Mervin Moves!


Mervin the Sloth is just standing there quietly when giant letters drop onto the page: “Mervin the Sloth is about to do the best thing in the world.” But what is the best thing in the world? What is Mervin about to do? 

It doesn’t take long for all of Mervin’s exuberant animal friends to barge in with their own ideas. Flying! Digging! Gazelling! Wait, gazelling? Is that even a word?

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WILD RUMPUS
MCNALLY JACKSON
Or request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

"A book to hug close and then share with a friend." —Kirkus Reviews


#SlothSwag

-Papercraft Mervin! (download) 
Make 3D paper sloths with this handy print-out! Great for activity days!

-"Reading Is the Best Thing In the World" Poster (download) 
Decorate your classroom or library with some book love!

-Sloth Face Nail Art Stamp!
Tiny Mervin faces for your nails! Video Tutorial Step-by-step!

 

 

GUINEA PIG, PET SHOP PRIVATE EYE series
EISNER NOMINEE for BEST PUBLICATION FOR KIDS

Also Awarded: KIRKUS BEST BOOKS * SLJ TOP 10 * JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION * CYBILS FINALIST * BANK STREET BEST BOOK * NYPL 100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING

"A series of graphic novels that has a Pixar-like ability to appeal to both adults and kids."
—Robot 6/Comic Book Resources on Guinea Pig

My first book, HAMSTER AND CHEESE: Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 1, came out in April 2010 from Graphic Universe, an imprint of Lerner! It's a graphic novel for kids and the first in a series starring a unfriendly Guinea Pig who is forced t…


My first book, HAMSTER AND CHEESE: Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 1, came out in April 2010 from Graphic Universe, an imprint of Lerner! It's a graphic novel for kids and the first in a series starring a unfriendly Guinea Pig who is forced to solve crimes by a hyperactive hamster when the "g" falls off her sign. The art is by the incredible Stephanie Yue, who is a black belt in making-things-super-cute.

BUY IT!

BOOKS OF WONDER (signed copies) * LERNER * POWELL'S * BN * AMAZON * E-BOOK * Or my fav: Request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

REVIEWS & AWARDS

*A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF 2010* *NYPL "100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING" SELECTION* *2010 CYBILS FINALIST*

"Middle graders will close this and ask right away for Detective Pants's next caper."—Kirkus Reviews

"Unique characters, a creative setting, and sharp humor”—School Library Journal

"A refreshingly cute blend of comedy, mystery, and adventure. Each little animal's unique personality is captured perfectly by the absolutely adorable drawings and blended with the witty dialogue in a way that makes this comic a perfect read for all ages."—Andy Runton, creator of OWLY


AND THEN THERE WERE GNOMES, Book 2 in the Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye series illustrated by Stephanie Yue, comes out in Nov 2010. There's a ghost in Mr. V's shop and the mice are disappearing one by one. It's up to reluctant Sasspants and all h…


AND THEN THERE WERE GNOMES, Book 2 in the Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye series illustrated by Stephanie Yue, comes out in Nov 2010. There's a ghost in Mr. V's shop and the mice are disappearing one by one. It's up to reluctant Sasspants and all her crazy storemates to figure out what's going on. This book includes what may possibly be the best line I'll ever write in a book: "Please enjoy the rest of our shop, this aisle is currently Haunted"

BUY IT!

LERNER * POWELL'S * B&N * AMAZON * E-BOOK *
Or my fav: Request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

REVIEWS & AWARDS

*A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF 2010*

"A gem—please, tell us we'll be seeing more of Sasspants!"—Kirkus Reviews

"This charmingly goofy, slightly goose-pimply graphic novel is just right for a gently spooky laptime or independent read."—Shelf Awareness

"Everything about it could be described as cute, from the art to the characters' personalities."—Publisher's Weekly

"Let's say you took Sam Spade and gave him whiskers and a tail. Or say you took Easy Rawlins, covered him in fur and set him up inside a pet store. Or say you took Hercule Poirot, lined his cage with grass and gave him wood chips to gnaw on so his teeth wouldn't grow too long. It wouldn't matter because you still wouldn't wind up with a sleuth as awesome as Detective Sasspants. Venable and Yue have created an instantly classic mystery series for young ones to enjoy. The stories are witty and fun. The mysteries are valid. And the art is just plain wonderful. You can consider me a loyal and dedicated fan of Guinea P.I."—Nick Bruel, creator of BAD KITTY


THE FERRET'S A FOOT: Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 3 (March 2011). Mr. Venezi puts up a help wanted sign in the shop, but if he gets more help it means more animals will be sold! If that wasn't bad enough, when crazy new ferrets move in and…


THE FERRET'S A FOOT: Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 3 (March 2011). Mr. Venezi puts up a help wanted sign in the shop, but if he gets more help it means more animals will be sold! If that wasn't bad enough, when crazy new ferrets move in and vandals start to change the signs on all the cages Sasspants and Hamisher have their fuzzy hands full...

BUY IT!

LERNER * WORD * POWELL'S * BN * AMAZON * E-BOOK
Or my fav: Request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

REVIEWS & AWARDS

*EISNER NOMINEE for BEST PUBLICATION FOR KIDS* *A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION*

"Yue's adorable, expressive cartoon creatures ably extend Venable's humor.... A winning graphic story all around"—Kirkus Reviews

"The mystery, while uncomplicated and dotted with humorous moments, still allows for some basic deductive reasoning as readers search for the culprit.... Kids who have a thing for pets (which is a sizable group) and a hankering for humor will likely take to this title"—School Library Journal

"The Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye series continues to entertain, with cute animals, witty dialogue, and a solid mystery."—Booklist


GuineaPigBook4.jpg


FISH YOU WERE HERE:
Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 4

The animals in Mr. Venezi's pet shop are used to how forgetful he is. Then he hires the perfect assistant, Viola. She does her job so well that Mr. V hardly needs to be there. In fact, one day, Mr. V doesn't come back at all! Eep!

BUY IT!

LERNER * POWELL'S * BN * AMAZON * E-BOOK
Or my fav: Request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

REVIEWS & AWARDS

"Venable and Yue have concocted another winning entry in the cute Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye series.”—Booklist
"Venable and Yue's Pet Shop Private Eye graphic series continues to charm. Yue's adorable pet-shop fur (and scale) people are just as expressive as their human counterparts, and Venable's gentle mystery and delightful, dry humor will extend Sasspant's fanbase.... Great graphic tales for young readers and animal lovers; long may Sasspants detect!”—Kirkus Reviews

GuineaPigBook5.jpg

RAINING CATS AND DETECTIVES: Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 5 released October 2012. It's a dark and stormy afternoon when Sasspants, leaves Mr. Venezi's pet shop to live with a new owner. (Noooo!) BUT there's a mystery afoot back at the shop: the cat from the bookstore next door has disappeared. All the pet shop animals are putting on their detective hats, but their fluffy-but-faraway guinea pig detective can't help them follow the clues! Can Hamisher the hamster solve this cat-napping without Sasspants?

BUY IT!

LERNER * POWELL'S * BN * AMAZON * E-BOOK
Or my fav: Request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

REVIEWS & AWARDS

"...as sly, sarcastic and silly as its predecessors. Yue's expressive, dot-eyed creatures in bright hues and cinematic panels are still perfect at bringing the tales to life and adding an extra dimension of character and humor.”
Kirkus Reviews

GOING, GOING, DRAGON!: Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye, Book 6 released November 2013. Sasspants, Hamisher, and company have never had it so good. Now that Mr. Venezi's Pets and Stuff doesn't actually sell pets, everybody has time to explore other interests. There's scuba diving in the fish tank with the Steves, theatrical performances with the mice, and walrus toothbrushes and aardvark neckties for everyone! It's not all good times, though. Mr. Venezi's been mistaking his bills for fan mail and a dragon may have moved into the shop. Can Sasspants and Hamisher ensure that a "happily ever after" is in store for the animals, Mr. Venezi, Viola…and even that nice lady from the bookshop next door?

BUY IT!

LERNER * POWELL'S * BN * AMAZON * E-BOOK
Or my fav: Request it at your local INDIE STORE or COMICS SHOP!

REVIEWS & AWARDS

"All good things come to an end, they say, and this one’s a strong one to go out on...I’m always surprised by how neatly everything works together in surprising ways. There’s a tendency in comics to call kids’ books “all ages” in order to avoid scaring away readers, but this is truly a great read for everyone. ”—Comics Worth Reading