(4) 1-3 Shelter Pet Squad series. Illustrated by Erin McGuire. Suzannah's embarrassed to be the only Shelter Pet Squad member without a pet, especially as her second-grade class Pet Day approaches. Can sharing the story of Paloma, a shelter dog from Puerto Rico, be just as special? Dog lovers will appreciate Paloma's happy ending in this third story with overtly integrated pet-care tips; halftone illustrations capture Suzannah's enthusiasm. Additional facts and activities are appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) 1-3 Shelter Pet Squad series. Illustrated by Erin McGuire. Seven-year-old Suzannah wants to find Merlin the ferret the perfect home, but as Maplewood Animal Shelter's youngest volunteer, she cannot read the ferret-care book or attend a pet-adoption event on her own. Suzannah has spunk, and McGuire's halftone illustrations capture characters' emotions. Unfortunately, the narrative sometimes reads as a vehicle for pet-care information. Ferret facts and activities are appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) 1-3 Shelter Pet Squad series. Illustrated by Erin McGuire. Second-grade animal lover Suzannah cannot have a pet in her apartment, so she spends time volunteering at a local shelter. When guinea pig Jelly Bean is left there, Suzannah and her new friends spring into action. A predictable plot with unnecessary explanatory passages make this series-starter both easy to understand and dull. Sweet halftone illustrations and appended activities and facts are included.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith