Ferocious Fluffity: A Mighty Bite-y Class Pet

by Erica S. Perl, Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Mr. Drake’s second grade class has a new class pet. Fluffity appears to be a cute and docile hamster—but the kids soon discover that she is not the cuddly pet they expected. From the moment her cage door opens, Fluffity becomes FEROCIOUS—biting and chasing everyone down the hall and into the library! Will the class be able to tame this beast and bring peace back to their school? The bestselling team behind Chicken Butt! and Chicken Butt’s Back! has crafted another laugh-out-loud tale that’s sure to be a hit with any child who’s ever wanted a pet. Erica Perl’s pitch-perfect rhymes and Henry
Cole’s over-the-top animal character make for the perfect classroom read-aloud.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, School, Storytime, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 19, 2016

About the author

Erica S. Perl is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 popular and critically acclaimed books for young readers. She won the National Jewish Book Award and a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her middle grade novel, ALL THREE STOOGES. She is also the author of many well-loved picture books, including THE NINTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH and GOATILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, as well as several book serieses (including the TRUTH OR LIE nonfiction series). She is the co-author, with Dolly Parton, of the BILLY THE KID picture book series. She is also the co-author, with R.J. Palacio, of WHITE BIRD: A NOVEL. A crowd-pleasing presenter, Erica is available for school visits, bookstore, and library events. Follow her @ericaperl on social media and visit her website to connect with her.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty funny, and teaches a valuable lesson about respecting your pets. Sometimes, children's books try too hard to be funny, and they just end up seeming stupid. Ferocious Fluffity strikes just the right balance, however; it's relatable, it's cute, it has hilarious illustrations, and there's a great rhyming text to top it all off.

Don't be fooled by that innocent little face, though: Fluffity is a beast.

[Krissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Rated by my son**

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a shame for hamsters that they are so cute; they really don't make good children's pets at all. They're nocturnal, territorial, and for the most part dislike being held. I'm not a big fan of "classroom pets" in general, but hamsters are one of the more ill-informed choices.

"Ferocious Fluffity" may be a bit more realistic than most teachers (or kids) would like!

On one hand, this rhyming book does teach a lesson about getting to know your pet before asking too much of him. Fluffity obviously hates being held, but it took an entire classroom and teacher getting bitten for them to understand this. There was a nice moment when the kids offer Fluffity things that make her happy: an exercise wheel and toys to play with.

However, despite having such a bad experience with Fluffity, the teacher gets yet another class pet--a possibly even worse choice who is clearly planning on gobbling up the hamster!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fluffity seemed like a cute, harmless hamster, but then the children of classroom 2-D took her out of her cage one day, when their teacher Mr. Drake was late, and chaos ensued. This hamster had a lot of energy, and a penchant for biting the fingers and arms of the children around her. What could the pupils do? Fortunately, with the help of Mr. Drake they learned how to tame their ferocious new class pet...

Pairing a humorous tale of hamster hi-jinks, told in rhyming text, with cute watercolor illustrations, Ferocious Fluffity: A Mighty Bite-y Class Pet highlights an important message - to treat classroom pets responsibly, and with caution - while also providing an entertaining read-aloud selection. The surprise ending, in which class 2-D gets another pet - a snake! - ends the book on a humorous note, as Fluffity looks more frightened than ferocious. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about the classroom pet experience, and what NOT to do.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author and illustrator of Chicken Butt return with another uproariously funny picture book. Mr. Drake brings a new pet into his classroom. It’s a tiny hamster. They aren’t allowed to hold her, but one day when Mr. Drake is late, the children take her out of her cage. But Fluffity is not as sweet as she looks. She bites all of the children! Then she chases them down the hall and continues to bite them as they hide in the library. When Mr. Drake discovers them all, Fluffity bites him too and won’t let go. They finally get Fluffity back into her cage and figure out that she needs exercise and lots of things to chew on to be happiest. In fact, they do so well that Mr. Drake brings in a new pet for the classroom!

Now, I must admit that when I start a picture book and it is in rhyme I tend to worry and even shudder a bit. Here Perl handles her rhyme with panache, using it to up the frenzied action and to increase the humor as well. The rhyme adds a galloping pace to the book that is wonderful as well as making it a treat to read aloud. The humor is broad and never subtle, in other words perfect for small children to laugh right along with. It is also appreciated that in the end the students learn how to care for Fluffity rather than getting rid of the little nipper.

Cole’s illustrations add to the zany feel of the book. Just look into the eyes of Fluffity and you will know that something is about to go wrong. The ball of fur may be tiny, but her glare would have me hiding in a library too. Just like the writing, the illustrations are ideal for sharing out loud too with their bright colors, large format and action-filled images.

Sure to keep even the wiggliest preschooler listening, this picture book is a great finishing read for a story time welcoming children back to school. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Margaret]

As an educator there will be pets and critters of all kinds in your classroom; it's inevitable. They will be there as welcome or surprise guests or as permanent members for the school year. If you are a teacher librarian in your building the number of animal visitors increases.

Classrooms want to share their pet bringing it to the library for a lesson, individual students bring in their much-loved pals and then there are those students who've captured something from the out-of-doors they can hardly wait to show you. These gals and guys come to you before school or between classes carefully carrying a jar with a lid punched full of holes or a larger box in a similar state. You learn over the years to quickly and cheerfully ask what is in the container. You may be asked to identify the animal, discover its favorite habitat or meal and always to share in the joy of "look what I found."

Most pets residing in classrooms as valued members have been selected for particular qualities. Obviously the safety of all the students is important. Ferocious Fluffity: A Mighty Bite-y Class Pet (Abrams Books for Young Readers, July 19, 2016) written by Erica S. Perl with illustrations by Henry Cole proves normal behavior can go awry.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny! I laughed out loud throughout this wonderfully silly book. Can't wait to try this one on the kindergartener in my life ;-) Henry Cole's illustrations of the biting hamster are hilarious and his comeuppance at the end even more so. Did I mention I once inherited a school library hamster we called Houdini??? It could also have been named Fluffity for its similar propensity to bite ;-)

[Lesley Burnap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny! Perfect to share, whether or not you have a class pet! The pictures will have the kids rolling on the floor! (I mean, just look at Fluffity's cute widdle face!) The words beg to be read and reread over and over! Winner! Winner! What's Fluffity eatin' for dinner?

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute so I just had to pick it up. This brings back bad memories of our 3rd grade class pet. She was a biter too! I wonder if he wrote this book based on personal experience! HA!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to Julianna last week. We both thought it was cute. She gives this book 5 stars.

[Danielle]

This one surprised me in a great way. Winning rhyme carried this action-packed story along with humor and one final wink of an ending.

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

Perl, Erica S. Ferocious Fluffity: A Might Bite-y Class Pet, illustrated by Henry Cole. PICTURE BOOK. Abrams Books, 2016. $16.95. Content: G.

Mr. Drake's students are thrilled when their teacher unveils the new class pet. They all vow not to touch Fluffity until she is bigger and more accustomed to the classroom. But when Mr. Drake is late one day, the children can't help it. They take turns holding Fluffity -- and getting bitten! The terrified kids try to escape, but their class pet runs right after them, teeth ready to chomp. Oops. Maybe they should have listened to their teacher after all.

This rhyming tale is graced with hilarious text and illustrations, and I'm already looking forward to reading it aloud to my students when school is back in session. It seems like it will be a fun one to perform, as well as a good start for discussions about how to treat new pets and listening to adults' suggestions despite temptation. (Okay, the latter sounds like a bit of a snooze, but I think we could have some fun with it.)

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute...? book about a VERY bitey hamster, and a good lesson on respecting animals' comfort zones. Of course, it's a little weird that this hamster would be quite THAT vicious as to *chase down the kids* once she goes on the rampage, haha.

If anything, I don't like the "joke" ending, that, "Okay, we learned how to respect our pet hamster, now let's get a BURMESE PYTHON*!"

Uh...

*I don't know if that's what it is, I just searched online for something close to what's drawn. Point being, IT'S BIG ENOUGH TO SWALLOW A CHILD. Joke or not, school should have minimal consequences for failure to learn! Hamster bites hurt but ultimately aren't that big of a deal by comparison!

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid, I don't know how much I'd appreciate this one. It would be a good book to open a discussion on proper pet care, definitely. As an adult, though, I find it hysterical (though feel that gerbils would have been a more suitable bite-y pet... stupid gerbils*). Either way, I like the rhymes in the text, and I love the illustrations.

I can see pulling this out for a pet or pet-care themed storytime, but more so, I would recommend it for parents looking to talk to their kids about being good pet owners.


*yeah, there's a (literally) scarring childhood episode involving gerbils in my past. Definitely a mighty bite-y pet

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps I'm irresponsible but I didn't draw any ethical lessons about the keeping of pets from this book. Perhaps I should have. But I didn't take it as serious lesson-teaching book. I guess it was though, or at least maybe Fluffity would want it to be. I didn't think about the wrongs or rights of the larger situation. I just was immediately on Fluffity's side. Go Fluffity! Bite those fingers. I loved Fluffity, and the book. It's wonderful. Fluffity's hostile behavior didn't put me off at all. I enjoyed it enormously and I may even read it again and again for the chance to see the illo of Fluffity repeatedly biting the children. Seriously, I love this book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little book about a hamster named Fluffity. I felt so bad for little Fluffity. She was stuck in a classroom in a little container. The kids didn't know what to do with her and wanted to entertain themselves with a pet they didn't really know about. She needed a big place to live with lots of things that would keep her safe and have things to do and play with. An exercise wheel, things to chew on, and a housing unit with different compartments.

But it's a cute book with a lesson for kids. Not every cute and small animal will be cuddly and sweet.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She was tiny. She was cute. She was also quite a brute.”

The kids in 2D can hardly wait to interact with their new class hamster, Fluffity, Mr. Drake cautions them to look but don’t touch because she’s so little. But one day when Mr. Drake isn’t there, the kids open Fluffity’s cage and Fluffity goes on a biting spree. Not a single students is spared her wrath. Lesson learned: “Get to know your pet before opening her cage’s door.”

Cute illustrations will make this a popular choice with students.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I brought back funny memories from my own childhood. I had a similar experience in kindergarten. This would be an excellent story for classrooms with class pets. The children were all bit by the class pet because they let him out when the teacher was late. The major theme is obedience and listening. The children learned to take care of their pet and they had to ask the teacher for forgiveness for their mistake. Would recommend this to any classroom, but especially ones with young kids and class pets.

[Larson Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Ferocious Fluffity on Youtube as a read aloud. This book was hilarious! Fluffity seems so innocent at first, but as the story goes on, he becomes dangerous and terrorizes all the students. The illistrations are great and the author uses mostly end rhymes. This would be a great book to introduce a lesson on rhyming words. After a few stanzas, the teacher could pause and ask his/her students which of the words rhyme. This book is also great if the teacher has decided to get a class pet. In its own twisted way, this book teaches kids to respect their pets.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Saw another teacher use this on Instagram with a directed drawing and had to check it out. Like Cole's artwork and a male teacher of color. Silly story is fun, but I am not a fan of sing-song rhyming text (feels a bit forced at times). I like repeating refrains better and I think the intended audience for these books do too.
Not a first purchase for me- rhyming and this is not a request in my school(no pets or animals allowed in bldgs anymore).

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Against the teacher Mr. Drake's warning, the students in his 2nd grade class lets Fluffity the hamster out of his cage, and he goes on a rampage biting as many kids as he can. Fluffity chases them through the halls of the school, and holds them hostage in the library, where it takes a group effort and some fast thinking to get Fluffity back in his cage. A cautionary tale of knowing what your pet requires to keep it calm.

[DeCarla Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humor, Fiction, Poetry
4-5th graders
I think this book is a fun and funny book that will teach kids to make sure they follow directions. When you don't sometimes things can get out of hand. If we listen to what we are told it is much better in the end. And I think the students apart of this classroom learned that in a hard, hilarious way.

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I ordered this book I thought it would be cute and funny; I did not find it so. Fluffity scared all the children and most of the adults because he was a biter. I want children to love animals, not be afraid of them. Too many stories are told of aggressive animals which leads many to abuse and neglect them.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhyming text, charming illustrations, and cute, funny story. In real life, any class pet would be banished after one biting incident. However--being that this is fiction--the hamster is furnished with toys and the children learn a lesson about obeying the rules. Recommended for preschool-2nd grade.

[Robyn Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious!😄 All of us loved it - even my older kids!
One word of warning - only read it to your kids if you know they won't attempt to copy the behavior of Fluffity. Or- if you are prepared to make it a learning experience and discuss not biting.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fluffity, class 2-D's pet hamster, is adorable... until the day the children let her out of her cage and discover she's actually a ferocious beast. Can this wild beast be tamed?
A silly, rhyming story to try for a pet-themed storytime.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The students in Mr. Drake's class learn some very important lessons about class pets. And, in time, Mr. Drake is pleased with their learning...enough so, that he gets them another class pet. What a pet it is!

[Rebecca Gomez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is amusing, but the text is riddled with forced rhyme and awkward meter. Where the meter works, it feels too sing-songy. To top that off, it has a heavy-handed "teaching" moment near the end, which is completely unnecessary. The addition of another class pet at the end is a fun touch.

[Dannon Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, I would use it to prepare my students for getting a class pet and setting boundaries of when and how to touch the animal and so on. The illustrations are also very cute and the story is silly for younger kids

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is going to be so much fun to read aloud! The illustrations are quite detailed and have a few visual jokes that my youngest students will get. Will use with Looking for Treasures lesson.