Most Popular Books by Dori Hillestad Butler

A stuck-up cat and a good-natured dog are pen pals from a distance, until a disastrous sleepover brings them together in this playful illustrated chapter book told in letters. Andy has two pets and two houses: a cat, Simon, at his mom’s house and a dog, Baxter, at his dad’s house. But when Andy’s mom goes on a business trip, Simon must spend a few nights at Andy’s dad’s house. A sleepover with the beast? Simon says, "No, thank you." Baxter, on the other hand, is sooooo excited to play together. He and Simon can go on walks! Stay up late! Eat liver treats! He can’t wait to finally meet his pen pal in person. What could go wrong? The big introduction does NOT go well for these wildly different pets. Simon is so desperate to get back home to his quiet, clean oasis that he escapes through a basement window. Can Baxter convince him to return before Andy notices his beloved cat is gone? This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award–winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet—and the joy found in new friendship. With nine chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on every spread, the series is a perfect read for parents to share with kids. Named to the Delaware Diamonds Book List

All the kids in the Hillman family want to talk to Mom about their problems. But today, Mom has a problem of her own.

Buddy wants to solve the mystery of where his old family went while trying to find out where his new owner has disappeared to.

It''s almost Halloween, and Kaz and Claire are off to Seattle to visit Claire''s cousins. They explore the local library...and find a ghost living there! The ghost''s family has been missing, so Kaz and Claire decide to investigate. When they discover g

A hilarious and surprising tale of a child''s bargaining with the Tooth Fairy. Joey is disappointed when the Tooth Fairy leaves him only fifty cents for his first tooth. Joey tries to bargain with the Tooth Fairy to no avail. The Tooth Fairy is a tough negotiator, and Joey learns a lot about the value of work, money, and savings before he loses his second tooth. 24 four-color illustrations.

After Ryan''s grandfather has a stroke, their close relationship has to change. With the help of his parents, rehabilitation professionals, and Grandpa himself, Ryan learns what a stroke is and the stroke''s effect on his grandfather, now and in the future. He also experiences a full range of emotions, including fear, avoidance, disappointment, anger, confusion, and denial. Eventually, he accepts his disabled grandfather coming to live with the family with a positive and helpful attitude.

What happens when everything you thought was true about your life turns out to be a lie? Thirteen-year-old T. J. always believed that her twin sister and her mother were dead—because that''s what her father had told her. But Mom and Sam are very much alive. And now they want T. J. to be part of their family. When T. J. reluctantly visits her mom and Sam for the first time, she is stunned by how similar she is to her twin sister, even though their lives have been very different. While she is drawn to her new family, she is also wary of becoming attached to them and hurting her father''s feelings. Then he suffers a debilitating accident and tries to ensnare T. J. in another web of lies. Her loyalties are finally tested. In this thought-provoking companion to Do You Know the Monkey Man?, Dori Hillestad Butler explores the other side of the story, creating a complex portrait of a family in crisis and offers readers the opportunity to compare different characters'' perspectives on the same story.

To rebuild their broken family, a pair of audacious tween cousins must confront the long-buried secrets that destroyed it in this upper middle grade novel told from dual perspectives. Twelve-year-olds Alice and Bee are practically strangers when their grandparents’ anniversary party reunites their estranged families and ignites their own fast friendship. But their reunion doesn’t last long—Bee’s mother and grandfather are dead set on keeping the liberal Seattle faction of the family away from the conservative Minnesota crew. “It’s complicated,” the grown ups tell them over and over (and over!) again. Bee and Alice grow closer despite their geographical distance, determined to keep their friendship going—and to uncover the big family secret. What happened all those years ago, and why did it tear their family apart? Just when they''ve started to make progress, the COVID pandemic strikes. Bee and Alice watch as the world shuts down and their loved ones grow further divided along their fractured lines. Somehow, it’s up to the twelve-year-olds to clean up the mess that the grown ups have made. This powerful, timely story cuts deep, touching on recent historic events and intimate family details alike. With an age-appropriate approach, Rabbit Rabbit tackles religion, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and other juicy stuff you''re not supposed to talk about at Thanksgiving. Readers will fall headfirst for Alice and Bee as the unforgettable tweens make space for their friendship and shifting identities while standing up to their far-from-perfect family, with all the love and grace they can muster.

When Samantha was three, her twin sister died, her parents divorced, and her father left. Sam''s life has never been the same. Now that she''s thirteen, Sam can''t stop wondering about her past. Why hasn''t her father tried to contact her all these years? How could he have allowed Sarah to drown? And how can her mother expect her to accept some man she hardly knows as her new father? Samantha already has a father out there. Somewhere. A fateful decision sets into motion a chain of events and confrontations that will change Samantha''s and her family''s lives forever. As she sets out to find her father and discover what really happened the day her sister drowned, she uncovers painful secrets that threaten to destroy her family all over again. Dori Hillestad Butler''s sensitive story draws readers into a suspenseful mystery about a flawed but loving family trying to heal.

This alphabetical police primer kicks off with A is for academy and ends with Z is for zoom lens. In between, children learn the basics of police work including when the first force began, the equipment used on the job, and some of the different careers in law enforcement. Full color.

Landing a first official case after solving the mystery of the library ghost, Kaz and Claire investigate a neighbor''s attic to see if they can discover an explanation for its seemingly spooky qualities. By the award-winning author of Trading Places With Tank Talbott. Simultaneous and eBook.

"My name is King. I am a dog. I am also a detective." King has a very big mystery to solve. His family is missing, and he''s been put in the P-O-U-N-D. Why doesn''t his beloved human (Kayla) come to get him? When King is adopted by Connor and his mom, things get more confusing. The new family calls him Buddy! And just as Connor and Buddy start to get acquainted, Connor disappears! Buddy (aka King) has big problems to solve, but with some help from his friend Mouse (a very large dog) and the mysterious cat with no name, he shows what a smart, brave dog can do. Mystery fans and dog lovers will be swept up in Dori Hillestad Butler''s funny, satisfying story... and left eager for Buddy''s next adventure.

Who says cats and dogs don''t get along? A snobby cat and a good-natured dog team up--sort of--to solve the mystery of a missing classroom pet in this playful illustrated chapter book told in letters. Simon the cat and Baxter the dog have finally learned how to share their owner, Andy. It helps that Simon lives with Andy''s mom and Baxter lives with Andy''s dad. When a problem comes up, they simply exchange letters to sort it out. Baxter''s spelling has even improved, though not by much. But then Andy''s class pet goes missing, causing an argument with his friend Noah. Andy is so, so sad. Now it''s every pet for himself! Both Simon and Baxter want to solve the mystery and make Andy happy again. Which pet will collect the clues and piece together the solution? Or will another neighborhood animal get there first . . . This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award-winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet--and the joy found in new friendship. With eight chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on every spread, the series is a perfect read for parents to share with kids.

King & Kayla are back on the case in this laugh-out-loud mystery from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award-winning series. Thor is in big trouble. Mr. Gary says he knocked over his trash cans, dug up his garden, and ate some of his vegetables. King and Kayla have to clear Thor''s name and find the actual culprit. Analytical Kayla demonstrates that Thor isn''t big enough to knock over heavy trash cans and he doesn''t like vegetables. Sensitive King discovers evidence that someone else has been in Mr. Gary''s yard—and it''s not a dog. Who made Mr. Gary unhappy? With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series is perfect for newly independent readers. King and Kayla model excellent problem-solving skills, including working as a team, gathering facts, making lists, and evaluating evidence.

King takes center stage when there’s a mystery to solve at his new doggy day care. When King visits the new doggy day care, he meets lots of new friends, including Houdini, who claims he can escape any situation. King vows to keep an eye on Houdini, but the next thing you know, he’s vanished! King and his fellow canine guests begin the investigation and soon Kayla and the humans that work at the Dog House join in.

King & Kayla are back on the case in this laugh-out-loud mystery from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award-winning series. King and Kayla are playing fetch with Jillian and Thor. Jillian throws King''s favorite ball too hard, and it goes over the fence and into the neighbor''s yard. The ball she brings back isn''t King''s. Where is King''s favorite ball? Analytical Kayla creates a list of possible explanations to investigate. Sensitive King puts aside his worries and questions the cat hiding under the porch, who claims a mouse did it. How could a mouse take King''s ball? With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series is perfect for newly independent readers. King and Kayla model excellent problem-solving skills, including working as a team, gathering facts, making lists, and evaluating evidence.

Introduces readers to the equipment firefighters use and the jobs that they do.

Buddy was adopted from the P-O-U-N-D and he likes his new family, but he''s still searching for Kayla-his first family. What has happened to them? He hopes to solve that mystery soon, but right now he''s got another urgent case-two dogs, Muffin and Jazzy, have been switched! How can Buddy get poor Muffin and Jazzy back to their real owners?

Kayla made peanut butter treats for Jillian''s new puppy Thor. But now the treats are missing. What does Kayla know? There''s an intruder in the house. How will they solve the mystery?

This gently humorous book traces the development of a baby from conception to birth, as seen through the eyes of an older sister.

King, Kayla, Mason, and Asia are playing in the snow. Later Asia discovers her new gold ring is missing. What happened to it?

Trying to communicate with his human owner (and detective partner) can be frustrating for King the golden retriever as he uncovers clues in a missing dog case.

A snobby cat and a good-natured dog fight over the chance to dress up with their owner in this playful illustrated chapter book series told in letters. It''s time for the annual city pet parade! Only one pet can win first place . . . Simon the cat has always hated wearing costumes, so he decides it''s okay for Andy''s new dog, Baxter, to march with Andy instead. This way, Simon gets to avoid a costume and keep his dignity. But when Baxter keeps the costume plans a secret, Simon changes his mind. His boy Andy needs him! Who knows what trouble Baxter is up to? That beast can''t be trusted--and it''s Simon''s job to save the day. This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award-winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet. With eight chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on every spread, the series is purr-fect for parents to share with their beginning readers. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Now that Kaz can finally pass through walls, he is excited to explore Beckett''s secret room at the back of the library. In it he finds an envelope, some empty soda bottles, and a ghostly doll. Are any of these things connected? Kaz wants to return the doll to the ghost it belonged to, but that may be harder than he thinks." - back cover.

Landing a first official case after solving the mystery of the library ghost, Kaz and Claire investigate a neighbor''s attic to see if they can discover an explanation for its seemingly spooky qualities.

After their shocking discoveries on Summer Island, the Treasure Troop has one final set of clues to follow before reaching the end of their search. And now our trio must solve the toughest mystery of all: what really happened to Mr. Summerling?

"Kaz and Claire take a trip downtown, hoping to find Kaz''s long-lost uncle. Instead, they meet a group of ghosts who live in the movie theater. But soon the ghosts start mysteriously disappearing! Who or what is chasing them away? And can Kaz and Claire bring the ghosts back?"-- P. [4] of cover.

Molly finds a way to give new life to old crayons.