Illustrated by Zachariah OHora

On Sale: Jul 7, 2026
Page Count: 32 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316608718

$9.99

$12.99 CAD

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B221 $9.99 $12.99 CAD
ebook $9.99 $12.99 CAD

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A group of students must convince their teacher to give up their strange, definitely-not-a-tadpole class pet in this laugh-out-loud tale, now in paperback!

When their class tadpoles are big enough, Mr. Stricter tells his students they can keep just one. The class chooses Bruno, the smallest of the bunch. But Bruno doesn’t stay that way for long. Soon, he’s grown into a giant, classroom-wrecking creature: he eats desks, he farts for show-and-tell, and he sneezes slime all over everything! Everyone can see that Bruno is trouble. Everyone except Mr. Stricter.

With their teacher blinded by his love for the pet, the students must step up and take matters into their own heroic hands.

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Anica Mrose Rissi is the author of Watch Out for Wolf!, illustrated by Charles Santoso; Love, Sophia on the Moon, illustrated by Mika Song; and the Anna, Banana chapter book series. Anica grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats lots of cheese with her friends in Princeton, New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Arugula. The author invites you to visit her at anicarissi.com and follow her @anicarissi on Instagram.

Zachariah OHora is the illustrator of many books for children including the New York Times bestselling book Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman, Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea, Horrible Bear by Ame Dyckman, Poe Won't Go by Kelly Dipucchio, and Read the Book, Lemmings! by Ame Dyckman. He is the author and illustrator of a number of award-winning books, including Niblet & Ralph, Whale Song, My Cousin Momo!, and more. He is also the creator of the hit PBS show Carl the Collector. Zachariah lives in Narberth, PA with his wife and two sons. Visit him online at www.fuzzy.town.

*"Rissi's very funny text is a model of understatement and restraint...allowing OHora to make the most of the story's physical comedy in thickly painted scenes spiked with neon orange. Mr. Stricter is a classic bumbler cut from Amelia Bedelia's cloth, and readers will hope that his class has more oddball tales in store."
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Highly recommended. Perfect for classroom read-alouds and lessons on problem-solving or pets."
School Library Journal
"Rissi (the "Anna, Banana" books), with her edge-of-grossout humor, and OHora ("Horrible Bear!"), with his giant-headed, candy-colored people, have over-the-top sensibilities that mesh fantastically."
The New York Times Book Review
"Wonderful and whimsical.....Irresistible illustrations....There's nothing average about this madcap classroom adventure."
Bookpage
"Brilliant illustrations and silly hijinks make this a perfect [back to school] icebreaker book."
Bookriot

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Anica Mrose Rissi

About the Author

Anica Mrose Rissi is the author of Watch Out for Wolf!, illustrated by Charles Santoso; Love, Sophia on the Moon, illustrated by Mika Song; and the Anna, Banana chapter book series. Anica grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats lots of cheese with her friends in Princeton, New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Arugula. The author invites you to visit her at anicarissi.com and follow her @anicarissi on Instagram.

Zachariah OHora is the illustrator of many books for children including the New York Times bestselling book Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman, Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea, Horrible Bear by Ame Dyckman, Poe Won’t Go by Kelly Dipucchio, and Read the Book, Lemmings! by Ame Dyckman. He is the author and illustrator of a number of award-winning books, including Niblet & Ralph, Whale Song, My Cousin Momo!, and more. He is also the creator of the hit PBS show Carl the Collector. Zachariah lives in Narberth, PA with his wife and two sons. Visit him online at http://www.fuzzy.town.

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Zachariah OHora

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Anica Mrose Rissi

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Zachariah OHora

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