PETE & FREMONT
by Jenny Tripp
illustrated by John Manders
Harcourt Paperbacks
Hardcover: 0152056297
Paperback: 9780152062385
Ages 8-12
192 pages

Pierre Le Chien, commonly known as Pete, is a pink Royal Standard poodle and an all-circus performer. Living for his part in the small Circus Martinez, he dances on his hind legs on a five-foot rolling ball while twirling a baton in his teeth. And his finale is simply amazing: he leaps off a diving board and dives through a flaming hoop to land in a pool.

But things begin going south for Pete, starting with a messed-up somersault during the show. Suddenly, everyone acts like he's over-the-hill --- and catching his tail on fire during the finale doesn't help his reputation any. Later, Pete hears that the young upstart performer Lolly is practicing his routine and planning to take it over for "Poor Old Pete." Even his friends hint that his star days are behind him.

The circus acquires a new wild animal, "wild" being a new concept for the show since the two big cats are tamer than the average housecat. The newcomer is an enormous, ferocious grizzly bear that terrifies everyone with his aggressive actions. Pete is frightened until he realizes that the bear, whose name is Fremont, is also scared. When he hears that the bear's trainer has two weeks to train the beast before the circus gives him to the zoo, Pete is shocked at how concerned he feels.

Meanwhile, during the next show, Pete totally messes up his finale and --- oh, the horror! --- Lolly jumps in and performs it spectacularly, saving the day but killing Pete's pride. Pete's nightmare is complete when his trainer announces that Lolly will perform in his place from now on. Pete is so upset that he mouths off at Fremont, but the two finally agree to be friends. They need one another because Pete hates his new act, and the trainer is starving Fremont into submission. But can they save each other?

This is an enjoyable, good-natured tale of friendship with lots of breezy humor plus hilarious illustrations. The friends' wild adventures make for a lively pace. Since Pete's central problem is not resolved, I hope there will be at least a sequel if not a series in the near future.

   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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