Author: Scott McCormick
Illustrator: R.H. Lazzell
© Date: 2015
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 127
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: Yes, graphic novel
Publisher Recommended Age: 7-9 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No
Summary from Book: Mr. Pants is no Scaredy Cat. Mr. Pants and his sisters had huge Halloween plans, but instead…they’re snowed in at the boring airport. That means they’re stuck with: last-minute costumes, security guards, sad trick-or-treating. But Mr. Pants is one clever cat. He knows exactly what could save this Halloween: Zombies!
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this awhile ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: Mr. Pants is a silly series about cat siblings that live with a human mother. The cats act like human children, but it somehow works. I enjoyed some more than others, but chose this one for the review because I liked it best and the content was likely of the most interest to a parent. Page Pup gives this series two thumbs up, but I was not quite as excited about them. Fun enough to make a reading list for plenty of kids though.
These books were not scary, but this one had scare potential for a younger or sensitive reader.
Family Unit: Mr. Pants and his sisters, Foot Foot and Grommy, live with their mother
Conflict/Social Issues:
- Mr. Pants wants to play Zombie Tag for Halloween and is concerned that he will not get to play.
- Mr. Pants and Foot Foot are struggling under the watchful eye of the airport security guard.
- The cats are reluctant to have their mother make them costumes again.
Positive Items:
- The cats have a way of creating their own fun wherever they are.
- Mr. Pants and Foot Foot watch out for their little sister, Grommy. When they are sneaking out to the observation tower, they know that Grommy would want to see, so they find a way to include her.
- The cats are still able to make it to their grandparents, just a day late.
Items of Interest:
- The mother is feeling badly that she has been so busy with work, so she plans a surprise Halloween trip to the grandparents.
- Mr. Pants is very excited to play Zombie Tag for Halloween.
- The family gets snowed in at the airport on their layover.
- Mr. Pants and Foot Foot decide on a series of races on airport items (e.g. wheelchair and moving walkways) to pass the time.
- The cats are not excited to have their mother make costumes for them again.
- The cats decide to attempt trick or treating around the airport. Mr. Pants naturally gets the lamest items from his efforts, he tried to be excited about his slice of multi-grain bread.
- The cats decide to play Zombie Tag. Their mother says that eating brains doesn’t seem appropriate. So the cats decide that they are vegan zombies that eat grains.
- The whole airport gets in on the game, including the stern security guard.
- Mr. Pants and Foot Foot were betting the entire book on who had to sit next to their mother. She gets nervous on the small planes and tightly holds hands with whomever is next to her.
- While the mother is sleeping at the airport, Mr. Pants and Foot Foot sneak off with sleeping Grommy in their backpack. The observation tower elevator is finally open and they get a picture with sleeping Grommy in it.
Other Books in Series (At Time of Posting):
- Mr. Pants: It’s Go Time!
- Mr. Pants: Slacks, Camera, Action!
- Mr. Pants: Camping Catastrophe!