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Book Cover for: 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos, Vivian Vande Velde

8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos

Vivian Vande Velde

Nominee:Volunteer State Book Awards -Intermediate (2016)
Nominee:Monarch Award -Grades K-3 (2016)
Running into the school to escape a hungry owl was easy. But with the door locked and an angry dog chasing him, how will Twitch the squirrel get back out?

He'll need a hand, of course. . . . and maybe a paw, a fin, and a wing, too. Can the classroom pets--including Sweetie the library rat, a snake named Angel, and the first graders' Green Eggs and Hamster--help Twitch get back to his cozy home in the trees?

Each chapter is told in the voice of a different animal as the squirrel works his way through the school, visiting each classroom and trying to stay one step ahead of the principal's menacing dog, Cuddles. The different perspectives make this a perfect introduction to narrative point-of-view--and an extra-funny read-aloud.

Lively black and white illustrations add to the humor, depicting Twitch's mad dash through the school and the chaos created by a band of class pets on the loose. With short, funny chapters, young readers will race through this novel to find out what the pets do next.

For more of Twitch's adventures, check out Squirrel in the House and Squirrel in the Museum.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Holiday House
  • Publish Date: Jun 1st, 2012
  • Pages: 96
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.21in - 5.56in - 0.31in - 0.18lb
  • EAN: 9780823425945
  • Recommended age: 06-09
  • Categories: Humorous StoriesSchool & EducationAnimals - Pets

About the Author

Vande Velde, Vivian: - Vivian Vande Velde (born 1951, New York City, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults. She currently resides in Rochester, New York.

Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She resides in Rochester, New York.

Praise for this book

"Middle-grade teachers will find this a good model for introducing diverse prose styles."--Booklist

"Occasional pen-and-ink spot illustrations add energy to an already high-octane story. A whole lot of fun."--Kirkus Reviews

"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." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"this beginning chapter book will appeal to reluctant readers, and it is a good read-aloud."--School Library Journal