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The Great Pet Heist #1
The Great Pet Heist
Ocean’s Eleven meets The Secret Life of Pets in this hilarious and delightfully illustrated novel following a ragtag group of pets who will do whatever it takes to avoid being sent to the pound.
Butterbean knew she wasn’t always a good dog. Still, she’d never considered herself a BAD dog—until the morning that her owner, Mrs. Food, fell in the hallway. Admittedly the tile was slipperier than usual, mostly because Butterbean had just thrown up on it.
Now Butterbean and her fellow pets have to come up with a grand plan to support themselves in case Mrs. Food is unable to keep taking care of them. When they discover a mysterious man in their building who seems to have lots of loot, they plan a heist. Oscar the mynah bird is the brains of the operation. Walt the cat has the necessary slyness and slink. Marco and Polo are the reconnaissance rats. And Butterbean...well, no one would ever suspect a cute little wiener dog, right? Can these animal friends can pull off the heist of the century?
Butterbean knew she wasn’t always a good dog. Still, she’d never considered herself a BAD dog—until the morning that her owner, Mrs. Food, fell in the hallway. Admittedly the tile was slipperier than usual, mostly because Butterbean had just thrown up on it.
Now Butterbean and her fellow pets have to come up with a grand plan to support themselves in case Mrs. Food is unable to keep taking care of them. When they discover a mysterious man in their building who seems to have lots of loot, they plan a heist. Oscar the mynah bird is the brains of the operation. Walt the cat has the necessary slyness and slink. Marco and Polo are the reconnaissance rats. And Butterbean...well, no one would ever suspect a cute little wiener dog, right? Can these animal friends can pull off the heist of the century?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2020
125 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Emily Ecton
16 books61 followersEmily Ecton is a former writer and producer for Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!, the NPR news quiz. She has also been a playwright, a chinchilla wrangler, an ice cream scooper and a costume character. After years of living in Chicago, she now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her dog, Binky.
Also writes under the name Emily Fairlie
Also writes under the name Emily Fairlie
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
May 20, 2020
The Strathmore Six (or is it Seven?) is a fur-midable bunch. Included in this talented crew of pets is a dog (Butterbean), a cat (Walt), a myna bird (Oscar), an octopus (Chad!) and two (Marco and Polo), or is it three (Wallace) rats. When Mrs. Food slips in a pile of dog vomit and has to go to the hospital, her pets try to plan for the future. Their meetings are hilarious and heartwarming as they assemble their team and try to use the strengths of each for optimum efficiency. Their plan is not without its shortfalls, but the group perseveres through one setback after another. Will they stave off starvation and become self-sufficient? Endearing illustrations have a "Secret Life of Pets" feel to them. They are truly excellent. The addition of an octopus to the crew is brilliant. Chad's contributions to the team were among my favorites as he accomplishes all with a distinctive swagger (or should I say slip and slide?). This should be a favorite title for summer reading!
Thank you to Atheneum Books and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Atheneum Books and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2023
Butterbean the dog couldn’t help it, she puked. Her owner - Mrs. Food (hilarious) - unfortunately didn’t notice and slipped and fell. As Mrs. Food gets stretchered away, all the animals in the apartment start to panic. What if Mrs. Food doesn’t come back? How will they be able to support themselves? They quickly form a daring plan to rob one of their neighbors, so they never have to worry about their future again. What could possibly go wrong?
This is such a cool concept! The characters are wonderfully fleshed out and they all have their own voice, with some witty dialogue to boot. The plot is actually quite strong and really compliments the characters, leaving enough room to let them all shine individually. There’s also a lot of clever humor added to really elevate the story to the next level. And it has a really sweet and satisfying ending. Easy recommendation.
This is such a cool concept! The characters are wonderfully fleshed out and they all have their own voice, with some witty dialogue to boot. The plot is actually quite strong and really compliments the characters, leaving enough room to let them all shine individually. There’s also a lot of clever humor added to really elevate the story to the next level. And it has a really sweet and satisfying ending. Easy recommendation.
May 29, 2020
Butterbean knows that she is now, officially, a bad dog. All because her owner, Mrs. Food, slipped on Butterbean’s vomit, and had to be taken to the hospital. Now Butterbean, Oscar, and Walt, along with two rats (Marco and Polo) must find a way to survive. A new mysterious main is in the apartment building and has a lot of shiny new loot! Together the rag tag group of pets decide to combine their unique skills to plan a heist, just incase Mrs. Food doesn’t come back. Will she come back? This hilarious robbery from a pets’ point of view will leave readers laughing and wanting more adventures. This is a great humor book for middle grade readers who love heists, pets, or humorous stories.
Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.
Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.
September 20, 2020
First, I'm not a big fan of animal fiction for middle graders. There are a few reads, which I enjoy but usually, it's just not a genre which gets me excited. This book was one of those rarities.
Butterbean didn't mean to land Mrs. Food in the hospital, but she did. Now, her and the other animals in Mrs. Food's household are in trouble. While they are being temporarily cared for by a girl, they also caught wind that the situation might quickly take a turn for the worse...if Mrs. Food doesn't return. Luckily, this pack of friends (a dog, a cat, a bird and two rats) are craftier than humans might think. Soon, they come up with a plan to make sure they can afford to purchase their own food and take care of themselves in the future. And what a plan it is!
The first pages already had me hooked. A super cute, sweet dog accidentally has knocked out her owner, and maybe even murdered her. I can't say I've ever had a book start quite like that, and it did grab my attention. Especially since it isn't a serious read. These animals pack personality and then some. Their interactions and thought processes are simply funny, and yet, they have a very serious heist to pull off. One they mastermind...and it's a delight every step of the way.
This is advertised as a mixture between Ocean's Eleven and The Secret Life of Pets. While I usually read such comparisons with a bit of a smirk (often, the books don't really hold up to these), but this one does. And in a quirky way. There's also a ton of heart involved. I especially enjoyed their concern for Madison (the girl), and how the pets accepted each other. Even in more questionable moments, they had each others' backs.
This isn't a 'based on reality completely' sort of read. Obviously, not. There are some parts which go beyond logic and a few others things which take imagination. But that's also part of the magic of imagination and doesn't hurt the story in any way. Also, the artwork deserves extra kudo points. It was always a treat to stumble across the next illustration.
I'd recommend this one to readers eight to eleven, since slightly older readers are probably going to want a little more in some ways. But even I as an adult enjoyed reading this and found myself smiling more than a couple of times.
Butterbean didn't mean to land Mrs. Food in the hospital, but she did. Now, her and the other animals in Mrs. Food's household are in trouble. While they are being temporarily cared for by a girl, they also caught wind that the situation might quickly take a turn for the worse...if Mrs. Food doesn't return. Luckily, this pack of friends (a dog, a cat, a bird and two rats) are craftier than humans might think. Soon, they come up with a plan to make sure they can afford to purchase their own food and take care of themselves in the future. And what a plan it is!
The first pages already had me hooked. A super cute, sweet dog accidentally has knocked out her owner, and maybe even murdered her. I can't say I've ever had a book start quite like that, and it did grab my attention. Especially since it isn't a serious read. These animals pack personality and then some. Their interactions and thought processes are simply funny, and yet, they have a very serious heist to pull off. One they mastermind...and it's a delight every step of the way.
This is advertised as a mixture between Ocean's Eleven and The Secret Life of Pets. While I usually read such comparisons with a bit of a smirk (often, the books don't really hold up to these), but this one does. And in a quirky way. There's also a ton of heart involved. I especially enjoyed their concern for Madison (the girl), and how the pets accepted each other. Even in more questionable moments, they had each others' backs.
This isn't a 'based on reality completely' sort of read. Obviously, not. There are some parts which go beyond logic and a few others things which take imagination. But that's also part of the magic of imagination and doesn't hurt the story in any way. Also, the artwork deserves extra kudo points. It was always a treat to stumble across the next illustration.
I'd recommend this one to readers eight to eleven, since slightly older readers are probably going to want a little more in some ways. But even I as an adult enjoyed reading this and found myself smiling more than a couple of times.
July 30, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing - Atheneum Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was beyond adorable. I could not help but laugh throughout most of this book. The plot setting was too funny and the names of the pets are hysterical. I also appreciated the sentiment behind the whole heist. Butterbean's owner Mrs. Food slips on the floor from Butterbean throwing up and she will stop at nothing to save Mrs. Food even if it means recruiting her fellow pet friends Oscar, Walt, Marco and Polo. Fans of Secret Life of Pets will love this book and we can't wait to hear our fellow young patrons opinions are too.
We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
This book was beyond adorable. I could not help but laugh throughout most of this book. The plot setting was too funny and the names of the pets are hysterical. I also appreciated the sentiment behind the whole heist. Butterbean's owner Mrs. Food slips on the floor from Butterbean throwing up and she will stop at nothing to save Mrs. Food even if it means recruiting her fellow pet friends Oscar, Walt, Marco and Polo. Fans of Secret Life of Pets will love this book and we can't wait to hear our fellow young patrons opinions are too.
We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
June 17, 2020
Loved this book. Anyone who loves animals will love this book. It is from the animals point of view. When the pets owner falls and slips in Butterbean's (dog) throw up she is taken to the hospital. The pets try and figure out what to do. There is a dog, cat, bird, two rats and then an octopus and another rat. It is funny, exciting and ends well. They call their owner Mrs. Food, which is hilarious because she feeds them, they don't know her real name, they assume that is it. A very enjoyable story for everyone. I think it would be a great audio book and a story the whole family would enjoy.
August 21, 2023
4🌟
If you're a fan of The Secret Life of Pets films, this is the perfect middle grade novel for you. The Great Pet Heist is an outrageously silly story that explores what happens when a dog, a cat, a bird, and two rats are left to fend for themselves when their owner winds up in the hospital. Can they pull off the heist of a lifetime in order to avoid being taken to the shelter? I think kids with pets (or who just love animals) will really enjoy this book. I've added the sequel to my TBR, and it sounds perfect for the Halloween season.
If you're a fan of The Secret Life of Pets films, this is the perfect middle grade novel for you. The Great Pet Heist is an outrageously silly story that explores what happens when a dog, a cat, a bird, and two rats are left to fend for themselves when their owner winds up in the hospital. Can they pull off the heist of a lifetime in order to avoid being taken to the shelter? I think kids with pets (or who just love animals) will really enjoy this book. I've added the sequel to my TBR, and it sounds perfect for the Halloween season.
January 26, 2023
I loved this book! Butterbean was my favorite with her clueless nature. I think it would definitely appeal to kids who love animals and love a mystery!
July 31, 2023
This audiobook was so much fun to listen to! Who doesn’t love a good pet heist?!? 5 stars
November 15, 2020
Laugh out loud middle school story about an older woman who lives with a number of animals and end up in the hospital. In her absence a comedy of errors occurs with the animals in an effort to thwart a criminal. Adorable relationship with a neighbor young girl. Covers a variety of topics briefly but addresses the elderly and care. Great wrap up and fun throughout.
September 7, 2022
A Maine Student Book Award Nominee for 2021|2022
Oh many gosh, this book was SO fun!! It was a really great combo of Oceans 11 and The Secret Lives of Pets. When their owner is suddenly unable to care for them, Butterbean, Walt, Oscar, Marco and Polo all have a plan to become independently wealthy. So many hijinks and laughs ensue. I absolutely loved this book, and will definitely be reading the sequel!
Oh many gosh, this book was SO fun!! It was a really great combo of Oceans 11 and The Secret Lives of Pets. When their owner is suddenly unable to care for them, Butterbean, Walt, Oscar, Marco and Polo all have a plan to become independently wealthy. So many hijinks and laughs ensue. I absolutely loved this book, and will definitely be reading the sequel!
March 28, 2021
I was hooked on The Great Pet Heist as soon as a character smelling like “erasers, pencils, fruit juice & pretzels” showed up! This #mglit mystery is full of compression socks, apartments with Axe body spray smells, & a cast of pets that made me grin.
December 7, 2021
Cute fun read, the illustrations were enjoyable. It was a nice easy chapter book for kids who are just starting to read independently. The characters were funny and the plot was cute. A book I would likely recommend.
August 21, 2020
Five spunky pets go to extraordinary lengths to save themselves from abandonment. It's Ocean’s Eleven meets The Secret Life of Pets . . . plus there's a delightfully dim-witted dachshund!
March 28, 2021
The book made me smile from the first sentence to the very last. What a fun read!! :):)
February 1, 2022
The kids loved it! It was a really fun family read aloud!
June 29, 2023
Such a clever, funny book! I read this one in preparation for 4th grade Battle of the Books at our school. The kids loved it as much as I did. Each of the animal characters was so well-developed and so fun. The book had just the right balance of suspense, action and humor mixed with some heart-warming relationships and storylines. Big thumbs up for upper elementary!
January 22, 2024
This gave me some serious Brave Little Toaster vibes but with a motley crew of house pets instead. A very enjoyable light read.
August 1, 2025
Fun read with Ellie! Like the description I saw it was sort of oceans 11 meets secret life of pets.
September 7, 2021
Animal lovers will enjoy this tale of friendship, bravery and daring. Middle grade students will love the "gross" humor.
July 22, 2020
AUTHOR
Emily writes under two names: Emily Ecton and Emily Fairlie. She grew up in Virginia and owned a variety of pets. She moved to Chicago and became a writer and producer for the National Public Radio (NPR) news quiz. She now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. To find Emily’s webpages; click here for Ecton, and here for Fairlie.
SYNOPSIS
When Mrs. Food gets injured and must go to the hospital her little band of pets are left to wonder if she will come back. Afraid that they may have to go to a shelter if she is not able to take care of them; they decide that they must take matters into their own hands…or paws.
Will they live in the ducts, or the park, or will they have to support themselves? These are the options they must choose from. Of course, being wealthy has its benefits and so this merry little band decides to conduct a heist. There is someone in the complex with a stash of gold that they will soon acquire.
Oscar– Mynah bird and the brains of the outfit. He speaks a little human. He develops plans and strategies.
Walt – A black cat with cunning and stealth. When not preening himself, he is the backup for Oscar. He also has connections…Chad the Octopus.
Butterbean – Longhaired wiener dog. He is cause of the whole situation they are in. He conducts reconnaissance and information gathering.
Marco and Polo – Rats. They help with reconnaissance and observation.
Chad – Octopus. Great at moving through the apartment complex, opening doors, bottles and windows.
Wallace – Ex-pet rat. Now he lives in the apartment complex duct system. He is the guide.
Madison– Human girl. She is the temporary caretaker of the pets while Mrs. Food is in the hospital.
Mrs. Food– Elderly human. She is the owner of the pets.
Through careful planning and clever strategy, they execute the mission. Not all goes well, though, and poor Madison is kidnapped! Now they have to plan and execute a rescue mission. Will they save Madison? Will they have to go to a shelter? Will they have to live in the ducts or on the streets? You will have to read the book to find out.
CONCLUSION
The Great Pet Heist is beautifully written. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this daring tale. The plot is well constructed. The descriptions of the characters are exciting and detailed. The idiosyncrasies of the individual characters are spot on and humorous.
The illustrations in my copy were black and white, but they were very well drawn. Dave brings to life the characters in vivid detail. I only wish my Kindle was color. His illustrations are wonderous to look at and each one is its own work of art.
This is a great book to read to children. It is full of adventure, intrigue, mystery, danger, and adventure. I highly recommend this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
SPECIAL MENTION – ILLUSTRATOR
Dave starting drawing as a young child. He drew his first comic strip at the age of ten. He studied Design in college. His first paying design job was with a park creating posters and trail guides. His resume includes Designer, Senior Designer, and Freelance Designer. He is also an accomplished book illustrator. He lives in Ohio and has a daughter who has also taken an interest in drawing. See Dave’s webpage here.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Emily Ecton, NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readersfor affording me the opportunity to review The Great Pet Heist.
Emily writes under two names: Emily Ecton and Emily Fairlie. She grew up in Virginia and owned a variety of pets. She moved to Chicago and became a writer and producer for the National Public Radio (NPR) news quiz. She now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. To find Emily’s webpages; click here for Ecton, and here for Fairlie.
SYNOPSIS
When Mrs. Food gets injured and must go to the hospital her little band of pets are left to wonder if she will come back. Afraid that they may have to go to a shelter if she is not able to take care of them; they decide that they must take matters into their own hands…or paws.
Will they live in the ducts, or the park, or will they have to support themselves? These are the options they must choose from. Of course, being wealthy has its benefits and so this merry little band decides to conduct a heist. There is someone in the complex with a stash of gold that they will soon acquire.
Oscar– Mynah bird and the brains of the outfit. He speaks a little human. He develops plans and strategies.
Walt – A black cat with cunning and stealth. When not preening himself, he is the backup for Oscar. He also has connections…Chad the Octopus.
Butterbean – Longhaired wiener dog. He is cause of the whole situation they are in. He conducts reconnaissance and information gathering.
Marco and Polo – Rats. They help with reconnaissance and observation.
Chad – Octopus. Great at moving through the apartment complex, opening doors, bottles and windows.
Wallace – Ex-pet rat. Now he lives in the apartment complex duct system. He is the guide.
Madison– Human girl. She is the temporary caretaker of the pets while Mrs. Food is in the hospital.
Mrs. Food– Elderly human. She is the owner of the pets.
Through careful planning and clever strategy, they execute the mission. Not all goes well, though, and poor Madison is kidnapped! Now they have to plan and execute a rescue mission. Will they save Madison? Will they have to go to a shelter? Will they have to live in the ducts or on the streets? You will have to read the book to find out.
CONCLUSION
The Great Pet Heist is beautifully written. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this daring tale. The plot is well constructed. The descriptions of the characters are exciting and detailed. The idiosyncrasies of the individual characters are spot on and humorous.
The illustrations in my copy were black and white, but they were very well drawn. Dave brings to life the characters in vivid detail. I only wish my Kindle was color. His illustrations are wonderous to look at and each one is its own work of art.
This is a great book to read to children. It is full of adventure, intrigue, mystery, danger, and adventure. I highly recommend this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
SPECIAL MENTION – ILLUSTRATOR
Dave starting drawing as a young child. He drew his first comic strip at the age of ten. He studied Design in college. His first paying design job was with a park creating posters and trail guides. His resume includes Designer, Senior Designer, and Freelance Designer. He is also an accomplished book illustrator. He lives in Ohio and has a daughter who has also taken an interest in drawing. See Dave’s webpage here.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Emily Ecton, NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readersfor affording me the opportunity to review The Great Pet Heist.
April 11, 2020
A single woman, who lives with a bunch of pets, falls and is transported to the hospital. Left alone, the pets (a dog, cat, bird and two rats) are not sure how they will survive. Eventually, the building manager brings a little girl to help keep the pets safe and alive until the woman, Mrs. Food, returns. The pets overhear that Mrs. Food is probably going to an assisted living facility. They organize and execute a plan to become independently wealthy so they won’t be separated.
Opinion
This is a really cute book for the emerging reader. It has a mystery as well as several different problems that the animals must fix. The fact that the animals name their people based off of what the people do for them is hilarious. The animals each have their own quirky personalities that will leave the young reader laughing. I think this book would even appeal to older, struggling readers, which is typically a hard group to please.
The illustrations are top notch and add much to the story for kids.
Many thanks to netgalley.com for providing me with an ARC of this book.
April 24, 2020
The Great Pet Heist is a very cute story about a set of pets who get super worried when their owner Mrs. Food falls and may not come back. They plot to become independently deathly so they won’t have to go to the s word (the shelter). So between a wiener dog, cat, bird, mice and even an octopus the set off on a funny and crazy adventure in their building to steal coins from the scary man in the building. I read this book as a read aloud to my 9 year old (3rd grade) and he thoroughly loved it. It was hard for us to just read a few chapters a day as we wanted to keep reading to find out what these silly pets would do next.
I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Interesting story of what happens when pets are left on their own. Their owner, Mrs. Food, falls and is taken to the hospital. The five pets - 1 dog (Butterbean), 1 cat (Walt), 1 bird (Oscar), 2 rats (Marco & Polo) - devise a plan to stay together and not be sent to the shelter if their owner cannot come back home. They plan a heist, steal gold coins, return the coins, and rescue their pet sitter. In the end, they get to stay in the apartment with Mrs. Food and Madison.
Plenty of humor throughout the story. Ecton created delightful characters who will amuse and delight middle grade readers.
Interesting story of what happens when pets are left on their own. Their owner, Mrs. Food, falls and is taken to the hospital. The five pets - 1 dog (Butterbean), 1 cat (Walt), 1 bird (Oscar), 2 rats (Marco & Polo) - devise a plan to stay together and not be sent to the shelter if their owner cannot come back home. They plan a heist, steal gold coins, return the coins, and rescue their pet sitter. In the end, they get to stay in the apartment with Mrs. Food and Madison.
Plenty of humor throughout the story. Ecton created delightful characters who will amuse and delight middle grade readers.
May 20, 2020
This was so adorable and hilarious! If you enjoy The Secret Life of Pets, this is a book you need to check out. This modge podge gang of pets will steal your heart in a tale of crime (or crime fighting?) fun! I will be adding this to my read aloud list for next year’s students!! I can’t wait to share it with them!!!
October 4, 2020
Hilarious! Can't wait to add this to my grade 3-5 read alouds. Was almost ready to recommend this as a whole family read aloud for K-5, but the kidnapping might scare some grade K-2 readers. Will require some practice reading aloud, but will be worth it!
April 9, 2023
This book is hilarious. Animals that go on a heist and get criminals caught while also saving a young girl that was kidnapped. Makes me wonder if we could teach our pets to use a life alert or the computer in case of emergency.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
This is going to make a fun addition to our Battle List.
September 19, 2021
“Butterbean knew she wasn’t always a good dog. But until the morning of Tuesday, October 20, she’d never considered herself a BAD dog.”
Look out world a new International Crime Syndicate has emerged. There’s Butterbean (the dog), Walt (the cat, formerly known as Lucretia), Oscar (the Mynah Bird), Marco and Polo (pet rats). Add in Chad the Octopus and you’ve got the Strathmore Six. Oh, and don’t forget Wallace, I guess that makes Seven. Oh well, whatever ... anyway. What forced these mild-mannered pets to turn to a life of crime?
Well, it all started when Mrs. Food passed out and had to go to the hospital. The pets know immediately that they are in a vulnerable situation and need to be independently wealthy to be able to take care of themselves and NOT end up in ... well, you know ... the “S” word. But how do animals get money? Easy enough when someone drops a gold coin in the lobby and Butterbean finds it. How can they get more of those? A plan begins to emerge. A plan that will help them find the owner of that gold coin and figure out a way to break into the apartment where this person lives ... and hopefully find enough of these coins to live independently for the rest of their lives.
There is one complication, however. Okay, maybe more than one, but this one keeps returning. Her name is Madison and she has been asked to look after the pets while Mrs. Food is away. The animals have to keep their heist plans a secret from her, so they have to make sure they are back from their explorations and such before Madison returns from school. She doesn’t notice anything, well maybe she notices a little. “They were the weirdest pets she’d ever seen.” But Madison has problems of her own and a huge secret that could get her into a lot of trouble.
A fun story for fans of Suzanne Selfor’s Wedgie and Gizmo series and other humorous animal fiction. A definite addition to my school library.
Look out world a new International Crime Syndicate has emerged. There’s Butterbean (the dog), Walt (the cat, formerly known as Lucretia), Oscar (the Mynah Bird), Marco and Polo (pet rats). Add in Chad the Octopus and you’ve got the Strathmore Six. Oh, and don’t forget Wallace, I guess that makes Seven. Oh well, whatever ... anyway. What forced these mild-mannered pets to turn to a life of crime?
Well, it all started when Mrs. Food passed out and had to go to the hospital. The pets know immediately that they are in a vulnerable situation and need to be independently wealthy to be able to take care of themselves and NOT end up in ... well, you know ... the “S” word. But how do animals get money? Easy enough when someone drops a gold coin in the lobby and Butterbean finds it. How can they get more of those? A plan begins to emerge. A plan that will help them find the owner of that gold coin and figure out a way to break into the apartment where this person lives ... and hopefully find enough of these coins to live independently for the rest of their lives.
There is one complication, however. Okay, maybe more than one, but this one keeps returning. Her name is Madison and she has been asked to look after the pets while Mrs. Food is away. The animals have to keep their heist plans a secret from her, so they have to make sure they are back from their explorations and such before Madison returns from school. She doesn’t notice anything, well maybe she notices a little. “They were the weirdest pets she’d ever seen.” But Madison has problems of her own and a huge secret that could get her into a lot of trouble.
A fun story for fans of Suzanne Selfor’s Wedgie and Gizmo series and other humorous animal fiction. A definite addition to my school library.
August 11, 2020
"She wished she hadn't said anything. She was never going to live that barf down."
This is what a humorous middle grade fiction book should read. This fun and funny read had me laughing out loud. The heist these 6 pets pull off, the witty lines, and the well paced storyline makes this a read you'll have a hard time putting down.
I think this would make a super fun family and/or classroom read aloud.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10 and up, pet lovers and fans of funny books will enjoy this book.
# of Pages: 256
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Read Aloud: Yes. This would make a great classroom or family read aloud for as young as 2nd grade up to 5th grade.
Some favorite quotes:
"This situation called for more drastic measures. Serious stuff. The Big Guns. It was time for licking up the nostril." pg 5
"She wished she hadn't said anything. She was never going to live that barf down." pg 28
"A cat likes to have some secrets, Oscar." pg 96
"YOU'VE GOT A GUY?" Butterbean lifted off the ground with every word. "WHO ARE YOU? You've got a guy! You've got a secret vent! You have computer skills! THERE ARE RATS AND YOU KNEW! It's like I don't even KNOW you anymore, Walt!" pg 124
"And a grumpy octopus was capable of doing, well, anything." pg 207
"He couldn't believe he had gotten mixed up in this whole mess. And for a few measly sardines! It absolutely was not worth it. Still, it would be a good story later on, as long as the others didn't get themselves killed. Actually, it would be a good story either way. But he might as well try to keep them alive. Make himself the hero. Happy endings always went over better in octopus circles." pg 208
"She's cool, but I don't know if she's strange-octopus-in-the-sink cool." pg 244
This is what a humorous middle grade fiction book should read. This fun and funny read had me laughing out loud. The heist these 6 pets pull off, the witty lines, and the well paced storyline makes this a read you'll have a hard time putting down.
I think this would make a super fun family and/or classroom read aloud.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10 and up, pet lovers and fans of funny books will enjoy this book.
# of Pages: 256
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Read Aloud: Yes. This would make a great classroom or family read aloud for as young as 2nd grade up to 5th grade.
Some favorite quotes:
"This situation called for more drastic measures. Serious stuff. The Big Guns. It was time for licking up the nostril." pg 5
"She wished she hadn't said anything. She was never going to live that barf down." pg 28
"A cat likes to have some secrets, Oscar." pg 96
"YOU'VE GOT A GUY?" Butterbean lifted off the ground with every word. "WHO ARE YOU? You've got a guy! You've got a secret vent! You have computer skills! THERE ARE RATS AND YOU KNEW! It's like I don't even KNOW you anymore, Walt!" pg 124
"And a grumpy octopus was capable of doing, well, anything." pg 207
"He couldn't believe he had gotten mixed up in this whole mess. And for a few measly sardines! It absolutely was not worth it. Still, it would be a good story later on, as long as the others didn't get themselves killed. Actually, it would be a good story either way. But he might as well try to keep them alive. Make himself the hero. Happy endings always went over better in octopus circles." pg 208
"She's cool, but I don't know if she's strange-octopus-in-the-sink cool." pg 244
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