Picture-book author Surovec brings her cat-fueled stories to the middle-grade set in this illustrated chapter book. The narrator, a sneaky tuxedo cat, is proud of being a loner. He can go wherever he wants and no humans will squash (that is, hug) him too hard. But when a girl and her mom move into the old, abandoned house he frequents, and the girl starts giving him tasty tuna and olives, he finds himself attached to his new pet. Soon he sets out to train her and her mother, and when his pet human starts looking lonely, he recruits the help of his friend George, a rat in a plastic ball, to find a friend for her. But will his pet's new friend replace him? Surovec's bubbly black-and-white cartoon illustrations, composed of only minimal thick lines and flat patches of black, are an excellent companion to the lighthearted text and perfectly capture aloof-cat behavior. Cat-loving kids, particularly emerging readers, will get a kick out of the feline narrator, as well as the heartening story of friendship.

Gr 2-4 Sweet stray cat Oliver enjoys his nomadic life about town. He has a few rules for keeping his existence carefree and happy, which include knowing where to get free food, having a good hiding spot, and keeping a few close friends. Oliver is an endearing protagonist, having learned that he can visit the Twirling Fork restaurant and give his doe-eyed "look" to anyone at the back door in order to receive a plate of free spaghetti. He enjoys visiting friends with forever homes, including Ben, a fluffy dog in a family full of kids; Farrah, a prissy kitty with a penchant for the best treats life has to offer; and George, an indeterminate gerbil or mouselike creature who is perpetually sealed in a rolling ball. Oliver is content to stay on his own in an abandoned homeespecially when he needs a hiding place from the animal control truck that periodically patrols the neighborhood. When a little human and her mother move into the abandoned house, Oliver thinks he can use his "look" to score some free food without getting emotionally attached, but he is surprised when he finds himself caring for the girl. Though Oliver remains nameless for the entirety of the book, his new human friend dubs him Oliver after he develops a taste for olives. Surovec's cheerful illustrations pepper every page with hilariously endearing portraits of Oliver and the animals in his life, along with the humans in his world. Fans of James Kochalka's "Dragon Puncher" (Top Shelf) books will find My Pet Human similarly entertaining and slightly more challenging, and readers of Tom Watson's "Stick Dog" (HarperCollins) will find a great read-alike. VERDICT A sweet story for animal lovers and emergent readers, too. Amy M. Laughlin, Darien Library, CT