My Pet Human Takes Center Stage

My Pet Human

by Yasmine Surovec

The adorable My Pet Human series continues at school, where Oliver and Freckles star in the pet club's talent show.

Freckles is new at her elementary school, and Oliver wants to be sure she finds her niche. So when she joins the pet club and gets roped into putting on a talent show to raise money for the local animal shelter, Oliver has no choice but to help out. What he doesn't bargain for is that Freckles takes in a foster kitten! Turns out, while Oliver values his independence, he's not so eager to give up being center stage.

Genres: Cats, Graphic Novels, Animals, Childrens, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Middle Grade

112 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2017

About the author

Yasmine Surovec loves kitties. She is the artist behind the popular comic blog and book Cat vs. Human. Originally from Manila, Philippines, she now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, son, and a menagerie of animals.

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver has to deal with a cute kitten, and a school pet event. Not quite up to #1, but still first-rate. Pity her publisher didn't spring for color illos.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bond between a girl and her cat is ever-strong even when its limits are tested. Oliver adores his human, Freckles, and he's reluctant to let her head to school without him. Trying new experiences can be scary, even for a well-trained girl so Oliver goes along with her without her realizing it. His presence seems to make things easier, and Freckles makes plenty of new friends as does Oliver. But then she gets wrapped up in plans for a pet fair to raise funds for an animal shelter, and before Oliver knows it, he's sharing his living space temporarily with an adorable kitten. When the kitten seems to captivate Freckles, Oliver decides to take action, and he becomes just as easy to train as that kitten. The story is charming as are the illustrations by the creator of the blog Cat vs Human. Anyone who loves cats or even other animals will enjoy this title, the second in the series, and nod knowingly at just HOW hard felines are to train. I have to say that I have never had any success in doing so as mine only let me think I'm training them when they have a mind to do as I say. Naturally, it's all an illusion on my part, and it's just as clear in my life as well as in this book exactly who's training whom. This might be a useful chapter book for a reader transitioning into those types of reading materials.

[John of Canada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am currently kitty sitting for my friend.Itried reading this to the cat and she didn't show much interest.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver looks so much like Tortuga. I hope there are more books in this series.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 1 and half years we have a new Pet Human book! I just adored the previous book, and I was eagerly waiting for the new one!

And now it is here, and it has a lot of cuteness again with the addition of a new kitten!

One of my favourite things about this book is that it is from the POV of the cat! Quite often it doesn't work right (because the animal turns out to be highly annoying), but in this one it is perfect. Oliver is truly a cat in each and every way. And he is funny!

The cat and the kitten situation in this one reminded me of Garfield comics. I haven't read those in years, but I was there when Nermal first arrived. And boy, that didn't work out. Garfield pretty much acted the same way as Oliver did, while Nermal was being all cutesy and sweet and getting all the food and love, just like our kitten in this one. I have to say that while I hate Nermal, I did love our tiny little kitten in this one. She didn't seem to have any ill intentions, instead was just trying to get along with Oliver.

I had such a laugh when Oliver hitched a ride in Freckles's bag. I would think you could feel an additional weight added to your bag. :P The school was surprisingly accepting of Oliver (then again, who can resist those adorable eyes). I loved the club, and the adviser (cat lady alarm!).

The show, and the preparations towards it, were a delight. I was really amazed at Oliver and the kitten being able to do all those tricks. As all other people said, generally cats don't let themselves be bossed around. The show was cute (though I did feel sorry for Jin's animals, then again, I also found them adorable and I still wish I could put tiny dresses on my hamster).

The outcome of the adoption? I didn't see it coming, I had another ending in my head, but I am still very much happy with this one. It is perfect!

There was just one thing I didn't entirely like, the fact that they just dumped a new kitten without any warning with Oliver. This is just a bad idea. I would think you want to have them meet up slowly, bit by bit. It ended up all right in this one, though Oliver's feelings were hurt, but I have heard enough cases were doing a thing like this ended in not a lot of good.
Plus if you want to introduce a cat, or another animal, be sure to also give the older pet the same amount of attention as well. :( I just wanted to hug and hold Oliver, even though that would mean I would probably die of my allergies, but so worth it.

The book is of course full of art, and I just adore the style of it. It is cute, and the cats are just the sweetest!

I hope that we will have many more Oliver/My Pet Human books in the future. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surovec, Yasmine My Pet Human Takes Center Stage, 100 pgs. Roaring Brook (Holtzbrinkck Pub), 2017. $13. Language: G ; Mature Content: G ; Violence: G
Oliver the cat is upset that his pet human Freckles is going to be starting back to school. He even manages to sneak to school in her backpack. Because of this Freckles learns about a club at her school that is doing a fundraiser for the local animal shelter. She joins the club and offers to help. Helping includes taking in a foster kitten! Now Oliver has to share everything including the spotlight in Freckles attention –with a kitten. He isn’t sure he likes it at first but decides to go along with the program –which includes him performing in a talent show. When he eats a few too many treats, unexpected things happen. Heavily illustrated with adorable and comical artwork.
I LOVED the first book in this series, and this one is great as well. It functions as an easy chapter so even 1st graders would be able to read and enjoy it, though I think up through 5th grade would like this book as well. The illustrations are simple but convey quite a bit of emotion –like the contempt of cats! This book could be used as an easy read-aloud for an example of point of view –because everything is told from Oliver the cat’s point of view.

EL -ADVISABLE. Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Cynthia Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story of a girl and her pet cat, but is told from the cat's viewpoint. It is definitely a beginner chapter book created in a graphic novel style. Oliver, the cat, sneaks into his owner's school backpack and ends up at school for the entire day. They are introduced to the Fur-Ever Friends Club and get involved in the fundraiser talent show which is starting in order to build a shelter for homeless animals. Freckles, the little girl who is Oliver's Pet Human decides to be in the club and then fosters a tiny kitten. Oliver is repelled by the fact the kitten must stay at their house because she is truly soaking up his limelight, eating his treats and food and has ALL of Freckles' attention. The talent show involves students from the school and the pets they have trained. Oliver decides to be in the talent show only because Freckles trained him and he wants to upstage the new kitten who lives there with them. The show goes fine, until, following each trick the animals do, Freckles gives them treats, and soon all the treats come up from Oliver's stomach and he knows he did upstage the show, but not in a good way. Easy read, and fun for kids who are beginning readers. Good plot and the book has chapters. Definite purchase for school libraries.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: My name is Oliver. This is my pet human, Freckles. I have her well-trained. She feeds me treats. She rubs my belly. But today she's going to a new place of training. It's her first day of school.

Premise/plot: Oliver goes to school to be with Freckles. The school is pet-loving, so no big problem. In fact, there's a school club, Fur-ever Friends Club, that Freckles joins. The club is big on fund-raisers, and, this book is ALL about fund-raising. Freckles and her mom take in a foster-kitten during this time, and, Oliver is out of sorts about the attention being on another cat. Freckles idea is to TRAIN both of her cats for an act in the fund-raising show. Oliver has mixed-ideas about it. He doesn't want Freckles to be humiliated, and, he doesn't want the new kitten to do all the tricks and leave him looking stupid, and, he does like Freckles and want to please her....but is a cat trainable?

My thoughts: More happens in this second book, which, I think is a good thing. Oliver continues to be an entertaining cat. I like this series, but, I'm not sure I love it.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This early chapter book is narrated by a cat named Oliver, who sneaks into Freckles' (his human) backpack to accompany her to school. Oliver is quite proud of himself, as you might expect from a cat, but is also devoted to Freckles. His voice is funny and clever, and cat lovers will definitely relate to his narcissism. Simple, spare black and white cartoons dominate the page. The author has a cute blog kids can view as well (catversushuman.tumblr.com). A satisfying funny cat novel for kids new to chapters.

[Serenity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a very cute and fun follow up to the first book. I think kiddos looking for a funny illustrated novel, but maybe not quite ready for Wimpy Kid, will enjoy this. As will readers who like animal stories. It's told from the POV of the cat, and both his observations of the situations he is in, and the illustrations, can be quite humorous.

*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 8 year old daughter and she loved it. She is obsessed with cat's, so she enjoyed this story being told from the cat's perspective. She thought it was funny. Good for reluctant readers and pet lovers, cute story. A fast read with a lot of pictures for grades 1-5.

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume feels more like a middle grade book than the previous one, but it's still cute and enjoyable for any age. The best part, of course, is the older cat, Oliver, being annoyed by a sweet little kitten that only wants to be his friend.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver sneaks off to school with Freckles, his owner. His family winds up fostering a kitten, which he is not excited about. Then Freckles tries to get both cats to participate in her school's talent show. Very cute and funny.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like cats you need to read this! - Betsy , age 7

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with Oliver the cat and his human, Freckles. A neat mix of graphic novel and text. Great for readers transitioning to more text,

[Chibimagic · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice sequel to My Pet Human. Still a good book for kids in elementary school, and I still read it for the cat drawings.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kindred spirit wrote a sequel to her very cute My Pet Human. This one isn't QUITE as charming as that one, but most kids and cat ladies should enjoy.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm, well, not much to say. The first one was good enough to encourage me to read this one, this is only good enough for me to decide I've had enough. shrug

[Emilie Elkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Novel: While this book can also be considered a beginning reader, it is the layout of the illustrations that makes the format of the story so accessible to young readers. Young children will think the cat's point of view humorous and engaging.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute sequel. There's a new cat in town and Oliver doesn't like sharing the limelight one bit. It all comes to ahead during the school talent show.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all humans trained by cats -- and you know who you are -- this is a silly, enjoyable little story.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable attention-hogging kitties star in this school talent show tale.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, this was so cute and fun! I loved the characters, the plot, and the art. It had the perfect ending. So glad I read this :D!