Gr 1-3-Desperately trying to escape a crazed dog, a squirrel dashes into an elementary school, followed by the pup, where he encounters the class pets. Beginning with the first-grade hamster, they all describe themselves, including the neon tetras, who are "tickled" to be a "school in a school." Some of the creatures are willing to help Twitch, but some are just intrigued by his situation. This fun read will satisfy kids looking for animal stories with happy endings. The most interesting part of this tale is that the dog is portrayed as the villain-until the very end, when Cuddles gets to speak. Humorous spot illustrations appear throughout. Due to the short segments told by the different animals, this beginning chapter book will appeal to reluctant readers, and it is a good read-aloud. A suitable purchase for most collections.-Elizabeth Swistock, Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(Fiction. 7-10)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

School-yard squirrel Twitch scurries over sleeping dog Cuddles, precipitating a chaotic chase that leads inside an elementary school. As the pair race from room to room, pets (ranging from a hamster to a talking parrot to a school of neon tetras) are unleashed (thanks to a library rat who is very good with his hands ) and join the pursuit. Finally a call to 911 and a visit from the principal (Cuddles' master, who lives next door) bring about an end to the disorder. The author of Cloaked in Red (2010) writes here for a younger audience while still imparting her zany outlook. Succeeding chapters are narrated (first person, present tense) by different animals that continue the story line, advancing the plot. Writing styles vary (the science lab geckos speak in dialogue; the snake alliterates), providing multiple perspectives, and Bjorkman's spot illustrations help to break up the text. Although some references may go over emerging readers' heads, middle-grade teachers will find this a good model for introducing diverse prose styles.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist