The Pepper Party Picks a Pet

April 1, 2019

Gr 1-3-A raucous family of nine seeks the right pet for their family in this new chapter book series for younger readers. The Pepper family includes two parents, a grandparent, and six children, but no pets-until daughter Annie Pepper meets Azzie, a Chihuahua waiting to be adopted from a local animal shelter. Annie's attempt to get permission to bring Azzie home is successful, until Annie realizes permission doesn't mean she gets to choose the pet. Chaos ensues as other family members bring home a variety of possible pets, from a camera-ready tarantula to a snuggly pink pig, all with disastrous results. Author and illustrator Cooper pulls readers into the dizzying world of the Pepper family with silly scenarios. Detailed illustrations establish the frenetic pace of the Pepper household and bring each family member to life. The story loses ground when Cooper attempts humorous references aimed at adults: a bird named Elvis has an elaborate internal monologue loaded with Elvis Presley references; the animal shelter owner is best known for discovering a famous movie director whose name sounds remarkably like his real-life counterpart. These moments might entertain a caregiver reading aloud, but actual young readers may lose interest. VERDICT An engaging chapter book for emerging readers that works best when it stays focused on the silly and sassy Pepper family.-Casey O'Leary, Mooresville Public Library, IN

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2019
A large, wacky family struggles to pick a family pet.The Pepper family (mother Tee, father Sal, Meemaw, and six kids between the ages of 2 and 12) live in one "crazypants" house. The plot kicks off when 8-year-old Annie schemes to get a family pet after rescuing a tiny Chihuahua, Azzie, from a pack of squirrels. Azzie lives at Frida Flamingo's Animal Adoption Agency. However, their father has a strict "Peppers don't do pets" rule. Using both facts and appeals to emotion, she rallies her family to get a pet. But Annie's adoption of Azzie isn't guaranteed, as her siblings can't decide on what kind of pet. Instead of compromising, and in accordance with Pepper family tradition, they draw a name out of a hat. Aspiring horror movie-maker Beta wins and picks a telegenic tarantula. Frustrated that Beta picked a "family" pet only he would enjoy, Annie gives in to a dark impulse and lets the spider out, leading to a humorous bathroom mishap (related from tarantula Harry's perspective) that sends him back to the shelter and the Peppers back to the hat. On the cycle of animal disasters goes, until the Peppers are banned from pet adoption and every kid's heartbroken. At last Annie comes up with a cinematic scheme to make things right, and the Pepper parents commit to responsible pet ownership. The third-person narration is smart, well-paced, and funny; Cooper's grayscale cartoons add fizz. Annie and Beta are both blond and appear white, but some family members seem to have slightly-darker-than-paper-white skin.A silly little series opener. (Fiction. 7-10)

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