcome a pet as a “true family member.”

Welcoming a pet into your family isn’t just about “keeping” an animal—it’s also about learning to take responsibility and growing together with another living being. Pets give us unconditional love, but protecting that love requires time, effort, and a sincere heart.
This book helps children see pets from a deeper, warmer perspective. By naturally prompting questions like, “What changes will happen when a pet comes to our home?” and “What do I need to know?,” it encourages children to actively reflect on the right attitude toward caring for a living creature. Through lively and adorable stories, children will learn to understand and empathize with animals’ inner worlds.
If children can learn the patience and care needed to look after a pet and learn to recognize and respond to their emotions, they’re sure to grow into kinder, more mature adults. We hope this book will help children grasp the true meaning of welcoming a pet as a family member and foster in them a deep respect for life and a compassionate heart.

Han Young-sik
Deeply fascinated by the most colorful creatures on Earth— insects—Han has spent more than 30 years studying insects and nature, while dedicating himself to writing on these topics. As the representative of the Insect Ecology Education Institute “Han’s Forest,” he also works as a forest interpreter, an early childhood forest instructor, and an insect education instructor. He is committed to training ecological interpreters and organizing various environmental education programs in environmental groups, libraries, and other venues. He has also provided expert consultation for numerous TV programs, including EBS’s “A One-of-a-Kind Earth,” KBS’s “UNESCO World Heritage: Nature’s Time Capsule,” and SBS’s “Water Is Life,” as well as for ecological and environmental exhibition halls.
His published works include “The Simple Book of Insects,” “Easily Finding Insects,” “Curious About Insects?,” “An Insect Guide for Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter,” “Stories About the Ecological Environment,” “Another Member of the Family: Pets,” “The World’s Most Caring Companion Plants,” and “Is It a Plant? Is It an Animal? Mushrooms and Molds,” among others.

1 I Want to Keep a Pet
I Also Want to Rent a Pet_12
Why Can’t I Keep One?_18
Are You a Pet Too?_24
Can Wild Animals Be Kept as Pets?_28
Even Endangered Wild Animals Are Off Limits!_32
Responsibility Is the Most Important Thing_38

2 Finally, I Have My Pet
How Can It Become Part of the Family?_46
From Now On, It’s Family_52
Everyone Has Different Needs!_58
Be Careful Even When Playing_64
Do I Still Need to Bathe It?_70
Training Is Really Important_74
Sometimes It Feels Troublesome_80
Being Sick Is the Worst_84

3 Cherish Your Pet
Understand Your Pet’s Heart_90
Family Members Are Irreplaceable_96
I Lost Pudding_100
I Want to Go Out Together_106
There Are Also Pet Hotels_110
I Want to Become a Zoologist Too_114

4 We’ll Always Be a Family
You Must Not Abandon Your Pet_120
Cherish Every Life_126
Pets Grow Old Too_132
We’ll Meet Again_136
Let’s Live Happily Together_140