  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 01/01/2010 Gr 1–4— Part James Herriot, and part Dick King-Smith, this endearing sequel to Welcome to the Bed & Biscuit (Candlewick, 2006) explores the intricate connection between wild and domesticated animals with a trim plot attached. The wildlife shelter is having some new pens built, so veterinarian Grandpa Bender is enlisted to take in a Canada goose with an arrow through its neck, a muskrat with an infected foot, and a pair of orphaned fox kits. The narrator and main character is a mini-pig named Ernest, who tries to watch the other animals that reside with the vet: a Vietnamese hill mynah, a Maine coon cat, and a Scottie pup. The animals all communicate with each other, and the bird actually speaks to humans as well. The charming black-and-white illustrations are reminiscent of Garth Williams's work. This story's messages speak to children's interest in wild animals. The dominant theme involves a kindly veterinarian successfully rehabilitating animals and releasing them to the wild. A secondary theme speaks to the responsibility of hunters to bag their prey, not leaving wounded animals to die slowly. And a subtle plotline addresses the relationship of dogs to their wild cousins, the foxes. The story unfolds without preaching, but aptly hits on these issues. It would make a great read-aloud for the primary grades and is sure to be a hit with competent easy-chapter-book readers.—Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2010 In this sequel to Welcome to the Bed & Biscuit, Carris reacquaints readers with the lively cast of critters that permanently reside at Grampa Bender’s animal boardinghouse: Ernest the pig, Gabby the mynah bird, Milly the cat, and Sir Walter, a Scottie pup. Because Grampa is also a veterinarian, he is often called upon to care for other animals in need, and in this beginner chapter book, Grampa has taken on four wild animals from the nearby animal shelter. The key storyline details how the injured wild animals (two fox kits, a muskrat, and a Canada goose) are dealing with their temporary captivity while the residents are trying to understand what it would be like to live in the wild. There are a lot of characters here, but not a whole lot of characterization; most of the animals barely rise above their animal stereotypes (e.g., the puppy is playful, the mynah bird talks too much, the foxes are sneaky, etc.), and the plot itself is somewhat bare. It’s hard to resist a group of lively animals in an accessible volume, though, and the descriptive writing (for example, when the animals accompany Grampa in releasing the goose back into the wild) sometimes reaches a standard that lifts the story. Light-hearted, slightly cartoonish pencil and watercolor illustrations, printed in monochromatic shades of gray, are interspersed throughout the text and enhance the invitation. Ultimately, the topic is sufficiently appealing to draw many youngsters, and animal lovers looking to expand beyond Dick King-Smith may find this just their speed. An author’s note provides additional facts about the different animal species represented. HM - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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