Illustrator & Author Profile
Harry Bliss
15 Books
Harry Bliss is a celebrated cartoonist and children's book illustrator recognized for his expressive and comedic art style. He is widely known for illustrating Doreen Cronin's bestselling Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Fly series, as well as collaborating with authors like Sharon Creech and Kate DiCamillo. Bliss has also authored and illustrated his own popular picture books, including the Bailey series.
Grace is quiet in class, but she notices something important: Gus, the class guinea pig, seems lonely. That night, Grace sets out to help him in her own surprising way.
This nearly wordless graphic picture book follows Grace through a lively nighttime adventure told mostly through pictures. Each panel invites you to slow down, look closely, and discover funny details, clever surprises, and Grace’s hidden talents.
Grace for Gus is a warm, playful story about paying attention, caring for a small friend, and finding your own way to make a difference. Harry Bliss’s cartoon storytelling makes it especially rewarding for visual readers, comic fans, and children who enjoy spotting little jokes in the art.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Bailey has a collar to choose, a bus to catch, and one very distracting squirrel to ignore. School is about to begin, and Bailey is ready to do things his own doggy way.
In this funny picture book, Bailey joins his human classmates for a day filled with reading, painting, singing, fetching, digging, and plenty of surprises. He may be a dog, but he fits right into the classroom by being completely himself.
Harry Bliss turns a familiar school day into a bright, silly adventure for young readers. With gentle humor and expressive illustrations, Bailey is perfect for children who like animal stories, classroom settings, and characters whose quirks make everyone’s day more interesting.
6-8 Years
34 Pages
Bailey is not just going on a field trip. He is going to the Museum of Natural History, where bones, exhibits, and one very curious dog make every moment feel unpredictable.
As Bailey explores with his class, his doggy habits turn an ordinary museum visit into a lively adventure. Dinosaur skeletons, artifacts, and museum rules all become part of the fun, especially when Bailey’s excitement keeps the grown-ups guessing.
This playful Bailey picture book is a cheerful pick for readers who enjoy school stories, animal humor, and visual jokes. Harry Bliss gives Bailey a lovable mix of charm and mischief, making the museum feel like a place where learning and laughter can happen side by side.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
First grade is supposed to be exciting, but a scary rumor has just changed everything! According to a very knowledgeable second grader, your new teacher, Mrs. Watson, is actually a three-hundred-year-old alien with a purple tongue who steals baby teeth. This is terrible news because you have a huge secret: your very first tooth is loose! How can you possibly survive an entire school year without opening your mouth? From keeping your lips glued shut to hiding in plain sight, you will have to try every trick in the book to keep your tooth safe. This laugh-out-loud adventure perfectly captures the wild worries of a new school year and the wobbly milestone of losing a first tooth.
6-8 Years
44 Pages
Way out on the edge of town, inside a tall, dark house, lives a little witch who is not afraid of anything. She has heard all sorts of spooky stories about humans and their strange holiday called Halloween. The older witches say humans do not even fly, they wear hats that are not pointy, and they hardly ever cackle! But this brave witch wants to see for herself. On Halloween night, she zooms off on her broomstick to investigate these mysterious creatures. What she discovers is not scary at all, it is actually quite fun! This playful, lighthearted story spins a spooky holiday upside down, showing that making new friends and trying new things is the best kind of magic.
6-8 Years
38 Pages
Rosie is a very good dog, but she is also a very lonely dog. Every day, she and her owner take the exact same walk, looking at the exact same things. Rosie longs for a little excitement and maybe even a friend of her own. When her owner finally decides to take her to the bustling dog park, Rosie is completely overwhelmed. There are big dogs, small dogs, loud dogs, and fast dogs! She has no idea how to make friends in such a chaotic place. But with a little bit of courage and a lot of heart, Rosie might just find the perfect companions to share her days. This charming and beautifully illustrated story captures the nervous excitement of stepping out of your comfort zone. It is a heartwarming tale about overcoming shyness, the joy of making new friends, and the simple happiness of a good dog finding her pack.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Welcome to the underground world of a young worm who is surprisingly similar to you. He lives with his parents, hangs out with his best friends, and goes to school every day. But unlike you, he never has to take a bath, he actually gets to eat his homework, and because he does not have any legs, doing the hokey pokey is completely impossible. You get to read his personal daily diary to see exactly what life is like when you live in the dirt. From avoiding the dangers of people with shovels to the tricky problem of having a head that looks exactly like your rear end, his life is full of funny challenges. This hilarious story gives you a bug's eye view of the world, showing that even the tiniest creatures have plenty of amazing adventures right beneath your feet.
6-8 Years
42 Pages
It is Halloween night, and one very brave witch is eager to show her little sister the ropes. She wants to teach the tiny Witchling everything she knows about humans, including the strange and wonderful things they enjoy, like that yucky, sticky stuff they call candy. But the lesson does not go exactly as planned! The little Witchling decides that human candy is actually delicious, and her sweet tooth quickly leads to some serious trick-or-treating mischief. When the big sister flies off to rescue her sibling and set things straight, she ends up getting stuck in a tree! Now, it is up to the little Witchling to prove she is not afraid to be brave, too. This delightful, not-so-scary Halloween adventure is packed with giggles, sibling teamwork, and plenty of sweet treats.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Luke spots pigeons in Central Park, and suddenly staying still is impossible. While Dad is busy talking, Luke takes off after the birds and turns New York City into one big chase.
Through comic panels full of movement and visual jokes, Luke races across famous city places, from the park to the Brooklyn Bridge and beyond. The story is fast, funny, and easy to follow, even for readers who are just getting comfortable with comics.
Luke on the Loose is a joyful first graphic novel about curiosity, freedom, and the wild places a few pigeons can lead. Harry Bliss keeps the action light and energetic, making this a great fit for young readers who like funny city adventures.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Louise is not your average farm animal. While the rest of the flock is perfectly happy staying in their comfortable, quiet nest, Louise longs for something more. She is dreaming of a grand adventure! Leaving her cozy home behind, this intrepid bird ventures out into the wide, unpredictable world. Along the way, she encounters plenty of thrilling pleasures and terrifying perils. She faces down marauding pirates on the majestic high seas, stares into the eyes of a ferocious lion under the bright lights of the big top, and meets a mysterious stranger in a bustling, exotic bazaar. Through it all, our feathered heroine never backs down. She is brave. She is fearless. She is a not-so-chicken chicken! Join Louise on her magnificent journey and discover just how far a little courage can take you.
6-8 Years
62 Pages
Writing a school essay is usually a boring chore, but not when your subject is a mischievous flock of farm animals. You are about to learn everything there is to know about keeping sheep as your favorite pets. First, they live outside and are covered in fluffy wool. Second, they absolutely refuse to learn how to ride a skateboard or climb a tall tree, no matter how hard you try to teach them. Most importantly, if you let them wander inside your house, you are definitely going to get into massive trouble. You will discover the hilarious reality of farm life alongside seventeen stubborn sheep and one very busy boy named Gus. Get ready for a laugh out loud animal adventure that proves life in the country is never, ever dull.
6-8 Years
41 Pages
Step into the buzzing, busy world of a young insect who is just trying to figure out how to navigate life with wings. Being a tiny bug is not always easy, especially when the world is filled with giant dangers like sticky flypaper. You get to read her actual daily journal entries as she goes to school, hangs out with her best friends Worm and Spider, and learns what it takes to survive. She has big dreams of becoming a superhero, but she quickly discovers that true heroes come in all different shapes and sizes. With a hilarious look at life from a totally different perspective, this story shows that even the smallest creatures have massive adventures. You will laugh out loud as you read her secret thoughts and learn exactly what flies do all day long.
6-8 Years
45 Pages
The babysitter is coming, which means Mommy and Daddy are going out, and one determined girl is not happy about it. She has plans, protests, and maybe even a dramatic escape to Alaska.
With humor and understanding, this picture book captures the storm of feelings that can arrive when parents leave for an evening. The heroine’s big reactions feel funny because they are also very real: disappointment, worry, anger, and the wish to stay in control.
Don’t Forget to Come Back! is a lively, reassuring story for children learning to handle separation and changes in routine. Robie H. Harris’s warm text and Harry Bliss’s expressive illustrations make a familiar family moment both relatable and laugh-out-loud funny.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Cow is in a terrible mood, and Duck gets the muddy proof. Soon one grumpy choice bounces from animal to animal across the farm, leaving hurt feelings everywhere.
In this funny, thoughtful picture book, you can watch how quickly anger spreads when no one stops to think about the next person. Then Dog steps in with a different kind of reaction: kindness.
Sorry (Really Sorry) gives young readers a clear, memorable look at apologies, empathy, and the difference between saying sorry and truly meaning it. With expressive farm animals and gentle humor, it opens the door to conversations about big feelings, repairing mistakes, and choosing care even after someone has been unkind.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
The clock is ticking! It is just ten days until kindergarten starts, and you have heard all the rules from a very serious first grader. No stuffed animals, no cats, and worst of all: no asking for help. Ever. That sounds like a disaster when you are the only kid who does not know how to tie your own shoes! What will happen if your laces come undone? As the big day creeps closer, panic sets in, and avoiding school altogether seems like the only option. This incredibly funny and reassuring story captures all the jitters of starting something new. It proves that facing your fears is not so bad, and maybe, just maybe, the rules of kindergarten are not as scary as they seem!
6-8 Years
36 Pages
