  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 11/01/2011 When sassy squirrel Twitch is threatened by an owl, the open door of the nearby elementary school seems like a godsend. The principal’s dog (over whose nose Twitch has trampled in his escape from the owl) thinks otherwise, though, so the chase is then on, and Twitch darts in and out of every classroom in the building trying to keep out of the indignant dog’s grasp while enlisting aid from various class pets (each of whom narrates a chapter) in the process. That turns out to be a surprisingly successful recipe for a middle-grades novel; the storytelling is smart and snappy, and the tone is highly humorous. Additionally, each pet’s narrative voice is both entertaining in its individuality and faithful to that animal’s characteristics: the third-grade class’ neon tetras, for example, keep repeating (somewhat mindlessly) “We are in a school,” while the science-lab geckos speak alternate lines (“NEWTON: Sometimes we get mangoes. I like mangoes. GALILEO: I know you do. I prefer the houseflies, which are crunchier. NEWTON: But not as sweet”), and the fifth grade’s corn snake favors words with sibilant syllables (“Sneaky and slithery, yes. But stroke my skin and see: I’m not the slightest bit slimy”). Björkman’s slightly scratchy black-and-white illustrations effectively echo the text’s light, comic tone, and they successfully serve to punctuate, but never interrupt, the narrative flow. This will be an easy sell to animal lovers and those looking for a quick, funny read, but it also sits up and begs to be read aloud; creative adults and kids might also be able to develop it into a comedic readers’ theater production. JH - Copyright 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 12/01/2011 Gr 1–3—Desperately trying to escape a crazed dog, a squirrel dashes into an elementary school, followed by the pup, where he encounters the class pets. Beginning with the first-grade hamster, they all describe themselves, including the neon tetras, who are "tickled" to be a "school in a school." Some of the creatures are willing to help Twitch, but some are just intrigued by his situation. This fun read will satisfy kids looking for animal stories with happy endings. The most interesting part of this tale is that the dog is portrayed as the villain—until the very end, when Cuddles gets to speak. Humorous spot illustrations appear throughout. Due to the short segments told by the different animals, this beginning chapter book will appeal to reluctant readers, and it is a good read-aloud. A suitable purchase for most collections.—Elizabeth Swistock, Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/15/2011 School-yard squirrel Twitch scurries over sleeping dog Cuddles, precipitating a chaotic chase that leads inside an elementary school. As the pair race from room to room, pets (ranging from a hamster to a talking parrot to a school of neon tetras) are unleashed (thanks to a library rat who is “very good with his hands”) and join the pursuit. Finally a call to 911 and a visit from the principal (Cuddles’ master, who lives next door) bring about an end to the disorder. The author of Cloaked in Red (2010) writes here for a younger audience while still imparting her zany outlook. Succeeding chapters are narrated (first person, present tense) by different animals that continue the story line, advancing the plot. Writing styles vary (the science lab geckos speak in dialogue; the snake alliterates), providing multiple perspectives, and Bjorkman’s spot illustrations help to break up the text. Although some references may go over emerging readers’ heads, middle-grade teachers will find this a good model for introducing diverse prose styles. - Copyright 2011 Booklist. Loading...
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