Book Finder

Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find … nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary — and finding it in a manner you’d never expect.

It all starts here: The thrilling story of Steve Brixton’s first case. Our hero has a national treasure to recover, a criminal mastermind to unmask, and a social studies report due Monday – all while on the run from cops, thugs, and secret-agent librarians. (Goodreads)

Meet Daniel Funk, a regular guy who’s stuck living in a house full of girls. Why couldn’t he have a brother instead of all those sisters? That would be so cool. When Daniel shrinks to the size of the fourth toe on his left foot, he discovers that he actually does have a brother. A little brother. A very little brother. He’s Pablo Funk, Daniel’s tiny twin, who is a toeful of trouble. When Daniel and Pablo decide to have some fun at their sisters’ party and let loose a giant hissing cockroach just to watch the girls scream, they find out that it’s dangerous to be so small. This is the first book in the Daniel Funk series.

School’s out! Everyone’s favorite amoeba is headed to summer camp! Squish’s summer is turning out to be terrifying! For one thing, Squish can’t swim. And to make matters worse, his new camp friend is a Hydra (scientific fact: A hydra’s tentacles can paralyze you!). Will Squish sink or will he swim this summer?

It’s a brand new school year for everyone’s favorite amoeba! Will Squish finally get to sit with the cool kids at lunch? Will Pod stop the giant asteroid from destroying the world? Will the leeches be the end of Super Amoeba? And what makes cafeteria nachos so delicious anyway?

Maybelle, a cockroach decked out with a pink bow, can’t resist the temptation of a cake and so winds up at a school bake sale. How she escapes unharmed and rescues her flea friend make a very funny school story. Line illustrations add to the humor.

Even though Magnolia assures her teacher that her large, green alligator won’t be any trouble, together girl and reptile prove the opposite. Messy, mischievous Magnolia not only gets her name on the board but three checks beside it and a trip to the principal in this rollicking tale.

Stout Sam and his deckhand Pip live comfortably on their island enjoying whatever the sea washes to their shore. When they find a pig in a barrel on the beach, they name her Julie. Sam and Pip soon discover she has a special talent learned from pirates who want their treasure-locating pig back. This madcap adventure punctuated by full-color illustration is sure to make young readers laugh out loud.

Silly verse about a range of topics is broadly categorized (e.g., “The Critterverse”, “My Peeps”, etc.), generally organizing the varied nonsense verse. Line illustrations add to the overall silliness, which culminate in an interview (of sorts) with the poet/artist. For example, when asked to describe himself, the poet calls himself: “A misfit sophisticate/I can’t get the gist of it…” who has a “…fondness/for words like ironical.”

Miss Drake, a strong-willed dragon, has a new pet, a girl named Winnie who thinks Miss Drake is her pet. When Winnie’s sketches come to life, can dragon and girl work together to put things right? Read in an appealing British accent, this is sure to delight listeners of all ages.

A variety of body parts are written about in different poetic forms — some humorous, some rhyming — accompanied by a factual insert on what appears to come from a notebook. Illustrations are as varied and serve to open the format and to illuminate the information for an entertaining and informative look at body parts.

A poetic form called the “clerihews” was established in 1890. It’s the short form used to briefly present presidential factoids that are sometimes irreverent but always humorous and based in fact. Each four-line poem is accompanied by a black and while line caricature of the president to magnify the humor.

Adam Melon (better known as Melonhead) narrates the adventures he and his best friend, Sam, have during winter break. The boys stay with Melonhead’s grandparents in Paradise, Florida. Their exploits include deciding to get Sam an alligator with very funny — and potentially disastrous results.

Frank Einstein must figure out an alternate source of power or succumb to his archenemy T. Edison’s exorbitant prices for electricity. In this latest of over-the-top funny Einstein series, actual science fact is couched in humorous fiction.

When the human to whom Angus (a brownie) is bound dies, he must leave his native Ireland to serve Sarah’s nearest relative. Serving an American girl named Alex means she must acclimate to having a magical creature and whose slovenly habits are in stark contrast to a cleanliness-obsessed brownie.  

Learn tidbits of information about our 16th President, the times in which he lived and more. Brief entries for each letter of the alphabet present Lincoln the man and the president. Detailed illustrations are both informative and humorous.

While their father is attending a speed-knitting competition, Nick and his sister Maxine stay with Mrs. Noodlekugel. Together they share outrageously silly experiences that involve talking animals, a bear learning to dance, and a lost-but-found Mr. Noodlekugel. Line drawings enhance the absurd humor and add great appeal.

Could one of Gilbert Stuart’s 12 children get President George Washington to smile while having his portrait painted? In this richly imagined, humorous fictional account of what the president experienced while sitting for his portrait in Stuart’s home is revealed through a lively correspondence and expressive line and wash illustrations.

Babymouse wants to earn money and she knows she can do it because she’ll be the best babysitter ever. But things never go quite as planned for Babymouse with results that are sure to make young readers laugh — and maybe even recognize some familiar goings-on. Signature comic book illustrations are used in this installment of the series.

Red is misunderstood. He’s a red crayon with a label that says blue so he can’t draw a strawberry or even a stoplight. But when Red learns that he’s really blue, well, he regains his self-confidence. Child-like drawings combine with precise collages for a memorable and humorous take on expectations, labels, and self-confidence.

Frog meets fly. Frog eats fly — in each of four stories. Cartoon illustration in comic book style, are fast, funny, and very satisfying. Story predictability and comic drawings make readers realize the absurdity and humor in the tale.

From 10 to one, guinea pigs celebrating a birthday are eliminated one-by-one through recognizable (but minor) disasters. With a wish, however, the 10 are reunited to continue the playful celebration.

Is it one story or four? Is it about cows, commuters, a thief, or a boy? Careful reading and re-reading is required to tell. Warning: it may take young readers to explain how this clever Caldecott-winning book works!

Won Ton the cat is back with a new arrival: a puppy! How the adult cat and small dog get on — or not — (until ultimately they learn to live in harmony) is told in haiku. The staccato language of 17 syllable form adds humor and verve to ideally complement the expressive illustrations.