Synopses & Reviews
In the third uproarious adventure of Wild Willie and his fellow detectives, Willie is thrilled when his old best friend, Kyle, moves back to the neighborhood. His new best friend, Lucy, is not so thrilled, and friction ensues as she and Kyle compete for Willie's attention. But all three can agree on one thing: Kyle's new house is mysterious! The previous occupant-whom they dub Loony Loraine-died in the bedroom that is now Kyle's, and strange noises and voices can be heard from a secret passageway. Is Loony Loraine haunting the premises? Wild Willie, King Kyle, and Lucky Lucy put aside their differences and hatch a plan to catch a ghost. The three young detectives work out the snags in their friendship while bringing the mystery to a successful-and hilarious-solution.
Review
With some help from their detective partner, King Kyle in Cleveland, Willie and Lucy figure out how to turn their soccer team into winners and outwit the school bully while Willie worries that people will think his friend Lucy is his girlfriend."Young readers will enjoy this humorous tale." School Library Journal
Review
In their latest fast-paced adventure, Wild Willie and his fellow detectives, Lucy and Kyle, suspect that aliens have invaded their block! Mean, rotten Chuckie has stopped being a bully and is acting spacey and nice, and Kyles talking parrot is acting weird, too. Could extraterrestrials be controlling their minds? Its a perfect case for Scarface Detectives, the trios recently formed investigation agency. Using surveillance and interrogation techniques and all their best detective skills, the young sleuths hatch a scheme to solve this new mystery. With prompting from a Magic Eight Ball and advice from the editors of their favorite detective magazine, the friends put their plan into effect, with hilarious results. Eventually, the young detectives must face an even scarier possibility than alien invasionChuckie has brain fryout for Lucy!"The cartoon characters...have surefire appeal and the story develops just enough to be exciting without being scary or threatening" School Library Journal
"chapter-book readers will relish figuring out what's up before the detectives do" Booklist, ALA
Review
Zippy was a dog with a little too much . . . zip. But thats the way Harris, his owner, liked him. Zippy made everything more fun, from digging for treasure in the garden to making tidal waves in the tub. The rest of Harriss family thought Zippy needed obedience school. But obedience school made Zippy so well-behaved that he was no fun at all. Luckily, Harris knew just what to do: send Zippy to Bad Dog School! Barbara M. Joosses uncanny understanding of the relationship between children and animals is showcased in this sweet, funny story about compromise.
"Zippy is a small, tan dog of indeterminate breed but distinct character...theme of compromise and moderation...zesty individuality." KIRKUS Kirkus Reviews
"There can never be too many dog books, and this humorous one....is the pick of the litter." SLJ School Library Journal
"...trouble-making shenanigans...gleeful sound effects...exuberant patterns of muddy pawprints...add some lively interest to a discussion of good manners" Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"Fans of David McKeeand#8217;s Elmerand#8217;s Special Day (Andersen, 2009) and the story-line sequence of animals on parade will find a contrast here with Joosseand#8217;s simple array of dog breeds expressing their opinions about the situation, without a traditional plot."-School Library Journaland#160;
"[An] enthusiastic collection of light verse. . . . Like an actual parade, the exuberant atmosphere-confetti, balloons, costumes, and all-is the main draw."-Publishers Weekly
Review
"A delightful romp." Booklist, ALA
"Readers will cheer for this well-intentioned heroine and applaud her eventual success." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Her [Stampler] witty, dialogue-based storytelling nicely dramatizes such concepts as excess, sufficiency, and the relationship between learning compassion and attaining 'moral authority.'"--
Horn Book
"Yelchin's self-satiric figures pitch exaggeratedly forward, the rooster postures comically extreme. Stampler' touching note demonstrates this layered tale' openness to multiple interpretations."--Kirkus, starred review
Review
"Like previous Wild Willie mysteries, this [book] will grab new readers as well as those familiar with the series." Booklist, ALA
"This chapter book is just spooky enough for elementary school readers." Horn Book Guide
Review
"A delightful picture book that could be used for whole-language units on snow and families, and as a good-read-aloud for its expressive language." School Library Journal, Starred
Synopsis
Meet Tinkles, Gracie-pants, Lovie, Fritzie, Weenie, Walter, Comet, Ike, and Jack. They're a lively mix of dogs whose owners dress them up so they'll put their best paw forward for the dog parade, which comes at the end of the book. Until that moment, we hear each dog confront their dress-up opportunity with anything from surprise to reluctance to relief. But all have fun joining the festivities, where they show off their dog-gone best.
Alternating between doggy narrators, the text is great to read aloud, offering readers a chance to play different dog characters. The illustrations are a dynamic combination of realistic, expressive, and cute, and the text design is playful and colorful.
Synopsis
Poor Emma is a pup with a problem. Her human, George, constantly misunderstands her. No matter how hard she tries to please him, it's just "Bad! Bad! Bad!" all day long. Tired of feeling unappreciated, Emma finally writes to "Dear Queenie," who, like any good canine advice columnist, suggests that Emma get off the couch and make herself useful--perhaps even find a career. Before she knows it, Emma is a successful stage actor with a traveling theater company, and her troubles at home are far behind her. There's just one problem . . . she can't stop thinking about George!
The way Emma solves her dilemma and eventually works things out with George is sure to delight readers. Drawn in an accessible comic-book style, and inspired by Eileen Christelow's real-life dog, here is an absolutely hilarious take on unconditional love and the importance of finding one's true calling.
Synopsis
Nine diggity dogs get ready to join a doggone jamboree! Meet Tinkles, Gracie-pants, Lovie, Fritzie, Weenie, Walter, Comet, Ike, and Jack. Itand#8217;s time for these pups to let their owners dress them up in costume! But one of them is shy. Another is too jumpy. Do any of them really want to join the fun? Once they see the silly and cute duds theyand#8217;re wearing, they will! But they need to hurryand#8212;the dog parade wonand#8217;t wait forever. And itand#8217;s not to be missed!
Synopsis
What's a dog to do with a problematic human? Mr. Mutt has the answers!
Synopsis
Responding to disgruntled dogs nationwide, Mr. Mutt, Canine Counselor, has solutions to the most sticky dilemmas. But Mr. Mutt has his own problem to solve: the cat (aka The Queen), who has her own idea of whoand#8217;s in charge. Now Mr. Mutt is the one who needs help--quick!and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Through letters and newspaper clippings--and with plenty of their trademark humor--Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel give voice to despairing dogs everywhere.and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
This picture book brings a light touch and engaging silliness to the story of a prince who rejects the lavish luxury of his upbringing in favor of a life as . . . a rooster. The only person who can persuade the prince to reconsider is neither a doctor nor a magician but a wise teacher who is willing to become a rooster too. Told to the author by her grandmother, who brought it from Eastern Europe a century ago, this traditional tale is accompanied by strikingly witty and graceful illustrations that add their own folkloric flavor. Author's note.
Synopsis
After receiving an unsigned note with an urgent plea for help and a map to the cemetery, best friends and detectives Willie, Kyle, and Lucy discover that someone is planning on relocating the cemetery's bodies and building a new mall on the property. The nature of this case makes the Scarface detectives more than a little nervous, so they hire Chuckie, the neighborhood bully, as a bodyguard, and set about finding out just who is planning on moving the dead guys as well as figuring out a way to stop them. But more puzzling than the case itself is the mystery of who their client is. Could it be Loony Lorraine, the deceased detective whose old office is the detectives' headquarters? Can dead guys talk? Once again, Barbara Joosse has created a hilarious, spooky, kid-friendly story perfect for all 7-to-10-year-olds, particularly reluctant readers.
Synopsis
"It's a snow day!" The schools are closed! Robby's sisters want to stay inside, and their parents are busy, but Robby and his dog Zippy know what to do: run and kick and lick and skid in the new snow. Their enthusiasm soon involves the whole family in a spirited snowball fight and a snug evening by the fire. Barbara M. Joosse's exuberant story and Jennifer Plecas's lively illustrations capture the pure fun of an unexpected winter holiday.
About the Author
This picture book brings a light touch and engaging silliness to the story of a prince who rejects the lavish luxury of his upbringing in favor of a life as . . . a rooster. The only person who can persuade the prince to reconsider is neither a doctor nor a magician but a wise teacher who is willing to become a rooster too. Told to the author by her grandmother, who brought it from Eastern Europe a century ago, this traditional tale is accompanied by strikingly witty and graceful illustrations that add their own folkloric flavor.
Author's note."Her [Stampler] witty, dialogue-based storytelling nicely dramatizes such concepts as excess, sufficiency, and the relationship between learning compassion and attaining 'moral authority.'"--
Horn Book"Yelchin's self-satiric figures pitch exaggeratedly forward, the rooster postures comically extreme. Stampler' touching note demonstrates this layered tale' openness to multiple interpretations."--Kirkus, starred reviewAnn Redisch Stampler is an author and folklorist who has written several picture books based on Jewish folklore. She lives in Los Angeles.and#160;Eugene Yelchin is a Russian-born painter and illustrator.The Rooster Prince of Breslovis his first project for Clarion Books. He lives in California with his family. His web site is www.eugeneyelchinbooks.com.