Matthew Myers

A boy buys the world's longest licorice rope from a girl and follows it until he finds a surprise at the end.

As soon as twelve-year-old Steve Brixton opens a detective office in his backyard, he and his best friend Dana are caught up in a tangle of cases, from breaking up a ring of piratical smugglers, to recovering a stolen surfboard, to tracking down a fifth-grader's missing gym shorts.

After standing up to some kids who have bullied his friend and they take revenge on him, Ralphie listens to his brother Louie's advice to tell a grown-up and confides in his father Big Lou, who provides some wise guidance.

Challenged by former scout master Grandpa Ratso to go camping without asking for help, Ralphie and Louie struggle through pitching a tent, building a fire and exploring the woods before discovering that they are supposed to work together as a team.

When Louie and Ralphie Ratso see their friends singing and dancing on the run-down bandstand in the Big City Park, Louie gets one of his big ideas--they'll put on a concert to raise money to improve the park! Ralphie, Tiny, Velma, and Millicent are practicing songs from their favorite pop group, the Critter Kidz, wen Chad Badgerton says that singing and dancing in glittery outfits is "girly," which makes Ralphie think maybe he shouldn't be a part...

Grabbing a bow and quiver, a kid sets off, toddler sister in tow, to live off the land in the expanses of their own backyard. First, they pilfer supplies from the refrigerator, but only what they need. After that, they encounter many dangers, from a ferocious mountain lion (a house cat) to a hulking canine beast (their dog). When the sun dips low, they make a camp complete with defenses to ward off predators. Matt Myers's cool self-serious text is...