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Summary
Summary
As a growing menagerie takes over Miss Fry's classroom, students of all species fall head-over-tails for their ever-patient teacher in Dayle Ann Dodds's funny story, illustrated with lively flair by Marylin Hafner.
Monday morning is sharing day in Miss Fry's class, and children may bring in a pet to share, "just for the day." Week after week, a new and wonderful pet comes to "visit" - a crowing rooster, a crawly tarantula, a cricket that does somersaults - but somehow ends up staying for a very long time. Soon a host of classroom critters are mingling happily among the students, and even the parents are pleased with what they see. "Isn't it great," they exclaim, "that Miss Fry loves pets so?" It's clear that the gentle Miss Fry is one teacher the kids and parents will never forget! But what will happen when the school year ends and it's time for all of her well-taught pets to say goodbye?
Author Notes
DAYLE ANN DODDS is the author of numerous picture books for children, including MINNIE'S DINNER, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, THE KETTLES GET NEW CLOTHES, and THE GREAT DIVIDE.
MARYLIN HAFNER is the creator of the Molly and Emmett characters featured in LADYBUG magazine and the illustrator of more than one hundred books for children, including LUNCH BUNNIES, SHOW AND TELL BUNNIES, and TUMBLE BUNIES, by Kathryn Lasky.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this sunny story from Dodds (The Great Divide) and Hafner (the Lunch Bunnies series), a tolerant teacher ends up with a menagerie in her classroom. New furry and feathered animals arrive each week but never depart after the perky, redheaded Miss Fry allows her human pupils to bring pets for show and tell-"just for the day." A rooster is the first to remain: its owner asks Miss Fry, " `The neighbors wonder if Red can stay at school for a while.' `Of course,' said Miss Fry. `How lucky for us.' " The sarcasm may be missed by young readers, but the funny, escalating situation may well be a hit. Among the critters seemingly more welcome at school than at home are Alia's goat, Jerry's boa constrictor and Lily's monkey (shown swinging from the ceiling light). The cheery ink, watercolor and colored pencil illustrations warm the pages with a playful vibrancy, from Miss Fry's striped leggings and bright scarves to the humorous spread of Parents' Night with the animals munching the adults' snacks. The patient teacher is rewarded in the end. After finally disbanding the mini-zoo, she discovers on her desk the only critter for which she had developed a particular fondness-a cricket named Moe. All readers will delight in the way her new pet repays Miss Fry's kindness. Ages 5-up. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. From the first day of school to the last, students and their animal friends feel welcome in Miss Fry's classroom. Each child brings a pet from home--from Winston's rooster to Jerry's boa constrictor to Avery's choice, which looks suspiciously like a really old kitchen sponge. The unflappable Miss Fry responds to each newcomer with her signature phrase, How lucky for us. The children go home each afternoon and Miss Fry retires to her quiet little house, but one by one, the pets take up residence in Miss Fry's increasingly noisy, happy classroom. Fresh and engaging, this picture book offers a gracefully written, gently amusing story with a pleasing conclusion. Hafner's distinctive ink drawings, brightened with watercolors and colored pencils, create a series of varied, inviting scenes that capture the story's buoyancy. Adults looking for a good read-aloud will echo Miss Fry's sentiment when they find this: How lucky for us. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2006 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-When Winston takes his pet rooster to school for "sharing day," he neglects to bring it home that afternoon. This begins a curious pattern in his classroom. Each Monday a different child arrives with a pet, leaves it behind at the end of the day, and comes in on Tuesday with an explanation of why it is better off at school than at home. Miss Fry, who lives alone in her "quiet little house," says yes to each newcomer, until her classroom is "bursting with the happy noises of all the children's pets." When summer vacation rolls around, the youngsters retrieve their animals. However, one student bequeaths his cricket to Miss Fry's care. This gentle and humorous story has charming watercolor illustrations that reinforce the emotions of the children, the animals, and, of course, the warmhearted teacher.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When Miss Fry told her students that their pets could visit for their weekly sharing day, little did she know it was the beginning of a zoo. Each Monday, a different student brings in his or her pet . . . and conveniently forgets to take it home. Tuesday always illuminates the reason why: The rooster disturbed the neighbors; the dog chewed the sofa cushions; and on it goes, from Alia's goat to Lily's monkey. All year long Miss Fry feeds and cares for the animals before going home. On the last day, the children leave with their pets, except Roger. His cricket Moe likes Miss Fry best. And so the somersaulting cricket goes home to Miss Fry's garden and adds the perfect sound to her quiet little house. Hafner's illustrations follow the text, focusing on the additions of the animals, rather than on the zaniness that must be the result of so many creatures living in one classroom. A cute tale to share with a teacher who has a similar classroom zoo, but a rather troubling sub-message that pets can be foisted off on others when they show less-than-desirable behaviors. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
