Take Your Pet to School Day

by Linda Ashman, Suzanne Kaufman (Illustrator)

Wouldn't it be fun to bring your pet to school? Now imagine if EVERYONE brought their pet to school! That's exactly what happens in this hilarious picture book--and it gets pretty wild! A lighthearted way to tackle classroom etiquette with new students.

When pets show up with their kids at Maple View Elementary, it's total chaos! These animals have no respect for school rules, and every class quickly gets out of hand. But why did they show up in the first place? Who said they could come? Could it have been...the pets themselves? It turns out they just wanted in on the fun! Now, if they want to stay, they'll just have to behave....

Linda Ashman's bouncy, rhyming text lends itself perfectly to an exuberant classroom read-aloud, and Suzanne Kaufman's playful art is full of hilarious details. A great way to generate enthusiasm for school, this book will easily find a place in pet lovers' hearts.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Back To School, Fiction

40 pages, Library Binding

First published July 2, 2019

About the author

Linda Ashman is the author of more than 40 picture books and The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books . Her books have been included on the "best of the year" lists of the New York Times, IRA/CBC Children's Choices, the New York Public Library and others, and have been translated into many languages. Linda lives with her family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the pupils at Maple View School show up one day with their pets in tow, the teachers and principal are very surprised. The menagerie of animals proves disruptive, whether in music class or at lunchtime. Miss Ellen demands an explanation, and is given a note sent to the students, ostensibly from the school, permitting the animals to attend. The note is a fraud, of course - the clever creation of the animals themselves, who are determined not to be parted from their children...

Take Your Pet to School Day pairs an engaging tale told in rhyme from author Linda Ashman with bright, colorful artwork from illustrator Suzanne Kaufman. The text here reads well - "It's Friday here at Maple View. / The students file in two by two, / with books and bags and pets in tow - / above, ahead, beside, below" - and the artwork is attention-grabbing, making this an excellent read-aloud selection.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take Your Pet to School Day is a children's picture book written by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. It stars devious pets that change the school rule that bans them and experience a day of chaos and animal love.

Ashman's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and poetic. With sprightly rhymes, Ashman provides a cheery and mischievous narrative. Kaufman's illustrations are equally as cheery and mischievous, which would make any child giggle in this cautionary tale.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Every kid at Maple View School brings home a curious but official-looking notice: on Friday, the no-pet rule will be suspended. It seems like a lot of fun at first: the school’s opening song turns into cacophony as animals howl with gusto, bleat with glee. However, art class and story time are a mess, and snack time becomes chaos. The ending is rather charming as the culprit behind Bring Your Pet to School Day is revealed.

All in all, Take Your Pet to School Day is a wonderful and hilarious children's book depicting the dangers and fun of bringing pets to school.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bookaday #101. Diverse group of kids and pets take over the school on a Friday. Rhyming text flows smoothly. Fun ending. I had fun looking for the hamster rolling along in his ball!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gee, I wonder how much insurance money is paid to cover that lovely annual festival at Maple View School? Since...

At Maple View we have a rule
You cannot bring your pets to school.
But -- for just one special day--
we've decided it's okay
to bring your bunny, bird or dog,
your lizard, turtle, fish or frog.

School faculty have trouble doing their jobs, when all those pets are underfoot. Although young readers (and caregivers who adore animals) may blame those adults at Maple View. Thus, giving rise to considerable humor among many picture book readers.

My favorite quote comes from the disgusted principal, Ms. Ellen. She hollers:

That's enough!
This is NOT the way we eat.
Please settle down and take a seat.

Eventually the mystery is solved: "Who said these pets could come to school." No spoiler from me, but that ending is GREAT.

FIVE STARS. Even from this parent who raised a happy, loving child without owning a single pet!

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone that lives near a primary school knows that pets seem to make their way into the classroom or onto the playground at the very least. This book clearly illustrates how pets go from being unwelcome to being welcome into the schools. A note is written to allow pets to attend school for a day and when the children bring their pets to school, they find the principal and teachers are surprised. It turns out the note welcoming pets for a day was written (no, hacked into a computer), by a kitten. The pets missed the kids when they were in school! The visit went so well that the school decided to allow the students to bring pets to school any day.

This book is beautifully illustrated with kids from many cultures and pets of all kinds, both large and small, alongside the students as they attend school!

Reviewer 1

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childrens rhyming picture book. This book looks like it could be a sequel to All Are Welcome due to the common illustrator. But since the author is different, I suppose they stand alone. At Maple View School, the students are elated when they are allowed to bring their pets to school Friday. As one might predict, this turns into a disaster with all sorts of animal noises and mess. After the teachers ask the principal, she asks the students-- " Who said these pets could come to school?" Great fun, wonderfully diverse school community, and rhyme that keeps up a steady pace throughout the text.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the children of Maple View school's pets sneak into the principal's office to compose a note and declare pets can be brought to school, chaos ensues!
From making too much cackling noise during music class, to climbing the shelves in the library, to not practicing any manners at snack time...these animals just don't know how to behave.
When the principal tries to put a stop to everything, the animals begin to be on their best behavior and do the right things around school. I guess having a building full of animals isn't so bad after all.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A matter-of-fact premise takes on off-the-wall proportions when "take your pets to school" day causes a teacher rebellion. The mystery of how such a day would be designated reveals that the pets miss their kids when they are gone to school all day.
A series of switches and shifts at the end of the story will binrg smiles, and the highly detailed complications throughout the day are somewhat informative about what various pets habits and sounds are.
Fun.

[Susan Mayotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

My four year grand-daughter loves this book, and so do I. She is an active child, and she likes books with a lot of action and a little mischief. I first read this book to her when she was three. Now that she is four, I think she understands that the pets in the story are the ones who wrote the letter that allowed them into the school, but regardless, she understood from the beginning that the pets introduced chaos by being at school, and she was captivated. The illustrations are wonderful!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting idea as the children bring their pets to Maple View school one day and the disturbance that follows. But who has sent a note to have a pet day. All the noise, the rhyme scheme, and the illustrations show the results of pet day at school. The ending is a turn-around when the pets clean up after themselves and an e-mail is posted. Worth the read to see the surprise at the end and who the note came from.

[Areen Omeshat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take your pet to school is a good story to make the kids imagine what will happen if they bring their pets to school, the book has a fun rhyming text and beautiful and bright illustrations. The book cover shows the kids and the pets on the school bus and they seem very happy and excited but when we go through the story the kids will understand how hard and how the chaos reigns in the school after having the pets with them.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

When students receive notes inviting them to bring their pets to school they eagerly respond. But one teacher after another finds pets are a messy distraction in class. When the principal discovers who issued the invitation and why, everyone works together to make Pet Day a happy experience for everyone.

[Jennifer Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful and bright and full of a sense of fun chaos that really appeals to preschoolers (or at least mine). What would happen if everyone brought their pets to school? Mess, noise, and chaos, of course. Will the pets learn to behave? The rhyming couplets are simple and silly. This has been a repeat check-out for my kiddo.

[Allison Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a silly rhyming book about what would happen if we all brought our pets to school! Chaos! The principal did not know about this day because the pets wrote the letter to the students saying it was bring your pet to school day! The students will love this story as they will be able to imagine what their own pets would do if they came to school!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids get a notice that the next day is "Take Your Pet to School Day," so all the wild and wacky pets come along to school. But none of the teachers seems to want them, and even the principal thinks TYPTSD is a bad idea. So where did that notice come from? Funny, chaotic illustrations and clever rhyming text.

[Samantha Bonds]

Take Your Pet to School Day is a great children's rhyming book. This book would be great for helping students understand and see rhyming words first hand. The illustrations are very detailed and colorful, this also helps children understand the story. The ending of the book is hilarious and will make the entire book worth reading.

[Peggy Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parents get a note from school that just for one special day students can bring their pets to school. The kids and their pets are having a great time, but it's not quite the same for the teachers. "Now, why would someone change this rule?" they all wonder. The question is... just who did change the rule? A great read-aloud with colorful active illustrations.

[Brooke Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It showed diversity, which is very important so that every child that reads the book is able to relate to the story. The illustrator uses very bright and vibrant colors through out the book. This is a book that I would want in my classroom library for my students to be able to read.

[Raegan Lytle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I like the fact that there is a diverse group of students and animals in the story. I think the story is fun as well with the rhyming. All the teachers and principle are confused as to who let these animals come to school. I think its a hilarious part when the pets are the one who created to letter! Kids will love this book!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rule at Maple View School is no pets at school. But for one Friday, the rule is changed, and pets are allowed in school. It's bedlam, and all the teachers want to know who changed the rule to allow pets in school. This rhyming text is a fun-filled read, and a mystery to boot!

[Kathleen Rak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute rhyming story about kids bringing their pets to school and the chaos that ensues. Good fun!

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly school story with definite kid appeal.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little rhyming picture book--our family enjoyed this during our nightly story time. :)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Rhymes are good. The pets are sneaky; the pets are sweet; the pets are trouble; the pets are neat. Cute read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! Loved the story and rhyming.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations won me over in the end!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chaos ensues when kids bring their pets to school.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhyming read aloud with familiar characters from All Are Welcome.

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable, loved the illustrations

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A school changes their no pets in school policy for one day and allows pets to attend. How will it go? Preschool and up