My Pet Human Takes Center Stage

December 1, 2016
What is this "school" place little humans go to? Don't they realize their feline owners are more important?The erstwhile stray cat Oliver, formerly known as Mr. Independent (My Pet Human, 2015), can't get his pet human girl, Freckles, to understand that she should stay home and pay attention to him rather than go to school, so he tags along by hiding in her backpack. Oliver uses that cat-patented big-eyed "Look" to charm the adult humans at school, but he ends up having to stay with Mrs. Sinclair, the adviser of the Fur-ever Friends Club...and that leads to Freckles' joining the club. This has two unpleasant outcomes: Freckles fosters a kitten who has no respect for Oliver's boundaries, and both Oliver and the kitten must participate in a talent-show fundraiser for a local shelter. Too many treats and hot lights spell disaster at the talent show for Oliver, but all works out for the best in the end. Surovec's second tale of Oliver and his pet human will entertain fans of the first. Large text, ample black-and-white cartoon illustrations, and plenty of dialogue in talk bubbles will keep the pages turning in this tale of feline friendship. (In the cartoons, all human characters have paper-white skin, but there are variations in hair color and texture.) Sure to please newly independent readers who are pussycat pals. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 6-9)

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November 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-In this follow-up to My Pet Human, Oliver the cat returns in a new adventure. Freckles, Oliver's pet human, is starting school, and Oliver can't bear to be left behind. He hides in Freckles's backpack and is undetected until she gets to school. Fortunately, there is a classroom where Oliver can spend the day with the Fur-ever Friends group's adult organizer. Freckles ends up joining the group and gets involved in planning a fund-raising event to benefit the local animal shelter. She also agrees to foster a kitten, a decision that Oliver does not approve of. Freckles decides to teach the cats tricks to perform at the upcoming benefit, but during the show, disaster ensues when too many kitty treats cause unintended and hilarious consequences. Surovec's illustrations are endearing, especially when Oliver adopts the big-eyed cute kitty look. Readers will empathize with both Freckles and Oliver in this sweet story perfect for new readers and animal lovers. VERDICT A recommended purchase for most chapter book collections. Hand to readers who love animal tales.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2017
Grades 2-4 You can't teach cats new tricks. Or can you? In this follow-up to My Pet Human (2015), self-professed adorable cat Oliver stows away in his pet human Freckles' backpack so as not to miss the first day of school. When Oliver is discovered, Freckles' classmates encourage her to join the Fur-ever Friends Club, which leads to Freckles fostering a kitten. Oliver is not amused. In fact, he's insanely jealous. Oliver's anxiety rises when he learns that Freckles has agreed to teach Oliver and the kitten tricks to be performed at the club fund-raiser. Divided into five chapters and filled to the brim with kitten cuteness, this story is told in a combination of cartoonish black-and-white illustrations with speech-bubble dialogue and Oliver's first-person narration. The bland human characters have very few distinguishing characteristics, but Oliver and the kitten spice up the illustrations. The human dialogue is banal, but Oliver's observations are often quite droll. Like a sweet kitty meme, this quick, fluffy read will appeal to many young cat lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)