Class Pet Squad: Journey to the Center of Town

by Dan Yaccarino

Every school needs a little help now and then, especially PS 1000.

Sure, just like your school, PS 1000 has teachers, a principal, and a maintenance crew, who all keep everything running smoothly, but they don't do it alone !

Who do you think makes sure everyone gets back on the bus after a class trip? Who doesn't let the scenery in the school play accidentally fall over? Who fights off a gang of rampaging squirrels trying to steal chocolate pudding cups from the cafeteria?

The Class Pet Squad, that's who! And when a student leaves his beloved action figure behind in class, the CPS―a hamster, a turtle, a rabbit, and a lizard―have to find a way to get it back to him, even if it means crossing paths with a dog and, worse, a cat .

Genres: School, Animals, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Fantasy, Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2016

About the author

Exhibitions of his work have been held throughout the world. He is also the creator of the animated TV Series Willa's Wild Life and Oswald.

Mr. Yaccarino lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book in the Class Pet Squad series. This is an easy chapter book (4.0) with accessible print and snappy illustrations. The plot is goofy and the characters are over the top characters, but the format, gentle humor, and quick moving plot should appeal to newly independent readers.

[Rayna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute book staring the class pets that live in an elementary school. The Class Pet Squad is tasked with returning a loved action figure to a student when he leaves it at school accidentally. Both my son (9yrs) and I read this book separately, it gets an OK from us both. A good premise but it just fell flat for us.

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

Yaccarino, Dan Class Pet Squad: Journey to the Center of Town, 134 pgs Feiwel (Macmillan), 2016. $13.99. Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G

Students at the PS1000 School don’t know how smart their class pets are. When one little boy named Ben leaves his favorite stuffed shark at school (the one he can’t go to sleep without), the class pets spring into action. Julius the turtle makes a plan for the group, which inlcues a hamster, a chameleon, a rabbit and three mice. But this mission is a big challenge because the crew will have to go outside to get to Ben’s house, which is full of danger. Full of fun and bright sort of 1960s styles illustrations.

I thought this story was very cute and just perfect for 2nd graders. The author builds both distinct characters and setting, and has a focus on working together and problem solving. The illustrations make the pages fly by and the cover is bright and appealing.

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four animals, a hamster named Max, a turtle named Julius, a rabbit named Suzu, and a chameleon named Rhonda, comprise the Class Pet Squad. While many youngsters may think that the pets in their classrooms merely hang around waiting to be fed or noticed, these animals have work to do. They're always ready to spring into action to help the students at PS 1000. When Ben McGillicutty forgets his beloved Sharkman action figure at school, the squad ventures forth to return Sharkman to Ben. After all, they know he can't sleep without his toy. Along the way, they encounter several challenges, including a gang of fierce cats and Brutus, a guard dog who loves meatloaf. I had to laugh at some of their attempts to go unrecognized as they moved through the streets outside the school. Who knew that school pets had such busy lives? Newly independent readers are likely to enjoy this book, part of a new series filled with large illustrations, some of them spreading over two pages.

[Briauna A.]

Yaccarino, D. (2016). Class pet squad: Journey to the center of town. New York, NY: Fiwel and Friends.
PS 1000 gets a little help and a lot of love from the Class Pet Squad! Ben McGillicutty receives the help of the Class Pet Squad after he loses his favorite toy, Sharkman. It is up to the Class Pet Squad to make sure Ben and Sharkman are reunited before bedtime and they are back in class before the morning bell. It maybe their most dangerous mission yet!
I would ask the students the following five questions:
1) Have you ever had to ask for help when you didn’t want to?
2) If you were Suzu how would you make your voice heard to the group?
3) How could Max better apologize to Suzu?
4) Is there a special something you can’t sleep without?
5) If our class had a “Class Pet Squad” what animals would be in it and why?

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Class Pet Squad courageously protects PS 1000, an elementary school. These brave critters, Max a hamster, Rhonda a lizard, Julius a Turtle, and Suzu a rabbit who loves glitter, help the children if problems occur. When one of the young students accidentally leaves his favorite (and very large) toy Sharkman at school, they know he won't be able to sleep without it. Their mission is to figure out a way to return Sharkman before he misses it. This will be a scary challenge, figuring out how to design the technology to transport Sharkman, locate the child, and maybe battle some bullies along the way, without the child discovering them. Sprinkled with fetching pictures, this is a caper kids will enjoy.

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a kid, Ben, who left his toy at school. In this is chapter book the Class Pet Squad goes on an adventure to return Ben's toy. The 7 main characters make up the Class Pet Squad. Brutus, Ben's dog, is found along the way and is helpful after a bad experience with the Woof-O-Matic. They meet characters along the way that are funny, helpful, and some just a little bit frustrating.
Boys and girls who are 5 to 8 years old would like this book because it's exciting with a surprise outcome.
Thea O., age 6, Greater New York Mensa

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Class Pet Squad is quick to help out when a student forgets his beloved Sharkman action figure in class after school. With some plotting and planning the Class Pet Squad moves ahead to get this figure back to the student before he goes to bed. There is plenty of action and adventure along the way. An interesting read for ages seven to nine. I Received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways for an honest review.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea behind the book is cute; class pets in a school coming together to solve a problem! Even better? The adorable illustrations! Just loved them and the kid-friendly font and layout, too. This is a series that I think will actually get better as it continues on; now that readers already know the characters, the next book can jump right into the story!

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

1-3.

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will live this early chapter book. Lots of pictures and white space make it accessible to young readers.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute class pet story - like the pictures throughout.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story that fans of the Humphrey series would enjoy.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really just "Wonderpets" updated for a second-grade reading level, with less saccharine characters.