Featured books by Jon Scieszka

One time teacher, Jon Scieszka now writes full-time. His off-beat humor appeals to kids old and young. He often begins with well-known tales but alters the point of view to create long and lasting laughter. Find out what really happens to the Frog Prince, the real scoop on the Three Pigs, how to cure a math curse but get science verse. And be sure to look for other books by this talented and slightly wacky writer.

AstroNuts Mission One: The Plant Planet

AstroNuts Mission One: The Plant Planet

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Steven Weinberg
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction

Who said that there isn’t fact in fun? They haven’t met the heroes in this highly, hysterically illustrated space adventure. AlphaWolf, SmartHawk, LaserShark, and StinkBug explore the universe in their Thomas Jefferson Nose Rocket looking for a Goldilocks planet but find danger instead. Earth, the narrator, also provides information about climate change in this wild and witty adventure.

Baloney (Henry P.)

Baloney (Henry P.)

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction

Human kids will understand where little green, freckle-faced Henry P. Baloney is coming from. He's late again, and is sure to serve detention forever if he can't come up with a good excuse for his teacher as to why he's late again. Words Henry uses sound truly alien, but there's enough context to figure out their meaning — and a funny surprise waiting at book's end.

Frank Einstein and the Brain Turbo

Frank Einstein and the Brain Turbo

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Brian Biggs
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction

Boy genius, Frank Einstein, and friends explore energy and other science topics as they relate to their everyday interests. The latest in the series is filled will wordplay, science ideas and additional silliness to engage even the most reluctant readers. The heavily illustrated book will not disappoint Frank Einstein fans.

Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger

Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger

By: Jon Scieszka
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction

Frank Einstein must figure out an alternate source of power or succumb to his archenemy T. Edison's exorbitant prices for electricity. In this latest of over-the-top funny Einstein series, actual science fact is couched in humorous fiction.

Frank Einstein and the EvoBlaster Belt

Frank Einstein and the EvoBlaster Belt

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Brian Biggs
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction

Young inventor, Frank Einstein and his friend Watson along with his walking, talking robots Klink and Klank, are back. This time, Frank has invented the ‘evoblaster’ which allows the user to evolve into other forms and then back again. Real science combines with laugh-out-loud humor in the latest installment.

Frog Prince Continued

Frog Prince Continued

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Steve Johnson
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Everyone knows that once the poor frog was turned into a handsome prince by a kiss, the royal duo lived happily ever after, right? Well, maybe not! Being a prince comes with its own special set of problems, revealed in the traditional tale continued.

Guys Read: Thriller

Guys Read: Thriller

By: Jon Scieszka
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Short stories from well-known writers are sure to thrill and delight readers in this second of the Guys Read library.

Guys Write for Guys Read

Guys Write for Guys Read

By: Jon Scieszka
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography

Scieszka has collected short stories with special appeal to guys; after all, they were written by guys! In this collection, readers will learn about guys who write for guys who read &mdash and love to laugh (and occasionally get grossed out), including a Scieszka family story.

It's All Greek to Me

It's All Greek to Me

By: Jon Scieszka
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Myths and Legends, Fantasy

In this installment of friends known as the Time Warp Trio, Joe, Fred, and Sam meet key figures from ancient Greek mythology when they’re transported back to Mount Olympus. It all started during a school play about ancient Greece…

Knights of the Kitchen Table

Knights of the Kitchen Table

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

As a gift from his magician uncle, Joe receives The Book setting into motion a series of humorous time travel adventures. Joe and his friends, Fred and Sam, travel to King Arthur's England where they meet dragons, knights, and more in this first Time Warp Trio trip. Smith's black/white illustrations punctuate the action in this fast-paced tale.

Math Curse

Math Curse

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction

The narrator's curse begins when she is told by her math teacher that math is all around. And so it is — including every part of this very funny book as it examines math and its functions. Text and illustration are seamlessly one allowing the book to be appreciated on several levels.

Science Verse

Science Verse

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Poetry

This boy's curse begins when his teacher suggests that the "poetry of science" can be heard everywhere. From Moore to Frost, familiar poems are parodied and turned into science verse. Again art and illustration are inseparable as are the laughs in this offbeat look at science.

Squids Will Be Squids

Squids Will Be Squids

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Scieszka and Smith set sights on creating fresh fables — short traditional tales intended to teach a moral lesson. With humorous twists and take-offs, new, different and wacky fables are presented for readers' edification and amusement.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Fairytales, Folk Tales, and Tall Tales

The incomparable author and illustrator team retells traditional tales such as the "Gingerbread Man" and the "Little Red Hen" in inventive and hilarious ways, sure to make readers familiar with the originals laugh out loud. Even the traditional format of the book is changed to suit the absurdity of the new versions, for a memorable reading experience.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

The "real" story started when Alexander Wolf sneezed when he tried to borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbor in the straw house.

Truckery Rhymes

Truckery Rhymes

By: Jon Scieszka
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader
Genre: Poetry

Move over Mother Goose! These cheerfully illustrated ditties not only take off from the earlier rhymes, but add a decidedly contemporary feel with likely appeal especially for truck and grit lovers. The rhymes can be shared aloud or even read aloud with more traditional offerings.

Viking It and Liking It

Viking It and Liking It

By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Adam McCauley
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Fred, Sam, and Joe – the boys who travel by The Book, become known as "Brave Fred, Berserk Sam, and Magic Joe" when they travel back in time to meet Leif Eriksson and his Vikings. The boys seem as much like aliens to the Vikings as the ancient runes do to them; that is, until they write their own saga! Readers will learn a little along the way as they laugh out loud with this book from The Time Warp Trio series.

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"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." — Frederick Douglass