In the book Breakout at the Bug Lab, by Ruth Horowitz, two children get help catching their lost hissing cockroach, Max, from a surprising stranger.

Over the past few years, hissing cockroaches, originally found in the forests of Madagascar, have become popular as pets. When handled they may hiss loudly, but they are entirely harmless. After they spend a lot of time around people they become more tame and hiss less. Unlike many cockroaches they do not run when you turn on a light. They are generally brown with orange marking on the abdomen and can weigh up to 24 grams, which is about the size of a small mouse.

Information from:
Berenbaum, May R. Bugs in the System. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1995

Photo by: Mark Olson
Used With Permission