Most Popular Books by Kate Klise

When his parents separate, Benny''s father begins hoarding, cluttering the house, and growing more distant.

In this story told mostly through letters, children''s book author, I. B. Grumply, gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.

Busybody Dick Tater tries to ban Halloween and ghost stories and to break up I.B. Grumply''s writing team.

Noah Breth''s feuding children come to find their inheritance, while Seymour wants to keep Mr. Breth''s dog.

A middle grade novel about a 12-year-old girl dealing with loss, who uncovers a rather grisly scam involving a crematorium. After her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash, Daralynn Oakland receives 237 dolls from well-wishers, resulting in her nickname: Dolly. But dolls are little comfort to a twelve-year-old girl whose world is rocked by the dramatic changes in her life, including her angry, grieving mother''s new job as a hairstylist at the local funeral home. Dolly gets a job, too, where she accidentally invents a fashionable new haircut. But in Grounded by Kate Klise, her real work begins when a crematorium comes to town, and someone has to save a dying business, solve a burning mystery, and resuscitate the broken hearts in Digginsville, Missouri, population 402.

From the creators of the award-winning Three-Ring Rascals and 43 Old Cemetery Road series! Is the sweet town of Appleton ripe for scandal? Consider the facts: Appleton Elementary School has a new librarian named Rita B. Danjerous. (Say it fast.) Principal Noah Memree barely remembers hiring her. Ten-year-old Reid Durr is staying up way too late reading a book from Ms. Danjerous''s controversial "green dot" collection. The new school board president has mandated a student dress code that includes white gloves and bow ties available only at her shop. Sound strange? Fret not. Appleton''s fifth-grade sleuths are following the money, embracing the punny, and determined to the get to the funniest, most rotten core of their town''s juiciest scandal. Don''t miss this seedy saga!

When Charles Harrisong''s book about his family''s life in Normal, Illinois, is made into a major motion picture, the family is catapulted to instant fame.

Rear Window meets Nancy Drew in this middle-grade novel by Kate Klise about a girl who believes she has witnessed a crime What happens when two best friends take on the world’s worst summer? On the first day of vacation, ten-year-old Ivy Crowden falls down the stairs and breaks her leg. Stuck in a plaster cast, she’s certain her summer is doomed. Not even Teddy, her neighbor and best friend, can cheer her up because he’s dealing with his own pain: the loss of a beloved dog. But when Ivy witnesses a possible burglary from her living room window, her summer takes a sudden turn from meh to mysterious. Who are the criminals? Might a classmate be involved? And . . . uh-oh. A second mystery is nipping at Ivy’s heels. Cue the best friends, the best dog, and the best chance that summer can be saved!

After Little Rabbit starts school, he sees less and less of his invisible friend, Harry, and finally tells his mother that Harry moved away.

The Dry Creek Middle School drinking fountain has sprung a leak, so principal Walter Russ dashes off a request to Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc. asking "...We need a new drinking fountain. Please send catalog. " Florence Waters responds: "I''d be delighted. . . But please understand that all of my fountains are custom-made." And so begins the hilarious chronicle, in letters, cards, transcripts, and official town documents, as collected by Mr. Sam N.''s fifth-grade class... Flo Waters, an artist who looks everywhere for inspiration, solicits suggestions from the fifth graders-- ...a fountain big enough to splash around in; ...a glass-sided fountain with fish; . . . buttons for dispensing lemonade and root beer; and from Mr. Sam N.-- ...a hot tub and whirlpool for the teachers. Flo is thrilled. Mr. Russ is beside himself-- . . ."We don''t need a fountain like you create for palaces and hotels. Send bid as soon as possible, or sooner. " But it''s too late. The fountain project has taken on a life of its own. Flo is supplying designs from all over the world. The school board president is up in arms. So is her friend, Dee Eel, of the water-supply company. A scandal is brewing, and the fifth-grade class is researching Dry Creek''s history. Something very fishy is going on...and the secrets are buried beneath the fountain and within this delightful, thoroughly original novel.

A series of letters reveals the selection of the famous fountain designer, Florence Waters, to design a new sink for the Geyser Creek Middle School cafeteria, her subsequent disappearance, and the efforts of a class of sixth-graders to find her.

The seventh graders at Geyser Creek Middle School are preparing for a spelling bee and a horrible standardized test called the BEE, and try to smuggle their mascot--a bee that spells--into the local spelling competition.

A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer. Meet two single parents who think they''re too busy to date. And two teenagers who can''t stop writing flirty emails. This is a tale of connections—missed and made—in a universe that seems to have its heart set on reuniting Ms. 6B and Mr. 13C. Webb I can''t believe I picked up the wrong bag at the airport. My dad is never going to let me hear the end of it. Coco I don''t understand why Mom told me to pack my worst underwear. And now I''ve lost my bag? Ack! Andrew I cannot stop thinking about that woman in seat 6B on the flight to Paris. Daisy I don''t have time to worry about the creep sitting in 13C who slipped a note in my purse. I have to find my daughter''s missing bag before this ruins our vacation. In the Bag is a smart and stylish story that explores the old-fashioned art of romance in a modern world, where falling in love can be as risky as checking a bag on an international flight. Buckle your seat belt—it''s going to be a bumpy vacation!

A magical story about one anxiety-ridden little rabbit''s efforts to get rid of a recurring night mare

In this story told primarily through letters, Principal Russ wants the trees at the middle school trimmed before his evaluation. But the project is interrupted by a town gender war, dueling chefs, student tree protests, and a surprise wedding.

In their trademark style, author Kate Klise and illustrator M. Sarah Klise blend a story bursting with jokes, puns, and wordplay with illustrations, signs, letters, recipes, and bold graphics to introduce Three-Ring Rascals. When Sir Sidney, a kindly old circus owner, becomes too tired to travel with his show, he places a Help Wanted ad in the newspaper. Enter Barnabas Brambles: “I have a degree in lion taming from the University of Piccadilly Circus.” But does Leo the lion need taming? Will Elsa the elephant still get her gourmet peanuts? And what will Brambles say when he discovers Bert and Gert—two mice who travel with the circus on popcorn cleanup patrol? Brambles has big plans: More cities! More shows! No more free popcorn. Soon he’s made a big mess of Sir Sidney’s Circus, but Leo, Elsa, Bert, Gert, and the rest of the performers agree: The Show Must Go On! Black and white line drawings throughout.

In this illustrated novel told through journal entries, news clippings, and letters, twelve-year-old Lily finds herself on the jury of a murder trial while conducting her own undercover investigation of the case.

Ella Kate Ewing was born in 1872. She started out small, but she just kept on growing. Soon she was too tall for her desk at school, too tall for her bed at home, too tall to fit anywhere. Ella Kate was a real-life giant, but she refused to hide herself away. Instead, she used her unusual height to achieve her equally large dreams. The masterful Klise sisters deliver a touching and inspiring true story about a strong-minded girl who finally embraced her differences. It''s the perfect book for every child who has ever felt like an outsider.

"The unsuspecting trio at Spence Mansion starts a greeting card company--and winds up on the adventure of a lifetime!"--

With a mother who buys Christmas cards in August and a younger brother who describes the Trinity as a toasted marshmallow on a graham cracker, life for eleven-year-old Charles Harrisong is anything but normal in Normal, Illinois.

The seventh and final installment in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series by Kate and M. Sarah Klise is a pun-filled adventure told in a lively compilation of illustrations, letters, newspaper articles, and drawings.

The rascals from the world’s friendliest family circus are back in the second installment of this “smafunderful”* fully illustrated series. Everyone knows Sir Sidney’s Circus is the best in the world. But who’s the star of the show? The Circus Times is having a contest to find out. Just thinking about it gives Sir Sidney a worrywart, and it’s quickly clear why. Soon after he goes off to rest, the performers start thinking too much about winning the trophy and not enough about putting on a good show. Meanwhile, it looks as if ringmaster-in-training Barnabas Brambles might need some help managing the crew, so Bert and Gert, the sly brother-and-sister mice who travel with the show, set out to write a book to teach him how it’s done. Does Bert and Gert’s plan work? And who is the star of the circus? All will be revealed in The Greatest Star on Earth. *Kirkus Reviews

In this novel told through letters, newspaper articles, and police reports, a middle school principal''s bathroom renovation project leads to the discovery of stolen Roman antiquities.

Can you keep a secret? Everyone has a secret. But sometimes a little secret can become a big problem. That’s what happens when circus mouse Gert’s secret pen pal, a pig named Pablo, runs away to join Sir Sidney’s Circus. Pablo doesn’t want to be sold to Prinkle’s Pork Chops. Farmer Farley doesn’t really want to sell Pablo, either, but he needs money to save his farm. When the New Pork Times announces a pig race with a five-thousand-dollar prize, the members of Sir Sidney’s Circus hope they’ve found a way to save Pablo and Farmer Farley’s farm, too. The race is on in Secrets of the Circus.

Eli the dog has been with Astrid since her parents brought her home from the hospital as a baby. Now Astrid is getting older, and so is Eli. Before he slows down too much, Astrid wants to make fun memories with him. So she makes a bucket list for Eli, which includes experiences such as eating with him in a restaurant, and taking him down a slide at the playground. But in the end, what is most important to Eli is the time he spends with Astrid, whom he loves dearly. In Stay, sisters Kate and M. Sarah Klise have created a story that reminds readers of all ages that time with our loved ones is the most precious gift of all.

Mom and Dad, You''ve got to get us out of here! When you get this letter, COME IMMEDIATELY! -- Charlie The brother-sister pairs who arrive for the summer at Camp Happy Harmony are almost too busy fighting with each other to notice how strange the camp really is. Not only are the campers forced to wear bizarre uniforms, eat gross food, and do chores all day, but the members of the family that runs the camp fight constantly--with each other. Are the campers in danger? Or--in spite of sibling wars--do they need to stick together to solve the mystery humming under the surface of Camp Happy Harmony?

Don’t Miss the Boat! Sir Sidney’s Circus usually travels by train. But one day a letter arrives from Flora Endora Eliza LaBuena LaPasta inviting the circus aboard the SS Spaghetti, a floating palace of elegance and entertainment. Who could resist? One problem: Miss LaPasta does not want Barnabas Brambles to come aboard, because she has heard that he’s the meanest man alive. Sir Sidney, the nicest man alive, says that the entire circus will accept Miss LaPasta’s invitation, including Barnabas Brambles. But Leo the lion doesn’t like water. Elsa the elephant doesn’t know how to swim. Where will the Flying Banana Brothers put their trapeze? And hey, what’s that large object up ahead in the water? You’ll never guess what happens when The Circus Goes to Sea.

Bert the circus mouse is missing! The members of Sir Sidney’s Circus look everywhere. They don’t know that tiny Bert has been carried away by a huge balloon. Meanwhile, far away, Flora Endora Eliza LaBuena LaPasta is tired of being ignored. Her parents have no time for her as they prepare for a new baby, so Flora comes up with a plan to mail herself to her friends at the circus. A popped balloon and a mixed-up shipment bring Bert and Flora together. In the worst of times, a best friendship is born. But can a circus mouse and a runaway girl make it through a world of bad drivers, angry mobs, and greedy robbers? The pals must use their wits to stay out of trouble and try to find their way home in Pop Goes the Circus!

In this delightful tale, Mother Rabbit knits a cozy winter hat for Little Rabbit, who likes it so much that he thinks all of his friends need hats for Christmas. While Little Rabbit gets wrapped up in the joy of giving, everyone is reminded that friendship is the best gift of any season. Full color.

As his fifth birthday party approaches, Little Rabbit decides to invite only those friends who are also too old to cry until he learns that others of all ages weep for all sorts of reasons.

Complete guide to Branson and the Ozark Mountains.

Everyone loves an underdog—especially when he’s a cat! On a rainy morning in 1947, a small gray kitten wandered into the Hamilton Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, two days before the Greater St. Louis Cat Club Show. A stray kitten. A fancy hotel. A serious contest for pedigreed cats. What could possibly go right? Curl up with this heartwarming story based on a real-life stray cat who made international headlines just by showing up, being himself, and finding a little kindness. . .