When her teacher assigns a report about animals and all the popular animals get snatched up, Ellie McDoodle is stumped for a topic. Then a neighbor goes on vacation and asks Ellie to watch her African gray parrot, and it seems her problem is solved. Unfortunately, a new problem pops up almost immediately when the parrot flies the coop—literally. With help from a librarian, a zookeeper, some good friends, and Ellie's own pet-obsessed family, the bird comes home— but will Ellie finish her report in time?

Filled with cartoons, diagrams, lists, games, and plenty of witty asides, Ellie's newest adventure is a perfect pet primer and just might inspire some creative doodling, too.