Most Popular Books by Bruce Hale

From the comic genius behind CHET GECKO comes a new kind of fairy tale hero -- and a big, bad, crime-solving adventure! The houses of all Three (not-so-) Little Pigs were broken into and ransacked, and the Pigs are squealing for justice. So Prince Tyrone, ruler of Fairylandia, drags in the obvious suspect: Wolfgang. The lone wolf has big teeth, sharp claws, no alibi -- and a single day to find the real culprit and clear his big bad name. When Wolf (reluctantly) teams up with the fourth Little Pig to crack the case, the Big Bad Detective Agency -- and an adventure way funnier than your average fairy tale -- is off to a howling start!

“Fourth-grade gumshoe Chet Gecko takes on his most baffling case yet . . . Clever, good fun” from the author of The Big Nap and the Clark the Shark books” (Kirkus Reviews). Chet Gecko doesn’t believe in the supernatural. His idea of voodoo is his mom’s cockroach ripple ice cream. But when a teacher reports seeing a monster by the light of a full moon, it falls to Chet and his sleek-winged partner, Natalie Attired, to answer the burning question: Is this the work of a vicious, supernatural werehamster on the loose? Or just another science fair project gone wrong? “The zany text reads like a mixture of stand-up comedy, Raymond Chandler mysteries, old films, and a fourth grader on an overdose of sugar.”—School Library Journal The Chet Gecko Mysteries are . . . “Zesty and entertaining.”—The Bulletin “Fodder for budding criminologists and stand-up comedians . . . Sassy.”—School Library Journal “A choice series for reluctant readers.”—Booklist

What do class pets get up to when students aren''t around? Adventure -- and lots of trouble! Class 5B has a substitute teacher -- and he''s the worst! Fuzzy might just be 5B''s pet guinea pig, but he will not stand by while his kids suffer. With the help of the Class Pets Club, Fuzzy is going to drive the terrible sub out of town ... or lose his whiskers trying!

From the Edgar-nominated author Bruce Hale comes a hilarious story of a boy and a dog...who become a dog and a boy Who''s a good boy?Twelve-year-old Parker Pitts hates a mess. Ever since his grandmother died, he''s much more comfortable when things are organized: He scrubs the kitchen counters at home, avoids the school bully at all costs, and never even speaks to Gabriella Cortez, the most interesting girl in the sixth grade. No muss, no fuss, no complicated feelings to worry about.But now Parker''s older sister is traveling abroad for the semester, leaving behind her obnoxious and extremely disorderly goldendoodle, Boof, for Parker to manage. Man''s best friend? More like boy''s worst nightmare!When an intense round of tug-of-war leaves both dog and boy with bumped heads, Parker and Boof wake up to the biggest disaster yet: they''ve switched bodies! Suddenly Boof has to find his way through a school day and Parker has to...eat dog food?!It''s a mess of truly epic proportions. Can Parker and Boof clean it up -- together?

Chet Gecko is hired by Principal Zero to investigate the disappearance of valuable items from Emerson Hicky Elementary--including Mama Gecko''s pearls.

Juvenile delinquent and budding pyromaniac Max Segredo belongs in juvie hall. At least, that''s what his most recent foster family would tell you. Instead, Max ends up on the doorstep of Merry Sunshine Orphanage-their very heavily guarded doorstep. As he begins to acclimate to his new home, Max learns a few things straightaway: first, cracking a Caesar Cipher isn''t as hard as it seems; second, never sass your instructor if she''s also holding throwing knives; and third, he may not be an orphan after all. Soon, Max and the rest of the students are sent on a mission to keep a dangerous weapon out of the hands of LOTUS, an international group bent on world domination. Of course, all Max cares about is finding out more about his father, the man he''s now sure is still alive. As the stakes get higher, Max must make some difficult choices, including who to trust, and finally learns the true meaning of family.

With tales of “playful horror” and “spine-tingling spookiness” the Goosebumps author offers “a comprehensive introduction to the horror genre for kids” (School Library Journal). A harrowing array of scary stories that all have one thing in common: each either begins or ends with a scream! Scream and Scream Again! is full of twists and turns, dark corners, and devilish revenge. Collected in conjunction with the Mystery Writers of America, this anthology includes short stories from R.L. Stine—the godfather of Goosebumps –along with a selection of New York Times bestselling authors telling fearsome, frightening tales of wicked ice-cream trucks, time-travelling heroes, witches and warlocks, and of course, haunted houses. Read it if you dare! With twenty never-before-published scary stories from some of the most popular authors today—including: Chris Grabenstein, Wendy Corsi Staub, Heather Graham, Peter Lerangis, R.L. Stine, Bruce Hale, Emmy Laybourne, Steve Hockensmith, Lisa Morton, Ray Daniel, Beth Fantaskey, Phil Mathews, Carter Wilson, Doug Levin, Jeff Soloway, Joseph S. Walker, Alison McMahan, Daniel Palmer, Tonya Hurley, and Stephen Ross—it’s sure to leave readers screaming for more. “A good, old-fashioned collection of modern scary stories, offering humor, innocence, and just enough fright.” —Kirkus Reviews

Detectives Chet Gecko and his partner Natalie Attired try to solve the mystery of why Emerson Hicky Elementary school students have suddenly started acting strangely.

Blast off into space and come along for an intergalactic mystery—with plenty of pizza—in this first book of the illustrated chapter book series, Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club! It’s another ordinary Friday night in the suburbs for the Garcia-Jackson family: Mateo and Valentina’s favorite show is on TV. Mateo’s best friend, Booker, is over. And their babysitter, Jennica, is definitely keeping an eye on them and not playing with her phone. But when Elvis, the family’s dog, bolts out of the house, barking uncontrollably at someone—or something—in the backyard, the kids go investigate…only to watch Elvis disappear through a mysterious portal! The three kids, with their babysitter in tow, have no choice but to follow him—adventuring through deep space, where they’ll encounter aliens, dodge asteroids, and defy gravity—as they attempt to find their furry best friend (and make it back home before bedtime!). Illustrator Luke Séguin-Magee brings this hilarious story to life with out-of-this-world black-and-white spot art.

The S.P.I.E.S. team has been scattered to the winds, its headquarters burned down, and Max Segredo is under lock and key at LOTUS HQ. What''s even worse is that LOTUS''s ruthless leader, Mrs. Frost, wants to adopt him. Max would go to the ends of the earth to be a normal kid with a normal family. But to achieve his deepest desire, he must first evade a hungry tiger, learn to fly a jetpack, reunite with his friends and father, and use all his mad spy skills to stop LOTUS from taking over the government with its mind-control device. Along the way, Max discovers that even a superspy is nothing without his team, and that the strongest families are founded on unconditional love.

Perfect for fans of The Alien Next Door, this second illustrated chapter book in the Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club series is an out-of-this-world adventure! With their trip to Kroon behind them, Mateo, Tina, Booker, and Jennica are back on Earth, Elvis the dog is no longer missing, and all is safe and sound...right? Wrong! Hot on their tails are Grunthar and his motley alien crew. NoWay and Clorox have made their way to Earth, too, ready to help the kids against whatever Grunthar is planning. Tina is determined to be the hero this time, but will she be able to figure out what the alien inventor is up to before it’s too late? Author Bruce Hale and illustrator Luke Séguin-Magee have crafted another rollicking tale featuring extraordinary black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Don’t shed a tear, ''cause there’s nothing to fear! Clark the Shark has a loose tooth and needs to visit the dentist. But he''s heard that the dentist is scarier than a box of blue whales! Uh-oh, and oh no! Can Clark find a way to stay cool when it comes to tooth trouble? Beginning readers will be entertained and reassured by this clever, funny twist on a dentist visit in this I Can Read story featuring their favorite boisterous shark. The back matter also includes fun, bite-sized facts about shark teeth! With colorful illustrations from Guy Francis and lively text from Bruce Hale, this Level One I Can Read is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

When the museum is expecting a royal visitor, Danny and the dinosaur need to brush up on their manners! From saying "please" to holding doors, can Danny and the dinosaur work on behavior fit for a king?

When hired by a fellow fourth-grader to find her missing brother, Chet Gecko uncovers a plot involving a Gila monster''s revenge upon the school football team. Chet''s tattered casebook is chock-full of the hillarious characters, wacky one-liners, and fast-paced mystery that have everyone else boggled. Can Chet Gecko solve the mystery?

Get ready for muckraking time at Emerson Hicky Elementary. The race is on for student council president, but it''s quickly getting fishier than the bottom of a pelican''s lunch box. Someone is sending candidates ominous threats and posting signs with messages like FIR IS FIRST! and DOWN WITH FEATHERS. Could someone be trying to rig the election? Good thing Chet and Natalie are around to expose the filthy frauds!

What do you do when your favorite teacher starts turning into a were-hyena? a) Flee in terror? b) Try to cure him? c) Bring him carrion snacks? Mr. Chu, the coolest teacher ever, has developed some very unusual habits, like laughing hysterically for no reason, sniffing people''s homework, and chasing chickens. When best friends Carlos and Benny decide to find out what''s happening to him, they get caught up in some moonlight madness. And it looks like just the beginning of the weirdness that has arrived in the town of Monterrosa. . . . This first entry in a silly, sassy, and suspenseful new series will leave readers howling with laughter.

Clark the Shark’s mom is making brownies for school. But when Clark decides to taste just one, the impulsive shark can’t stop eating! Yum-yum-YUM. Will the class treat be ruined? With easy-to-read text and Clark’s trademark rhymes, this chocolaty Level One tale will have beginning readers ready to take a bite out of reading. Also included are Clark the Shark’s Bite-Sized Facts, real facts on shark communication, behavior, and more. Clark the Shark has been embraced in the elementary school classroom and at home. Kids laugh at his antics, and they also relate to the young shark who always means well but can get himself into scrapes due to his overabundance of energy. Clark the Shark: Too Many Treats is a Level One I Can Read, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.

"A recommended story that helps young readers learn how to be a good friend." (School Library Journal) Featuring bold illustrations by Guy Francis and lively easy-to-read text by Bruce Hale, this Level Two I Can Read will have beginning readers ready to take a bite out of reading! Perfect for social emotional learning. Clark the Shark is super excited about the drawing contest. The winner gets Captain Suckermouth comics, signed by Captain Suckermouth! When Clark asks Joey Mackerel for help, his excitement gets the best of him and he doesn’t listen to his friend. Joey is sad because his pet catfish died. Will Clark be able to truly listen and put his friend first? Clark the Shark has been embraced in the elementary school classroom and at home. Kids laugh at his antics, and they also relate to the young shark who always means well but can get himself into scrapes due to his overabundance of energy. This is the first Level Two I Can Read for Clark the Shark. Level Two I Can Read books are geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

Just when Max Segredo learned that his father is still alive, he also learned that Simon Segredo was working for LOTUS, an evil spy operation that wants to take down the Merry Sunshine Orphanage (a.k.a. the School for S.P.I.E.S.) and take over the world. Now Simon is on the run from LOTUS, and Max''s surrogate family at the orphanage is being threatened from without and within. LOTUS is trying to drive the school out of business, while the Ministry of Health is investigating an anonymous complaint about the orphanage. To top it all off, the trainee spies are riddled by fear and squabbling among themselves. Into this chaos strolls a mysterious billionaire who hires S.P.I.E.S. to steal a powerful mind control device. The fee for the job will help save the school, but there''s a catch: they''ve got just three days to pilfer the device from an ultra-secure facility before LOTUS steals it first. Can the S.P.I.E.S beat their rivals to the prize before the orphanage doors close for good? In this action-packed sequel to Playing with Fire, it is impossible not to root for Max, a spy-in-training with mad skills, a spunky attitude, a way with the ladies (well, okay, maybe not so much), and a big heart.

Clark the Shark makes his I Can Read Comic debut! Featuring a bold new comic style by Guy Francis and easy-to-read text by Bruce Hale, this Level One I Can Read Comic will have beginning readers ready to take a bite out of reading! Clark the Shark is excited about the School Sing! He can’t wait to sing. La-la-laaa! But when Mrs. Inkydink asks the class to sing and dance at the same time, Clark discovers that doing two things at once can be really challenging! Clark the Shark and the School Sing is a Level One I Can Read Comic, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with young readers new to graphic novel storytelling.

Grammar school—it''s all about eating and sleeping. Well, for Chet Gecko, anyway. To Chet, nothing is more divine than a plate of Mrs. Bagoong''s Mothloaf Surprise followed by a sweet bit of shut-eye on the playground. (Besides a few Pillbug Crunch bars and a monthlong holiday, that is.) In this hilarious mystery from Chet''s tattered casebook, he and his mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, must catch a cafeteria thief, foil the sinister plans of a weaselly zombie master . . . and still take part in the Nations of the World PTA assembly. (Fourth-grade detectives get no respect.)

From the Edgar-nominated author Bruce Hale comes a hilarious story about a kid who likes to break the rules . . . until the rules try to break him. Cooper just wants to spend the summer before 7th grade drawing and having adventures with his best friend, Nacho. Anything to keep his mind off the fact that his dad’s new girlfriend and his mom’s announcement that she’s going to start dating. But when one of his adventures with Nacho goes too far, Cooper’s parents freak out. Either he joins the Boy Rangers, a dorky club that’s all about discipline and rules, or that dream cartooning camp at the end of his summer? Will get erased. At first it’s not so bad -- the troop is a disorganized mess. But then a new scoutmaster starts. Mr. Pierce is a gruff ex-Marine who’s never worked with kids before, especially not a ragtag team of misfits like Troop 19. As he tries turning them into a lean, mean, badge-earning machine, Cooper longs for freedom. He doesn’t want to break the rules, but the rules are going to break him!

Be bold, be smart, and speak from the heart! Clark the Shark is ready to present his book report to the class. But at the last minute, Clark gets stage fright and clams up in front of everybody. With a little help from his teacher, Mrs. Inkydink, will Clark be able to overcome his fears? With easy-to-read text and Clark’s trademark rhymes, this shark tale will prepare beginning readers to take a big bite out of reading! Also included are Clark the Shark’s Bite-Sized Facts, real facts on shark communication, behavior, and more! Clark the Shark and the Big Book Report is a Level One I Can Read, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

An adaptation of the traditional tale, featuring a sleeping, snoring princess who is rescued by a prince after being cursed by a bad fairy.

Join Clark the Shark as he discovers the true meaning of sharing and caring in this colorful read-aloud picture book written by Bruce Hale and illustrated by Guy Francis. In Clark the Shark Dares to Share, our favorite boisterous shark learns that sharing is caring—but sometimes the lesson is a little confusing. Clark shares his funky shark dance with the class, but Mrs. Inkydink tells him he has to wait his turn. Clark shares his reef-hockey skills, but his teammates would rather Clark share the puck. With help from his friends and with his trademark lively rhythms and rhymes, Clark learns how to share in this follow-up to Clark the Shark.

When Mrs. Inkydink announces a class trip to the farmers’ market, Clark is so excited he doesn’t listen to her instructions. “Hurrah, hooray, it’s time to play!” Clark gets lost in the crowd and has to use his rhyming to remember what Mrs. Inkydink said to do. Beginning readers will be entertained and reassured by this clever, funny tale featuring our favorite boisterous shark. The back matter includes fun, bite-sized facts about shark eating! With colorful illustrations from Guy Francis and lively text from Bruce Hale, this Level One I Can Read is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

In this funny rhyming story, Clark the Shark is excited about his new pet, Lulu the dogfish. He can’t wait to teach Lulu tricks and feed her lots of treats. But Clark discovers there''s more to having a pet than he thought! Young animal owners and ones hoping for a pet will enjoy this funny book about pets and caring for them. With easy-to-read text and Clark’s trademark rhymes, this Level One shark tale will have beginning readers ready to take a bite out of reading! Also included are fun, bite-sized facts about different types of sharks. Clark the Shark Gets a Pet is a Level One I Can Read, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Share this leveled reader with the pet or shark fan in your home or classroom!

Most folks know him as the best lizard detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary, but it''s not all knuckles and know-how with Chet Gecko. He''s also got his artistic side. If it wasn''t for his art, he might never have been sent to Principal Zero''s office, where he stumbled onto the mystery of Mr. Nice. Because whatever you can say about Principal Zero, one thing is certain: He is not nice. Until now. Chet knows something is wrong with this picture, and he''s just the gecko to solve this mystery. After all, who do you think put the art in smart aleck?

Right in the middle of a run-of-the-mill case, the powers that be finger Chet''s fine-feathered partner, Natalie Attired, as a no-goodnik blackmailer and boot her out of Emerson Hicky quicker than you can say, “Boot her out of Emerson Hicky.” Chet, of course, tackles the case for free. Mess with his partner, mess with—well, somebody. (Natalie''s the brains of the outfit.) But just when Chet thinks he might clear her name, Natalie disappears, leaving behind a reddish smear that looks kind of like cherry ladybug jam. . . . Is it murder, or something serious?

Kidnapped! One by one, the members of Emerson Hicky''s football team are disappearing. As far as Chet Gecko is concerned, this is a cause for celebration. Only trouble is that Chet''s old nemesis, Herman the Gila Monster, is the number one suspect, and he wants Chet to clear his (not quite) good name. Chet and his mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, must solve the case fast, or Herman will make sure it''s their last. But which is more dangerous—Herman . . . or P.E. class?

It''s no mystery: Chet Gecko can’t sing. He can’t dance. He can’t act. Heck, he can’t even act normal. So why would he take the lead in Mr. Ratnose’s musical version of Shakespeare’s Omlet, Prince of Denver? A new case, naturally. The original leading man has disappeared, and something smells rotten in the realm of Ratnose. Did the third-act lip-lock with Shirley Chameleon scare him away? Or is foul play afoot? One thing’s for certain: This mystery won’t be over until the fat gecko—er, lady—sings.

When it comes to splitting dessert, Chet Gecko may cheat a little, but who’s going to complain if Chet’s half is more like two-thirds? He’s never been good at math. Still, there’s a big difference between sneaking a bigger slice of stinkbug pie and sneaking the answers to Mr. Ratnose’s history test. When a cheating ring is suspected at Emerson Hicky Elementary, Chet takes on the case as a matter of honor. Or of stupidity. It’s so hard to tell the difference sometimes.

When Fuzzy accidentally gets a kid hurt, he feels awful. But worse -- the PTA president demands to get rid of all the class pets! Could the PTA president''s daughter be the key to staying in their classrooms, or will the pets get thrown out like yest