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Chapter Book
Animal shelters. Juvenile fiction.
Volunteers. Juvenile fiction.
Guinea pigs. Juvenile fiction.
Pets. Juvenile fiction.
Responsibility. Juvenile fiction.
Animal shelters. Fiction.
Voluntarism. Fiction.
Guinea pigs. Fiction.
Pets. Fiction.
Responsibility. Fiction.
Second-grader Suzannah wants a live pet, but apartment-building rules won't allow any type of animal. Her mother, however, reads about a new program at the local animal shelter and thinks this might be the answer: the Shelter Pet Squad, where children volunteer to make toys and treats for homeless animals. When Suzannah's dad is late to collect her, she observes a family sadly bringing in their guinea pig. Suzannah makes it her project to find a home for Jelly Bean. With help from animal-shelter workers, the children write a letter and distribute copies in teachers' mailboxes, and, of course, their hard work is eventually rewarded. Lord's own newly adopted shelter pet, a guinea pig, was the inspiration for this first entry in the Shelter Pet Squad series, and she artfully weaves information about animals, shelters, and pet care throughout. Easy vocabulary, uncomplicated sentences, generous dialogue, large font, and friendly illustrations make the book accessible.
Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)Second-grade animal lover Suzannah cannot have a pet in her apartment, so she spends time volunteering at a local shelter. When guinea pig Jelly Bean is left there, Suzannah and her new friends spring into action. A predictable plot with unnecessary explanatory passages make this series-starter both easy to understand and dull. Sweet half-tone illustrations and appended activities and facts are included.
School Library Journal (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 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
ALA Booklist
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)
School Library Journal (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
Dad calls my bedroom "Suzannah's Pet Shop," because stuffed animals have taken over! They play hide-and-seek between the books on my shelf. They bounce with me when I jump on my bed. They snuggle against my neck and beg for treats.
It's fun pretending with my stuffed animals, but I wish I could have a real pet. Something soft and furry that could sit in the window, waiting for the school bus to bring me home. My pet would bound across the living room to greet me. He'd jump into my lap before I even sat down.
If I couldn't have a big pet, I'd pick something little and busy. He could live in a cage in my room. I'd build him a fun playground with paper-towel-tube tunnels to scurry through and ramps to climb up and slide down. My pet would ride in my bathrobe pocket when I made breakfast: cereal for me, carrots for him.
But the only pets I can have are stuffed animals. We live in an apartment, and the landlord says:
No dogs.
No cats.
No pets of any kind.
Only people can live in our apartment.
I don't think that's fair. A fish wouldn't make a mess. A lizard isn't noisy. A hamster doesn't smell bad - well, not too bad.
"Maybe someday we'll have our own house," Mom says. "And then we can make the rules. But right now, this apartment is a good home for us. Even if it's not perfect."
Sometimes I put my stuffed-animal dog, Bentley, in the window to watch me come home from school. I carry Whiskers, my stuffed-animal mouse, in my bathrobe pocket while I make breakfast. Mom bought me a collar with a bell so that Oscar, my stuffed cat, doesn't surprise Tweets, my toy bird.
"Pretending is fun, but it's not the same as really doing something," I told Mom.
One day I was lining up my stuffed animals to watch TV with me. "Suzannah," Mom said, "I have an idea. I just read about a new program for kids to help at the animal shelter. I thought you might like to go."
"What's an animal shelter?" I asked.
"The shelter is a place for stray animals and homeless pets. The people who work there take care of the animals and try to find homes for them," Mom explained. "The new program is called Shelter Pet Squad. Kids from second through sixth grade can sign up to come in on Saturday mornings. They will help make toys and do special things for the animals. I think you might like it, Suzannah. Want to give it a try?"
"It wouldn't be like having my own pet," I said slowly.
"No, it wouldn't be the same," Mom said. "But it still might be fun."
"What kinds of animals do they have at a shelter?" I asked.
"Mostly dogs and cats," Mom said. "But some other animals, too."
The shelter animals didn't have a home - not yet. And I couldn't have a real pet - not yet. But maybe we could borrow each other? Even if it was just for now and not "for keeps"?
Even if it wasn't perfect.
"Okay," I said. "I'll try it."
Excerpted from Jelly Bean by Cynthia Lord
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.