Jelly Bean

July 15, 2014
Although second-grader Suzannah loves pets, she can't have one in her apartment, so the new Shelter Pet Squad sounds like the perfect alternative.Second- to sixth-graders visit the shelter every Saturday to do nice things for the pets. With a careful eye toward realism, Lord has the shelter staff keep a believable distance between many of the animals and the children. The Squad creates clever treats for the dogs and cats and provides other simple services. Suzannah feels an abiding need to make sure that Jelly Bean, a guinea pig new to the shelter, finds a good home, adding a small level of tension to the narrative. The group participates in helping her make that happen by writing a letter to the teachers at their school. Text is widely spaced, and chapters are brief. McGuire's realistic half- and full-page black-and-white illustrations of wide-eyed children and winsome pets nicely capture the generally upbeat mood. Advice on how to provide assistance to animal shelters-things children can readily accomplish-as well as instructions for the crafts in the book, information about guinea pigs (with the suggestion to visit the library for more information) and a pledge for honorary Pet Squad members are all included as backmatter.Pet lovers will enjoy this brief, quietly attractive series opener. (Fiction. 6-8)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-Second-grader Suzannah longs for a pet of her own, but her building doesn't allow animals. She hesitantly joins the Shelter Pet Squad, a group of animal-loving kids who make treats and toys for the dogs, cats, and other animals at the local shelter. Suzannah adores helping out, and she and the other kids quickly become friends. When a family brings in a guinea pig, Jelly Bean, that they have to give up, Suzannah makes it her personal mission to find him a home. She manages to rescue him from becoming snake food, and with the help of the entire Shelter Pet Squad, Jelly Bean ends up with the perfect owner. Suzannah never gets a pet, but this heartwarming early chapter book reminds readers that good friends and the chance to make a positive difference are often closer than they may believe. Upbeat and relatable, this promises to be the start to a series that will win over young animal enthusiasts. Occasional black-and-white illustrations break up the text, and back matter includes instructions for making simple pet toys.-Amanda Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, Madison, WI

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