Buddy and Earl

“An understated winner of a friendship story … simultaneously of-the-moment and timeless.” — Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

What’s in the box that Meredith has carried into the living room? Buddy doesn’t know, but when the small, prickly creature says he is a pirate — and that Buddy is a pirate, too — the mismatched friends are off on a grand adventure.

In this first book in the best-selling Buddy and Earl series, a dog who likes to play by the rules meets a hedgehog who knows no limits. Their friendship is tender and loyal, and their adventures are funny and imaginative. Maureen Fergus’s text is witty and understated, and Carey Sookocheff’s art emphasizes both the humor and the warmth of this odd and loveable animal couple.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

• Boston Globe Best Books of 2015 for KidsCommended 2015
• 49th Shelf Favourite Picture Books of the YearCommended 2015
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the YearCommended 2016
• CCBC Best Books for Children and TeensCommended 2016

“An understated winner of a friendship story ... simultaneously of-the-moment and timeless.” — Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“Fergus' deadpan text and Sookocheff's simple, flowing artwork work in elemental harmony, working together to elevate the book to a subliminal sophistication that breathes something quite smart into the proceedings.” — Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

“Enjoy the humor, and the depth of characterization, in both art and text, and hope for more Buddy and Earl adventures.” — Horn Book

“Deserves to be read aloud over and over again.” — Boston Globe

“Their charmingly raucous game of make-believe is appealing enough, but the sneaky lesson in deductive reasoning makes this frolicsome, read-aloud-friendly picture book truly outstanding.” — Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Fergus succeeds in engaging readers with this rollicking adventure in a way that never feels didactic or forced. . . Sookocheff marks a promising debut with her first picture book.” — Quill & Quire

“A simple story for animal loving readers and proponents of imaginative play.” — School Library Journal

“Readers will enjoy the antics of these two playful friends and will look forward to more of their adventures in the future. Highly Recommended.” — CM Magazine