New Releases by Jon Scieszka

This series is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets The Bad Guys in a funny, visually daring adventure series for reluctant readers, teachers, and librarians alike. This hilarious, visually groundbreaking read is the conclusion to a major series by children's literature legend Jon Scieszka. The book follows a final mission, where AlphaWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug must find a planet fit for human life after we've finally made Earth unlivable. Time is up for our friends the AstroNuts. In fact, time is up for you, too. If they don't succeed on this mission, Earth is doomed! So when the team finds out they're being sent to a place called "the perfect planet," their mission sounds way too easy. Unfortunately, the second they land, they realize they'll be dealing with the most dangerous species of all time . . . humans. Huh? Where in the universe is this supposedly perfect place? And how will the Nuts manage to convince the humans to risk death . . . for the sake of their lives?! Featuring full-color illustrations throughout, Planet Earth as the narrator, an out-of-this-world gatefold, and how-to-draw pages in the back, eager and reluctant readers alike will be over the moon about this new mission. Full of laugh-out-loud humor with a thoughtful commentary on the reality of climate change at the core of the story, this creatively illustrated, full-color, action-packed space saga is a can't-put-it-down page-turner for readers of all levels and fans ready to blast past Dogman. EXCITING BIG-NAME TALENT: Jon Scieszka is one of the biggest names in children's books. The first National Ambassador of Young People's literature, he and Steven Weinberg toured extensively for this series. They'll continue making their way around the world for Book 3! You might have met them at ALA, the National Book Festival, the Rabbit HOle, the Brooklyn Book Festival, the Illinois Reading Council, the Tween Reads Book Festival, the Texas Book Festival, the NYC Department of Education Fall Conference, the 826 Story Soirée in New York, or NCTE in Baltimore! POPULAR SERIES: MISSIONS 1 and 2 received starred reviews, amazing blurbs, and tons of industry love. MISSION 1 was an Amazon Best Book of the Year! Dav Pilkey, Jennifer Holm, LeUyen Pham, and Gene Luen Yang are all big fans—check out those blurbs! FUN AND SCIENTIFIC: The book incorporates STEM elements in a way that readers will find fun and entertaining, while teachers and librarians will find it clever and original. PERFECT FOR BUDDING GRETA THUNBERGS: This book successfully talks about the effect of climate change and impels its readers to take action, without feeling didactic or message-y at all. TIES TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES: Readers will recognize quite a few dilemmas the AstroNuts face from current events on Earth. Making connections between fiction and non-fiction is a big developmental milestone for young readers, and this book works as an effective allegory for our most dire contemporary concerns. RELUCTANT READER–FRIENDLY: The book is a great vehicle for reluctant readers, featuring cool topics and bright art, and relying on visual literacy and very few words. A CONSTELLATION OF TOPICS: Space, STEM, and talking animals: There's something here for every reader! LOLs FOR DAYS: The book is funny and will delight kids who love books like Wimpy Kid, The 39-Story Treehouse, Dog Man, and Captain Underpants. While it contains serious ideas, it's a quick, easy, and fun visual read. GROUNDBREAKING DESIGN: The hundreds of pages of full-color art are dynamic and engaging—and it doesn't look like anything else out there. Steven Weinberg bases his art on public domain pieces from the Smithsonian museum! Teachers turn to the books for this element of the art and use it in classrooms to talk about collage, idea sourcing, history, and art medium. PERFECT ART PROJECT: On the website, kids can download pages of the "original" art and use it to make their own hybrid animal collages. Perfect for: • Perfect for fans of Dog Man, Big Nate, Wimpy Kid, and Captain Underpants • Families who care about the environment • Grandparents • Teachers and educators who are looking to introduce STEM and environmental topics to children • Librarians

In the fifth book of the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein series, Frank Einstein (kid genius, scientist, and inventor) and his best friend, Watson, pair up with Klink (a self-assembled artificial-intelligence entity) and Klank (a mostly self-assembled and artificial almost intelligence entity) to compete with T. Edison, their classmate and archrival. This time they’re studying the science and mysteries of our very own home planet: Earth!

More clever science experiments, funny jokes, and robot hijinks await readers in book four of the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein chapter book series from the mad scientist team of Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real science facts with adventure and humor, making these books ideal for STEM education. This latest installment examines the quest to unlock the power behind the science of “all connected life.” Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring Frank’s inventions—the robots Klink and Klank—to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions. In the fourth book in the series, Frank—along with his best friend, Watson, and Klink and Klank—once again finds himself in competition with his classmate and archrival T. Edison and his sign-language-speaking sidekick, Mr. Chimp, over Frank’s newest invention: the EvoBlaster Belt, which allows the user to evolve and devolve into other forms of life, blasting from one species to another. Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, “This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to ‘keep asking questions and finding your own answers’ fires on all cylinders,” while Publishers Weekly says that the series “proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful.” Read all the books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein series: Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Book 1), Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger (Book 2), Frank Einstein and the BrainTurbo (Book 3), and Frank Einstein and the EvoBlaster Belt (Book 4). Visit frankeinsteinbooks.com for more information.

"Huge laughs and great science—the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend." —Mac Barnett, author of Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two Frank Einstein (kid-genius scientist and inventor) and his best friend Watson, along with Klink (a self-assembled artificial intelligence entity), create the BrainTurbo to power-boost the human body and help their baseball-pitching pal Janegoodall make the team. But when Klank (a mostly self-assembled and artificial almost intelligence entity) goes missing, they must first rescue their robot pal and stop T. Edison—Frank’s classmate and archrival—from stealing their latest invention and using it against them!

A collection of horror and ghost stories featuring monsters, ghosts and more. Eleven masters of suspense Kelly Barnhill, Michael Buckley, Adam Gidwitz, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown, Claire Legrand, Nikki Loftin, Daniel Jos Older, Dav Pilkey, R.L. Stine, and Rita Williams-Garcia have come together to bring you a bone-chilling collection of original ghost stories with illustrations by Gris Grimly, perfect for sharing around the campfire, reading under the covers with a flashlight, and scaring your friends' pants off.

Like the New York Times bestselling Smash! Crash! and Truckery Rhymes, this truck-tastic alphabet adventure is full of creativity, fun, and truck-loving action! Honk if you love trucks—and get ready to play with your As, Bs, and construction Cs! This rollicking, boisterous, bold, concept picture book features your favorite Trucktown friends as they race around town, pointing out quirky items and actions that incorporate all the letters of the alphabet. Rev your engines and get ready for rowdy fun from A to Z!

Jon Scieszka's Guys Read anthology series for tweens turns to nonfiction in its fifth volume, True Stories. The fifth installment in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading features ten stories that are 100% amazing, 100% adventurous, 100% unbelievable—and 100% true. A star-studded group of award-winning nonfiction authors and journalists provides something for every reader, all aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Compiled and edited by real-life literature legend Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: True Stories is a mind-blowing collection of essays, biographies, how-to guides, and more, all proving that the truth is most definitely out there. Supports the Common Core State Standards

Child genius Frank Einstein tries to invent a robot that can learn on its own, and after an accident brings Klink and Klank to life, they work to help Frank perfect his Antimatter Motor until his nemesis steals the robots for his doomsday plan.

Other Worlds, the fourth volume in Jon Scieszka's Guys Read anthology series for tween boys, features ten thrilling new tales of science fiction and fantasy from some of the biggest names in children's literature.

Encourage creativity with this wildly entertaining picture book mash-up from the minds of Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. Alex has been given a saccharine, sappy, silly-sweet picture book about Birthday Bunny that his grandma found at a garage sale. Alex isn’t interested—until he decides to make the book something he’d actually like to read. So he takes out his pencil, sharpens his creativity, and totally transforms the story! Birthday Bunny becomes Battle Bunny, and the rabbit’s innocent journey through the forest morphs into a supersecret mission to unleash an evil plan—a plan that only Alex can stop. Featuring layered, original artwork that emphasizes Alex’s additions, this dynamic exploration of creative storytelling is sure to engage and inspire.

A star-studded anthology with a devilish hook, whose proceeds benefit 826nyc: the fabulous literacy non-profit founded by Dave Eggers. Can you imagine the most cantankerous book editor alive? Part Voldemort, part Cruella de Vil (if she were a dude), and worse in appearance and odor than a gluttonous farm pig? A man who makes no secret of his love of cheese or his disdain of unworthy authors? That man is Herman Mildew. The anthology opens with an invitation to a party, care of this insufferable monster, where more than 80 of the most talented, bestselling and recognizable names in YA and children’s fiction learn that they are suspects in his murder. All must provide alibis in brief first-person entries. The problem is that all of them are liars, all of them are fabulists, and all have something to hide...

Class Acts is your hall pass to great kids' books! In this sampler, New York Times bestselling authors Tim Green (Football Genius), Dan Gutman (The Genius Files), Gordon Korman (Ungifted), Adam Rex (The Cold Cereal Saga), and Jon Scieszka (Guys Read) are teaming up with other stellar middle-grade authors: Bryan Chick (The Secret Zoo), Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson (The Familiars), Christopher Healy (The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom), Nils Johnson-Shelton (Otherworld Chronicles), Jeramey Kraatz (The Cloak Society), Christopher Krovatin (Gravediggers), and Maryrose Wood (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place). Preview twelve awesome books, get hooked on favorite series, and decide for yourself which author is "best in class."

The Sports Pages, the third volume in Jon Scieszka's Guys Read Library of Great Reading, features ten short stories guaranteed to put you in the ring, under the basket, and right behind home plate. From fiction to nonfiction, from baseball to mixed martial arts and everything in between, these are a collection of stories about the rush of victory and the crush of defeat on and off the field. Authors include Dustin Brown, James Brown, Joseph Bruchac, Chris Crutcher, Tim Green, Dan Gutman, Gordon Korman, Chris Rylander, Anne Ursu, and Jacqueline Woodson, with illustrations by Dan Santat.

With only one hundred more Spaceheadz to sign up, Michael K.'s friends start planning an Earth-saving party but Michael fears the Brainwave might be used for a much more sinister purpose.

Will’s got it rough. He’s practically the only kid in school who hasn’t found out that he’s a wizard or a vampire or the child of a Norse god. But when a supervillain takes over the school and all the kids with powers are gone, it’s up to Will to try and save the day. A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Ernest is annoying. Ernest is awkward. Ernest is…Ernest. And Dean wants nothing to do with him, until Ernest wins the most spectacular trip in the history of America – and is allowed to bring one friend. A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Jack isn’t like the Pagoda brothers. He knows the difference between fun and stupid. Launching yourself across the backyard in a makeshift Roman catapult? Fun. Smoking an entire pack of cigarettes as fast as possible? Stupid. But when it comes to emergency self-surgery…Jack still has something to learn. A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Funny Business, the first volume in Jon Scieszka's Guys Read Library of Great Reading, features ten short stories guaranteed to delight, amuse, and possibly make you spit your milk in your friend's face. There's something for everyone in this collection of short stories from some of the funniest writers around. This hilarious, offbeat first installment in the Guys Read Library is 100% grade-A humor, guaranteed to have kids of all ages asking for more. Authors include Mac Barnett, Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo & Jon Scieszka, Paul Feig, Jack Gantos, Jeff Kinney, David Lubar, Adam Rex, and David Yoo, with illustrations by Adam Rex.

Presents a collection of three stories from Trucktown, previously published separately.

Michael K. just started fifth grade at a new school. As if that wasn’t hard enough, the kids he seems to have made friends with apparently aren’t kids at all. They are aliens. Real aliens, who have invaded our planet disguised as school children and a hamster. They have a mission to complete: to convince 3,400,001 kids to BE SPHDZ in order to save the world! But with a hamster as their leader, "kids" who talk like walking advertisements, and Michael K. as their first convert, will the SPHDZ be able to keep their cover and pull off their assignment? Several websites mentioned in the book will be live…giving readers a full interactive experience.

Melvin is baffled by who gave him a valentine. Can he figure out who it is when Rita beeps her way onto his radar?

The trucks speculate about what could be inside a beautifully wrapped gift box.

The book that launched the careers of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith?now a bilingual flip-over book! You may think you know the story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, but now here?s the story as you?ve never heard it before. In the highly acclaimed, bestselling collaboration between Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, Alexander T. Wolf tells his side of the story. Was it premeditated swineacide or simply an accident? For the first time, the full English and Spanish editions of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! are combined in a bilingual flipover book.

Melvin has a flat tire and needs a new one. He rolls into a spooky junkyard and finds just what he needs: a golden! But what happens when a junkyard ghost wants it back?

"Good, sarcastic fun that smart-alecks of all ages will love." --Amazon.com

On a snow day, all the trucks go out to play. And when they're done, the streets are clear.

The Trucktown trucks follow the road signs directing them to Pete's party.

"I cannot tell a lie," said General George Washington. "The Time Warp Trio helped me cross the Delaware River and surprise the enemy troops." So how did Christmas Eve in the twenty-first century turn into Christmas Day in 1776? Well, it was sort of an accident. And for once, it wasn't Joe's, Sam's, and Fred's fault! Can American history survive the Time Warp Trio? You'll just have to ask Sam's time-warping great-granddaughter Samantha . . . and her leaky cat.

Joe, Jodie, and Anna are not in Brooklyn anymore! They've warped back to fourteenth century medieval Scotland, and according to old Scottish lore, The Book is hidden somewhere in the walls of a Scottish castle. Join the Time Warp Trio as they help Lady Agnes battle the English, fight off Mad Jack one more time, and warp themselves back to present-day Brooklyn, all in a day's work!