How to Lose Your Class Pet

Willimena Rules! #1

by Valerie Wilson Wesley, Maryn Roos (Illustrator)

Willie wonders how she can make a good impression on her new teacher Mrs Sweetly. She soon finds out the first rule to losing your class pet (and impressing your teacher) is to 'volunteer to bring your class pet home'. So, when Lester, the third grade's guinea pig, makes a break for it, Willimena's rules are about to change.

Genres: Childrens

96 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2003

About the author

Valerie Wilson Wesley is an African-American author of mysteries, adult-theme novels, and children's books,[1] and a former executive editor of Essence magazine. She is the author of the Tamara Hayle mystery series. Her writings, both fiction and non-fiction, have also appeared in numerous publications, including Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., The New York Times, and the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

After enjoying one of Valerie Wilson Wesley's grownup offerings, I was delighted to realize she was the author of this series that's been in the library's children's section for years. It was a fun beginning, though everything seemed a little rushed. I'm looking forward to spending more time with this little gal, and her fun family.

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willie finds out that instead of getting Mrs. Jones as her second grade teacher, instead she is going to have Mrs. Sweetly (a teacher known for being very strict.) And she will be in the class with Crawford Mills, a boy Willie doesn't like very much. While Willie is almost late on her first day to class because she is so nervous the day turns ok - with the teacher passing out journals (Willie thinks about how she likes to write) and there is a class pet, a guinea pig named Lester. Willie decides that she will do everything for Mrs. Sweetly so that the teacher will like her. So she volunteers for all sorts of tasks in class even though Crawford gives her a hard time about being a teacher's pet. She also volunteers to take Lester home. Once home all the kids in the neighborhood want to hold him. Willie agrees, but later Lester won't move and she is worried that all that attention was too much. She puts him on the grass as she is cleaning his cage as a treat but he runs away. She and her sister look everywhere. Her parents and neighbors help but in the ends she can't find him. She is so scared about telling the teacher, but Mrs. Sweetly surprises her by telling a story of how when she was a little girl she let her dog off its leash because it liked to run and it ran away and she never found it again.
Willa

[Lampard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willimena Thomas and the Class Pet is a heartwarming and humorous story that captures the ups and downs of trying to impress someone — and the unexpected lessons that come along the way. Willie is a lovable and determined character whose plan to win over her strict teacher, Mrs. Sweetly, takes a hilariously chaotic turn when she volunteers to care for the class guinea pig, Lester.

The story does a fantastic job of showing how good intentions can sometimes lead to big messes — and how mistakes are part of growing up. Young readers will relate to Willie’s desire to be liked, and they’ll cheer for her as she learns that people (and teachers!) are often more understanding and kind than they seem.

[Alaase Mahalah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valerie Wilson Wesley delivers lots of laughs and heart in this story about how one girl decides to handle the threat of the "meanest" teacher in 3rd Grade. lol. Great read for kids 9-14!

[Darrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from a third grade student. It is a fun read for young readers because they are sure toidentify with young Willimenia who decides to volunteer to take care of teh class pet in order to impress her new teacher who has the reputation for being the meanest teacher of all. Most students have been anxious about a new teacher at some point or another so this would be a good read for students in the 2nd up to 5th grade.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willimena was sad to find out she was in a class with the "mean" teacher (who actually smiles so maybe isn't that mean). She basically sucks up to the teacher by volunteering too much. She takes care of the class pet and ends up losing it. How she and others deal with it help her to grow.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book that I am reading to my 4th grade class for Responsibility month. The kids really enjoy this book!

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 3 out of 5]

read alike for junie b.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best book ever

[Kalli]

i was awsome