Pete the poodle is back! But where’s the big top? Pete the poodle’s beloved life at the circus has suddenly gone sour. So Pete runs away to become a lapdog for the rich and famous Airhead Heiress. Wait a second: Pete a pet? Turns out, Pete does have second thoughts about leaving the spotlight, but a show stopping twister breezes in and leaves him no choice—it takes Rita the chimp for a ride, too. From their respective crash landings, the oddly matched Pete and Rita find themselves on a big adventure—like it or not. Warm, witty, and humorously illustrated, this spectacularly attractive package won’t disappoint Pete’s adoring fans—and it’s sure to make him new ones. Grade 3–5—Like Pete and Fremont (Harcourt, 2007), this story is chock-full of humor, heart, and fleshed-out characters. Pete the poodle is wowing audiences at the Circus Martinez with his new partner, Rita the chimp. But their act takes a nosedive when she upstages him during a performance, prompting Pete to bite her and then inadvertently bite the ringmaster—a big no-no in circus protocol. As a result, all of the other animal performers give him the silent treatment. Pete decides it's time to run away, but before he can, he and Rita get swept away in a tornado, landing in Walnut Hill, KS. There's no place like home, and Pete is determined to make it back to his circus family with Rita and a duck named Quackers as his traveling companions. Along the way, they encounter hardship, criminals, and unlikely alliances. The bickering between Pete and Rita will ring true to children with siblings. The chapters are action-packed and short, making this an appealing book for reluctant readers. This sequel does not disappoint.— Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. JENNY TRIPP comes to the field of children’s books from a diverse and illustrious career as a screenwriter. She has also written humor and travel pieces for various magazines. She lives in Essex, Connecticut. JOHN MANDERS has illustrated more than a dozen award-winning books for children, including Humphrey, Albert, and the Flying Machine by Kathryn Lasky. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. www.johnmanders.com