New Releases by Bruce Hale

Cats are not meant to save the world. Fitz the cat is supposed to be enjoying the normal activities savored by those of the feline persuasion—napping (a lot), nibbling on house plants, sharpening his claws on expensive furniture, and, most importantly, never, ever doing what a human wants him to. But instead, thanks to Zeke, Stephanie, and Hector—those meddling, tuna-hatin'', whiskerless kids who dragged him down to Underwhere—Fitz has bigger fish to fry (though, of course, he prefers his fish raw). Not only has he started thinking like a human, he''s actually helping them recover the stolen Scepter of Underwhere, battle a wild pack of triceradoodles, outwit a roaming band of savage mice, and foil the plans of the strange new movie director in town, who happens to smell awfully familiar. . . .

Stephanie has a whole underwear drawer full of trouble. A week ago, Stephanie''s biggest problem was finding enough time to complete her homework and study for her Mathletes competition. Now, thanks to her big-mouth brother, Zeke, she has to deal with magical toilet brushes, sinister talking cats, nearsighted sea serpents, singing custodians, feminist pirates, runty freedom fighters, and all the cottony-white weirdness of Underwhere—the world beneath our own where people wear their undies on the outside of their clothes.

It''s tough to be ZeKe. He''s got his hands full: There is his prissy, know-it-all twin sister; his mean cousin Caitlyn, who''s house-sitting for his missing parents; and a bully making life tough at school (as though it wasn''t hard enough already). And now, thanks to a stinky, scruffy, good-for-nothing talking cat, he''s also got to cope with zombies, midget freedom fighters, devious spies, superstar rappers, and a whole weird world beneath our own where people wear their underwear on the outside of their clothes.

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.

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

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!

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

When the new penguin at school turns out to be a private eye, Chet Gecko confronts not only a devious sparrow but also his own jealousy.

"Boot her out of Emerson Hicky.

A how-to for every budding detective/gourmand/comedian!

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.

Chet and his partner, Natalie Attired, investigate a cheating ring at Emerson Hicky Elementary school.

Chet and his partner, Natalie Attired, take on a case involving an actor gone missing from the school musical.

Fourth-grade detective Chet Gecko mixes with a tough hamster ex-con named Guido, a brass-knuckle-wielding bat called Ms. Darkwing, and the ringleader, a fat-cat fake principal who aims to take over Emerson Hicky Elementary and turn it into a vocational school for criminals. Illustrations.

Something is trashing the classrooms at Emerson Hicky Elementary School, and sixth-grade private eye Chet Gecko sets out to find the creature that is responsible.

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.

To save his own skin, private eye Chet Gecko sets out to solve the mystery of Emerson Hicky Elementary School''s disappearing football players.