Most Popular Books by Lin Oliver

From New York Times bestselling creators—Emmy Award–winning actor Henry Winkler, children’s book author Lin Oliver, and Caldecott Medal–winning author-illustrator Dan Santat—comes Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash, a hilarious, full-color chapter book adventure. Willow Feathers McBeaver, aka Detective Duck, is a crime-solving (and very precocious) little duck. She and her animal pals live on beautiful Dogwood Pond, which is adjacent to Lazy Days, a human campground in New England. A pristine spot with clear water, abundant wildlife, and shady willow trees, Dogwood Pond is encountering puzzling problems—mysteries that arise from human-caused disruptions in nature such as water pollution, garbage, warming climate, and human encroachment. Fortunately, Detective Duck is on the job, solving these puzzling mysteries before they get out of hand and destroy their habitat! Armed with her ever-present satchel for collecting clues, her logical mind, and endless curiosity, she boldly goes where no pond creature has before, determined to unravel the mysteries and solve any environmental problem that besets her beloved Dogwood Pond!

It’s graduation time for Hank Zipzer and all his friends— time to move on from PS 87 to middle school. Trouble is, there are tests Hank has to pass to get into the same middle schools as his friends, and his learning differences might get in the way. Luckily, a life-altering audition at a performing arts middle school helps him find his true path.

Another hilarious, action-packed intergalactic adventure in the New York Times bestselling series by superstar authors Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver Buddy’s out-of-this-world adventures continue! Since Citizen Cruel failed to capture Buddy, the Supreme Leader is left with no other choice: he must go to Earth himself to make sure Buddy is returned to his home planet for the ultimate punishment. While an unsuspecting Buddy is acting on his Hollywood sitcom, the Supreme Leader’s powers of mind control weave a delicate web to entrap him. Will Buddy be caught? Will he succumb to these menacing powers? Will the Earthlings ever find out who Buddy Burger truly is? These are the questions that will keep readers turning pages until the end of this action-packed, side-splitting comedy adventure in the New York Times bestselling middle-grade series.

It’s time for the end of year parent-teacher conference, and Hank’s in a panic. He’s afraid that his teacher is going to tell his parents that he has to repeat the fourth grade. So Hank creates an elaborate scheme to have his parents win an out-of-town trip so they’re gone during the conference days. Of course, the plan backfires. Will Hank have to stay in fourth grade forever?

In Lights, Camera, Danger!,Emmy Award winner Henry Winker and Lin Oliver are back for the second installment of the New York Times bestselling Alien Superstar middle-grade series that Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney calls “truly out of this world!” After escaping his oppressive red dwarf planet and landing a role on a popular Hollywood sitcom, Buddy Burger seems destined for high-flying success. His legions of fans love his six eyes, his suction cup feet, and even his excessive need for avocados. It seems nothing can stop his rise to superstardom—until the arrival of Citizen Cruel, a shape-shifting Squadron member sent from Buddy’s home planet to bring him back by any means necessary. Will Buddy conquer this clever and unpredictable enemy? How long can he continue to keep his alien identity secret from his friends and fans? Is there enough guacamole on Earth to sustain him? And chips to go with it? Action-packed and full of laughs, this is the second book in the exciting New York Times bestselling middle-grade series.

Hank thought that getting through summer school to get to the fifth grade would be hard enough, but little did he know that it would get worse! Everyone in the fifth grade is starting to focus on a sport—and they’re really good. Everyone, that is, except Hank. When Papa Pete suggests that Hank take up Ping-Pong, he decides to give it a try but keeps it top secret, as he thinks the other kids will tease him about it not being a "real" sport. Hank is so good that he manages to Ping-Pong his way to the championship! But when he finds out the contest is being held at "Nick the Tick" McKelty’s family bowling alley, will he risk being the laughingstock of the fifth grade?

Detective Duck: The Case of the Missing Tadpole is a hysterical, full-color chapter book adventure from New York Times bestselling creators—Emmy Award–winning actor Henry Winkler, children’s book author Lin Oliver, and Caldecott Medal–winning author-illustrator Dan Santat Willow Feathers McBeaver, aka Detective Duck, is a crime-solving (and very precocious) little duck. She and her animal pals live on Dogwood Pond, a beautiful pond in New England adjacent to Lazy Days, a human campground. Dogwood Pond has always been a pristine spot with clear water, abundant wildlife, and shady willow trees, but now it is encountering puzzling problems—mysteries that arise from human-caused disruptions in nature, such as water pollution, refuse, warming climate, and human encroachment. When Tad the Tadpole goes missing, Detective Duck and her friends in the Pond Squad are on the case. What first seemed like a simple search and rescue mission gets more complicated when her friends find a pipe leaking a strange brown liquid and a cluster of peculiar blue-green plants that make it difficult for the pond creatures to breathe. Fortunately, Detective Duck is on the job, solving these puzzling mysteries before they get out of hand and destroy their habitat! The Pond Squad will have to work together to clean up their environment and bring Tad home in this charming new mystery. The Detective Duck series: Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash (#1) Detective Duck: The Case of the Missing Tadpole (#2)

A six-eyed teenage alien refugee becomes a Hollywood star in this hilarious series opener by the bestselling authors of the Hank Zipzer series, Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. When thirteen-year-old Buddy Burger has to flee from his alien planet, he crash lands in an even wilder place: Hollywood, California. But no one is shocked to see a six-eyed alien strolling around the Universal back lot. The tourists just think he’s an actor in a supercool alien costume. And the fancy Hollywood directors take notice too. They cast Buddy in a popular TV show playing (of course) an alien. After a video of his first episode goes viral, he becomes an overnight sensation, and suddenly, his world is filled with adoring fans, rides in glamorous limos, and appearances at all-the-shrimp-you-can-eat red carpet parties! Will Buddy be able to keep his secret when all eyes are on him? Or will the glitz and glam of Hollywood prove too much for this alien superstar? “Alien Superstar has it all . . . action, suspense, and big laughs!” —Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series “Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver keep us laughing while slipping in a lesson for kids—accept everyone as they are, even if they have suction cups for feet. Alien Superstar is a super fun read for middle grades on up.” —Jennifer Garner “A funny interstellar adventure that will have readers watching the cosmos for the second book to arrive.” —SLJ Review "Winkler and Oliver bring their sharply honed sense of comedy and extensive experience in the television industry to Buddy’s antics on the set. . . . This results in an endearingly strange protagonist that will resonate with any kid who has felt like an outsider. A sense of humor and empathy are required for this zany adventure.” —Booklist

Hank, the star of the bestselling easy-to-read series, is back! This time, he has to learn the nuts and bolts of making a robot--and making a friend! Hank''s school is hosting its first-ever Build-a-Robot competition and Hank is ready to win. There''s just one problem: he completely forgot about the contest! While other kids have been working on their robots for a month, Hank has just two days to create an amazing robot that will wow the judges and win him the trophy. To make matters worse, there might be another problem, too. Hank has no idea how to build a robot! With help from Jaden, a robot expert at his school, Hank and his friends construct their robot, Stanley, just in time. But on the day of the competition, Stanley malfunctions! It will take Hank, Frankie, Ashley, and their new friend Jaden to get it back on track. Forget winning the trophy--Hank has to stop a robot on the loose!

Hank enters his dog Cheerio in a show, hoping to win the big prize. Unfortunately for Hank, Nick McKelty and his gassy little Chihuahua have the same thing in mind. Will Hank and Cheerio be able to take home the ribbon for Best in Show?

Fearing that he may be failing fourth grade, Hank enlists the help of his friends, and even his annoying younger sister, in an effort to prevent his parents from attending a parent-teacher conference.

Another hilarious adventure for Billy and the Hoove from bestselling authors Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver! Billy Broccoli is used to getting expert advice--wanted or not--from the ghost with the most, Hoover Porterhouse! The Hoove has smooth moves and a silver tongue...and he isn''t shy about sharing his words of wisdom! But when a night at the museum finds Hoover face-to-face with the ghost of a powerful Chumash Indian princess, his brain turns into mashed potatoes. Now the tables are turned and it''s up to Billy to help Hoover find the words he needs to make a new friend.

Capturing the magic and fun throughout a toddler''s day, this lively collection of poems, from the creators of Little Poems for Tiny Ears, is a book to be treasured. Being a preschooler means days full of discovery every time you step out of your door. It’s a time filled with wonder, at all the sights and sounds of the outdoors and at the huge variety of people there are to meet. This collection of nineteen original poems features little ones eager to explore, whether it’s splashing in puddles, riding in an elevator or through a car wash, or visiting the library. They go full-steam ahead to the park, the beach, and dance class, somewhat begrudgingly learn to share and get their first haircut, and enjoy lots of time with their families. Full of contagious rhythm and rhyme, this inviting picture book introduces young children to the sounds of poetry through familiar childhood activities, and beloved illustrator Tomie dePaola’s engaging children are the perfect match for Lin Oliver’s bouncy poems.

On Halloween day, Hank comes to school dressed in what he thinks is the perfect costume-a table in an Italian restaurant. Nick McKelty, the resident school bully (dressed in a total blood and guts costume), thinks Hank''s costume is wimpy and that Hank wouldn''t know how to be scary and gross if his life depended on it! So Hank decides to create the scariest haunted house ever and invite McKelty over to show him what scary really is. The only problem is that Hank''s dog, Cheerio, is scared of Hank''s haunted house. So scared, in fact, that when Hank tries to find him, he''s nowhere in sight! Have Hank''s Halloween hijinks gone too far?

A middle schooler tries to teach a ghost some responsibility—but it doesn’t go as planned—in this tale by the New York Times–bestselling authors! When Billy Broccoli finds out his personal ghost, Hoover Porterhouse, is failing Responsibility, Billy decides it’s his mission to help Hoover turn his grade around. But how? Then inspiration hits. Billy is going to get Hoover a pet. There’s only one catch—the Hoove scares dogs out of their fur, birds out of their wings, and fish out of their gills. If Billy can’t find the perfect pet, how will Hoover ever learn and make the grade? Praise for Ghost Buddy: Zero to Hero “An endearingly uncool hero . . . Readers will root for Billy.” —Publishers Weekly

Twelve-year-old Henry ''Hank'' Zipzer is a smart and resourceful boy with a unique perspective on the world. Hank has dyslexia, and when problems arise, he deals with them in a way no one else would. In this title, Hank finds out that his mother is pregnant How could she do this to him? Hank definitely did not order this baby.

The adventures of brother and sister Tuck and Billie Holden as they travel with their dog by train cross-country to join their parents at the 1939 World''s Fair in New York.

Fourth-graders Hank, Ashley, and Frankie are excitedly preparing for a magic show at the Rock ''N Bowl when Hank''s creative alternative to an English essay lands him in detention and grounded the week of the show.

When Hank first heard that his mom was having a baby boy, he wasn''t so thrilled. And when he finds out that the baby will be sharing his room, Hank is positively outraged! To make things easier, Dad suggests he take Hank and Emily away for some bonding. But on the first day of their trip, a freak snowstorm arrives. And then they get a call that the baby is coming early! Hank, Dad, and Emily know they have to get home - and fast! They hop on a train, hitch a ride on a dump truck, jump on a snowmobile, and climb into a dogsled, all in a desperate attempt to get home in time for Baby Zipzer''s birth.

Inspired by the true life experiences of Henry Winkler, whose undiagnosed dyslexia made him a classic childhood underachiever, the Hank Zipzer series is about the high-spirited and funny adventures of a boy with learning differences. PS 87 is having multicultural week, and Ms. Adolf''s class is putting on a "Foods From Around the World" luncheon. Hank makes enchiladas, and at the luncheon, Ms. Adolf piles her plate with lots of food. But after a few bites, her face turns bright red-one of the dishes is super-spicy! Ms. Adolf accuses someone of playing a mean practical joke and punishes the entire class with no recess until the guilty party comes forward. Hank realizes his trouble with numbers might have caused the problem-what if he accidentally used three cups of peppers instead of 1/3 cup? Will Hank be able to get recess back for everyone without getting detention for the rest of his life? Illustrated by Carol Heyer.

Hank must decide whether to attend tae kwon do or an after school reading program run by his favorite teacher, and when he meets an interesting girl at "Reading Gym," he gets into a complicated situation that even has him lying to his father.

In this easy-to-read story, a young bear comes to his father''s rescue during two outdoor adventures.

Story of Penny a little girl who helped solve a grown-up big traffic problem.

Leo Lomax, the Sound Bender, returns in this globe-trotting sequel.Leo is back in New York, and things are worse than ever. His Uncle Crane has isolated him from his friends, pulled him from his school, and is keeping him under near-constant surveillance. When a strange mask once owned by his father begins to draw Crane''s attention, however, Leo is presented with a devil''s bargain. If he helps Crane find the mask''s other half, he can return to his life and his friends. To sweeten the deal, Crane will even pay for a fact-finding mission to check out Leo''s parents'' plane crash. There''s just one catch. In order to find the mask, Leo will have to travel across the world -- and take it from its rightful owners.

Hank''s class is putting on a play, and Hank wants the lead part: Aqua Fly, but he freezes in his audition and can only buzz like a fly, so his teacher creates a special part for Hank.

Hank must work on a huge homework packet during a family trip to North Carolina or he will spend the day with his father at a crossword puzzle tournament rather than riding roller coasters with his mother, sister, and friend Frankie.

Hank has never been fond of his sister''s pet iguana, and their relationship worsens when she lays her eggs inside his science project.

Antics ensue after Hank throws his report card into a meat grinder.

Failing fifth grade math, Hank must depend on Heather, the class brain, to help him get a "B" on the next test in order for him to be eligible to play the lead in the school play, "The King and I."

Fourth-grader Hank, while on a field trip aboard "The Pilgrim Spirit," tries to learn knot tying in his own unique way, which causes unforeseen problems.

Stuck in summer school while his friends enjoy a "Passport to Hawaii," nearly-eleven-year-old Hank needs to earn an A on an oral report about Einstein in order to participate in Magik 3''s talent show act at the luau extravaganza.

"When Hank''s class takes a field trip to the zoo, he quickly gets lost after his partner (and nemesis) ditches him. Unable to read the map, Hank wanders and finds himself locked in a habitat with Elsie the elephant"--