New Releases by Geoffrey Hayes

★ "With humor, directness, and unfailing honesty, Hayes’s sensitive cartooning and sharp dialogue play up the big emotions of these little mice." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review ★ "Hayes’ grasp of children’s inner lives is deep and lovely, granting them not only the complexity to experience resounding sorrow and guilt, but also the tools—with a little help and understanding—to overcome these difficult feelings. Hayes’ meticulously delineated figures exude a nearly tactile softness and warmth, and his generously detailed panels are fluidly and imaginatively laid out so that, even without the bombastic action, readers will engage at every step. An exemplary installment in an already successful series."—Booklist, Starred Review ★ "A simple narrative make this ideal for budding young readers. VERDICT: A wonderful and sensitively handled offering; purchase where the series is popular or where titles on death are needed."—School Library Journal, Starred Review Why won't Benny help? Penny found a dead salamander, but her brother Benny is refusing to help her bury it. Is it silly to hold a service for Little Sallie, or could this tiny salamander mean something more to the siblings? Geisel Award–winner Geoffrey Hayes shares this gentle tale of a child's early encounter with death. Bestselling author Geoffrey Hayes has written and illustrated over forty children's books, including the extremely popular series of early readers Otto and Uncle Tooth, the classic Bear by Himself, the Patrick Bear books, and When the Wind Blew by Caldecott Medal–winning author Margaret Wise Brown. His TOON Book series of Benny and Penny books has garnered multiple awards. In 2009, Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award given by the American Library Association for "the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English."

Is a robber loose in Boogle Bay? Otto the alligator investigates in this funny, high-spirited Otto & Uncle Tooth Mystery for early readers by Geoffrey Hayes, winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. Otto wants to be a hero like Uncle Tooth, so he follows the shady figure who is skulking around the riverboat docked in the harbor. Readers young and old will enjoy this madcap adventure full of silly disguises and mistaken identity. Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.

Otto and Uncle Tooth investigate mysteries and have great adventures in Boogle Bay in three separate tales.

Association for Library Service to Children Graphic Novels Reading List (Grades K-2) 2019 Texas Library Association’s Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List 2016 Association for Library Service to Children's Graphic Novels Reading List 2016 ★ ​"The text is easily accessible to young readers, with simple, repeating words, but also enforces ideas about controlling emotions and being responsible for one’s actions without being over-bearing. Children will easily relate to Penny and Benny as they grapple with sibling issues that are very real to this age group. The crafty charm of Hayes’s illustrations gives the book a timeless feel, while sleek panel variation and swooping action shots reestablish readers’s focus. Once again, Hayes has created a graphic novel that is inviting, relatable, but, most importantly, fun."—School Library Journal, Starred Review Geoffrey Hayes, winner of the Geisel for Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!, tells the story of two tiny mice who learn what it takes to be a leader. School Library Journal declares, "Once again, Hayes has created a graphic novel that is inviting, relatable, but, most importantly, fun."

A new addition to the premier first chapter book. When Otto gets lost in a deserted fun house, he discovers that it has been invaded by ghosts who once were a band of cutthroats and thieves. Will Otto find the secret exit in time or will he be trapped inside forever?

Illustrated in black-and-white. When a creepy fortune-teller moves into Boogle Bay, spooky things start happening. One by one, people disappear, and those who remain begin acting very oddly. Otto is convinced that zombie monsters are up to some sneaky tricks--he even spotted one skulking by the movie theater! Will the swamp zombies take over the town before Otto, his Cousin Olivia, and their Uncle Tooth solve the mystery and save everyone?

"In the mouse siblings' fourth book (Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! won a Geisel Award in 2010), Hayes brings beginning readers into the magic hour that precedes lights-out for the night. Sliding from bedtime story–inspired flights of imagination to flashlight-enabled frights to a secret journey outside to rescue a favorite toy from the dark of the playhouse, Benny and li'l sis Penny exhaust themselves as only children know how. As with all TOON books, the pure charm of the story has the added bonus of introducing and richly contextualizing word recognition for the kind of terms kids need to know, like pirates, spooky, BURP!, and princess dinosaur (a perfect rendition of sibling compromise). Hayes' sense of the bouncing rhythms of children's play, grasp of sibling social dynamics in true-to-life scenarios, and especially his adorably huggable, crayon-colored characters have made him the standard-bearer of early-reader comics."—Booklist It’s nearly time for lights out but Benny and Penny just can’t settle down. The moon has gone missing, there’s a flashlight to play with, Benny can’t sleep without his favorite pirate hat—and he left it inside the spooky backyard playhouse!

When Bunny asks for a night light his Papa suggests everything from the moon to a streetlamp, but Mama knows where to find just the right lamp. Images of the moon, stars, and a lantern glow in the dark. Full color.

Fred the dragon has a list of tasks he must complete in order to be a successful dragon—none of which comes naturally. But he's determined to make #5—eat people—work. Before you can say "pass the salt" he's gobbled up three people even though he doesn't have the stomach for it. Luckily a local shepherd, with the help of a giant and a witch, knows how to cure what ails him and get those pesky people out of his belly. It's happily-ever-after for everyone in ways you'd never expect. Geisel award-winning author/illustrator Geoffrey Hayes is a stepped reader maestro. The common threads between his wildly popular Uncle Tooth and Otto SIRs and the more recent Benny and Penny series (Toon Books) are clear and constant. The art is adorable, the characters are bursting with personality, and the stories are humorously subversive. From marauding pirates to misbehaving mice to a dragon who swallows people whole (and then continues to communicate with them in his belly!), Geoffrey always hits that sweet spot for the stepped reader audience—easy to decode, illustrative tales that tickle the funnybone.

"Learning to read is fun with TOON Books like Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker. Written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes, this book—like all the TOON Books graphic novel readers—allows kids to understand the story just by 'reading' the picture, with the text adding key details...With his newest book, Hayes demonstrates his keen appreciation of the politics of childhood as he shows how Benny and his younger sister Penny deal with a visit from their 'toy breaker' cousin Bo. In humorous contrast to the emotion-packed story, Hayes's watercolor illustrations depict a cozy world reminiscent of Beatrix Potter."—The Washington Post Benny and Penny hide every toy and tell Cousin Bo he can’t play with them. Will the three mice find a way to play without something getting torn, ripped, or snatched away? Geoffrey Hayes, the uncontested master of children's comics, thrills us with this hilarious tale of tiny cousins who discover a game that can’t ever be ruined.

The further adventures of Patrick the little teddy bear as he goes on a picnic with his mother, tries to avoid his nap, goes to the bakery to buy cookies, and contends with the bullying Big Bear.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner "A perfect example of a graphic novel designed just for young readers...Children will connect with the realistic dialogue and page-turning appeal of the story. They will be thrilled to enter the world of graphic novels."—American Library Association "Young children will love the graphic-novel format and the sweet, charming illustrations will draw them into the narrative. Fans of Geoffrey Hayes's popular Benny and Penny in Just Pretend won't be disappointed with this sequel."—School Library Journal Benny and his sister Penny know it’s wrong to sneak into someone else’s backyard but their mysterious new neighbor—or is it a monster?—may be a thief. They go snooping and discover a lot about themselves and…a new friend.Bestselling children’s artist Geoffrey Hayes enchants early readers with his charming and subtle storytelling. In this lively caper, the artist’s small-scale mice take on large-scale issues with enormous comics mastery.

By the fall of 2008, seven years after the fall of the Taliban regime, the future of Afghanistan's post-conflict transition looks more uncertain than ever. Driving this uncertainty is a security environment that has steadily deteriorated with each passing year, creating a level of instability even greater in Iraq, according to some indicators. However, insecurity is not the only dilemma that has threatened to undercut Afghanistan's transition to peace and stability. Problems of corruption and poor service delivery in the state coupled with the failure of the internationally-supported reconstruction process to improve the quality of life for so many Afghans trapped in grinding poverty has begun to erode public confidence in the new political order.

Benny tries to get rid of his little sister because he thinks that she is spoiling his game of pirates when she tries to join in with him.

Tyler is making Mama a special valentine, but he gets confused when his cousin Obie gives his mother a valentine first. On board pages.

As Bella and her family prepare for Christmas, Bella cannot wait until Santa comes. On board pages.

When it is too dark for Bunny to sleep, Papa suggests using light like that of stars and fireflies, but Mama finds the right light in their own burrow.

Patrick the bear watches his father's clown performance at the circus.

It's a topsy-turvy day in Puttyville, and Patrick Brown feels under the weather and glum. He's got a cold, Happy Joe (his favorite stuffed toy) has disappeared, not an inch of him is sleepy, and...Dr. Beaker is on his way over! What could be worse? With the tender loving care of his parents, Dr. Beaker's kindly manner, and a dose of bravery on his part, Patrick Bear feels better before too long.

Patrick and Pap Bear go to get a Christmas tree. When Patrick wants the littlest one, his dad comes up with a clever idea to please everyone! Patrick's voice will be familiar to anyone with a four-year-old, and the father-son exchanges will have both parents and kids laughing. With bright, adorable illustrations, this is the Christmas spirit at its best.

A little bear enjoys his moments alone.

Ducky Doodle loves sea monsters so much that he fails to recognize a crook when Doctor Ocular's Sea Monster Circus comes to Boogle Bay.

The young bears and other inhabitants of Puttyville have several brushes with magic as they meet the Lantern Keeper, Granny Crackbaggy, a wood sprite, and Lady Moon.

Illus. in full color. Is there a ghost loose in Boogle Bay? Young Otto the alligator and his Uncle Tooth find out in a funny, high-spirited whodunit for beginning readers.

Weaver Bear and Hanna want to make money to buy a Christmas tree, but their sympathy for a poor family changes their course of action.