In a collection of personal stories and essays, award-winning and bestselling artists from Matt de la Pena and Veera Hiranandani to Max Brallier and R.L. Stine write about how hope always wins, even in the darkest of times. Where does hope live? In your family? In your community? In your school? In your heart? From a family restaurant to a hot-dog shaped car, from an empty road on a moonlight night to a classroom holiday celebration, this anthology of personal stories from award-winning and bestselling authors, shows that hope can live everywhere, even-or especially-during the darkest of times. No matter what happens: Hope wins. Contributors include: Tom Angleberger, James Bird, Max Brallier, Julie Buxbaum, Pablo Cartaya, J.C. Cervantes, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Pena, Stuart Gibbs, Adam Gidwitz, Karina Yan Glaser, Veera Hiranandani, Hena Khan, Gordon Korman, Janae Marks, Sarah Mlynowski, Rex Ogle, James Ponti, Pam Munoz Ryan, Ronald L.Smith, Christina Soontornvat, and R.L. Stine.

A spin-off chapter book series in the world of the Flytrap Files, from New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger—now in paperback!The latest wacky adventure of DJ Funkyfoot, a Chihuahua who just wants to butle! In this newest adventure, DJ Funkyfoot finally gets the job of his dreams: a butler for a very fancy opera star. But as the singing pig’s demands get more absurd, so do the disasters. Robbery! Wrecks! Romance! And even . . . rapping?

A two-headed chicken races across the multiverse to escape a hungry moose in this full-colour illustrated adventure, ideal for fans of Dogman and Bunny Vs Monkey. Anything is possible in the multiverse, including a madcap adventure starring a plucky, two-headed chicken. But look out - there’s a chicken-hungry moose in pursuit! In this hilarious, interactive adventure, our double-headed hero is chased through dozens of bizarre universes, from an ocean planet with a disturbing mermoose to a land covered with pizza sauce. With each BZOOP of Two-Headed Chicken's universe-hopping Astrocap, the only thing to expect is the unexpected... Packed with jokes, quizzes, and games; a lightning-fast caper with a wacky sci-fi spin

A stinky smell is taking over New Mouse City! No mouse can live like this! Geronimo and his best friend Hercule, the private detective, head underground into the sewer world of Mouse Island to investigate. Can they save the city from the stench? From the New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger, a fresh look for beloved children's books character Geronimo Stilton. Full colour pages throughout For fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants Perfect for reluctant readers. Praise for The Sewer Rat Stink: 'Fresh, funny, and fast-paced. The freestyle artwork and anything-goes story will make kids want to write and draw their own books!' - Dav Pilkey

The start of a spin-off chapter book series in the world of the Flytrap Files, from New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger-now in paperback!You'd think from his name that DJ Funkyfoot was a rad hip-hop star, but that's just the name his parents gave him. DJ Funkyfoot is actually a dog who's always dreamed of being a butler! He's the butler-iest butler to have ever buttled, but finding a butler gig is hard these days! So DJ Funkyfoot takes on a job that's ALMOST like being a butler . . . He becomes a nanny for a baby-and not just any baby: SHRUBBABY, an adorable baby shrub. ShrubBaby may seem cute and cuddly, but she's got a taste for chaos, thrills, fertilizer, and fame! While a nanny might say "no" to this baby's whims, a good butler says "yes." So DJ Funkyfoot says "yes" to every single thing ShrubBaby wants to do. When adventure calls, ShrubBaby says, "Let's go!" and DJ Funkyfoot says, "Very good, m'lady, I'll fetch your stroller."The books will take place in the same world as Inspector Flytrap and Didi Dodo but do not require knowledge of the world.

With Dwight attending Tippett Academy this semester, the kids of McQuarrie Middle School are on their own no Origami Yoda to give advice and help them navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. Then Sara gets a gift she says is from Dwight a paper fortune-teller in the form of Chewbacca. It s a Fortune Wookiee, and it seems to give advice that s just as good as Yoda s even if, in the hands of the girls, it seems too preoccupied with romance. In the meantime, Dwight is fitting in a little too well at Tippett. Has the unimaginable happened? Has Dwight become normal? It s up to his old friends at McQuarrie to remind their kooky friend that it s in his weirdness that his greatness lies. This is the third case file in the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, written by Tom Angleberger, author of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side"," "showcasing his proven knack for authentically capturing the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school in a satisfying tale of friendship and just resistance to authority ("Kirkus Reviews," starred review). Praise for "The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee"has crafted a worthy follow-up to his break STARRED REVIEW "Angleberger s third in the series continues the fun. A chorus of spot-on middle school voices and plenty of laughs are wrapped around this tale of friendship and seasoned with Star Wars references." "Kirkus Reviews," starred review "Tom Angleberger offers a hilarious third book in his best-selling series starring origami "Star Wars" characters. Angleberger s grasp of middle-school emotions, humor and behavior is spot-on, and parents who want to get a sense of what it s like be a preteen these days might consider reading this book. But you'll likely have to pry it out of your young reader s hands first." "Scripps Howard News Service" Award 2013 ReadKiddoRead Kiddos - FINALIST"

From husband-and-wife team Tom Angleberger, creator of the New York Times bestselling Origami Yoda series, and Cece Bell, author/illustrator of the Newbery Honor graphic novel El Deafo, comes the start to a funny and clever illustrated chapter-book series about a mystery-solving Venus flytrap. With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, this early-chapter-book series is a must for beginning readers. Inspector Flytrap in the Da Vinci Cold introduces kids to the humorous and wacky world of Inspector Flytrap's Detective Agency, home to the world-renowned solver of BIG DEAL mysteries. The plant detective works tirelessly with his assistant Nina the Goat on his community's unsolved cases. There's no case too big, but there are definitely cases too small for this endearingly self-important plant detective. Celebrating the disabled yet enabled, the character of Inspector Flytrap is wheeled everywhere (on a skateboard, of course) by his goat sidekick as this mystery-solving duo works on cases such as "The Big Deal Mystery of the Stinky Cookies" and "The Big Deal Mystery of the Missing Rose." On his first caper, Inspector Flytrap heads to the Art Museum's Secret Lab to discover what important message lies in a mysterious glob on a recently discovered Da Vinci flower painting. The ingenious solution: Da Vinci was allergic to flowers, and the glob is, er, evidence of that ancient sneeze. Combining wacky humour and a silly cast of characters with adventure, friendship, and mystery, the powerhouse team of Tom Angleberger and Cece Bell have created a uniquely engaging series that is perfect for newly independent readers and fans of Ricky Ricotta, Captain Underpants and the Galaxy Zack series. Also included in these books are some graphic novel-style pages that will attract reluctant readers.

In this series opener, Koko Dodo the cookie chef has a big problem. Today is the day of the royal cookie contest, and someone has stolen his top-secret fudge sauce! Luckily, a spy enters the scene just in time (or rather, crashes in on her roller skates): Didi Dodo! This might be Didi's first case ever, but she has a daring plan to help Koko. Koko would prefer a safe, simple, sure-to-work plan, but without another option, he and the amateur sleuth take off on a wacky caper full of high-speed chases and big belly laughs that could only come from the mind of the inimitable Tom Angleberger. Each book in the series will focus on a food-related mystery.

Ten incredible trips into the unknown await you... Blast off with: * 'Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo' an all-new and exclusive tale from Rick Riordan 'A Day in the Life' by award-winning author/illustrator Shaun Tan 'Rise of the RoboShoes' by Tom Angleberger of Origami Yoda fame And many more weird and wonderful stories by legendary writer Ray Bradbury, Newbery medalist Rebecca Stead, Shannon Hale, D. J. MacHale, Eric Nylund, Kenneth Oppel and Neal Shusterman. Compiled by US National Ambassador for Children's Literature (and Secret Ambassador for the Intergalactic Alliance) Jon Scieszka, Other Worlds will boldly take you where no reader has gone before.

Stick figures to the dark side only lead! To doodle like a Jedi you must learn! With this companion to the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, beloved author Tom Angleberger with the help of the kids from McQuarrie Middle School presents young Padawans with dozens of activities from the Star Wars universe. Padawans can learn how to fold R2-D2 and C-3PO, draw Jabba, and even build a fully functioning ChapStick rocket! Other Force-mastering activities include: Kellen s Guide to Cool Letters, Mike s Complete Rules and Tips for Pencil Pod-Racing, Rhondella s Tips for Photographing Origami, and much more! With Tom Angleberger s goofy sense of humor and accessible art style, Art2-D2 s Guide to Folding and Doodling is sure to satisfy and inspire the millions of Origami Yoda and Star Wars fans. May the doodles be with you! Includes 16-page color insert with 10 pages of colored pull-out origami paper; instructions to make Yoda, Darth, C-3PO, Admiral Ackbar, and R2-D2; a section on photographing your origami creations, and two Star Wars backdrops to photograph them against. This is the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, written by Tom Angleberger, author of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side, showcasing his proven knack for authentically capturing the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school in a satisfying tale of friendship and just resistance to authority (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Praise for Art2-D2's Guide to Folding and Doodling "Once again, Angleberger s humor, which presents itself in the text through characters from the series, in both human and origami form, connects with middle-grade readers. 'Art2' and the other 'Origami Yoda' books are the ultimate example of the by-a-fan/for-the-fans format, which succeeds if executed properly. This did he. Florida Times-Union "Excellent activity-book offshoot of Angleberger s bestselling Origami Yoda series The banter and tongue-and-cheek humor of the previous books is present, along with encouragement." Publishers Weekly "The presentation s offbeat attitude, ingenuity, and wit, many libraries will want to stock this high interest book..." Booklist "Fans (and nonfans, if there are any) of the Origami Yoda series (Abrams) and website will find new opportunities aplenty for foolery in this spinoff compendium of progressively challenging hands-on instructions for drawing, folding, and goofing around with (mostly) Star Wars characters." School Library Journal

A chapter-book series spin-o from Inspector Flytrap by New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger! This hilarious chapter book mystery series stars Didi Dodo, the daring spy-in-training, and Koko Dodo, Didi's reluctant sidekick. In Robo-Dodo Rumble, Koko Dodo's cookie shop is facing some stiff competition from an evil robotic dodo (a Robo Dodo). The Robo Dodo is selling its cookies for only a penny! Why? To put Koko's shop out of business! And if that weren't bad enough, a giant sea monster starts destroying the town! But don't worry. Didi Dodo has a daring plan. From the mind of the inimitable Tom Angleberger, this wacky caper promises high-speed chases and big belly laughs. The book takes place in the same world as Inspector Flytrap but does not require knowledge of the previous series.

A spin-off chapter book series in the world of the Flytrap Files, from New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger!After working as a nanny for the power hungry ShrubBaby (a deceivingly adorable baby shrub), DJ Funkyfoot-a chihuahua who dreams of being a butler-has finally landed his dream job. A real, actual butler gig! He's been hired to butle for President Horse on the day that the president needs to sign a peace treaty with the Queen of Wingland. But the president doesn't feel like it. All he wants to do is kick back, relax, and play some mini-golf. It's up to DJ Funkyfoot to get the president through his mini-golf game quickly so he can get the treaty signed on time to stop the war and save the day! The books will take place in the same world as Inspector Flytrap and Didi Dodo but do not require knowledge of the world.

From award-winning author Elissa Brent Weissman comes a collection of quirky, smart, and vulnerable childhood works by some of today's foremost children's authors and illustrators--revealing young talent, the storytellers they would one day become, and the creativity they inspire today.

Everyone's story begins somewhere...

For Linda Sue Park, it was a trip to the ocean, a brand-new typewriter, and a little creative license.

For Jarrett J. Krosoczka, it was a third grade writing assignment that ignited a creative fire in a kid who liked to draw.

For Kwame Alexander, it was a loving poem composed for Mother's Day--and perfected through draft after discarded draft.

For others, it was a teacher, a parent, a beloved book, a word of encouragement. It was trying, and failing, and trying again. It was a love of words, and pictures, and stories.

Your story is beginning, too. Where will it go?

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, Tommy assembles this first case file in the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, written by Tom Angleberger, author of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side," and hailed by "School Library Journal "as honest, funny, and immensely entertaining. F&PLevel: T F&PGenre: RF"

A chapter-book series spin-off from Inspector Flytrap by New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger!   Didi Dodo, the heroic spy, and Koko Dodo, the cookie chef, are off to solve another kooky caper! In Double-O Dodo, Koko has a big problem: His trusty assistant, the Queen, has been kidnapped! Over a frantic phone call, she tells Koko that she’s been kidnapped by a human, which is preposterous—everyone knows that humans aren’t real! Luckily, Didi is on the case. Her plan: to go undercover at the Humanland amusement park to find the Queen. But much like a roller coaster, Didi’s plans are not complete without plenty of twists and thrills. Filled with daring escapes and big-belly laughs, this wacky mystery could only come from the mind of the inimitable Tom Angleberger. The book takes place in the same world as Inspector Flytrap but does not require knowledge of the previous series.

From New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger and Newbery-Honor-winner Cece Bell comes the third hilarious installment of the Inspector Flytrap mystery series. With the help of Nina the Goat, his trusty assistant, Inspector Flytrap solves all manner of important mysteries. But what happens when Flytrap loses his partner in crime-solving? On this new case, all the clues point to Nina as the culprit, leading the city to arrest her and leaving Flytrap goatless. To save the city, Flytrap must unveil the true master criminal. But, can he do it alone? With Bell's whimsical illustrations and Angleberger's trademark sense of humor, this early chapter book will appeal to new and reluctant readers.

A spin-off chapter book series in the world of the Flytrap Files, from New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger!The latest wacky adventure of DJ Funkyfoot, a Chihuahua who just wants to buttle! In this newest adventure, DJ Funkyfoot finally gets the job of his dreams: as a butler for a very fancy opera star. But as the singing pig's demands get more absurd, so do the disasters. Robbery! Wrecks! Romance! And even . . . rapping?

Welcome to

The hilarious, clever, and much-anticipated follow-up to the breakout hit, "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
"
It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda-related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a "troublemaker." Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file--one that will show how Dwight's presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as "Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener," "Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels," and "Origami Yoda and "Wonderland: The Musical."" But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight's suspension permanent . . .

With his proven knack for humorously exploring the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school, Tom Angleberger has crafted a worthy sequel to his breakout bestseller.

Praise for "Darth Paper Strikes Back"STARRED REIVEW"Angleberger's just-as-funny follow-up to "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" delves deeper into the mystery of the helpful paper Yoda in a satisfying tale of friendship and just resistance to authority.Pitch-perfect middle-school milieu and enough Star Wars references (and laughs) to satisfy fans and win new ones."--"Kirkus Reviews, "starred review "In this imaginative sequel...author Tom Angleberger has his finger puppet squarely on the erratic pulse of middle-school life, with its shifting allegiances, squeals, moans and misgivings."--"Washington Post" "As with this story's predecessor, the well-observed middle-school dynamics (and Angleberger's sharp sense of humor) are greatly amplified by the book's design, which includes faux wrinkled pages, abundant doodles, and other scrawled marginalia. It's a natural step up from the Wimpy Kid series, with more text and narrative complexity, but just as much on-target humor and all-around fun." --"Publishers Weekly" "This book is honest, funny, and immensely entertaining. The illustrations and design will engage readers. Based on the positive reception "Origami Yoda" has received, kids will be clamoring for this sequel. They won't be disappointed." --"School Library Journal" "The Force is with Tom Angleberger in this sequel to his funny and clever novel/comics hybrid, "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. "A sequel to equal the funny and clever novel/comics debut of the Origami Yoda, as Dwight's friends try to save him from reform school.--"Shelf Awareness"

"With the same deft touch that made "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" a pleasure, Angleberger takes readers through the ups and downs of adolescence." --"Portland Book Review " ""Darth Paper" offers further proof that Angleberger really understands middle-schoolers and the daily dramas that engulf them, while still finding the humor inherent in their situations. --"Scripps News"

In a collection of personal stories and essays, award-winning and bestselling artists from Matt de la Pena and Veera Hiranandani to Max Brallier and R.L. Stine write about how hope always wins, even in the darkest of times. Where does hope live? In your family? In your community? In your school? In your heart? From a family restaurant to a hot-dog shaped car, from an empty road on a moonlight night to a classroom holiday celebration, this anthology of personal stories from award-winning and bestselling authors, shows that hope can live everywhere, even-or especially-during the darkest of times. No matter what happens: Hope wins. Contributors include: Tom Angleberger, James Bird, Max Brallier, Julie Buxbaum, Pablo Cartaya, J.C. Cervantes, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Pena, Stuart Gibbs, Adam Gidwitz, Karina Yan Glaser, Veera Hiranandani, Hena Khan, Gordon Korman, Janae Marks, Sarah Mlynowski, Rex Ogle, James Ponti, Pam Munoz Ryan, Ronald L.Smith, Christina Soontornvat, and R.L. Stine.