New Releases by Maureen Fergus

Fans of Narwhal and Jelly will love this laugh-out-loud graphic novel adventure with Weenie, Frank and Beans that features a new villain: another (cuter) wiener dog named Sweetie-Pie who''s out to ruin Weenie''s good time. Meet Weenie. He loves his best friend Frank (a cat) and his other best friend Beans (a guinea pig) and Bob (the guy who takes care of them). The thing Weenie does NOT love? When another wiener dog comes along to make his life miserable by peeing on his toys, messing with Bob''s stuff (that''s Weenie''s job) and getting between Weenie and breakfast sausages. Sweetie-Pie must go . . . and Weenie''s going to be the one to get rid of him!

If Zander the goose wants to stay put for the winter, he''ll have to brave the cold and learn from new friends to adapt. A feathered tale sure to spark a gaggle of giggles by award-winning author Maureen Fergus and acclaimed illustrator Scot Ritchie.

Fans of Narwhal and Jelly will love this laugh-out-loud graphic novel: a pancake adventure with Weenie, Frank and Beans featuring wiener dog smooches, a huge pile of stinky brussels sprouts and a whole lot of syrup. Weenie loves his human, Bob. He loves his guinea pig friend Beans and his cat friend Frank. He loves naps, adventures and sharing. In fact, Weenie loves pretty much everything (except brussels sprouts). And Weenie SUPER LOVES pancakes. Maybe too much. When the SuperSonic Pancake Maker malfunctions, Weenie knows exactly what to do! Sort of . . .

Shrek meets The Paper Bag Princess in this fearsomely funny story about a savvy princess who looks past appearances to befriend an ogre Princess Pru''s life is practically perfect. She has two loving dads, an ostrich named Orville, and three royal tarantulas. But one day, a ghastly ogre with crusty toenails and goopy ears moves into the house on the hill. At first, Pru sees the ogre as a nuisance: he disrupts her royal rock band practices, weekly tickle tag games, and even the hide-and-seek tournament. But then she starts to wonder if the ogre is just lonely. The unsympathetic townspeople become especially terrified when Oggy the ogre is spotted buying cupcakes and balloons. They receive ominous notes (that look very much like invitations), and the kings are convinced that Oggy wants to make everyone into a stew! But with courage and spunk, Pru heads to the house on the hill to meet Oggy--for a party! All along, Oggy just wanted to make friends--and thanks to Pru, he does. Whimsical, hand-drawn illustrations and expressive characters perfectly capture this unconventional fairy tale about empathy, belonging, and daring not to follow the crowd.

A hilarious barnyard tale about big-hearted cow with an even bigger temper, for fans of Penguin Problems. Petal is everything you could want in a cow. She is kind, thoughtful, a great baker and a wonderful artist. She also has a temper. A very big, out-of-control temper. And it doesn''t help that her barnyard pals like to push her buttons . . . On the day the farmer announces a fabulous trip to a water park, the horse steps on Petal''s foot and she has her biggest tantrum yet. The farmer tells Petal if she doesn''t get her temper under control, she won''t be able to go to the water park! What else can she do but stomp away in a huff? Then Petal meets a swan who shows her a thing or two about behaving. And not in the way you''d expect . . . This laugh-out-loud story will tickle even the surliest reader, and Petal''s outsized tantrums will feel very familiar to parents and kids alike. But like Petal, this story also has a heart of gold and a core of pure warmth.

Meet Weenie, a food-obsessed wiener dog, and his best friends Frank and Beans in this hilarious early graphic novel for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and The Bad Guys. Weenie loves his human, Bob. He loves his guinea pig friend, Beans, and his cat friend, Frank. He loves naps, adventures and sharing. In fact, Weenie loves pretty much everything (except the mail carrier). But the thing Weenie loves and desires more than anything else in the world is meatloaf. And he''ll do anything to get it. Join Weenie, Frank and Beans on a laugh-out-loud meatloaf adventure, complete with a trench coat disguise, a wild meatloaf trap and even a hungry wolf.

A centuries-old vampire decides to bring his crushing-and-destroying skills to the ice in this hilarious story about the newest (and oldest) member of the local peewee hockey team. After centuries alone in his old castle, Vlad is ready to try something new. When he hears the local hockey team gushing about how they''ll crush and destroy their opponents in the next game, he knows he''s found the activity for him! Vlad immediately gives the game his all, but he soon realizes that super-human powers don''t mean much in hockey without a mastery of the basics. After weeks of practice, he''s finally ready for the big game...but can a hundreds-of-years-old vampire really learn new tricks? This hilarious, energetic picture book encourages teamwork, perserverance, and a love of hockey that will last a lifetime, even for an immortal being.

When Leo arrives at the hospital, he is surprised to find it run by animals! A hilarious story featuring animals in human situations, perfect for fans of Zootopia and A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Slightly distracted parents accidentally take their son, Leo, to the animal hospital to get his tonsils out. Luckily, taking care of a human doesn''t ruffle any feathers among the hospital staff. The chicken at the admissions desk is welcoming, the bear orderly is friendly and wise Dr. Stan inspires tremendous confidence despite being a mouse. Is the plastic cone really necessary, though? In this sweet and hilarious story, a child discovers that a trip to the hospital can be a positive experience--even when the hospital isn''t quite up to code . . .

A boyês school club turns into something unexpected. When Rory canêt find a school club that suits him, his parents suggest he start his own club about something he loves. Rory knows exactly what it will be: a Reptile Club! He sets up his first meeting and then he waits and waits for kids to show up. Just as he is about to give up, he hears whispering in the hallway. To his astonishment, itês not his schoolmates who have arrived to attend the first meeting, but a crocodile, an anaconda and a gecko! A club about reptiles or for reptiles? Kids will want to sign up for this one ã because itês both!

Wonder Buddy and Super Earl come to the rescue when their new neighbors need help! The fifth installment of a charming and critically acclaimed series. When Wonder Buddy and Super Earl learn that the Evil Doctor Stinker is planning to shut down the only hamburger factory in town, they know they have to find the supervillain’s secret lair — fast! Hopping into the Earl-mobile, they race into the yard next door where they come face-to-face with the new neighbors. At first, Mister the bulldog is alarmed by Wonder Buddy’s laser-beam eyes (even though Buddy does not know how to turn them on), and Snowball the cat thinks that Earl is the funniest-looking mouse she’s ever seen. But when Snowball ends up in mortal danger, Buddy and Mister team up to save the day, and Snowball and Earl discover that they have more in common than they thought. The dog who likes to play by the rules and the hedgehog who knows no limits make some super new friends in this fifth book in the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

What’s a boy to do with a dad like this? A soccer dad misunderstands when he hears that his son’s team needs his help. Instead of taking care of halftime snacks, the dad grabs a jersey and runs onto the field to play! And what an embarrassment he is: he hogs the ball, complains about his teammates and throws a hairy fit when the referee doesn’t call a play his way! Can the boy teach his dad the rules of being a good sport before he drives the whole team crazy? Kids will blow the whistle on this dad — he’s way offside!

"Un papa se retrouve à jouer dans l''équipe de soccer de son fils, mais il se laisse un peu trop prendre au jeu ... Dans un renversement de rôle hilarant, le fils devient l''expert qui enseigne à son père ce qu''est l''esprit d''équipe. Sa patience est mise à rude épreuve alors qu''il tente d''instruire son père sur la façon de se comporter tant sur le terrain qu''avec ses coéquipiers."--Page Web de l''éditeur.

“The bond between Buddy and Earl is as strong as ever in their fourth book, as is the playful banter and cheerful artwork that capture their relationship so well.” Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW Buddy and Earl know that with the right education they can become anything — even a dentist or a hot-dog vendor! So they eagerly gather their silly, smelly supplies and head to school. Soon after they arrive, their teacher, Miss Meredith, is called away and Professor Earl takes charge of the classroom. Buddy works hard at lessons like Sniffing Things, Tail Chasing and Scratching Itches. And when Professor Earl announces that one very special student is going to win a major award? Buddy cannot imagine who that lucky student might be... In this fourth book in the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series, the dog who likes to play by the rules and the hedgehog who knows no limits learn just how much fun school can be. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Santa has a problem. This kid? Harold? Santa doesn''t think he''s real. He WANTS to believe in Harold--after all, Harold is one of the most magical parts of Christmas. Getting Harold''s letters, eating the cookies he leaves out, feeding his carrots to the reindeer... what would Christmas be without that? But Santa''s just not sure. Some of his friends are telling him they think Harold''s not real. And the Harold that sat on his knee last Christmas looked AWFULLY different. Santa comes up with a plan to find out once and for all if Harold really exists... with hilarious consequences.

Mrs. Cunningham is bringing her baby for a visit! But Buddy and Earl are not prepared for the chaos the small and adorable creature brings with him. Mom’s friend Mrs. Cunningham is coming for a visit, and she’s bringing her baby! While Buddy tries to explain the ins and outs of babydom to Earl, neither of them is prepared for the chaos the small and adorable creature brings with him. When the baby manages to escape from his cage — which Buddy gently suggests is really just a playpen — it’s up to our favorite odd couple to save the day. This third title in the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series follows a dog who likes to play by the rules and a hedgehog who knows no limits on another fun adventure in deductive reasoning and imaginative play. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.9 With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

A pampered dog named Susan and a boisterous dog named Barney discover they have more in common than they thought.

Our favorite odd-couple friends explore the wilds of their house after dark in book two of the Buddy and Earl series. Buddy is just settling in for the night when Earl announces that he’s going on a trip. Where will Earl go? Wherever the road leads him, of course! Before Buddy knows it, he and Earl are off on another grand adventure. While exploring the wilds of the kitchen, they see wondrous sights, make delicious discoveries and even encounter a couple of unusual monsters. This second book in the best-selling Buddy and Earl series reunites the dog who likes to play by the rules and the hedgehog who knows no limits. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

A funny, absurd and clever take on the overlooked middle-child story. Bill just wanted someone to pass him the potatoes. Unfortunately, no one even noticed--not his mother (a very busy woman with an important job), not his father (a very important man with a busy job), not his very intelligent older brother, not even his very athletic little sister. If someone had noticed, the wonderful, terrible thing that happened might never have happened. But it did. InvisiBill is the hilariously absurd, tongue-in-cheek story of an ordinary middle child who feels so overlooked by his busy, distracted family that he becomes invisible ... or InvisiBill!

A young boy''s question about what his mother would do if he didn''t put his plate in the sink turns into an imaginative adventure for both of them.

Persephone has once again broken a promise to Azriel—but only to protect him from certain death at the hands of the Regent Mordecai. Now she finds herself desperately alone and burdened by responsibilities he would do almost anything to escape. But the days of putting her own needs first are long past, and when it becomes clear that Mordecai and Lord Bartok will sacrifice anyone and anything in their battle for control of the kingdom, Persephone knows she must find a way to thwart them both. She also knows that she cannot do it alone. Does Persephone have the courage and cleverness she will need to survive the challenges she will face along the way? Will she ever again feel Azriel’s powerful arms around her? And what does any of this have to do with the prophesied Gypsy King and the role he will play in tomorrow’s kingdom?

A runaway slave with a shadowy past, sixteen-year-old Persephone has spent four long years toiling beneath the leering gaze of her despised owner and dreaming of a life where she is free to shape her own destiny. Then, one night, a chance encounter with a handsome chicken thief named Azriel changes her life forever. Sold to him for a small bag of gold coins, Persephone soon discovers what she already suspected: namely, that Azriel is not what he seems. And when she realizes that he believes Persephone has a special destiny—she is determined to escape him and his impossibly broad shoulders. But things are no longer as simple as they once were. Torn between her longing for freedom and her undeniable feelings for the handsome thief with the fast hands and the slow smile, Persephone faces the hardest choice she will ever have to make. And no one—least of all her—could have imagined the shocking truth her decision will reveal.

In the final moments of The Gypsy King, a truth was revealed to Persephone and Azriel—one that could change everything forever. For her. For him. For them. For the entire kingdom. But trapped in a windowless castle chamber with soldiers battering at the door, it seems impossible to believe that they’ll even survive. Indeed, they are a heartbeat from death when Azriel boldly bargains with the Regent Mordecai: release them and they will seek out the mythical healing Pool of Genezing. Mordecai agrees but warns that if they do not return with proof that the pool exists, he’ll make those dearest to them suffer—and he’ll start with King Finnius.

Inviting her mother to visit her new class, a little kindergartener discovers that there are some things that kids are better at than parents.