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Table of Contents
About The Book
Butterbean knew she wasn’t always a good dog. Still, she’d never considered herself a BAD dog—until the morning that her owner, Mrs. Food, fell in the hallway. Admittedly the tile was slipperier than usual, mostly because Butterbean had just thrown up on it.
Now Butterbean and her fellow pets have to come up with a grand plan to support themselves in case Mrs. Food is unable to keep taking care of them. When they discover a mysterious man in their building who seems to have lots of loot, they plan a heist. Oscar the mynah bird is the brains of the operation. Walt the cat has the necessary slyness and slink. Marco and Polo are the reconnaissance rats. And Butterbean...well, no one would ever suspect a cute little wiener dog, right? Can these animal friends can pull off the heist of the century?
About The Illustrator
Dave Mottram is an illustrator living in Ohio who worked as a graphic designer for many years, which led him to pursue his passion for illustration. He paints traditionally and digitally with color and layers and line. He loves tacos, animals, tikis, and nerding out over art supplies. Visit him at DaveMottram.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (June 2, 2020)
- Length: 256 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534455368
- Grades: 3 - 7
- Ages: 8 - 12
- Lexile ® 520L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
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Raves and Reviews
“It’s amusing just to watch the merry band of misfit pets navigate the wide world of the eclectic high-rise apartment, but there’s enough true suspense to keep the larger story moving. This classic caper may have young readers looking sideways at their own pets when the story is through.”
– Booklist
"Ecton creates a strong personality for each animal, from the hyper dog Butterbean to the know-it-all bird Oscar, and pet lovers will be sure to enjoy the banter between them. . . . Adorable illustrations from Mottram help readers visualize the characters and add an appealing visual element. A story sure to charm children who like to imagine what their beloved pets are up to when they are away."
– School Library Journal
Awards and Honors
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee (MN)
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Intermediate Title
- Beehive Award Master List (UT)
- Maine Student Book Award Reading List
- Children's Sequoyah Book Award Master List (OK)
- Sasquatch Book Award Nominee (WA)
- Horned Toad Tales List (TX)
- Minnesota Book Award Nominee
- Magnolia Book Award Nominee (MS)
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Grades 3-5 List (FL)
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Great Pet Heist Hardcover 9781534455368
- Author Photo (jpg): Emily Ecton Photograph by Sonya Sones(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit