I thought this graphic novel was a great book for elementary school kids. It is a fun mystery-solving story with cute pet store animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, fish, snakes, and rabbits. An elementary school student would be able to relate this story to his own experiences if he or she had one of these animals as a pet or if he or she has ever had to solve a mystery of any kind on their own. For example, if one of their toys went missing one day and they had their own investigation to find it they could relate that experience to what Sassypants the Guinea Pig did in this story to find out who was stealing the sandwich. A student could relate this story to another text with the TV show, "The Wonder Pets." This show is an early childhood program about three classroom pets, a guinea pig, a turtle, and a duck, who go around the world to help animals in need. Every episode the guinea pig, who is the leader of the Wonder Pets, has to problem solve and brainstorm to find out the best solution just like how Sassypants has to problem solve and think to solve the mystery of the stolen sandwich. A student could have watched this show while he or she was growing up or could still watch it and be able to relate this book with that show. A student could relate this story to the world by using the techniques that Sassypants uses to solve mysteries that come up in their daily life. By reading and seeing how Sassypants approaches the problem, the child could use these techniques practically in day to day situations that come up. In this short (makes for a nice, quick read) graphic novel, a hamster seeks the aid of a guinea pig in finding out who is eating the pet shop owner's sandwich. The pet shop owner is hopelessly clueless, labeling the hamsters as camels, for example. The two small rodents work together interrogating suspects and witnesses until they have solved the case.It's a cute story, with cute artwork. My 10 year old son liked it more than I did, but it hit on several of the things he enjoys: animals that talk, mysteries and graphic novels. I'm sure he will be pleased if there are more in the series and heck, I'll read them too.
What do You think about Hamster And Cheese (2010)?
a cute/funny/solid mystery. can't wait for the further adventures of sasspants the guinia PI(g)!
—BabiGrl2203
Cute, but hardly profound, even for a graphic novel about talking pet store animals.
—jelhop
My very favorite new detectives. Laugh out loud funny--and so cute!
—Hack56
The story was OK, but the fish were hillarious!
—LS1TRANSAM
