Tag Archives: Pet Stories

Elem. – Don’t Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog

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Petty, Dev. Don’t Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-0-593-70678-7. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades K-2.

Chip, the lovable protagonist from Don’t Eat Bees (2022), returns to share more “wisdom” with his readers. This time, he discusses people, animals, and things that are trustworthy and those that aren’t. For instance, the fire hydrant and the fish are trustworthy. You can trust your people and your nose. However, you should never, ever trust cats. The hilarious, cartoon-like illustrations add a comical element to the story. For example, Chip insists you cannot trust those two criminals at the door, but the accompanying illustration depicts those “criminals” as innocent Girl Scouts selling cookies. He insists you can trust birds and squirrels because they are laughing with you, not at you; readers, however, may disagree based on the pictures. This funny picture book is sure to keep readers entertained.

THOUGHTS: Fans of Chip, as well as anyone who has ever had a dog, will definitely get a kick out of this story. Read it aloud or pair it with other books about animals for a National Pet Day display.

Picture Book       

Elem. – Finding Things

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Henkes, Kevin. Finding Things. Greenwillow Books, 2024. 978-0-063-24566-2. 32 p. $19.99. Grades K-2. 

What do a ball, a flower, a box, and a kitten have in common? Readers discover the answer as they join a young girl and her dog on an outside adventure. Each double-page spread features just one sentence, describing what the girl sees on her walk and her follow-through actions. The second-person writing describes how if you find a ball, and no one claims it for days, you can take it home. If you find a flower growing in a sidewalk crack, you can pick it and take it home too. An empty box sitting on the curb on garbage day is fair game. And, if you find a crying kitten that is all alone and has no mother, you can take it home too if you get permission from everyone. Ultimately, you end up with a kitten, a place for it to sleep, something nice for it to look at, and something fun for it to play with, and everyone is happy. Like the text, brightly colored acrylic illustrations are boiled down to just the essential elements, and each uncluttered page centers the reader’s attention.

THOUGHTS: Inviting illustrations, simple sentences, and straightforward storytelling are masterfully woven together to create this comforting story. Young readers will relate to the joy each find brings and may be able to share stories of bringing home similar objects themselves. This book also will spark conversations about when it is okay to keep found items and when they should be left outside. Share this with classroom teachers who spotlight Kevin Henkes as a featured author and with guidance counselors to use with lessons about fairness and happiness.

Picture Book

Elem. – No Cats in the Library

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Emmons, Lauren. No Cats in the Library. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-665-93368-1. 32 p. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

In this heartwarming picture book, a stray creamsicle kitten named Clarisse discovers “a magical building where people walked in empty-handed and came back out with books!” That’s right – it’s the library! Clarisse is determined to get inside, but the children’s librarian is having none of it. Finally Clarisse discovers the book drop, and with a few acrobatic maneuvers, she’s in! Disappointed that she can’t read the books that are full of squiggly dark lines, Clarisse finds a girl in the children’s book section who is happy to read aloud to her. The magic of a read-aloud turns lines on a page into fabulous stories. Knowing a good idea when she sees one, the librarian announces that read-aloud cats are welcome in the library and just like that, Clarisse has a new home! Author and illustrator Lauren Emmons’ artwork is rendered in appealing shades of tangerine, teal, and cream. There is diverse representation among the library patrons: people of various ages, ethnicities, and physical abilities are depicted enjoying everything the library has to offer. Repeated readings will reward readers with little details such as the collar that appears on Clarisse after the librarian makes her announcement. 

THOUGHTS: There’s just something about adorable animals and libraries that go so well together! Readers will delight in reading No Cats in the Library over and over.

Picture Book

Clarisse is a cat who loves books, but she can’t read the “squiggly lines” all she understands are the pictures. She discovers a place where people go and come out with piles of books! She makes it her mission, as a determined cat, to get into this magical place. It takes her a few times, but she eventually makes it in and is able to wander around this amazing place. However, she can’t understand the lines and can’t find any books with pictures, until she hears a little girl struggling to read. Clarisse sits down and this little girl reads out loud to her, and Clarisse is fascinated and mesmerized by the story she hears!! From then on, she is a part of the library with people reading stories to her everyday. The librarian declares “read-aloud cats are welcome in the library!” The illustrations are charming and add to the overall feel of the story.

THOUGHTS: This is a must have for any elementary school collection, and would make a good read aloud to introduce any library pets.

Picture Book

Elem. – Cone Dog

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Howden, Sarah. Cone Dog. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. Owlkids Books, 2023. 978-1-771-47514-3. $18.95. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

When Emma comes home from the vet with a plastic cone on her head, she is very perturbed. The cone makes digging more difficult, and it makes the other dogs stare at her. All she wants to do is lay around and sulk. Before long, however, a game of catch leads to a surprising discovery: there are actually benefits that come from wearing the cone! For instance, Emma is able to catch more than one ball at a time. Best of all, she is able to use the cone in a creative, hilarious way to scare off Keith, the sneaky neighborhood squirrel who loves to tease her. Maybe the cone isn’t so bad after all! But will Emma be okay when it’s finally time to take the cone off?

THOUGHTS: This humorous story is a great selection for young animal lovers. Readers will appreciate its subtle message about finding the silver lining and making the best of any situation. For double the fun, pair it with Cone Cat (2020), another amusing story by the same author/illustrator team.

Picture Book

Elem. – Holly and the Pittie Party

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Frischherz, Julian. Holly and the Pittie Party. Illustrated by Leesh Li. Jolly Fish Press, 2023. 978-1-631-63704-9. 32 p. $19.99. Grades K-2.

Holly is a pit bull puppy that finds herself being left in the city alone. She makes her way through the city finding a dog park and then ends up in an animal shelter. She discovers that being loved and accepted for who she is, is possible. There are others like her that are searching for love and their forever home.

THOUGHTS: This story hit home for me. I have 2 pit bull dogs that we rescued as puppies. They are the most loving dogs, and they get a bad rap because of their breed. The story shows how this breed is misunderstood and how shelters are filled with pitbulls because they are supposed to be “bad” dogs. Kudos to the author for showing kids that not all dogs are mean and hurtful. I also hope this raises awareness of the breed.

Picture Book

Elem. – Cinderella – with Dogs!

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Bailey, Linda. Cinderella – with Dogs! Freya Harris. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023.  978-1-984-81382-4, 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-2.

What if your fairy Godmother appears, and she is a fairy dogmother? This story spins the tale of Cinderella and her fairy dogmother. She learns to take in the moment and enjoy the little things, like chasing squirrels. Her dogmother creates her ball gown out of a cozy blanket that any dog would love to lay on. Her hair ensemble resembles a poodle. When she shows up to the ball, she runs in like a dog chasing a toy not caring what the other people are thinking. All the royal dogs join in with her, as well as catching the eye of the royal prince who is a dog lover as well.  

THOUGHTS: With colorful, vibrant illustrations, this picture book would make a great read aloud. Most students know the story of Cinderella and will get a kick out of the dog version. Students will enjoy seeing the various dogs throughout the story. Any dog lover will enjoy reading this modern twist on a fairy tale classic.

Picture Book

Elem. – This Story is Not About a Kitten

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De Seve, Randall. This Story is Not About a Kitten. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Random House Studio, 2022. 978-0-593-37453-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

When a scared kitten is discovered beneath a car, an entire neighborhood comes together to help coax the kitten out, care for it, and find it a home. Readers will discover, however, that the story is not about the cat; rather, a much loftier concept is at play. Young readers will adore this endearing story about the value of compassion and community.

THOUGHTS: The beautiful gouache illustrations in this book depict a wonderfully diverse neighborhood. People of multiple colors, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes are included. Repetition and rhyming text make this a delightful read aloud for young children. The importance of the book’s message – that working together is beneficial for all – cannot be overstated either. Overall, this is a solid purchase for libraries servicing young children.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Elem. – Is This Your Class Pet?

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Cummings, Troy. Is This Your Class Pet? Random House. 978-0-593-43217-4. 36 p. $17.99. Grades K-3. 

Arfy the letter-writing dog is back, and in his third adventure, he’s volunteering at Butternut Elementary as a library helper! When he returns home after school, however, Arfy discovers a stowaway tucked into the pocket of his vest. He names the tiny green turtle Hidey and immediately emails a letter to the principal, asking if the turtle might be a class pet. When Arfy receives an out-of-office message, he takes matters into his own paws. He writes letters to each of the places he visited at school, asking if anyone is missing a turtle. He hears back from the lunchroom chefs, the physical education coach, and the art teacher, but no one claims Hidey. It’s only when he holds a video conference call and chats with a classroom of children that he finally figures out where Hidey truly belongs. 

THOUGHTS: This is a fun new epistolary story that models several different ways to compose friendly letters. Bright, bold illustrations feature diverse characters, and readers will relate to the many ways people communicate in the school, including handwritten letters, emails, virtual meetings, and chat sessions. This will be a fun story to share when introducing letter writing, and it will be enjoyed by classrooms who already have a class pet of their own. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Every Dog in the Neighborhood

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Stead, Philip C. Every Dog in the Neighborhood. Neal Porter Books. 978-0-823-44427-4. 48 p. $18.99. Grades K-5. 

Louis and Grandma are walking through their urban neighborhood when Louis mentions his desire for a dog. Grandma says there are enough dogs in the neighborhood already, and that makes Louis wonder exactly how many dogs do live nearby. He decides to conduct his own census, going door-to-door and collecting information about how many dogs each neighbor has. During his interviews, he meets many dog breeds as well as a diverse group of neighbors. While Louis is gathering his information, Grandma is busy with a project of her own: turning an overgrown lot into a neighborhood dog park. This story bursts with go-getter spirit, and readers will cheer for both Louis and Grandma as they each work to build connections and make their neighborhood a better place. 

THOUGHTS: This book has some civic tie-ins, as both Louis and Grandma write letters to City Hall, and the replies they receive inspire them to action. It also features characters canvassing a neighborhood, compiling data, and working toward causes they believe in. The idea that you’re never too young or too old to make a difference in the world shines through, and readers will love picking out each of the dogs and their owners as they all enjoy the new dog park on the final spread. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Negative Cat

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Blackall, Sophie. Negative Cat. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2021. 978-0-399-25719-3. 32 p. $17.99. Grades K-3. 

After 427 days of asking, a young boy’s family finally agrees to let him adopt a cat. Part of the deal is that he has to feed it, clean up after it, keep his room neat, write to his grandmother, and read for 20 minutes every day. The boy admits he isn’t such a great reader, but he agrees to the conditions before his parents change their minds. He picks out the perfect cat at the rescue shelter, renaming his new pet Max. He’s excited to show Max his new bed, toys, and treats, but Max seems unimpressed. He also doesn’t show any reaction to being tickled, listening to jokes, or seeing his scratching post. Instead, Max stares at the wall, puts his tail in the butter, and leaves hairballs on the rug. The boy’s sister labels Max a negative cat, and his parents call the shelter to have a conversation. It’s only when the boy begins his dreaded task of reading – sounding out words slowly while reading them aloud – that Max begins to show some affection and form a bond with his new owner. An Author’s Note at the end of the book credits the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Pennsylvania for inspiring the book’s ending. Blackall describes how she read an article about the Rescue League’s Book Buddies program which encourages children to practice their fluency by reading out loud to cats. 

THOUGHTS: Readers will enjoy Blackall’s spirited digital artwork, particularly the emotions displayed by Max the cat and the rest of the family members. Share this title with animal lovers and reluctant readers who may just need a little feline inspiration to jump-start their own reading. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD