The Mom Person seems to think that my little brain has been idle long enough. It’s been a busy summer. For her, maybe. For me, it’s been all about Relaxation! That’s a good thing! But now the smells of school are in the air. Time to get myself back in shape for walking the halls and sniffing out backpacks.
We have been doing quite a bit of reading this summer. We go to the library once a week and those kids sure do like to read!!! That’s a good thing, too! All my readers are starting to talk about school, too. It’s kind of exciting to move up a grade and have new teachers and new routines.
And I have the PERFECT book for back to school!!!!
SmartyPants
(Pete in School)
(doesn’t that look a bit like me on the cover?!)
by
Maira Kalman
(You can check out her website HERE)
published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 2003
This is kind of a sequel to one of my very FAVORITE books –
What Pete Ate from A – Z by Ms Kalman
I talked about this book some time ago and if you’d like to see what I had to say about it, you can check it out HERE.
This SmartyPants book is also about Pete – a dog who likes to eat strange things. (I even think some of his chosen edibles are a bit strange!) What Pete Ate is an alphabet book and a list of all kinds of stuff that that crazy Pete eats. SmartyPants begins with a kind of short summary of the previous book, but this tale is really about going back to school. Summer is over and Pete’s girl, Poppy Wise, is contemplating what that means. All the things she Hates about school, and all the things she Loves about school.
We get introduced to her teachers and her principal and her classmates. Then one day – out of the blue – her dog, Pete, shows up at school and starts eating stuff! The blackboard and Mr. Spitzer’s PANTS!! Pete creates HAVOC all over the school and has to go to the principal’s office!! While there, he eats an Encyclopedia About Everything! And guess what!!! He becomes REALLY smart!!!!! So they sneak him back into school and let him answer all the questions! Pete was the STAR of the DAY!!!
Mr. SMARTYPANTS!!!!
That Ms Kalman is a crazy, clever lady! Her artwork is so fun to look at! Quirky and Zany and Extravagant! This is such an excellent book! I want to read it again!! It makes me roll on the floor laughing! It makes me hungry!! I need to go eat something!
Go check this book out! And I’ll see you later!
Your ready for school friend
Rhythm
Reading With Rhythm 
Yay!!! Good to see you!!! Kay
Sent from my iPad
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🙂
I was just thinking yesterday that I needed to call you to see why there was no blog! Welcome back.
It’s been awhile! But I’m flexing the paws now –
Good morning, Rhythm,
It’s so wonderful to have you back. I had been missing you, really. But I’m glad you had a relaxing time. That book sounds like a good read. Oh, I believe I need to eat tons of encyclopedias so that I can finally, at my old age, get clever. 😉
Have a great time,
Pit
Haha!! Pit – you ARE quite a clever man already! I think that you just might like this Pete dog!! Hope you’ve had a relaxing summer!
Oh!!! Thanbks for the – unmerited – compliment. 😉
I have had a relaxing summer so far, mostly. I did a little work around the house, and I also took up my bicycling [see here e.g. http://tinyurl.com/n9cgt9v%5D again – after the stent they put in my heart in January. That helped a lot and I’m feeling ever so fine.
Take care,
Pit
P.S. re bicycling: I would have loved to ride in the Paluxy Pedal, but I’ll be in Germany then.
Glad to hear that you are feeling ever so fine!!! That’s a very fine thing! I guess you’ll have to put the Paluxy Pedal on your calendar for next year! It would be fun to wag my tail at you when you go past my house! 🙂 Maybe I could even invite you over for some of that ice cream! 😀
Hmmm, what an offer. 🙂 I might take you up on that! 😉
Be sure and mark your calendar!!! That won’t mean much to me, but maybe it will be a good reminder for you!! 🙂
I’ll keep the ride in mind.
That book sounds hilarious, R. And YES – Pete does look a little like you. But I already know that you are MUCH better behaved at school. Meanwhile Mom is looking for an encyclopedia, so she can coax me to eat it and get all smart…. Wait. What??
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I tried to eat one in my youth. It was hard to digest. 🙂
What an awesome book, Rhythm! And what a great idea…I used to think if I slept with my school book underneath my pillow, somehow, by osmosis or something, the info would get into my brain. *sigh* It didn’t work that way, unfortunately. 🙂 I will definitely get this book for my grandson!
Hahaha! Ms Kirkfield – that’s funny! My Mom Person falls asleep with her books all the time. I wonder if she’s soaking up all those words. Hmmmm. I think your grandson will surely like Pete!!!
Looks like a great book, thanks for sharing it with us Rhythm! p.s. You look very studious in your glasses.
Thanks Ms Kogan!!! 🙂
Welcome back, Rhythm! I’ve missed you! That does look like an enjoyable book. Thanks for your input.
Thanks Ms Barbara! Nice to be back! 🙂
Glad to have you back. 🙂
Thanks!! 🙂
Welcome back! missed you. hope you spent the summer reading lots of books and eating lots of ice cream.
Thanks Ms Heavenrich! I get special homemade ice cream! Yummmmmm. Makes me drool!
Now you get special home-made ice-cream? May I invite myself?! 😉
Come on over! I love a party!! 🙂
😉
The glasses are very becoming.
Thanks! 😀
Welcome back! The strike is over! Hooooorayyyyyy 😀
Hahaha! It sure wasn’t a hunger strike!! But I’m flexing the paws and getting back in shape! 🙂
Welcome back! I think the new glasses are pretty stylish!
Thanks Mr J! Stylish maybe, but I have a bit of a hard time with them. My nose seems to be big enough, but the ears don’t help much to hold them on.
Good to see you again – and with a book that looks great to boot!
The dog on the cover does look like you! Wonderful to hear from you again and what a lovely book suggestion for back to school. Glad to hear that you and your human are having a good summer.
Yay! You’re back! With BOOKS! YAY!!! 😀
Rhythm, how are you? I miss your posts!
Me too! Getting concerned…
Maira Kalman is impossible perfection- don’t you get any ideas about eating books though, Rhythm!
Hmmm…Rhythm, it seems you’re as busy and distracted as I’ve been all year! I do hope you’re all doing well. It’s been a while since you’ve posted! Love the eyeglasses, btw. Good look for you 😉