Polo's Mother (The Cat Pack) - Hardcover

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor includes many of her own growing-up experiences in the Alice books. She writes for both children and adults and is the author of more than one hundred and thirty-five books, including the Alice series, which Entertainment Weekly has called "tender" and "wonderful." In 1992 her novel Shiloh won the Newbery Medal. She lives with her husband, Rex, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  Visit Phyllis online at alicemckinley.wordpress.com

Grade 4-6–In this final installment in the series, Polo tells his brother, Marco, that he longs to find their mother. The siblings head for the garage where they are accustomed to gathering with Texas Jake and the rest of the pack that makes up the Club of Mysteries. Lo and behold, mother Geraldine turns up, and Jake fears that he will lose control of the gang to this streetwise feline. He gives Polo, Marco, and Geraldine mysteries to solve, such as finding out whether the light in a refrigerator turns off when the door closes, that put the cats in danger as they move from adventure to adventure. A loyal mouse, dangerous rats, and singing felines add to the zesty humor. Naylor has a knack for giving characters both human and animal traits, so readers have no trouble following a story line with cats performing outrageous stunts or the fact that Marco learns to read from the newspaper in his litter box. Daniel's occasional sketches capture the personality of the characters as they go about trying to solve the mysteries of life. Fans will not be disappointed, except to see that this stand-alone novel concludes the series.–Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI
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