Humor

Bridget Fidget and the Most Perfect Pet

When a big box arrives one morning, Bridget Fidget leaps out of bed and spins down the stairs. She knows what’s inside—a unicorn! After all, she’s always wanted a pet unicorn, so it must be a pet unicorn. But inside the box is just another . . . smaller . . . box. And it’s buzzing. This is no unicorn. But could it possibly be something even better? For all kids who’ve ever wanted what they couldn’t have (because it’s a mythical creature or just beyond the family budget), here’s Bridget Fidget—the girl in a whirl who finally sees that even better things can come in unexpectedly small packages. Like Eloise and Olivia before her, Bridget’s got moxie to spare.

Garibaldi’s Biscuits

Wearing pizza buckles on their belts and wielding water balloons,Garibaldi and his army defeat the rascally French, and the world-famous Garibaldi’s biscuits are born! Ralph Steadman’s cast of quirky characters and witty cartoons bring this foot note of history to life.

Dolphin Luck

“Some dolphin luck would be very useful,” said Beany. It’s a wet, cold, and miserable Christmas. Mrs. Robinson is ill and so is Old Blanket, the Robinsons’ beloved dog. Following the doctor’s orders, Mr. Robinson takes Mrs. Robinson off to recuperate in a warmer climate, leaving Beany and Sun Dance, their two younger children, in the capable care of Mrs. Brogan, who with her son, Robin, lives in the other half of Porridge Hall, an old seaside mansion. The twins, Ant and Perry, are shipped off to Great Aunt Mabel. To Beany and Sun Dance, it seems as though things can’t get any worse. Sun Dance settles down to capture any burglar who may attempt to rob their house, and Beany determines to find an ancient sword, with a hilt in the shape of a dolphin, that is supposed to bring luck and grant wishes. Meanwhile, Ant and Perry find their old aunt not quite what they expected. She eats porridge and nothing else and lives with two large dogs, four cats, and a parrot. Before the Robinson family is reunited, each one of them has had extraordinary, sometimes scary, frequently harrowing adventures that make for touching, often hilarious, utterly absorbing reading. This companion to Hilary McKay’s earlier Dog Friday and The Amber Cat, with its rich characterization and great originality, is an outstanding achievement.

Bob’s Best-Ever Friend

Bob is feeling glum. His friends Billy and Sam are off visiting a pet show on Pluto, there are no space tourists to entertain, and Bob is bored. What he needs is a best-ever friend, to help him with intergalactic missions and jigsaw puzzles — but, being Bob, he doesn’t seem to notice the potential furry friend who is begging for his attention! This edition also includes the greatest glow-in-the-dark poster in the galaxy.

The Snagglegrollop

When he asks for a typical pet–a dog, a cat–his parents say no, so Sam wonders, “How about a Snagglegrollop?” A what?! The next day Sam comes home from school with a strange-looking creature indeed! The Snagglegrollop eats an awful lot of food–and entire tubes of toothpaste, too. But it tells silly jokes and takes the family for wonderful weekend romps. They become very fond of it. Some nights, though, the Snagglegrollop just sits on the roof, staring at the stars. “It seems quite sad,” Sam thinks. Could it be that all it needs is the companionship of his classmate Emily’s Quibblesnuff?

Wombat Walkabout

Early one morning when the sun came out, Six woolly wombats went walkabout. This whimsical counting poem follows six brave little wombats on walkabout in the Australian outback. But the wilderness is bound to bring more excitement than an innocent counting game. Soon enough, the curious wombats learn to beware the hungry dingo! Aussie native Sophie Blackall’s delicious illustrations set adorable wombats in a lush world of golden wattles, billabongs, kookaburras, and gum nuts. With marvelous wordplay and irresistible read-aloud phrases, this ingenious text is sure to become a well-worn favorite. Accompanied by a short, simple glossary of Australian terms and wildlife.

Solomon Snow and the Stolen Jewel

Solomon Snow and his stalwart friends return in a second mock-Victorian extravaganza!

In their second adventure, the intrepid trio becomes ensnared in a plot to steal a priceless ruby. But what do a stubborn donkey, a shady dwarf, and Mr. Skippy the rabbit have to do with it all? While trying to rescue Prudence’s father from prison, Solomon, Prudence, the Infant Prodigy, and Mr. Skippy the rabbit find themselves caught up in the mad plans of the villainous Dr. Calimari to steal a fabulous and cursed ruby.

The Cow That Was The Best Moo-Ther

Marjorie the cow proudly enters her baby, Daisy, into a farmyard beauty contest strictly for cows. But Daisy isn\’t quite like the other baby cows—she\’s small and feathery, she has a beak, and she hatched from an egg! So there\’s no surprise that Daisy catches the judge\’s eye! But she\’s not the only one who attracts attention in this hilarious follow-up to the cow that laid an egg. Proud mom Marjorie is in store for an award of her own.