Stanley and the Class Pet
Kindergarten-Grade 2—InCrazy Hair Day(2003) andStar of the Week(2006, both Candlewick), Stanley landed in awkward situations, but all was happily resolved with the aid of his kind and insightful teacher, Mr. Winger. While this book follows the same formula, the result is problematic. Stanley finally gets to take the class pet home for the weekend. Persuaded by his friend Larry that the bright green bird needs exercise, Stanley opens the cage door and Figgy escapes, never to return. At first Stanley blames Larry, but he eventually accepts responsibility, and both boys apologize to Mr. Winger. At his suggestion, the children share a few fond memories of the bird and then the class replaces him with not one but four new pets. On the last spread, Figgy is pictured against a serene blue background enjoying his new life in a tree with other birds. First, allowing a pet to go home with a child who does not have a clear idea of how to care for it is tantamount to abuse. Second, domestic pets released into the wild rarely survive; Stanley's actions have probably killed the bird, and picturing Figgy enjoying his freedom is misleading. Third, the idea that living things are so easily replaced does not sit well.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.