Smartypants

Pete in School

By Maira Kalman 

Having a dog in class is always a clue that it's going to be an interesting day, especially when the dog in question-and the one with all the answers-is the insatiable canine gourmand Pete, last seen munching everything from jellybeans to underwear on his way through the alphabet in What Pete Ate from A-Z. Poppy Wise has mixed feelings about school, and her teachers have mixed feelings about her dog, Pete. Pete wreaks havoc in math; causes chaos in science (Mrs. Magma has a meltdown when he swallows her microscope!); and is a star in art (Miss Crumple finds Pete colorful when he eats all the crayons). As Pete gets his fill of knowledge, he also serves as an impetus for learning that rules are made to be broken, and there is no end to learning.

Reading Age: 5 to 8 years

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2003, hardcover, 8.82 x 0.41 x 11.27 inches, 32 pages. 

Maira Kalman is an American artist, illustrator, writer, and designer known for her painting and writing about the human condition. She is the author and illustrator of over 30 books for adults and children, and her work is exhibited in museums around the world.