Carter Goodrich

Mister Bud is a dog who deeply appreciates a strict routine. From his morning wake up call to his carefully timed afternoon snoozes, everything in his household operates exactly as he plans. This perfect system crashes to a halt when a strange, rather bossy dog named Zorro suddenly moves in during make-a-fuss time. Mister Bud and Zorro initially want absolutely nothing to do with one another, stubbornly refusing to share their space or their humans. The household tension remains high until the two wary pups make a surprising discovery about their daily habits. They actually enjoy chasing the exact same cat and taking naps in the exact same spots. Slowly, they learn that every single activity is significantly more enjoyable when you have a best friend by your side.

Canine best friends Mister Bud and Zorro have successfully survived moving in together and enduring embarrassing outfits, but their peaceful household is about to face its greatest challenge yet. Mister Bud has been given the dreaded veterinary cone. Forced to wear a giant plastic lampshade around his neck, Mister Bud feels completely ashamed and utterly miserable. The clumsy cone makes sleeping difficult, walking awkward, and playing seemingly impossible. While Mister Bud struggles with his newly restricted lifestyle and his dented pride, Zorro must figure out how to support his downcast companion. Navigating the indignity of the cone tests their bond, proving that true friendship means sticking together through the most embarrassing and uncomfortable predicaments a dog can face.

Mister Bud and Zorro share the perfect daily schedule, waking up, walking, and napping in total canine harmony. Everything runs smoothly until an unexpected disaster strikes: Zorro is forced to wear a fancy new outfit. Feeling utterly embarrassed and completely mortified, Zorro refuses to participate in his favorite activities, including the highly anticipated chew-on-a-stick time. Despite Mister Bud's best efforts to cheer his best friend up, the relentless teasing from the other neighborhood dogs makes Zorro want to hide forever. Just when the park seems unbearable, a brand new, incredibly cool dog arrives sporting an outfit of his own. When this stylish stranger starts performing amazing tricks and blazing past the competition in a race, Zorro begins to realize that wearing clothes might not be so terrible after all.

A shy hermit crab prefers the quiet life, blending into the ocean background and spending his days searching for food completely undisturbed. When he stumbles upon a flashy new shell, he simply cannot resist trying it on for size. Entranced by his fancy new look, he fails to notice a mysterious, enormous contraption floating down from the surface. While the rest of the sea creatures panic and a poor flounder gets trapped underneath the heavy device, the hungry hermit crab investigates. Drawn by the delicious smells coming from the strange object, he accidentally frees the trapped fish. Suddenly, this quiet crustacean finds himself celebrated as an underwater hero. The only question is whether this deeply private crab is truly ready to step into the bright oceanic spotlight.

Meet Hank. Hank is a cactus who is just as prickly on the inside as he is on the outside. He likes his personal space and definitely does not like being bothered by the other desert creatures. But one day, after shooing away a tumbleweed, a tortoise, and a jackrabbit, Hank realizes something surprising. It is awfully quiet. Suddenly, this cantankerous cactus decides that what he really wants more than anything else is a hug! But there is a big problem: nobody wants to hug a spiky cactus. How will Hank show the other animals that he has a soft heart underneath all those sharp needles? You will laugh out loud at Hank's hilarious attempts to find a friend in this sweet and funny story about opening up to others.

Phillip and Brock are the absolute best of friends who do everything together. The only unusual detail is that everyone else can clearly see Phillip, but only Phillip can see Brock. Their unbreakable bond faces the ultimate test during a thrilling night out at the bustling Big Fair. Surrounded by bright lights and exciting games, an exhausted Phillip accidentally heads home and leaves his imaginary best friend behind. Brock desperately misses his companion, and Phillip is equally lost without his invisible pal. Reuniting in a massive city seems impossible for a child and an unseen friend, but another very special duo might hold the key to bringing them back together. Even imaginary friends can get lost, and finding them becomes a heartwarming adventure about loyalty and the magic of play.

The night before Christmas is filled with quiet anticipation, unless you are a child who is simply too excited to sleep. This clever retelling of a beloved holiday classic presents two entirely different perspectives on the most magical night of the year. On one side of the page, readers experience Clement C. Moore's traditional, soothing poem about a silent house and a visit from Saint Nicholas. On the other side, a restless child provides a hilarious, energetic counterpoint, detailing all the thrilling reasons why sleep is completely impossible. The classic verses blend beautifully with fresh, humorous rhymes that capture the genuine excitement of waiting for morning to arrive. This festive tale perfectly balances tradition with the relatable, bubbling energy of a childhood holiday celebration.