Kate Read is a debut children’s book author and illustrator. She was originally trained as a theater designer, and she graduated from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge with an MA in children’s book illustration. She lives in England with her family. You can visit her website here.

Fred Bowen is the author of Peachtree’s popular Fred Bowen Sports Story series. A lifelong sports fanatic, he has coached youth league baseball, basketball, and soccer. His kids’ sports column “The Score” appears each week in the KidsPost section of the Washington Post. Bowen lives in Maryland. You can visit his website here.

“Cole’s gentle animal fantasies can always be depended upon, and this light mystery is just right for young readers…. Cole mixes humor with intrigue to keep the narrative bouncing along, and readers will get a kick out of the unusual detective team… Hand this to fans of Chris Riddell’s Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (2008) and A. B. Greenfield’s Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018).” —Booklist

“Engaging… The birds’ exploits are surprisingly believable and enjoyable to follow in Homer’s first-person narration…. Who doesn’t love smart, friendly birds on a secret mission?” —Kirkus Reviews

“Chirpy… Cole (Brambleheart) richly imbues the narrative with sensory details… The expressive b&w pencil illustrations, rendered in panels evoking newspaper comics, heighten drama, tension, and humor.” —Publishers Weekly

Henry Cole is the illustrator of more than ninety books for children, including bestsellers such as The Leprechaun’s Gold, Little Bo, and Tango Makes Three, and Oink!, in addition to many of his own books, such as A Nest For Celeste and Jack’s Garden. He lives in Florida. You can visit  his website here.

“This gentle whodunit…includes such classic genre elements as missing jewelry, suspicious characters, red herrings and a gratifying ‘aha’ moment before the restoration of order.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Meyer’s drawings, pleasant and simple to parse, help support the story. A satisfying addition to easy-reader collections.” —Booklist Online

“This book contains short chapters, natural language, and numerous digitally colored illustrations that mirror the text, giving newly independent readers a boost when navigating all those pages….readers can test their individual problem-solving skills and crack this mystery before its heroes do.” —Horn Book Magazine

“Highly entertaining, this funny and warm story contains life lessons for young readers about friendship, responsibility, and problem-solving….a terrific transition reader for those just beginning to delve into chapter book level reading.” —School Library Journal

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of over fifty works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children’s Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children’s book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Washington. You can visit her website here.

Nancy Meyers is a graphic designer and illustrator and the proud owner of Sullivan, golden-doodle extraordinaire! She lives in Minnesota. You can visit her website here.

“Tidhar folds in plenty of noir tropes and contretemps (not to mention a stolen teddy bear for a McGuffin), while in his sparse but atmospheric line and fill drawings, Duncan depicts the young gumshoe properly clad in fedora and trenchcoat. It won’t take a detective to spot Willie Wonka, as well as Sam Spade, hidden in the tongue-in-cheek caper’s literary DNA.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Snappy dialogue… Food fights, an abandoned candy factory break-in, and more sweets-themed antics add to the fun and intrigue…. Combining chewing gum and gumshoes, this comical mystery begs to be read aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Noir tropes loom large in Tidhar’s fast-paced story, with a gutsy gumshoe, a hardboiled narrative voice…and enough action to keep young readers on their toes.” —Publishers Weekly

“Nelle is a sturdy, intrepid, practical character surrounded by a colorful cast of candy-obsessed children and adults in this fast-paced mystery.…there’s plenty here to satisfy tween mystery lovers….mystery, humor, plenty of action, and a red herring or two with an explosive climax.” —School Library Journal

Lavie Tidhar is the World Fantasy Award winning author of Osama (2011), The Violent Century (2013), the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize-winning A Man Lies Dreaming (2014), and the Campbell Award-winning Central Station (2016), in addition to many other works and several other awards. He works across genres, combining detective and thriller modes with poetry, science fiction and historical and autobiographical material. This is his first book published for children. He lives in England.

Daniel Duncan is a freelance illustrator inspired by stories, films, old, photos, and sports. Highly commended by Macmillan UK for the Macmillan Prize for Illustration in 2013, he was also shortlisted for the 2014 AOI Awards for the Children’s Books New Talent Category. He creates most of his work in an old stable, now turned studio, on the outskirts of London.

“Gloriously silly…illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake lend the story a daffy verve, and the short chapters with cliffhanger endings make for a perfect read-aloud…. Ridiculously charming.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Think Indiana Jones adventure with an Agatha Christie twist and you have the zany antics of Mr. Penguin and company. The story features a cast of endearing characters and a writing style that walks the line between funny and zany. With illustrations offering complementary, but just as wacky, details for younger readers, this title will still appeal to adult readers as well…. A great addition to a library or home bookshelf.” —School Library Connection

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate)— Kansas National Education Association, 2021

After briefly considering careers in space travel, cookery and being a rabbit, Alex T. Smith finally decided to become an illustrator. He graduated from Coventry University with a degree in Illustration and won second place in the Macmillan Prize for Children’s Illustration. Alex lives in England. You can visit his website here.

“Meyers invests all her characters with lots of personality… Beginning readers will like the spacious typeset and thought bubbles that clue readers in to King’s thinking. This is a great story to help emerging readers strengthen their comprehension skills, and caregivers can easily discuss what young readers already know and what they are discovering along the way to piece together for a final conclusion… Entertaining reading for the newest generation of detectives.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Meyers’s illustrations invite opportunities for the developing reader to investigate alongside King and Kayla, and provide support and intrigue as the case progresses. The text also invites playful read-alouds… This newest addition to the Kayla and King series continues the good work of the sleuthing duo, offering readers an opportunity to test their mystery-solving skills and laugh along the way.” —The Horn Book Magazine

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of over fifty works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children’s Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children’s book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Washington. You can visit her website here.

Nancy Meyers is a graphic designer and illustrator and the proud owner of Sullivan, golden-doodle extraordinaire! She lives in Minnesota. You can visit her website here.

“Confusion, mischief, and silliness abound. Kids who don’t always have the vocabulary to express themselves will sympathize with this waggish pup and his earnest desire to be understood by his human.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Budding detectives will have the benefit of both King’s discoveries and Kayla’s reasoning as they piece together the clues…. A welcome addition to collections supporting the transition from picture books to chapter books, this title will appeal to both dog lovers and mystery buffs.” ―School Library Journal

CCBC Choices (Books for Beginning Readers) ―Cooperative Children’s Book Center, 2018

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of over fifty works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children’s Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children’s book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Washington. You can visit her website here.

Nancy Meyers is a graphic designer and illustrator and the proud owner of Sullivan, golden-doodle extraordinaire! She lives in Minnesota. You can visit her website here.

“A perfect option for newly independent readers ready to start transitioning from easy readers to beginning chapter books. Transitional readers are always in demand, and this series is a worthy contribution to any collection serving brand-new readers.” ―School Library Journal

“Repetition both within and between books helps boost confidence in beginning readers, as do the generous, plot-reinforcing illustrations… Each book allows plenty of room for predictions and provides a glimpse into the great payoff reading can deliver…” ―The Horn Book Magazine

“The books deal with simple everyday mysteries that will be familiar to early readers. Language is direct, uses repetition, and includes challenging words in context…. King and Kayla will be a hit with early readers.” ―School Library Connection

Cybils (Easy Readers) ―Cybils, 2017

CCBC Choices (Books for Beginning Readers) ―Cooperative Children’s Book Center, 2018

Best Children’s Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education, 2018

Delaware Diamonds Awards (Nominee, Grades K-2) ―Diamond State Reading Association, 2018-2019

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of over fifty works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children’s Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children’s book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Washington. You can visit her website here.

Nancy Meyers is a graphic designer and illustrator and the proud owner of Sullivan, golden-doodle extraordinaire! She lives in Minnesota. You can visit her website here.

“Readers will connect with this charmingly misunderstood pup (along with his exasperated howls, excited tail wagging, and sheepish grins).” ―Kirkus Reviews

“A perfect option for newly independent readers ready to start transitioning from easy readers to beginning chapter books. Transitional readers are always in demand, and this series is a worthy contribution to any collection serving brand-new readers.” —School Library Journal

“A delightful series start that will have kids returning to read more about Kayla and King. It’s also a great introduction to mysteries, gathering facts, and analytical thinking for an unusually young set.” —Booklist

“The books deal with simple everyday mysteries that will be familiar to early readers. Language is direct, uses repetition, and includes challenging words in context…. King and Kayla will be a hit with early readers.” —School Library Connection

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (Honor Book)—ALSC, 2018

Notable Children’s Books —ALSC, 2018

Washington State Book Awards (Nominee, Books for Young Readers) —Washington Center for the Book. 2018

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of over fifty works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She has also published stories for children in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Children’s Digest, and Child Life. Butler is the children’s book review columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She lives in Washington. You can visit her website here.

Nancy Meyers is a graphic designer and illustrator and the proud owner of Sullivan, golden-doodle extraordinaire! She lives in Minnesota. You can visit her website here.