New Release Books by Chris Van Dusen

That big truck is stuck! How will the island residents get where they''re going? A tale of community and ingenuity from the celebrated Chris Van Dusen, inspired by a true story. When a big truck and its big load get stuck on a narrow road, traffic on the little island comes to a halt. Some cars need to go south and some have to travel north. How will Meg get to her swim meet? What about Barry''s ballet class? Luckily, the kids come up with an ingenious solution: why not just swap cars? Inspired by an incident that happened on Vinalhaven, Maine, Chris Van Dusen tells a fun tale of resourcefulness and community through clever, rhyming wordplay and whimsical illustrations, sprinkled with plenty of cars and trucks for transportation-loving readers.

"This eloquent, evocative book about compassion is perfect for sparking discussions on prejudice. A sensational choice." --School Library Journal Hattie McFadden is a born explorer. Every morning she paddles out in her canoe to discover something new on the lake, singing a little song along the way. When her singing lures a huge mysterious beast from the depths of the lake, everyone in town is terrified--except Hattie, who looks into the creature''s friendly, curious eyes and knows that this is no monster. She befriends the giant and names him Hudson. But how can she make the frightened, hostile townspeople see that he isn''t scary or dangerous at all? Chris Van Dusen brings his colorful, perspective-bending artwork to this satisfying story about acceptance, friendship, and sticking up for those who are different.

Imaginative Jack describes the kind of house he would build--one with a racetrack, a flying room, and a gigantic slide.

In this exuberant companion to If I Built a Car, a boy fantasizes about his dream school--from classroom to cafeteria to library to playground. My school will amaze you. My school will astound. By far the most fabulous school to be found! Perfectly planned and impeccably clean. On a scale, 1 to 10, it''s more like 15! And learning is fun in a place that''s fun, too. If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more. The inventive boy who described his ideal car and house in previous books is dreaming even bigger this time.

When Hattie''s singing rouses a giant beast from the lake, everyone in town is terrified except Hattie, who works to convince the townsfolk that Hudson is not dangerous.

Randy likes space, robots, and baseball, but he can''t ace everything . . . or can he? Chris Van Dusen knocks one out of the park with a comical ode to ingenuity. Randy Riley loves two things: science and baseball. When it comes to the solar system, the constellations, and all things robot, Randy is a genius. But on the baseball diamond? Not so much. He tries . . . but whiffs every time. Then, one night, Randy sees something shocking through his Space Boy telescope: it’s a fireball, and it’s headed right for his town! Randy does the math, summons all of his science smarts, and devises a plan that will save the day in a spectacular way. Once again, Chris Van Dusen winds up his visual humor, dizzying perspectives, perfect pacing, and rollicking rhyme and delivers a hit to make readers stand up and cheer.

“The verse is sprightly, but the pictures are the true stunners.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own, but they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community?—?and a hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

A man and his dog have a whale of a time when their boat trip leads to unexpected adventure in this charmingly illustrated verse children’s book. With enough lunch for three, Mr. Magee and his dog Dee head out to the sea. But what begins as a fun day in the sun turns a bit bumpy when one playful whale decides to say hello. Soon the crew that once was floating finds themselves flying! How will they get down? Who will come to their rescue? And when will they ever get to eat lunch? Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee is a great read-aloud book, sure to provide fits of giggles.

Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when all of a sudden they find themselves plunging down a mountain and teetering on the edge of a huge waterfall! How will they find their way out of this slippery situation? Chris Van Dusen, the creator of Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, has filled this new adventure with charming illustrations and a playful, rhyming text. A fun read-aloud for children (and adults!) on campouts or snuggling at home!

When haughty King Hugo tangles with a sorceress, she causes him to see himself in a more realistic light.

One winter morning, Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee, head out bright and early to learn how to ski. But what begins as a pleasant day in the snow quickly goes downhill when a run-in with a curious moose sends them flying through the air and hanging above an abyss! How will Dee and Magee find their way out of this snowy situation? Chris Van Dusen, the creator of Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee and A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, has crafted yet another fun-filled adventure for Magee fans old and new.

Jack describes the kind of car he would build--one with amazing accessories and with the capability of traveling on land, in the air, and on and under the sea.

Persuaded by the word "treating" to dress up as a princess for Halloween, Mercy the pig''s trick-or-treat outing has some very unexpected results.

Mr. Watson''s usual Saturday drive in his Cadillac with his favorite pig, Mercy, turns into an adventure when an unexpected passenger shows up in the back seat and Mercy finds herself behind the wheel.

A sexy, high-concept, behind-the-scenes peek at the lives and loves of Seattle Grace''s most popular doctors . . . On ABC''s mega-hit Grey''s Anatomy, when surgical interns Meredith, Cristina, Izzie, George, and Alex (not to mention neurosurgeon Derek, aka Dr. McDreamy) arent putting in long hours at Seattle Grace Hospital, theyre flirting, gossiping, and drowning their sorrows at the Emerald City Bar. In one location, Nurse Debbie sees it all; in the other, Joe the bartender hears it all . . . Grey''s Anatomy is styled as two books in one -- read from one side to get Debbie''s hospital scuttlebutt, and from the other for Joe''s alcohol-fueled tidbits. Notes from the Nurse''s Station and Overheard at the Emerald City Bar are packed with new information on pivotal events. This is the book the show''s millions of fans cant wait to read.

After Mercy the pig snuggles to sleep with the Watsons, all three awaken with the bed teetering on the edge of a big hole in the floor.

Si yo dise?ara un auto, ¡ser?a totalmente novedoso! Pablo ha dise?ado lo ?ltimo en autos fant?sticos. Inspirado en zepelines y trenes, Cadillacs y aviones viejos, con colores brillantes y mucho cromo resplandeciente, esta maravilla genial est? ¡lista para viajar! Tiene chimenea, piscina y ¡hasta tiene un bar! Luego de un paseo por el fabuloso interior, Roberto el Robot enciende el motor . . . Pablo y su pap? parten rumbo a la prueba de rodaje m?s incre?ble de la historia.