Class Pet Squad

June 13, 2016
When Ben McGillicutty leaves his beloved Sharkman action figure at school, the Class Pet Squad springs into action, determined to reunite Ben with his toy. Reptilian Rhonda plots the route to Ben’s house; turtle Julius is in charge of supplies; three genius mice invent the robotic canine “vehicle” that will get them there; and Max the hamster enlists the dubious services of the Second Street Specials, a gang of vermin. (Glitter-loving bunny Suzu is told, “Just stay out of trouble!”) Crisp, chunky two-color cartoons amp up the action-movie-spoof atmosphere (paperclip grappling hook, anyone?). Tense encounters with local cats and dogs are just a few of the hurdles that Yaccarino throws at his brave crew, whose big personalities belie their tiny statures. A promising first adventure. Ages 7–9. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

August 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-Ever wonder who watches over P.S. 1000 at the end of the day? The Class Pet Squad! They are a no-nonsense group made up of classroom critters. Max, a hamster, leads the team. The members include a turtle named Julius, Rhonda the lizard, Suzu the bunny, and three mice called the Maestros. When a beloved, and oft-abandoned, toy is left at school, the members of the Class Pet Squad make it their mission to return the toy to its owner by bedtime. With the assistance of a nasty rat and his band of wily cockroaches, they conjure up a dog-shaped "Woof-a-Matic" to help them. The pen and ink drawings are clean and modern, and the writing is amusing and accessible. While the characters are somewhat corny, younger readers will root for them. The message of teamwork is highly emphasized, yet the resolution is somewhat tame. Readers seeking more involved stories of animal teamwork will be better off with Cynthia Rylant's Gooseberry Park series. VERDICT A humorous tale of animal teamwork that will appeal to newly independent readers.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

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