The Pet Sitter Books

The Pet Sitter: Tiger Taming and The Pet Sitter: Dixie in Danger
By Julie Sykes • Illustrated by Nathan Reed
March 2009 • Kingfisher • Middle grade fiction (illustrated) • Ages 7-10

From the publisher: Introducing Max, the pint-sized hero of a brand new series for pet lovers everywhere.

Story: Tiger Taming: Max thinks he’s going to love his new job as a pet sitter, but his first client, Miss W. Itchy, seems a little odd. His instincts prove him right when it turns out that her cat, Tiger, can talk. It’s not long before Tiger is ordering Max around, demanding bat juice and hogging the TV. But when Miss Itchy’s archenemy kidnaps Tiger, Max has to prove just what kind of pet sitter he really is.

Story: Dixie in Danger: Max is minding his own business when he receives a call from Ivor Gadget, a famous inventor who needs Max to pet sit his dormouse, Dixie. How hard could it be? thinks Max. Ivor is hardly out the door when Dixie escapes from her cage and runs through the invention-filled house. Little does Max know that the chase will land him 2,000 years back in time.

My take: It's been a long time since I've been in middle school but I still enjoy reading middle-school fiction once in a while, not only for enjoyment (Harry Potter comes to mind) but to keep an eye out for reading material for my kiddos. Because it won't be long before I'll blink and they will be in middle school themselves, you know what I mean? And I'll be happy to pull out The Pet Sitter series to give them when they say "Mom? What can I read now?" With The Pet Sitter books, I can offer my kids books with adventure that isn't frightening. Talking animals, a quick pace (I finished both books in an hour), uncomplicated plots that have a strand of morality behind them - these books would be great for young children beginning to read chapter books on their own. 4 out of 5 (see rating scale below).

About the author and illustrator: Julie Sykes is the author of more than 20 books for children. Nathan Reed has illustrated many children’s books, including Kingfisher’s I Am Reading: Hocus-Pocus Hound.

The Picnic Basket Rating Scale
5 Strongly Recommend This book is so delectable that it calls for a picnic just to read it. I might even skip dessert to read it or enjoy the book and the strawberry shortcake. Definitely part of the gourmet, decadent picnic basket.

4 Recommend without Reservation This book should be in every picnic basket, it is as good as the perfect potato salad and would be welcome at a coastal or park picnic. You would rummage through the picnic basket to read it.

3 Neutral This book is good for a sandwich picnic on the lawn in the shade but it may not be worthy of a picnic planned around it.

2 Recommend under Certain Reading Situations This book is not as essential as the picnic tableware but it may provide picnic entertainment under the right conditions.

1 Unlikely to Recommend This book is for the fast food picnic basket, where you dialed on the way to the picnic. Not sorry if this picnic is rained out.