James Howe

Pinky realizes just how boring life can be when his best friend Rex is not around to play. Rex has been away attending a wedding, and hearing all about the celebration gives Pinky a brilliant idea. If he and Rex get married, they will never have to be separated again. The two best friends decide to host their very own wedding ceremony, complete with a guest list made up entirely of their favorite stuffed animals and dinosaurs. As they plan their special day, they discover what it truly means to make a promise to a friend. This charming and humorous story captures the innocence of childhood friendships and the creative ways kids show how much they care about each other.

Simon is lying awake in the dark, absolutely certain there is something terrifying lurking right beneath him. He can hear it breathing. He tries to convince himself he is brave, but his imagination runs wild with thoughts of multiple monsters crawling up the sides of his bed. Why did he ever agree to give up his night light? His younger brother Alex still uses one, and right now, Simon wishes he had that comforting glow. Armed only with a flashlight and his own courage, Simon decides he has to find out what is really making those noises. He gathers his bravery, leans over the edge, and shines his light into the shadows. What he discovers hiding under his bed will surprise him and bring a smile to anyone who has ever been afraid of the dark.

Mrs. Morgan is the grumpiest neighbor on the block. After she hits Rex with a broom, Pinky, Rex, and Amanda decide they have had enough of her bad temper. The kids gather together and start plotting the perfect revenge to get even with the mean old woman who lives across the street. But as they observe Mrs. Morgan closely, Pinky starts to notice something else beneath her grumpy exterior. He realizes that their nasty neighbor might actually just be very lonely and in need of some new friends. The kids must decide if they want to carry out their plan for revenge or try something completely different. This gentle chapter book shows how understanding and kindness can be far more powerful than getting even.

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of lettuce? Chester the cat is absolutely convinced that the world's vegetables are in grave danger! When Bunnicula, the Monroe family's suspected vampire rabbit, mysteriously vanishes from his cage, Chester immediately fears the worst. If this vegetarian vampire is on the loose, could the town's innocent veggies be drained of their juices and turned into zombie snacks? Certain that their neighborhood is about to be overrun by killer parsnips and homicidal heads of lettuce, Chester rallies his furry friends for a daring rescue mission. Armed with a box of toothpicks to spear the little green devils right through their hearts, Chester, Harold the dog, and Howie the wirehaired dachshund puppy set out into the night. Their hilarious quest leads them into wild encounters with a grumpy white cat named Snowball and an unexpected detour to the town dump. As the people of Centerville start acting strangely, Chester races against the clock to save the town from a vegetable takeover. Join this hilarious band of pet detectives in a laugh-out-loud mystery where you can never be too careful around a carrot!

Harold the dog and Chester the cat are expecting a relaxing stay at Chateau Bow-Wow while the Monroe family goes on vacation. Instead, they find themselves in a rundown boardinghouse filled with strange animal guests and a spooky atmosphere. When Louise, a French poodle, suddenly disappears from the premises, Chester is absolutely convinced that foul play is involved. Now, these two unlikely pet detectives must sniff out the clues and solve the mystery before anyone else vanishes. You will join Harold and Chester as they tiptoe through dark hallways and interrogate a wacky cast of suspects. The hilarious antics and mild suspense make this a perfect puzzle for young readers ready for a good whodunit.

Houndsley is feeling very down. It is not because the weather is gloomy or his sweater has holes in it. He is sad because he does not know when his birthday is. When he shares this with his best friend Catina, she realizes she does not know her own birthday either, and suddenly both of them are feeling blue. But best friends have a special talent for cheering each other up. Instead of staying sad, Houndsley and Catina decide to find a thoughtful and creative way to solve their birthday problem. They soon discover that you do not need a specific date on the calendar to celebrate the people you care about. This sweet and gentle story shows how true friendship can brighten even the saddest of days.

Horace, Morris, and Dolores are three adventurous mice who have been best friends forever. They do absolutely everything together, from exploring the deepest sewers to climbing the highest peaks of Mount Ever-Rust. But everything changes when Horace and Morris decide to join the Mega-Mice, an exclusive club that does not allow girls. Left behind, Dolores joins the Cheese Puffs, a club where no boys are permitted. At first, they try to enjoy doing things separately, but it does not take long for them to realize that their new clubs are actually quite boring. They miss exploring together. Dolores decides she must find a way to break the rules and save their friendship. This lively and humorous story explores the silliness of exclusive clubs and reminds readers that the best adventures happen when everyone is included.

The Monroe household is buzzing with excitement because Pete has won a contest to host his idol, the famous horror author M. T. Graves. The writer is even staying at their house, bringing along a silent, beady-eyed crow named Edgar Allan. While Harold the dog is thrilled, Chester the cat is highly suspicious. He cannot help but notice that in every single book Graves writes, something terrible happens to the pets. As a menacing flock of crows gathers in the backyard, Graves begins showing a very intense interest in Bunnicula. Chester is convinced the author is plotting a gruesome fate for the little vampire rabbit. It is up to Chester, Harold, and Howie to uncover the truth and protect their bunny before it is too late. This hilarious mystery is packed with spooky surprises and furry heroes.

The second grade spelling bee is here, and Rex is absolutely terrified. She is a terrible speller and is worried she will embarrass herself in front of the entire class. Her best friend Pinky, on the other hand, is feeling very confident. He is a great speller and expects to easily win the championship title once again. But Pinky is not prepared for the new kid in class, who turns out to be a surprisingly tough competitor. Even worse, Pinky is definitely not prepared to have a completely unexpected and highly embarrassing accident right in the middle of the competition. Suddenly, winning or losing the spelling bee does not matter at all. Fortunately, Pinky can count on Rex to step up and make him feel better on what turns out to be the worst day ever.

Brontorina has a dream that is as big as she is. She knows, deep in her heart, that she was born to be a ballerina. There is just one giant problem. Brontorina is a dinosaur, and Madame Lucille's dance studio simply was not built to hold a student of her impressive size. To make matters more complicated, everyone knows you cannot dance without the proper footwear, and finding ballet slippers for a dinosaur is no easy task. Despite the tight squeeze and the lack of shoes, Brontorina refuses to give up on her passion. Her determination and charm quickly prove that talent comes in all sizes. When your heart and imagination are fully engaged, even the biggest obstacles can be overcome. This humorous and touching story shows how holding onto your biggest dreams can end up changing the world around you.

Harold the dog is not thrilled about the Monroe family's overnight camping trip, but the promise of toasted marshmallows convinces him to tag along. Chester the cat, however, is convinced the woods are full of evil spirits, especially since it is St. George's Eve. Harold tries to ignore Chester's wild imagination, focusing on the campfire treats instead. But when the Monroes pitch their tent near two strange men and their even stranger dog, weird things begin to happen. As a terrifying storm rolls in, Chester tells a horrifying tale about how Bunnicula the vampire rabbit was truly born. With alarms sounding in the dark and unexpected dangers lurking in the trees, Harold starts to wonder if Chester might actually be right. This hilarious and spooky adventure will keep you on the edge of your sleeping bag.

Catina the cat dreams of becoming a famous, award-winning writer. Her best friend, Houndsley the dog, is an incredibly talented cook who dreams of winning the local cooking contest. They always support each other, but sometimes being a good friend means knowing exactly what to say, and what to keep to yourself. When Catina hands Houndsley her seventy-four chapter memoir to read, he is not sure how to tell her the truth about her writing. Meanwhile, when Houndsley's big cooking competition turns into a total disaster, Catina must find the perfect words to comfort him. Through three sweet and funny stories, this delightful duo navigates the subtle dance of friendship. Filled with ginger tea, firefly watching, and compassion, this chapter book beautifully captures what it means to truly care for a friend.

Pinky and Rex are getting ready to go to sleep away camp for the very first time. Rex is incredibly excited and keeps talking about all the amazing adventures they are going to have. Pinky, on the other hand, is feeling completely terrified and just wants to stay safe at home where he belongs. Desperate for help, Pinky turns to the Dear Arnie advice column in the newspaper to figure out how to handle his first-time jitters. Arnie gives him some solid advice, and his mother tries to reassure him, too. But in the end, it is his best friend Rex who knows exactly what to say to make him feel brave enough to face the unknown. This relatable story perfectly captures the nervous excitement of trying something new.

Pinky is a boy whose favorite color is pink and who proudly owns twenty-seven stuffed animals. His best friend, Rex, is a sports-loving girl who owns exactly twenty-seven toy dinosaurs. They love having everything the same, and they believe that is exactly how best friends should be. But their perfect balance is thrown off during a fun trip to the museum with Pinky's dad and his pesky little sister, Amanda. When they visit the museum gift shop, they discover there is only one pink dinosaur left on the shelf. Naturally, both Pinky and Rex want it for their collections. The two best friends must figure out how to solve this tricky problem without ruining their day. In a surprising twist, little sister Amanda might just hold the key to sharing.

Harold the dog and Chester the cat have a very peaceful life until the Monroe family brings home a strange new pet. It is a tiny, innocent looking bunny they found at a movie theater, but Chester quickly notices that this rabbit has some highly unusual habits. For one thing, the bunny seems to have tiny fangs, and shortly after he arrives, all the vegetables in the kitchen suddenly turn completely white and dry. Chester is absolutely convinced that their new fluffy friend is actually a dangerous vampire bunny. Harold is not so sure, but together they must investigate the mystery of the strange new pet before it is too late. This spooky and hilarious graphic novel brings the classic favorite to life with awesome full color artwork. Join these brave pets as they uncover the secret of the fearsome and funny bunny.

Chester the cat has a very bad feeling about this. When the Monroe family packs their bags for vacation, they drop off their beloved pets, Chester, Harold the dog, and Howie the puppy, at Chateau Bow-Wow. But Chester knows this boarding kennel by its true name: the Howliday Inn. And their latest stay promises to be just as hair-raising as the last! Almost immediately, the spooky goings-on begin. The three furry friends are surrounded by a bizarre new group of temporary residents, including a pair of nervous yuppie puppies, a deeply sad Great Dane named Hamlet, and two sinister feline sisters who proudly call themselves cat burglars. As if the terrible kennel food was not bad enough, Chester soon uncovers a trail of chilling clues. Unexplained voices echo in the night, mysterious bones are found buried in the yard, and a secret code points to something truly sinister. Could murder be on the menu at Chateau Bow-Wow? It is up to Chester, Harold, and Howie to crack the case before it is too late. Dive into this hilarious and slightly spooky mystery where the pets are the detectives!