Cody Harmon, King of Pets

This fifth entry in the series focuses on third grader Cody, who loves animals as passionately as he hates school. Cody's troubles--with homework, with best friend Tobit, and with a scheme to get all his animals into the school's first-ever pet show--are presented sympathetically by Mills, who portrays elementary-school friendship drama with a skillful hand. The lighthearted illustrations help readers envision the story.

This fifth entry in the chapter book series (beginning with Kelsey Green, Reading Queen, rev. 5/13) focuses on third-grader Cody, who loves animals as passionately as he hates school. When Principal Boone announces Franklin School's first-ever pet show, Cody seems like a shoo-in to finally win some kind of an award. He does own nine pets, after all. Unfortunately, the entrance fee is ten dollars per pet, and he has just three dollars -- not enough to enter even one of his beloved animals. Luckily, his dad offers him a deal: seven dollars in exchange for doing a good job on his homework for a week. Now Cody's only problem (besides having to do his dreaded homework) is which pet to take to the show: one of his two dogs, one of his two cats, one of his three chickens, his rooster, or his pig. Cody's troubles -- with homework, with best friend Tobit, and with a scheme to get all his animals into the show by loaning them out -- are presented sympathetically by seasoned author Mills, who portrays elementary-school friendship drama with a skillful hand. As usual, Shepperson's lighthearted illustrations help young readers envision the story, one that will please both newcomers to and longtime fans of this accessible and satisfying series. jennifer m. brabander