Children’s / Teenage fiction: Humorous stories

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Book SynopsisSammy loves Halloween: the candy, the pumpkins, the scares. So when he gets the chance to be in charge of the family’s next haunted house, he gets right to work—even though it’s only November. Suddenly Sammy’s inventions are scare-ifying his family day and night, even on Christmas and Easter! Sammy knows he’s on his way to making a spooktacular haunted house, but his family isn’t so sure they can take a full year of his tricks…Trade Review“Halloween and haunted-house enthusiasts will delight in this lavishly illustrated, laugh-out-loud picture book about a boy who loves Halloween so much that he tries to celebrate it year-round.” —Booklist “Broadly comic digital illustrations follow the narration closely as the relentlessly Halloween-obsessed protagonist propels the story forward.” —Publishers Weekly “Sibling cooperation, parental recognition of hard work, and Sammy’s stick-to-itiveness give this book a little something extra beyond just a funny Halloween tale. Petrik’s digital illustrations have a Saturday morning-cartoon aesthetic.” —Kirkus Reviews “A fun story about a little boy in love with preparing for his family’s annual haunted house. Little ghosts and ghouls will love watching Sammy getting ready for next Halloween.” —Story Monsters Ink “Petrik’s pages are electrified with bold, vibrant colors and Sammy’s thrilling Halloween haunts that move, shiver, and shake…A terrific book to inspire Halloween fun and sibling harmony, Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween would be a super (natural) selection for home and school libraries.” —Celebrate Picture Books “Parents will love the underlying lessons on team work and perseverance in problem-solving. The way the parents honor the children’s hard work will encourage this life lesson in families. This book should be in every classroom and family library for children aged three to ten, and I highly recommend it.” —Book Review Crew

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Book SynopsisEraser is always cleaning up everyone else’s mistakes. Except for Ruler and Pencil Sharpener, none of the other school supplies seem to appreciate her. They all love how sharp Pencil is and how Tape and Glue help everyone stick together. Eraser wants to create so that she can shine like the others. She decides to give it a try, but it’s not until the rubber meets the road that Eraser begins to understand a whole lot about herself. Inspired by a school essay their daughter Kate wrote in the third grade, the author and illustrator behind Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winner You Are (Not) Small have created a desktop drama about figuring out who you are, finding happiness, and the importance of second, third, and maybe even fourth chances.

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Book SynopsisEduardo Guadardo may look fluffy. He may look cute. But he’s no little lamb. He’s about to graduate from the FBI—that’s the Fairytale Bureau of Investigations—as an Elite Sheep. He knows five forms of kung fu, and he can outfox the foxiest of foxes. In fact, he’s so good they put him on his own case: to keep the farmer’s daughter, Mary, safe from Wolf, Troll, and Witch. It’s a job for somebody baaaaaaad—someone like a soon-to-be Elite Sheep. The thing is, protecting Mary isn’t quite as easy as Eduardo expected… This imaginary backstory for “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is hilarious, action-packed, and filled with subterfuge (that means pulling the wool over your eyes, for you civilians).Trade Review“This is a zany adventure with vivid cartoon characters and a multitude of jokes on every page. Perhaps there will be more adventures for the Elite Sheep. The premise is a promise of more to come.” —New York Journal of Books “I love a good fractured fairy tale, and Eduardo Guadardo fits the bill!” —Mom Read It “The story offers a life lesson even for the youngest of readers.” —Sincerely Stacie “Original, creative, and such fun!” —Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews “Quirky, silly, and hilariously clever…Parents and teachers will get a kick out of this story.” —Kristi’s Book Nook “What a fun and quite smart idea! I didn’t know that I ever wondered how Mary got her lamb, but this backstory is one epic way for that nursery rhyme to come about!” —Unleashing Readers

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Book SynopsisFrom Caldecott-winning illustrator David Small and bestselling author Bonny Becker, an unforgettable Christmas story that will leave the whole family giggling. When Alice Jayne finds a crocodile under the tree on Christmas Eve, her family goes into an uproar! The Christmas Crocodile doesn’t mean to be bad, not really, but soon he is eating up Christmas—from the dinner roast to the left stove-top burner…even the Christmas tree! Everyone has an opinion about what to do with him. Uncle Theodore suggests they send him to Africa, Father recommends the zoo, and Aunt Figgy mentions an orphanage. But Alice Jayne thinks the Christmas Crocodile deserves a real family. Can she find him a new home? And will she and the family survive till Christmas morning, with that naughty crocodile gobbling up everything in sight?Trade Review"Becker's zany tale is wonderfully complemented by Small's witty drawings of a grand, old-fashioned house inhabited by Alice Jayne, her dotty relatives and one house-wrecking crocodile with a very expressive face. —The New York Times Book Review, Judith Viorst

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Book SynopsisGet ready for a rainy-day adventure with Duck and Hippo! Duck and Hippo may be completely different, but they are best friends. When playful Duck invites careful Hippo to go for a walk in the rain, they have trouble sharing Duck’s umbrella. But Duck and Hippo won’t let that stop them. Soon they are puddle-jumping and sailing down the river! Until…WHOOOSH! A terrible wind sends the umbrella flying up, up, up into the air, with one friend holding on. What will Duck and Hippo do now? Jonathan London’s charming text and Andrew Joyner’s delightful art bring to life two lovable friends in this fun new series.

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Book SynopsisLittle Iffy is a griffin who is afraid to fly. Flying means up. What if he goes up and never comes down? But his friends are always here to help, and Eggs Pegasus is hatching a plan… This sweet, funny story of friendship is a special treat for young children.Trade Review“Friendship and supportive verbal encouragement help overcome fearful resistance in this pleasant if not especially remarkable tale.” —Kirkus Reviews “The illustrations are endearing and colorful, while the limited text on each page is perfect for young children. Further, the words ‘up’ and ‘down’ are in different colors than the rest of the text (‘up’ is always orange while ‘down’ is purple), allowing children who are just beginning to read to recognize these repetitive words more easily…A charming read-aloud for young children that shows them how friends can help them overcome their fears.” —School Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThis is the tale of the mighty Brobarians. Two warriors, once at peace…now at odds. Iggy the Brobarian has taken over the land. Can Otto the Big Brobarian win it back? Or maybe, with a little help, the two brothers can find peace again… This is an epic—and adorable—story of sibling rivalry and resolution.Trade Review"It's [Ward's] text, written with florid tale-as-old-as-time bravura, that delivers the real treat.…As read-alouds go, [Brobarians is] pretty epic." —Publishers Weekly "Good and campy and a fine opportunity for vocabulary building." —Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisGeorge is a good ol’ hound dog. He helps Farmer Fritz with the chores and—most important of all—he keeps those sneaky cows out of the cornfield. Then Farmer Fritz moves away, and a new family from the city moves in. The Gladstones have a lot to learn. George tries to help, but they don’t understand his job on the farm…until the day little Olive goes missing, and George shows everyone what it means to be a hero hound!

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Book SynopsisThere is so much work for a boy to do in the serious town of Puddling Center that eleven-year-old Willie can’t even go to school. So when Willie meets Professor Petit and his five “Highly Trained Dogs”—each with its own special talent—he’s delighted. Maybe their traveling show will shake things up! But then Petit’s rival, Hulk Hoskins, rolls into town with a circus tiger, and the professor and one of his dogs end up in big trouble. Now it’s up to Willie and his new canine friends to save the day and put on a show this town will never forget! Back in print for the first time in decades, this 1953 novel by Newbery winner Carol Ryrie Brink will have kids rooting for cheerful Willie, honest Professor Petit, and the amazing Highly Trained Dogs.

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Book SynopsisThere is so much work for a boy to do in the serious town of Puddling Center that eleven-year-old Willie can’t even go to school. So when Willie meets Professor Petit and his five “Highly Trained Dogs”—each with its own special talent—he’s delighted. Maybe their traveling show will shake things up! But then Petit’s rival, Hulk Hoskins, rolls into town with a circus tiger, and the professor and one of his dogs end up in big trouble. Now it’s up to Willie and his new canine friends to save the day and put on a show this town will never forget! Back in print for the first time in decades, this 1953 novel by Newbery winner Carol Ryrie Brink will have kids rooting for cheerful Willie, honest Professor Petit, and the amazing Highly Trained Dogs.

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Book SynopsisMr. Fuzzbuster knew he was Lily's favorite. They did everything together. Naps. Story time. Walks. And more naps. But now four more animals lived in the house.… To prove he's still Lily's favorite, Mr. Fuzzbuster will have to ask her, but will her answer surprise him? This funny, heartwarming story is for every child who has ever wondered if there's a favorite in the house.Trade Review"This tale of who's the preferred pet will charm animal lovers of all stripes." —Kirkus Reviews "McAnulty (Beautiful) puts a high-spirited spin on kids' fascination with favorites in a story starring Mr. Fuzzbuster, a cat determined to stake his claim as his owner's most beloved pet." —Publishers Weekly "The boisterous illustrations, rendered in pencil, ink, and digital media, offer a dramatic accompaniment to the story, while the ending gives readers a nice expectation upset." —Booklist "With beautiful, colorful illustrations, Mr. Fuzzbuster and little Lily come to life in this sweet book…The story is fun and sweet, pointing out to little ones that people can love more than one pet. What an excellent way to broach the subject of having enough room in your heart as a parent for more than one child! The ending is a bit cheeky, and parents will laugh just like the children. A great addition to any child's library—especially if they have a beloved pet." —Children's Book Review

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Book SynopsisHumorous cat antics for the whole family, as a beloved manga series finally gets the omnibus treatment!This series stars the wacky, often anthropomorphic Michael with his human and animal friends. Sometimes one-offs, sometimes with a longer continuity, these fun stories will entertain multiple generations of readers. What's Michael? FatCat Collection Volume 2 gathers out-of-print original What's Michael? Volumes 7 to 11! This huge tome features the out-of-print What's Michael? volumes Fat Cat in the City, Show Time, The Ideal Cat, Sleepless Nights, and the shocking Planet of the Cats. Introduction by historian and manga stalwart Zack Davisson (Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan)!

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