Pet-a-palooza

Gr 1--3--In this installment, a visiting author inspires a classroom of second graders to sharpen their writing skills by exploring a subject near and dear to their hearts: their pets. With engaging prose crafted in short sentences, this illustrated chapter book is well-suited for its target audience. Emerging readers will be drawn in by the gentle humor, relatable school setting, and the cast of characters with distinct and varied personalities. Adults may appreciate the way educational content is smoothly incorporated into the upbeat plot as the children's classroom teacher dispenses advice to help them hone their writing skills. Though it may not break new ground in its genre, this title is a solid choice for young fans of contemporary realistic fiction, with affirming themes of problem-solving, inclusion, and friendship. Energetic black-and-white illustrations complement the cheerful tone of the narrative and capture some of the book's funniest moments to great effect. Protagonists Buddy and Bea are white presenting, with ethnic and cultural diversity represented among the supporting cast. VERDICT This title is a welcome addition to early chapter book collections, and a surefire hit for animal lovers.--Allison Tran

Buddy's question for a visiting author sparks a pet-focused confab among the second grade Whirligigs. Buddy and his classmates, including his best friend, Joey, and outspoken Bea, discover that among them they have many pets, from Buddy's irascible cat, Sunshine, to Joey's new puppy, Frisbee, to Bea's mysterious cat, who likes to sleep on top of cans. The members of the class--named the Whirligigs "because whirligigs were maple seeds. And their teacher's name was Ms. Maple"--engage in some enthusiastic cataloging of the variety of pets in their homes. The kids start to wonder if Bea really has a cat. Meanwhile, Buddy's reluctant to reveal details about Sunshine, such as her habit of playing with her poop, until Frisbee has an accident while visiting the class. Carr includes a variety of classroom lessons, such as sorting and tallying, that incorporate this age group's particular interests and concerns. She convincingly captures the way young elementary schoolers latch on to a new idea and carry out related activities. The students and their concerns will feel familiar to many, from earnest, sometimes worried Buddy to irrepressible Bea, whose pet turns out to be one of the neighborhood bodega cats. The cheerful cartoon art depicts a lively, diverse school. Buddy is Asian, Joey is Black, Bea is light-skinned, and a previous book established that Ms. Maple is of Filipina descent. Another winning adventure with this charming elementary school class. (Fiction. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.