Gertrude LaRue receives typewritten and paw-written letters from her dog Ike, entreating her to let him leave the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy and come back home.
Each member of a first grade class, as well as their teacher, principal, and a bus driver, expresses excitement, worry, or hope as the first day of school begins.
When the class pet bites the finger of Penelope, a tyrannosaurus rex, she finally understands why she should not eat her classmates, no matter how tasty they are.
It is field trip day to the city museum, and while Stewart expects a boring day of facts and learning, Waldo and Sassy are looking forward to lunch; then they find that the dinosaur room is full of tempting bones, the astronaut boots are good for chewing, and one of the dioramas features a squirrel on a sidewalk, but the highlight is the delicatessen--if only Waldo and Sassy's disguise can fool the guards who are searching for two dogs.
Guided by her rules, nine-year-old Allie works to get past being just the new girl at school, eagerly awaits the arrival of her kitten, and faces turmoil when her grandmother visits while the family is still settling into their new home.
With the drama, debate, and chess clubs at school and karate, ballet, and bagpipe lessons at home, Andrew's busy schedule doesn't leave any time for fun.
"Cat is not so keen on stepping in as substitute teacher at Kitty School, but he's surprised by how much he's able to teach the kittens--and how much he learns from them"--
