Most Popular Books by Chris Van Dusen

“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.

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.

If I built a car, it''d be totally new! Here are a few of the things that I''d do. . . . Young Jack is giving an eye-opening tour of the car he''d like to build. There''s a snack bar, a pool, and even a robot named Robert to act as chauffeur. With Jack''s soaring imagination in the driver''s seat, we''re deep-sea diving one minute and flying high above traffic the next in this whimsical, tantalizing take on the car of the future. Illustrations packed with witty detail, bright colors, and chrome recall the fabulous fifties and an era of classic American automobiles. Infectious rhythm and clever invention make this wonderful read-aloud a launch pad for imaginative fun.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A joyful and inventive read-aloud, part of the award-winning If I Built series! Join Jack and his larger-than-life imagination as he dreams up his ideal town, where everyone is welcome. “Sunny, inclusive, and imaginary.”—Kirkus Reviews "My town will be swanky! My town will be swell! My town will be prized as the best place to dwell!" Jack has some great ideas for improving the community he lives in. And who better to describe them to than Mayor McKay! As they walk through the park together, Jack eagerly tells the mayor his plans for improving their town. And what a town he has dreamed up! The zoo is packed with fantastic, Jurassic, and mythical creatures, the mail is delivered by super-fast hover vans, the health clinic travels right to your door, and a parade passes through each and every week. And don''t forget the robots! All of Jack''s plans include the most exciting and useful serving machines. But best of all, everything is free! Jack''s over-the-top creativity and infectious enthusiasm will inspire budding young inventors. It''s a story time romp that you''ll want to return to again and again.

While spending the day in their boat on the sea, Mr. Magee and his dog get caught up in wacky adventures with a playful pod of whales. Full color.

“With all the bases covered — musical text, entertaining artwork, and surefire subject matter — this title bats 1,000 for group or lapsit read-alouds.” — School Library Journal 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. 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 his science smarts, and devises a plan that will save the day in a spectacular way. Once again, with visual humor, dizzying perspectives, perfect pacing, and rollicking rhyme, Chris Van Dusen delivers a hit that will make readers stand up and cheer.

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.

In this exuberant addition to the award-winning If I Built series, Jack fantasizes about his dream school—from classroom to cafeteria, from library to playground! This edition features optional audio narration for compatible ebook readers. “My school will amaze you. My school will astound. By far the most fabulous school to be found!” Jack is back! And this time, his imagination takes him back to school, where he dreams up the ideal environment for him and his classmates. If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels, 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. Complete with detailed, futuristic illustrations, bright colors, and an infectious rhythm, this out-of-this-world read-aloud is a master class in imaginative fun.

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.

The much-anticipated follow-up to the E. B. White Award-winning picture book If I Built a Car In If I Built a Car, imaginative Jack dreamed up a whimsical fantasy ride that could do just about anything. Now he''s back and ready to build the house of his dreams, complete with a racetrack, flying room, and gigantic slide. Jack''s limitless creativity and infectious enthusiasm will inspire budding young inventors to imagine their own fantastical designs. Chris Van Dusen''s vibrant illustrations marry retro appeal with futuristic style as he, once again, gives readers a delightfully rhyming text that absolutely begs to be read aloud.

Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture-book prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series. Mr Watson and Mrs Watson live ordinary lives. Sometimes their lives feel a bit too ordinary. Sometimes they wish something different would happen. And one day it does, when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door...In a delightful origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series, a tiny piglet brings love (and chaos) to Deckawoo Drive - and the Watsons'' lives will never be the same.

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.

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.

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.