New Releases by Chris Grabenstein

Previously published as The Smoky Corridor. From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello''s Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It just doesn’t usually come from the grave. The basement of Zack’s new school is hiding something, or rather someones. Two ghosts, to be exact—Joseph and Seth Donnelly, brothers who perished in a suspicious fire. But the ghosts are the least of Zack''s problems. It’s what they warn Zack about that has him truly frightened: there’s an evil zombie lurking beneath the school. Fortunately, Zack has some new friends, Malik and Azalea, who can help in his paranormal adventures. Together they’ll attempt to dodge the zombie, a treasure-seeking hit man, a voodoo-savvy ghost just waiting fora new body, and more. But will they survive until recess or end up on the lunch menu? Read all of Chris Grabenstein''s Haunted Mysteries! The Crossroads The Demons'' Door The Zombie Awakening The Black Heart Crypt

Previously published as The Hanging Hill. From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello''s Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out. Every theater has its demons. At this one? They’re real. Zack is staying at the Hanging Hill summer theater, a place where he and his family hope to recover from the fiery fallout of Zack’s last ghostly encounter. The theater is all set to stage Zack’s stepmother’s play . . . or so they think. What Zack doesn’t know is that the director has another show in mind, and that production requires a child born under a full moon. A child who will not survive opening night. And Zack? He was born under a full moon. Zack has battled evil spirits before, but this time he’ll learn that just because it’s a playhouse doesn’t mean that the ghosts are playing. Read all of Chris Grabenstein''s Haunted Mysteries! The Crossroads The Demons'' Door The Zombie Awakening The Black Heart Crypt

From award-winning author Elissa Brent Weissman comes a collection of quirky, smart, and vulnerable childhood works by some of today’s foremost children’s authors and illustrators—revealing young talent, the storytellers they would one day become, and the creativity they inspire today. Everyone’s story begins somewhere… For Linda Sue Park, it was a trip to the ocean, a brand-new typewriter, and a little creative license. For Jarrett J. Krosoczka, it was a third grade writing assignment that ignited a creative fire in a kid who liked to draw. For Kwame Alexander, it was a loving poem composed for Mother’s Day—and perfected through draft after discarded draft. For others, it was a teacher, a parent, a beloved book, a word of encouragement. It was trying, and failing, and trying again. It was a love of words, and pictures, and stories. Your story is beginning, too. Where will it go?

“Outrageous hijinks and nonstop hilarity—five-stars!" —Lincoln Peirce, author of the Big Nate series From the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and coauthor with James Patterson of I Funny, House of Robots, and Treasure Hunters, comes the second hilarious, fun-in-the-sun adventure in his illustrated series about all the wacky things that happen when you live in a motel! There’s always something wacky happening when you live in a motel, and P.T. (named after P. T. Barnum, of course) has grown up at the world’s wackiest! When word gets out that the hottest teen idols in Hollywood (plus current YouTube sensation Kevin the Monkey!) will be filming their next movie—Beach Party Surf Monkey—right in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, P.T. and his friend Gloria know that the Wonderland would be the perfect location. Now they just have to convince the producers! But when things start to go wrong (crazed fans? missing stars?), it will take all of Gloria’s business genius and P.T.’s wild stories to save the movie before both it and the Wonderland are all washed up! BONUS: Includes fun extras like P.T. and Gloria’s Famous Fact-or-Fiction Quiz: Movie Edition Here''s What People are saying about Welcome to Wonderland! “Outrageous hijinks and nonstop hilarity—five-stars! Kids who check into this madcap motel will want to stay forever!” —Lincoln Peirce, author of the Big Nate series "So funny I fell off my bed!"--Izzy B., age 10 "Classic Grabenstein. The mystery should satisfy Grabenstein’s “Mr. Lemoncello” followers, and the humor and visuals will appeal to fans of his collaborations with James Patterson. This new series should be a hit."—School Library Journal “A delight. P.T. is a hoot and a half. A funny, madcap dash."—Kirkus Reviews “Charm galore. Easy and breezy, this well-paced novel . . . belongs in the hands of any readers wanting their bad guys bad, their good guys great, and a little of Wonderland’s promised fun in the sun.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Can I, Jamie Grimm, teach other kids how to be super funny? Think it''s hard being a stand-up comedian in a wheelchair? Try teaching a comedy class to bored middle schoolers! I have no idea where to start. Do I assign homework? Should I give tests? Or do I just fall flat on my face and hope that gets a laugh? Find out if I can handle the toughest gig of my life... or if my class turns out to be the biggest joke of all!

"What makes Isaiah so unique? First, his fur is as blue as the sky - which until recently was something he''d never seen, but had read all about. That''s right - Isaiah can read, and write. He can also talk to humans... if any of them are willing to listen! After a dramatic escape from a mysterious laboratory, Isaiah is separated from his ''mischief'' (which is the word for a mouse family) and has to use his special skills to survive in the dangerous outdoors, and hopefully find his missing family. But in a world of cruel cats, hungry owls and terrified people, it''s hard for a young, lone mouse to make it alone. When he meets an equally unusual and lonely human girl named Hailey, the two soon learn that true friendship can transcend all barriers."

“Outrageous hijinks and nonstop hilarity—five-stars!” —Lincoln Peirce, author of the Big Nate series From the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and co-author with James Patterson of I Funny, House of Robots, and Treasure Hunters, comes a hilarious illustrated series about all the wacky things that happen when you live in a motel! Eleven-year-old P. T. Wilkie may be the greatest storyteller alive. But he knows one thing for a fact: the Wonderland Motel is the best place a kid could ever live! All-you-can-eat poolside ice cream! A snack machine in the living room! A frog slide! A giant rampaging alligator! (Okay, that last one may or may not be made up.) There’s only one thing the Wonderland doesn’t have, though—customers. And if the Wonderland doesn’t get them soon, P.T. and his friend Gloria may have to say goodbye to their beloved motel forever. They need to think BIG. They need to think BOLD. They need an OUTRAGEOUS plan. Luckily for them, Gloria is a business GENIUS, and OUTRAGEOUS is practically P.T.’s middle name. With Gloria’s smarts and P.T.’s world-famous stories and schemes, there’s got to be a way to save the Wonderland! BONUS: Includes fun extras like P. T. Wilkie’s outrageous (and sometimes useful) things you learn living in a motel. Installment 1: How to say “Help! The toilet is clogged!” in over twenty languages! Here''s What People are saying about Welcome to Wonderland! * A New York Times Bestseller * Sunshine State Young Readers Award List * Winner of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award * “Outrageous hijinks and nonstop hilarity—five-stars! Kids who check into this madcap motel will want to stay forever!” —Lincoln Peirce, author of the Big Nate series "So funny I fell off my bed!"--Izzy B., age 10 "Classic Grabenstein. The mystery should satisfy Grabenstein’s “Mr. Lemoncello” followers, and the humor and visuals will appeal to fans of his collaborations with James Patterson. This new series should be a hit."—School Library Journal “A delight. P.T. is a hoot and a half. A funny, madcap dash. Grabenstein . . . threads in a mystery that blooms in the last act and that puts this particular read over the top."—Kirkus Reviews “Charm galore. Easy and breezy, this well-paced novel . . . belongs in the hands of any readers wanting their bad guys bad, their good guys great, and a little of Wonderland’s promised fun in the sun.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Chris Grabenstein, author of the New York Times bestselling Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and coauthor of the I Funny series with James Patterson, celebrates the power of imagination with this action-packed adventure that shows that sometimes the real story starts after you close the book! What if your favorite characters came to life? Billy’s spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris. But something strange is going on. Besides the security cameras everywhere, there’s Dr. Libris’s private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens the books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of the lake. The clash of swords. The twang of arrows. Sometimes he can even feel the ground shaking. It’s almost as if the stories he’s reading are coming to life! But that’s impossible . . . isn’t it? Look for brand-new BONUS material in the paperback, including a GALLERY of literary characters, a discussion guide, a behind-the-scenes look at Chris’s process, and more! “A wonderful tale. . . . A complete original.” —James Patterson “Effortlessly readable and a whole lot of fun.” —Booklist “A science-based variation on the theme of fictional characters being brought to life. [A] satisfying read.” —Publishers Weekly

In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel, get to know Jacky Ha-Ha, a funny class clown who loves to make people laugh—even when everything else in her life feels anything but silly. With her irresistible urge to tell a joke in every situation—even when she really, really shouldn''t—twelve-year-old Jacky Ha-Ha loves to make people laugh. And cracking wise helps distract her from thinking about not-so-funny things in her life, like her mom serving in a dangerous, faraway war, and a dad who''s hardly ever home. But no matter how much fun Jacky has, she can''t seem to escape her worries. So one starlit night, she makes a promise to keep her family together...even if she has to give up the one thing that makes her happy. But can she stop being Jacky Ha-Ha, if that''s who she really is? Bestselling author James Patterson captures the humor, and struggles, of standing out in all the wrongs ways in this tender, laugh-out-loud story introducing hilarious, #1 New York Times bestselling heroine Jacky Ha-Ha. Don''t miss Jacky Ha-Ha''s other hilarious stories: Jacky Ha-Ha: My Life is a Joke and Jacky Ha-Ha Gets the Last Laugh!

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES WITH MORE THAN TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! Discover what James Patterson calls “the coolest library in the world.” Follow along and solve the clues in this interactive adventure featuring Mr. Lemoncello’s first-ever Library Olympics! From the co-author of Murdle Jr.: Sleuths on the Loose… “Lots of action and quirky humor will lead kids to do just what libraries encourage them to do: keep reading.” —The Washington Post The world-famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello is at it again! This time Mr. Lemoncello has invited teams from across America for the debut of the Library Olympics. Kyle Keeley knows that the competition is fierce. But something suspicious is going on—books are missing from the shelves! Is someone trying to censor what the kids are reading? Now it’s not just a game, and Kyle and his friends will have to band together to get to the bottom of this mystery. Let the games begin! Don’t miss the bonus puzzle and the craft in the back! The Lemoncello books are laugh-out-loud, puzzle-packed must-reads for classrooms and homes across America. Look for the whole series! Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game (the prequel) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (also available as a graphic novel) Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics (also coming soon as a graphic novel) Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale

Jamie Grimm has hit the big time in book four of the #1 bestselling I Funny series! Jamie Grimm has finally accomplished his dream of proving himself the Planet''s Funniest Kid Comic, and the sky''s the limit from there. Enter a couple of TV executives with a huge plan for Jamie: a new show about Jamie and his oddball friends! But when Jamie struggles to learn the acting ropes, will it be an early curtain call for the biggest show of the decade?

In book two of the House of Robots series, it''s ''bot brains versus ''bot brawn in an all-out war! Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez and his "bro-bot" E are making new friends every day as E works as his bedridden sister Maddie''s school proxy. But disaster strikes when E malfunctions just in time to be upstaged by the super-cool new robot on the block-and loses his ability to help Maddie. Now it''s up to Sammy to figure out what''s wrong with E and save his family!

The Kidds—treasure hunting family extraordinaire—are heading to China, on a journey that will lead them beyond the Great Wall and into the underbelly of Berlin. Bick and Beck Kidd are desperately trying to secure the ancient Chinese artifact that will buy their mother''s freedom from renegade pirates. But when the kidnappers force them to locate an even greater treasure-priceless paintings stolen by Nazis, the Kidds must rely on their own cunning and experience to outwit the criminals, all while their mom''s life is on the line.

The Kidds - treasure hunting family extraordinare - are heading to China, on a journey that will lead them beyond the Great Wall and into the underbelly of Berlin. Bick and Beck Kidd are desperately trying to secure the ancient Chinese artefact that will buy their mother''s freedom from renegade pirates. But when the kidnappers force them to locate an even greater treasure - priceless paintings stolen by Nazis, the Kidds must rely on their own cunning and experience to outwit the criminals, all while their mom''s life is on the line.

James Patterson''s high-octane sci-fi adventure series comes to a white-knuckle conclusion in the final battle that Daniel X has been waiting for. Daniel X has been hunting aliens most of his life. Aided by his power to create anything he can think of, he''s fought his way up the list of the galaxy''s most wanted aliens, demons and scumbags. There''s only one name left. The Prayer. Evil incarnate. The one who robbed Daniel of a normal, happy life the day he gunned down Daniel''s entire family. They say The Prayer is basically a god, hell-bent on bringing death to every corner of the universe. And only Daniel X can stop him. But Daniel''s amazing power seems to have abandoned him, and he''s grasping at answers he can''t quite reach. With the fate of Earth hanging in the balance, can Daniel find a way to win a fight that has him hopelessly outmatched?

James Patterson''s high-octane sci-fi adventure series comes to a white-knuckle conclusion in the final battle that Daniel X has been waiting for his entire life. In this sixth and final installment of the Daniel X series, the alien-hunting hero is finally ready to take on the biggest threat in the galaxy: The Prayer, the same beast that brutally murdered his parents long ago. But even with his incredible ability to create almost anything, Daniel will have to push his powers beyond the brink in order to bring down a monster that has the powers of a god. This epic showdown of good versus evil is a thrilling finale to the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

In the third episode of James Patterson''s bestselling series, Jamie Grimm is one step closer to becoming the best kid comic in the world, but now he''s facing his biggest challenge yet. Jamie Grimm is back and better than ever. After scoring big on national TV in the semifinals contest, everyone back home is jumping on the Jamie Grimm bandwagon, and all the attention might be going to his head. Not only are his friendships starting to suffer, but the pressure of coming up with his best material ever for the ultimate standup act to snag the final win in Hollywood is pushing Jamie to the brink. Suddenly, life isn''t looking very funny anymore. Can Jamie take the grand prize without pushing away his fans, friends and family?

The sequel to James Patterson''s Treasure Hunters is another hilarious, hair-raising and highly-illustrated adventure for the First Family of Action! Bick Kidd and his globe-trotting siblings Beck, Storm and Tommy may have completed their first treasure hunt after their father was lost at sea, but their kidnapped mother is still in the hands of nasty pirates. Their search for a rescue plan takes them down the Nile river in Africa, where they''ll have to navigate everything from Egyptian pyramids in the desert to wet-and-wild jungles—not to mention life-threatening encounters with wilderness diseases, angry hippos and some seriously bad guys—in order to find the treasure and save the day.

The sequel to James Patterson''s bestselling series launch Treasure Hunters is another hilarious, hair-raising and highly-illustrated adventure for the First Family of Action! Bick Kidd and his globe-trotting siblings Beck, Storm and Tommy may have completed their first treasure hunt after their father was lost at sea, but their kidnapped mother is still in the hands of nasty pirates. Their search for a rescue plan takes them down the Nile river in Africa, where they''ll have to navigate everything from Egyptian pyramids in the desert to wet-and-wild jungles--not to mention life-threatening encounters with wilderness diseases, angry hippos and some seriously bad guys--in order to find the treasure and save the day.

In New York City’s Central Park, remarkable things happen after the sun goes down Nikki Van Wyck knows everything about Central Park. She can tell you how many benches it has, how many acres it is—and exactly where to find an adventure after dark. When she teams up with a few new friends to track down a treasure in the park, her expert knowledge comes in handy. But the place she thought she knew is transformed before her eyes as the statues begin to come to life! It turns out that Central Park has secrets that can’t be found in any guidebook. Magical secrets. And what Nikki thought was just a scavenger hunt is actually much more. Now she’s about to embark on an incredible adventure that will uncover the hidden enchantments in the park she loves—and reveal surprising things about herself, as well.

In this new illustrated middle-grade series from James Patterson, an extraordinary robot signs up for an ordinary fifth grade class... and elementary school will never be the same! It was never easy for Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez to fit in, so he''s dreading the day when his genius mom insists he bring her newest invention to school: a walking, talking robot he calls E âe" for "Error". Sammy''s no stranger to robots âe" his house is full of a colourful cast of them. But this one not only thinks it''s Sammy''s brother... it''s actually even nerdier than Sammy. Will E be Sammy''s one-way ticket to Loserville? Or will he prove to the world that it''s cool to be square? It''s a roller-coaster ride for Sammy to discover the amazing secret E holds that could change his family forever... if all goes well on the trial run!

In this follow up to the #1 New York Times bestseller I Funny, middle schooler Jamie Grimm has big dreams of being the best stand-up comic in the world--and he won''t let the fact that he''s wheelchair-bound stand in his way. After winning the New York state finals in the Planet''s Funniest Kid Comic Contest, Jamie''s off to Boston to compete in the national semi-finals. But when one of his best buddies runs into trouble at school and a sudden family health scare rears its head, Jamie has to put his comedic ambitions on hold and stand by the people he cares about. Can Jamie pass up the big competition for the sake of his friends and family? (Includes more than 175 black-and-white illustrations.)

THE START OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES WITH MORE THAN TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! Can you escape from what James Patterson calls “the coolest library in the world”? Follow along and solve the clues in this interactive adventure! From the co-author of Murdle Jr.: Sleuths on the Loose… “A worthy successor to the original madman puzzle-master himself, Willy Wonka.” —Booklist, starred review When Kyle Keeley learns that the world’s most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town’s new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, he’s determined to be there! But the tricky part isn’t getting into the library—it’s getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must catch every clue and solve every puzzle to find the hidden escape route! Enjoy bonus content in the back—extra puzzles, an author Q&A, and more! The Lemoncello books are laugh-out-loud, puzzle-packed must-reads for classrooms and homes across America. Look for the whole series! Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game (the prequel) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (also available as a graphic novel) Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics (also coming soon as a graphic novel) Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale

Sun bathers and murder suspects show up in the Garden State in the Anthony Award–winning author’s “clever Jersey Shore mysteries” (The New York Times). “I didn’t do it!” is something cops hear all the time. But when the plea comes from a close friend who’s fallen on hard times, it’s tougher to ignore, especially for young Officer Danny Boyle. It’s the start of another action-packed summer for the wise cracking Boyle and straight-arrow cop (now Chief of Detectives) John Ceepak down the Jersey Shore as they do their best to help Danny’s friend, a young nurse who claims she has been falsely accused of aggravated assault by a prestigious Sea Haven doctor. Ceepak’s unshakable code of honor is tested when he trusts that the nurse is telling the truth. It’s stretched to the limit when one of the nurse’s home health care patients turns up dead. Now Ceepak and Danny must answer the hard and horrible question: “Did we just help a friend get away with murder?” Get ready for another fun and fast-paced page-turner from Anthony and Agatha award–winner Chris Grabenstein.

#1 bestselling author James Patterson doles out the laughs in the first book in the hit series! Middle-schooler Jamie Grimm faces bullies and self-doubt as he chases his dream of becoming the world’s greatest comedian. Jamie Grimm is a middle schooler on a mission: he wants to become the world''s greatest standup comedian--even if he doesn''t have a lot to laugh about these days. He''s new in town and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn''t let Jamie''s wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible. But Jamie doesn''t let his situation get him down. When his Uncle Frankie mentions a contest called The Planet''s Funniest Kid Comic, Jamie knows he has to enter. But are the judges only rewarding him out of pity because of his wheelchair, like Stevie suggests? Will Jamie ever share the secret of his troubled past instead of hiding behind his comedy act? Prepare to laugh and cheer along with Jamie in this highly-illustrated, heartfelt middle school story. Buy this if you''re looking for: ★ an uplifting, empowering book to get kids more interested in reading ★ a kid-favorite gift for birthdays or holidays ★ a fresh illustrated read for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and graphic novels

Perfect for Halloween! From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello''s Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out. Halloween is near, the one day of the year when the ghostly plane is close enough to the human plane to allow mischief and mayhem. But the ghosts who have their eye on Zack aren''t thinking mischief, they are thinking murder. In the fourth volume of Chris Grabenstein''s popular Haunted Mysteries series, Zack must yet again do battle with malevolent spirits. And with perseverance and pluck, and the assistance of three dotty aunts, he must save his town from a 200-year-old threat. Once again Chris Grabenstein proves his mastery of the frightening and funny tale. Young readers, especially reluctant ones, have been inspired to read by Grabenstein''s quirky characters and deadly situations.

Being a cop on the Jersey Shore has its ups and downs in a series that’s “far more than a beach-book romp. Taut and satisfying crime fiction” (Booklist). A prominent citizen suffers a heart attack on the opening day of a brand-new boardwalk roller coaster in the seedy seaside resort town Sea Haven, New Jersey. Initially ruled a tragic accident, it isn’t long before there are suspicious hints of foul play—especially after the corpse of a stunning young beach beauty is discovered. Fortunately for mystery lovers, the straight-arrow cop John Ceepak and his wisecracking young partner Danny Boyle are on the case, a detective/sidekick duo critics have compared to Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin.

Daniel faces dastardly Number Two, who has slowly been amassing an underground army of aliens to help him enslave Earth''s population in preparation for the arrival of Number One, the most powerful alien in the universe and Daniel''s arch-nemesis.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello''s Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out. Zack is about to start at his new school, and his dad, who went there years before, tells Zack the stories of the haunted janitor’s closet, the specter of a dead crossing guard, and the Donnelly brothers, who perished in a suspicious fire. Dad doesn’t know that Zack has already met the Donnellys’ ghosts, who have warned Zack that there is an evil zombie under the school. Zack also learns that while zombies are usually content eating corpses, if they happen to bite someone who isn’t dead, that person also becomes a zombie. Before midterms, Zack is dealing with two zombies, while trying to protect a friend whose curiosity has put him on the zombies’ menu. Once again Chris Grabenstein proves his mastery of frightening and funny tales. Young readers, especially reluctant ones, have found inspiration in his quirky characters and deadly situations.

When their mother becomes ill, Claire and Charlie are forced to live with their Aunt Jenny, a stray cat named Curiosoty also wanders into the house. When he breaks Claire''s prized music box, she throws him back out into the streets. Soon, the children set out to rescue the Cat who is trying to help other forlorn felines find homes while evading the "cat catcher."