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Pet Club #2
The Trouble with Giraffes
A girl and her pet giraffe are friends despite their difference in size in this tender picture book companion to the bestselling and acclaimed Strictly No Elephants.
A girl knows having a pet giraffe poses some difficulties, like finding a way to take walks together with legs very different in length. And her giraffe doesn’t fit into the clubhouse door for Pet Club. But the Pet Club members come together to find a way for him—and everyone—to be included. Because that’s what friends do.
Strictly No Elephants has been sold around the world and is heralded as a pitch-perfect book about inclusion. Now, readers can celebrate the importance of both inclusivity and accessibility in this new companion that is full of new friends to love.
A girl knows having a pet giraffe poses some difficulties, like finding a way to take walks together with legs very different in length. And her giraffe doesn’t fit into the clubhouse door for Pet Club. But the Pet Club members come together to find a way for him—and everyone—to be included. Because that’s what friends do.
Strictly No Elephants has been sold around the world and is heralded as a pitch-perfect book about inclusion. Now, readers can celebrate the importance of both inclusivity and accessibility in this new companion that is full of new friends to love.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2025
4 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Mantchev
34 books1,300 followersLisa Mantchev is a temporally-displaced Capricorn who casts her spells from an ancient tree in the Pacific Northwest. When not scribbling, she is by turns an earth elemental, English professor, actress, artist, and domestic goddess. She shares her abode with her husband, two children, and three hairy miscreant dogs.
She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.) Her Kindle #1 Bestselling young adult steampunk novel, TICKER, is available from Skyscape. Her near-future young adult collaboration with Glenn Dallas, SUGAR SKULLS, is forthcoming from Skyscape.
Her adult urban fantasy collaboration with A.L. Purol, LOST ANGELES, is now available on Kindle along with its sequel, LOOSE CANON.
Her first picture book, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS, is now available from Paula Wiseman/S&S, to be followed by SISTER DAY! and JINX AND THE DOOM FIGHT CRIME.
Stay updated with all the fun and glitter at her author website: www.lisamantchev.com
or get your Backstage Pass by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/LisaMantchev
She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.) Her Kindle #1 Bestselling young adult steampunk novel, TICKER, is available from Skyscape. Her near-future young adult collaboration with Glenn Dallas, SUGAR SKULLS, is forthcoming from Skyscape.
Her adult urban fantasy collaboration with A.L. Purol, LOST ANGELES, is now available on Kindle along with its sequel, LOOSE CANON.
Her first picture book, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS, is now available from Paula Wiseman/S&S, to be followed by SISTER DAY! and JINX AND THE DOOM FIGHT CRIME.
Stay updated with all the fun and glitter at her author website: www.lisamantchev.com
or get your Backstage Pass by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/LisaMantchev
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 2, 2025
Great positive story about friends and each friend accepting the limitations of their friends and finding ways to include them. Text is fun and engaging throughout. The message is there, but definitely positive and upbeat.
Illustrations done in linoleum block prints, pencil, and Photoshop.
Illustrations done in linoleum block prints, pencil, and Photoshop.
November 12, 2025
A girl likes spending time with her pet giraffe, but, when she ends up with her leg in a cast, she learns how to be more inclusive of everyone.
December 2, 2025
Sweet, sweet fun. And what a delight to see the tiny elephant just a little bit bigger!
Mantchev's words and Yoo's art are a fabulous combination.
Mantchev's words and Yoo's art are a fabulous combination.
November 26, 2025
A great book about inclusivity. I liked the illustrations and how the story made it easy for kids to understand that sometimes people have different needs but we can all work together to create an environment that can be accessible to them.
November 9, 2025
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
A little girl is glad to belong to the Pet Club from Strictly No Elephants. There are some problems with having a giraffe as a pet, but the two make accomodations for each other. The Pet Club clubhouse is in a tree, so the giraffe usually just sticks his head in the window for meetings, enjoying the sun and the close availability of salad. When it rains before a meeting, however, the giraffe is sad, and the little girl tries to cover him with an umbrella. Her trip out on a branch to do this ends in a broken leg and crutches, which makes everything a little harder to do. Her friend stays with her, and when the two finally return to the Pet Club, they are glad to see the other pet owners welcoming them back. There's a problem, though; the little girl can't climb the ladder with her cast. Everyone thinks about this, and a vote is taken to move the proceedings to the ground so that everyone can really be welcome to the club.
Yoo's illustrations are fashioned using linoleum block prints and pencil, which gives a really nice texture to them. There's a classic feel to them as well; the little girl's bedroom looks like something out of the 1960s picture books from my childhood. The facial expressions are rendered using very small lines, which can't be easy to do! There are plenty of little details in the pictures, and the backgrounds are striking as well. The scene of the giraffe walking with the little girl on crutches down a city street is particularly striking.
I haven't read the first book, the the theme of inclusivity is strong. The members of the Pet Club are shown during the party, and include a skunk, hedgehog, elephant, and a narwhal! I'm not sure how many real children have these sorts of pets, but it's fun to have this in a picture book. I'm curious to see if a future volume features the narwhal and its owner!
It's great to see the message that friends meet each other halfway... or more than halfway if necessary. This is a great choice to teach children that sometimes it's important to change circumstances to make someone else comfortable. Other books that use animals to encourage positive thoughts about diversity include One of These Is Not Like the Others by Saltzberg, Together We Grow by Vaught, and Murphy, The Someone New by Twiss, and Keller, and The More the Merrier by Martin and Figueroa.
A little girl is glad to belong to the Pet Club from Strictly No Elephants. There are some problems with having a giraffe as a pet, but the two make accomodations for each other. The Pet Club clubhouse is in a tree, so the giraffe usually just sticks his head in the window for meetings, enjoying the sun and the close availability of salad. When it rains before a meeting, however, the giraffe is sad, and the little girl tries to cover him with an umbrella. Her trip out on a branch to do this ends in a broken leg and crutches, which makes everything a little harder to do. Her friend stays with her, and when the two finally return to the Pet Club, they are glad to see the other pet owners welcoming them back. There's a problem, though; the little girl can't climb the ladder with her cast. Everyone thinks about this, and a vote is taken to move the proceedings to the ground so that everyone can really be welcome to the club.
Yoo's illustrations are fashioned using linoleum block prints and pencil, which gives a really nice texture to them. There's a classic feel to them as well; the little girl's bedroom looks like something out of the 1960s picture books from my childhood. The facial expressions are rendered using very small lines, which can't be easy to do! There are plenty of little details in the pictures, and the backgrounds are striking as well. The scene of the giraffe walking with the little girl on crutches down a city street is particularly striking.
I haven't read the first book, the the theme of inclusivity is strong. The members of the Pet Club are shown during the party, and include a skunk, hedgehog, elephant, and a narwhal! I'm not sure how many real children have these sorts of pets, but it's fun to have this in a picture book. I'm curious to see if a future volume features the narwhal and its owner!
It's great to see the message that friends meet each other halfway... or more than halfway if necessary. This is a great choice to teach children that sometimes it's important to change circumstances to make someone else comfortable. Other books that use animals to encourage positive thoughts about diversity include One of These Is Not Like the Others by Saltzberg, Together We Grow by Vaught, and Murphy, The Someone New by Twiss, and Keller, and The More the Merrier by Martin and Figueroa.
July 27, 2025
A tiny bit of fantasy works wonders in this adorable read about friendship and spending time together.
A little girl loves spending time with her pet giraffe, but sometimes, it feels like she has so little in common with her animal friend. From food choices to playing in the mud, they often don't enjoy things completely together. But the know how to meet in the middle and that's fine. Until it's not enough.
This giraffe and girl will make animals fans smile and dream of the possibility of having their own, unique pet. The book takes the girl and the giraffe as naturally as if it were a girl and her cat. The two get along marvelously, and while the giraffe is remains the pet, its understanding of the circumstances takes on human intelligence. In other words, it's hard not to wish that this giraffe could be your pet, too. Everything is wholesome and fun until the girl wants to shield her giraffe from the rain and has a small accident, which leaves her in a leg cast. All of this is presented in a completely age appropriate manner, since the accident itself is never depicted. Just strongly lead up to it. After that, the giraffe has to slow down and take care that the girl can keep up with it. Then, the book flips this around, again, to show how give and take in friendship can work. It's inspiring and warming.
The illustrations are done with love and have a slightly lighter color direction (not overly bright and bold), which fits well to the tone of the tale. It's fun to flip through these and visit the tale without the text. The text flows very well, though, and keeps the story interesting the entire way through. This makes it an ideal read-aloud or even for more sure readers to tackle on their own.
Especially the ending draws smiles and even offers ideas, which might lead to some activities for readers to do as well...I'm thinking picnics with friends and more. It's a lovely story, which is interesting and holds quite a bit of goodness while embracing animals along the way.
A little girl loves spending time with her pet giraffe, but sometimes, it feels like she has so little in common with her animal friend. From food choices to playing in the mud, they often don't enjoy things completely together. But the know how to meet in the middle and that's fine. Until it's not enough.
This giraffe and girl will make animals fans smile and dream of the possibility of having their own, unique pet. The book takes the girl and the giraffe as naturally as if it were a girl and her cat. The two get along marvelously, and while the giraffe is remains the pet, its understanding of the circumstances takes on human intelligence. In other words, it's hard not to wish that this giraffe could be your pet, too. Everything is wholesome and fun until the girl wants to shield her giraffe from the rain and has a small accident, which leaves her in a leg cast. All of this is presented in a completely age appropriate manner, since the accident itself is never depicted. Just strongly lead up to it. After that, the giraffe has to slow down and take care that the girl can keep up with it. Then, the book flips this around, again, to show how give and take in friendship can work. It's inspiring and warming.
The illustrations are done with love and have a slightly lighter color direction (not overly bright and bold), which fits well to the tone of the tale. It's fun to flip through these and visit the tale without the text. The text flows very well, though, and keeps the story interesting the entire way through. This makes it an ideal read-aloud or even for more sure readers to tackle on their own.
Especially the ending draws smiles and even offers ideas, which might lead to some activities for readers to do as well...I'm thinking picnics with friends and more. It's a lovely story, which is interesting and holds quite a bit of goodness while embracing animals along the way.
December 7, 2025
The trouble with having a giraffe for a pet is that we're more different than we are alike.
When I go to visit the zoo, one of my must-see animals is the giraffes. Their unusual body shape, spots and sweet expressions are irresistible. If I could have an exotic pet for my own, I might just choose a giraffe just like this girl.
Here are some other lovely takeaways from this read:
🦒The girl lists some contrasts between her and the giraffe. Despite their differences, the still find ways to spend time together.
🎨The illustrations are whimsical and engaging. Love the muted palette and the way the pictures so beautifully complement the narrative.
🐘This is a companion book to Strictly No Elephants and I need to get a review of that one up soon.
🦨🦔🐧🦇When the pet club gets together, there are many unusual animals represented besides the elephant. You might have to remind young readers that most of them do not make practical pets, but it sure is fun to dream abou.
I'll be back with the companion book, soon!🐘🥰
When I go to visit the zoo, one of my must-see animals is the giraffes. Their unusual body shape, spots and sweet expressions are irresistible. If I could have an exotic pet for my own, I might just choose a giraffe just like this girl.
Here are some other lovely takeaways from this read:
🦒The girl lists some contrasts between her and the giraffe. Despite their differences, the still find ways to spend time together.
🎨The illustrations are whimsical and engaging. Love the muted palette and the way the pictures so beautifully complement the narrative.
🐘This is a companion book to Strictly No Elephants and I need to get a review of that one up soon.
🦨🦔🐧🦇When the pet club gets together, there are many unusual animals represented besides the elephant. You might have to remind young readers that most of them do not make practical pets, but it sure is fun to dream abou.
I'll be back with the companion book, soon!🐘🥰
October 22, 2025
Of course, I appreciate the super cute illustrations and the novelty of a giraffe pet; but what really impresses me about this story is the gentle yet confident way it introduces the idea of what access and inclusivity really mean. While some of us take being able for granted, it only takes one accident or illness to change that condition. I know this first hand after catastrophically breaking my right ankle almost 10 years ago. I am disabled, and boy, do I notice the inaccessibility of places that say they are accessible. Back to the story: when the little girl cannot access the Pet Club tree house any longer, she questions what "All Are Welcome" really means when some cannot participate because of physical barriers. Simply put, this book is a clever and sincere way to introduce disability justice to younger readers. I am thrilled to see it.
January 6, 2026
A companion title to "Strictly No Elephants", this book introduces readers to a young girl and her pet giraffe. There is much discussion of having to meet in the middle due to differences between the friends. For example, the child must take many quick steps to keep up with the giraffe who has long legs. When the child breaks her leg while trying to cover the giraffe with an umbrella, the giraffe helps her get tasks done since everything takes so much longer. When she returns to the treehouse for Pet Club Day, she realizes that she cannot reach the treehouse due to her cast. She explains to the rest of the club the problem and the club takes a vote. In the end it is decided that the club will be moved to the ground beneath the treehouse so that everyone is welcome. No exceptions.
September 23, 2025
We loved book 1- so we were so happy to be back with the pet club!!
What a wonderful & approachable way to talk about inclusivity, and what it really means to make everyone feel welcome. Just "saying" all are welcome is one thing- but actually making sure that all are able to enjoy and participate in a way that is comfortable & safe for them, is the bigger goal! :) I love how the friends in this story were able to WELCOME their friend back after an injury, and then go the next step to really make her feel safe, included, and part of the club.
Loved it!
What a wonderful & approachable way to talk about inclusivity, and what it really means to make everyone feel welcome. Just "saying" all are welcome is one thing- but actually making sure that all are able to enjoy and participate in a way that is comfortable & safe for them, is the bigger goal! :) I love how the friends in this story were able to WELCOME their friend back after an injury, and then go the next step to really make her feel safe, included, and part of the club.
Loved it!
December 16, 2025
The next book in the series also emphasizes inclusion, but from a disability standpoint. Great messaging, though I would argue that you don't have to meet in the middle when one of the endpoints is inhumane, discriminatory, vile, discompassionate or other injustices. Fortunately all of the examples in this book were meeting in the middle between two endpoints grounded in reasonable differences and the movement to the middle was out of compassion, understanding and a genuine desire to be kind.
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January 26, 2026
A book about inclusion, The Trouble with Giraffes highlights what it means to be a good friend. When our FMC can not longer climb into the Pet Club House, they come to her because when they all are welcome, they really mean all. Loved the illustration artwork as well, it was bright, vibrant and inviting.
Thank you to Simon Kids for the gifted copy.
Thank you to Simon Kids for the gifted copy.
October 5, 2025
I bought this one because...well, giraffes. I didn't realize it's a companion to Strictly No Elephants, so now I need to get that one. I bought this one at Blue Marble Books in Ft. Thomas, KY on the Cincy Bookstore Crawl.
October 9, 2025
okay. I had kind of lost this (young) group, so it's probably better for pres and older pres. Lots of pets to identify late in the story, and talking about why making changes so everyone can be welcome is a good thing
November 12, 2025
I love the artwork. Great details and very appealing. I loved the first book strictly no elephants. This one is very messaging, and not much of a story. It would be great as a lesson, with classroom discussion.
November 29, 2025
A very welcoming message in a cute story about the difficulties of owning a pet that doesn't fit the normal "shape" of things. Owning a giraffe creates all kinds of challenges for a young girl, but she has a work around and, as the message of the story implies, "All are welcome."
February 18, 2026
This is a really sweet follow-up to Strictly No Elephants.
March 17, 2026
I adored Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, so I was happy to get my hands on this next book. I loved it just as much – what a wonderful way to show how it is to make sure everyone has what they need and feel welcome.
June 8, 2025
ARC: delightfully sweet story about acceptance, accessibility, and friendship.
September 15, 2025
Another book about being inclusive and what being welcoming really means.
A solid follow-up to Strictly No Elephants, but I did enjoy this one too.
A solid follow-up to Strictly No Elephants, but I did enjoy this one too.
October 10, 2025
Themes: giraffes, friendship, inclusion, thoughtfulness
Ages: K-1st grade
Pub year: 2025
Ages: K-1st grade
Pub year: 2025
October 12, 2025
Such a cute book about inclusion and being a good friend
October 24, 2025
Love this book!
November 1, 2025
This is a perfect book about inclusion and access. Lisa Mantchev shows beautifully. Her books are exquisite. Strictly No Elephants was a work of art. This is also.
November 12, 2025
well, i liked it, it's very welcoming to all, it's about how you make do for your friends, you go to great lengths to include them and do things for them.
November 26, 2025
Wonderful companion to one of my favorite picture books, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS.
December 2, 2025
A cute and simple reading that can easily correlate with disability rights and advocacy for kids. Great for storytime!
December 24, 2025
short, sweet, and simple message of inclusion
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January 2, 2026As good as Strictly No Elephants!
January 16, 2026
Well, isn't that just super sweet! Great book to discuss accessibility and perfect for friendship or pet-themed story times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews