Prebilic is an independent author who writes children's literature. She holds degrees in psychology and business. In this essay, Prebilic discusses why Johnson's pet shoppe effectively illustrates the complexities of balance of power and how it interplays with multicultural tension.

Johnson chose Tilford's Pet Shoppe in Seattle as the milieu for his short story "Menagerie, a Child's Fable." He makes an excellent choice. His title cunningly describes his setting—a menagerie represents a place where people keep and train animals especially for exhibition. As animals speak and act like humans in Johnson's story, he transports readers on an adventurous journey. This venue allows Johnson to use philosophical fiction to present the issues of power—the possession of control, authority, or influence over others—and the multicultural tensions of prejudice and discrimination.

The pet shoppe setting contains fundamentals similar to society. It symbolizes an "entire...