Worldbuilding can be one of the most fun and exciting parts of writing. Night Buddies, author Sands Hetherington, wanted John’s world to feel familiar but not too particular. While some people guess the action is set in New York City, Sands says, “I realize it has NYC aspects, but I...
Night Buddies creator Sands Hetherington loves dogs! He loves them almost as much as nighttime programs and red crocodiles. Dogs have always been a part of the author’s life, beginning with Whiskers, a cocker spaniel. When his wonderful boxer Hube died, he despaired of finding a boxer who could match...
As we prepare to launch the fourth Night Buddies adventure, we thought we’d revisit author Sands Hetherinton’s journey from single dad to author. Sands wrote about his transition to full-time dad and then to author for The Good Men Project in October 2015. When my son John was born,...
This is the last post in our three-part series on librarians’ picks for the best middle-grade fiction of 2022. Each year, the School Library Journal names its top books. We share four more of their selections for readers eight through twelve with your today. Visit our previous posts to see...
Today we bring you part two of librarians’ picks for the best middle-grade fiction of 2022. Each year, the School Library Journal names its top books. We share four more of their selections for readers eight through twelve with your today. The books are presented in alphabetical order by the...
Need help picking out books for your middle-grade reader at the library or bookstore? Who better to ask than librarians? The School Library Journal has released its list of top books for 2022. Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to a dozen of their top pick for readers...
Who doesn't love a good holiday? It's fun to look forward to special days and to plan special celebrations. But don't limit yourself to the BIG holidays; pick some unusual, lesser-known holidays and observances and incorporate them into your 2023 plans. HolidaysandObservances.com offers hundreds of suggestions, but we've listed a...
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah! John and Cros have a special holiday treat for you! They planned to send pineapple cheesecake, but when they go to the factory, it was a mess! And Jones, the pineapple cheesecake machine was jammed! So, they decided to share a scene from the upcoming...
Advent calendars are more popular than ever! You can find calendars that count the days to Christmas with socks, chocolates, pet treats, and Lego figures. But you can start one of the best advent countdown traditions at home with a story advent calendar. First, decide how many days you want...
Want to simplify holiday gift-giving? One idea is to give each child four gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. We have five suggestions for something to read that will delight your middle grader. The Tower at the End of Time by...
The Night Buddies gang is pleased as punch to introduce Natalie Leininger. Natalie is a talented young artist who illustrated the fourth book in the Night Buddies series, Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264. You can see one of her illustrations from the book below. Natalie grew up in New...
Happy Thanksgiving from the Night Buddies Gang! As you enjoy your favorite foods and time with your family, Cros and John are preparing for new adventures. Crosley did pause between mouthfuls of Crusted Crème Fro-Madges to jot down what he is thankful for this year. I'm thankful for my brother...
Jeeks! John and Crosley will so be back with a new program! Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264 is about to hit the presses. Today—FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!—we're sharing the cover with you! Drum roll, please... Ta Da! As you can see from the cover. The iguanas...
With shorter days and cooler weather, it's a great time of year to cozy up on the couch and stream a movie or series. Several shows based on middle-grade books are available now. Make an experience of it. Choose a book. Read it aloud together as a family over several...
If you're planning a holiday gathering with friends or family, skip the gag gifts or white elephants and have a book exchange instead. Book exchanges are simple and fun for all ages. They are a great way to both clean out and refresh your library and to share books you...
If you have a young reader in the house, you may have an acquaintance with graphic novels. The Oxford dictionary defines a graphic novel as “a full-length (esp. science fiction or fantasy) story published as a book in comic-strip format.” The number of illustrations and amount of text used in...