New Releases by Jim Benton

ERNEST FANN IS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BATMAN…FAN! And as the most knowledgeable about all things super-heroic, it is up to Ernest to recruit the finest crime-fighters on Earth! Together with his babysitter, Harriet, his best friend, Jack, and his faithful fido, Ernest is ready to teach his recruits all about secret identities, the best ways to lurk, and how to stop crime…maybe? Join New York Times bestselling writer-illustrator Jim Benton (Catwad, Franny K. Stein) for the laugh-out-loud adventure of a lifetime!

FEATURING PREVIEWS OF TWO GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR YOUNG READERS! Struggling with understanding why his parents demand he hide his amazing superpowers, Clark Kent has no problem using a bit of super-speed or super-strength to give himself that extra edge as quarterback of the football team or while doing chores around the farm. And when LuthorCorp holds a competition to find the best and brightest for a summer internship in Metropolis, Clark decides to use his X-ray vision to cheat his way in, especially since it might be a way of getting out of Smallville. From New York Times bestselling author Brendan Reichs and artist Jerry Gaylord comes a fresh twist to a familiar face that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats! Also in this special edition… ERNEST FANN IS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BATMAN…FAN. Ernest Fann idolizes Batman. It might not even be much of a stretch to say he wants to model his life after him. So, with no training or superpowers, young Ernest takes on the name of Gerbilwing and decides to set up a crime fighting unit consisting of his best friend, his babysitter, and his dog. But things get complicated when Ernest and his friends visit a bank that happens to be in the middle of a robbery being committed by a werewolf! Will the Batman Squad taste defeat on their very first day of crime-fighting? Join New York Times bestselling writer-illustrator Jim Benton (Catwad, Franny K. Stein) for the laugh-out-loud adventure of a lifetime!

Batman fan Ernest Fann takes on the secret persona Gerbilwing and sets up a crime fighting unit with his friends and dog, but things become a little too real when Ernest and his friends visit a bank in the middle of a robbery. In graphic novel format.

Cuando Franny Stein, autodenominada científica loca, crea un robot para mostrar a sus amigos de la escuela las alegrías de la ciencia, termina aprendiendo algo de ellos.

Fans of Goosebumps and Bill Nye the Science Guy will fall head over heels for Franny K. Stein, who is back with another laugh-out-loud experimental adventure in the tenth book in the Mad Scientist series. Franny K. Stein has had quite enough of her feelings getting in the way. So she physically removes them with the help of one of her machines. But it turns out that not having feelings can make things even worse, especially when you’ve accidentally released a virus that’s turning everybody into toads. Good thing she has the help of her grandma, Granny Fran, and her Sense of Duty to help her shake the apathy.

*Winner of the 2022 Pop Culture Classroom Excellence in Graphic Literature Award for Best Children’s Nonfiction!* Two curious robots seek the answers to life’s most pressing—and hilarious—questions in this full-color graphic novel series by Jim Benton, New York Times bestselling author and creator of Franny K. Stein and Catwad! Join Jop and Blip as they follow their curiosity and investigate these seemingly odd questions using their own brand of logic, critical thinking skills, STEM knowledge, and humor. • Can you hear a penguin fart on Mars? • What if you wanted a dragon sandwich? • Why do we need TWO ears? With Jop and Blip, everything is worth knowing! Perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey and Dan Gutman!

Catwad, Blurmp, Pigmichael, and more of Jim Benton''s hilarious comic creations return in this roaringly funny fifth graphic novel! In this poignant and emotionally wrenching tale, famous curmudgeon Catwad faces loss, fear, and struggles with his own mortality when his best friend Blurmp receives news of... wait, who are we kidding? This isn''t a melodrama -- it''s another laugh-out-loud Catwad from Jim Benton! Catwad and Blurmp are back with more ridiculous fun that will have readers high-fiving each other with joy. This volume sees the big blue grump and his slow but lovable friend get a pet, try new hobbies, explore the newest videogame technology, and more! If you love laughing (and who doesn''t??), this book is for you!

"Franny es una niña muy inteligente, le encanta el colegio y tambeín hacer locos experimentos científicos. Pero sus compañeros piensan que es un poco rara... Franny, en su afán por ser aceptada, quiere convencerlos para que se interesen por la ciencia loca. Para conseguirlo, Franny construirá un robot y creará una fórmula para ser invisible."--Back cover.

Franny K. Stein is back with another laugh-out-loud experimental adventure in the ninth book in the Mad Scientist series from Jim Benton, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Dear Dumb Diary and It’s Happy Bunny series. Franny K. Stein isn’t a good baker. But when she sees that the fundraisers for the art and music departments at her school aren’t making enough money, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Using her genius mind and kitchen, which is really just another type of laboratory, she sets out to create The Most Delicious Muffin On Earth! Sales, of course, go through the roof. But bad things can happen when people become exposed to the best thing they’ve ever tasted. They can become...overenthusiastic.

In what is described as “an 8 year old’s fever dream,” New York Times bestselling author introduces us to Bill Waddler. Bill is a duck who dreams of being smothered by farting snakes. He also has a special gift. He is able to hear appliances complain. Imagine what toilets would complain about. Bill doesn’t need to imagine. While working as a cash-only hay seller (that doesn’t accept credit cards) , Bill doesn’t know that he, and a very confused orange juice sales clerk, are about to save the world. If you could hear this book complain, it would be saying “where have you been all my life?”

¡Pangato y Buamp regresan con más aventuras! En esta nueva colección de historias divertidas, el dinámico dúo felino explora las artes plásticas, viaja a una realidad alternativa donde el mundo se ha vuelto extraordinariamente tonto, juega videojuegos y ¡mucho más! Descubre desde monstruos debajo de la cama de Buamp hasta las razones por las que NUNCA debes comer ensalada, ¡porque este nuevo volumen de Pangato tiene de todo un poco!"--

Franny K. Stein is back with another laugh-out-loud experimental adventure in the eighth book in the Mad Scientist series from Jim Benton, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Dear Dumb Diary and It’s Happy Bunny series. Franny K. Stein isn’t a fan of glamour. She doesn’t style her hair, the thought of wearing makeup makes her want to gag, and she couldn’t care less about wearing dressy dresses when she’d much prefer her lab coat. But sometimes Franny wonders if her mom wishes she were different. Which gives Franny an idea…for an experiment! What if she can turn the beauty products her mom loves into something more exciting? Every experiment has its experimental error, and when Franny’s hair takes on a life of its own, Franny must save the day (and her hair) to finally realize her mom loves her just the way she is.

An all-new series from New York Times bestselling author, Jim Benton! From New York Times bestselling author Jim Benton, meet Catwad! He''s blue, he''s a bit of a grouch, and his best friend is a dim-witted cat named Blurmp who can see the bright side of anything. From pizza and computers, to love and happiness, this crabby tabby has a funny take on just about everything, and he''s not afraid to share it. This collection of short comic stories will make even the grumpiest of grouches crack up and is not to be missed!

A new series from the bestselling author of Dear Dumb Diary and Franny K. Stein! Fresh from his intergalactic adventure, Victor is casting about for something new to apply his formidable know how to. The obvious next step is cello-making. However, the not so mellifluous sounds that emanate from his creations are enough to wake the dead. That''s right, there are zombies let loose and it''s up to Victor, Patty, and the long-suffering, always faithful Dumpylumps to not get eaten.

Jim Benton, bestselling author of Dear Dumb Diary and Franny K. Stein, brings us a fresh new middle grade novel about breaking all the rules! There''s nothing Jake likes more than some good trash-picking, so when his elderly neighbors move out and leave an especially promising-looking pile of household refuse on the curb, he goes right for it. He only has the chance to grab one box before his mom catches him and orders him in for dinner, though. When mysterious goings-on begin to occur in the neighborhood, the trio investigates the hidden box from Jack''s garage. In it, they find the Secret Parent''s Handbook and with it all the means to subvert the irrational rules and petty tyranny of their home lives. No more clean rooms! No more vegetables! No more brushed hair or washed hands! It''s all videogames and junk food all the time! But the authorities -- and the resistance -- have taken notice of the strange goings-on in Jack and his friends'' neighborhood. And they are closing in . . .

A new series from the bestselling author of Dear Dumb Diary and Franny K. Stein! MEET VICTOR, TOTAL EXPERT IN EVERYTHING(except Guy Who Cleans Up Bedrooms) With his confidence, imagination, and trusty sidekick Dumpylumps (who happens to be a duck), there''s no telling what trouble he''ll get into. Lucky for him, he has a knack for getting himself out of trouble, too. So when he finds himself at the center of an intergalactic conflict, he''s pretty sure the only way out is his top-secret kitchen concoction; his teacher, the extraordinary Mrs. Nozzleburp; and the help of his friend Patti. Will he be able to save the day and find his way back to class? And just what is he going to do next?

A bear and a frog decide to climb a mountain. The bear is determined to reach the top, but the frog isn’t so sure. When everyone says you’ve gone far enough, how do you decide to keep going? A whimsical journey of self-discovery, as well as a gentle look at the ups and downs of friendship, this inspirational book features the elegant art and gentle humor of cartoonist’s cartoonist Jim Benton.

Jim Benton''s first cartoon collection was nominated for an Eisner. This new volume collects more of Jim''s most popular strips from Reddit, shining a light on talking animals, relationships, fart jokes, and death. From whimsical to cutting, from gross to poignant, Benton''s grasp of the form is on full and hilarious display.

Return to Mackerel Middle School with a special full-color extra-dumb diary from the New York Times–bestselling author! Life at Mackerel Middle School is as dumb as ever—but Jamie Kelly may have finally found the key to fame, fortune, and fabulousness. Together with Isabella and Angeline, she’s come up with a moneymaking idea, and it has to do with food. Everyone likes food! They’re going to be rich! The only problem? They have to come up with something that people actually want to eat. Jamie has some sophisticated thoughts on food, like, “She was manipulating us like dough. Like the sweet, delicious dough that we are. And she was baking us into the type of delicious cookies you can only get from dough like us. And she was putting sprinkles of us on top of us, and—forget it. I’m hungry. I want some cookies.” This is sure to go well. Praise for Jim Benton’s books “An amusing antic sensibility.” —Publishers Weekly “Preteens will be onboard immediately.” —Kirkus Reviews

"My love for you goes everywhere, and anywhere you go. It follows you both day and night, through rain, and sun, and snow. You might not always see my love, but it goes eveywhere. Even if you go out walking in your underwear!"--Amazon.com.

Un tuyau d''égout éclate dans une école et la commission scolaire commence à envoyer des élèves à l''école secondaire Malpartie, l''école de Jasmine. « ELLE » fait alors son entrée... « ELLE », c''est une créature amicale, fabuleuse, intelligente, talentueuse, et absolument extraordinaire. « ELLE » est encore plus extraordinaire que la diabolique Isabelle. « ELLE » est encore plus irrésistible que la belle Angéline. Bref, c''est assez pour donner à Jasmine l''envie de vomir. Elle ne peut s''arrêter de penser : est-ce humainement possible pour une fille d''être encore plus parfaite que la fille la plus parfaite du monde? When a sewage line bursts in another school, that school district starts sending kids over to Mackerel Middle School. That''s when "she" shows up. "She" is friendly, fabulous, smart, totally talented, and an all-around amazing individual. "She" is more brilliantly diabolical than Isabella, as blindly loyal as Stinker, and even harder-to-resist than Angeline. It''s enough to make Jamie throw up a little. And she just can''t help but wonder: Is it humanly possible for a girl to be more perfectly perfect than the most perfect girl in the world? Original title: The Problem With Here Is That It''s Where I''m From

New York Times–Bestselling Author: Middle schooler Jamie Kelly spends lots of time writing in her diary—but right now she’s taking a peek at someone else’s . . . It’s not easy being a middle-schooler, and nobody knows that better than Jamie Kelly. There are surprises around every corner: some good, some bad, all dumb. But when Jamie inherits a trunk of her grandmother’s things, she never expects to find the biggest surprise of all—Grandma’s diary. Violating the privacy of a diary is something Jamie would never do . . . unless she was absolutely certain that she wanted to do it. And when she does, she learns that, deep down, everyone is exactly the same. Dumb. By the way, Jamie still has no idea that anyone is reading her diary, so please, please, please don’t tell her. And definitely don’t tell her that she’s the star of her very own Dear Dumb Diary movie, available on streaming. (Her glamorous ego might not be able to handle it.)

Jim Benton brings on the humor in a brand-new line of board books! Robot kitties everywhere!They''re on the ground. They''re in the air.They''re flying low. They''re flying high,some far away, and some nearby.Jim Benton, the international bestselling author and illustrator of Dear Dumb Diary, presents a clever, rollicking new board book program that will leave toddlers wide-eyed and laughing. Fans of Sandra Boynton will rejoice in this fresh line of funny stories!Each board book features: - Hilarious stories based on early concepts - Endearing characters- Young, bold, colorful artwork

Jim Benton brings on the humor in a brand-new line of board books! I have a fnurgle but I can''t find him.Where''s my fnurgle?Oh, look. My fnurgle''s on the chair.Don''t you see my fnurgle there?Jim Benton, the international bestselling author and illustrator of Dear Dumb Diary, presents a clever, rollicking new board book program that will leave toddlers wide-eyed and laughing. Fans of Sandra Boynton will rejoice in this fresh line of funny stories!Each board book features: - Hilarious stories based on early concepts - Endearing characters- Young, bold, colorful artwork

Jim Benton brings on the humor in a brand-new line of board books! Piggy paints big. Piggy paints little.Piggy paints pigs with a kitty in the middle.Piggy paints little. Piggy paints big.Piggy paints a pretty little polka-dot pig.Jim Benton, the international bestselling author and illustrator of Dear Dumb Diary, presents a clever, rollicking new board book program that will leave toddlers wide-eyed and laughing. Fans of Sandra Boynton will rejoice in this fresh line of funny stories!Each board book features: - Hilarious stories based on early concepts - Endearing characters- Young, bold, colorful artwork

One silly monster searches for his super stinky socks in this clever counting book from the New York-Times–bestselling author of the Catwad series! Jim Benton, “the mastermind behind the It’s Happy Bunny and Dear Dumb Diary series” (Publishers Weekly), presents a rollicking new book that will leave toddlers laughing while they learn about counting . . . 1 stinky sock. I’ll tell you why it stinks. I used it to wash dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. 2 stinky socks. I found one in my shoe. It’s black and white just like a skunk and smells as bad—pee-eww!

Bestselling cartoonist Jim Benton of It’s Happy Bunny and Dear Dumb Diary fame has also been posting whimsical, dry-humored, and at-times nasty cartoons on Reddit.com, where nearly half of the top-100 cartoons on the “Cartoons” subreddit are his. Now, for the first time, these cartoons have been gathered into a single book. From wry observations about the absurdities of life and acerbic comments to poetic musings, from cats and dogs to humans, and from one style to another, this compendium will astound readers as it exposes them to the breadth of Benton’s seemingly inexhaustible talent for humor.

The hilarious and bestselling series from Jim Benton continues! Jamie, Isabella, and Angeline have known each other for a long time. They''ve even become friends -- whether Jamie likes it or not. But when the trio starts a friendly competition, all bets are off. The loser will be treated to a game of Dare or Worse Dare... with Isabella. (And Jamie''s pretty sure that''s like having a banana-peeling contest with a starving monkey. The monkey always wins.) What could go wrong? Probably everything. And it''s probably all that blondwad Angeline''s fault. Probably. Jamie still has no idea that anyone is reading her diary, so please, please, please don''t tell her. And definitely don''t tell her that she''s the star of her very own Dear Dumb Diary movie, available on DVD. (Her glamorous ego might not be able to handle it.)

Cher journal full nul, Avant d''aller à l''école, Isabelle m''a demandé de la coiffer dans les toilettes des filles. Ses cheveux sont vraiment très beaux. Ils sont noirs, épais et brillants, comme la crinière d''un lion majestueux, mais en noir. Elle avait un examen plus tard et elle avait écrit les réponses sur une tranche de saucisson de son sandwich. Si le prof la voit, elle pourra juste manger le sandwich et détruire les preuves. Mais elle n''y pensait plus et a accidentellement mangé son dîner pendant que je la coiffais. Se faire belle peut vraiment vous affamer!