Night Buddies is a children’s chapter-book adventure series by Sands Hetherington. The stories follow John Degraffenreidt and Crosley, a bright red crocodile who turns up when John isn’t ready to sleep. Together they head out after lights out on “Programs,” the Night Buddies word for adventures.

There are currently four Night Buddies books featured on the official website: Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare; Night Buddies, Impostors, and One Far-Out Flying Machine; Night Buddies Go Sky High; and Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264.

For the clearest introduction to John, Crosley, and the Night Buddies world, start with Book 1 and continue in series order: 1) The Pineapple Cheesecake Scare, 2) Impostors and One Far-Out Flying Machine, 3) Go Sky High, and 4) Evil School Bus #264.

Each book has its own Program and central adventure, but the books share recurring characters, locations, language, and references. Starting with Book 1 gives readers the original introduction to John and Crosley and is the recommended way to enter the series.

Night Buddies combines chapter-book storytelling with fantasy, adventure, mystery, humor, illustrations, invented gadgets, playful language, and recurring characters.

Crosley is John’s bright red crocodile friend and Night Buddy. He loves pineapple cheesecakes, carries an assortment of unusual whatchamacallits and doodads, and recruits John for nighttime Programs.

Crosley is allergic to water. Getting wet makes him break out into the Black Bottom dance, so he takes antidote pills. The pills stop the reaction but have a side effect: they turn him bright red.

Sands Hetherington’s son, John, invented Crosley when he was around six years old. Sands and John developed Crosley through bedtime storytelling, and Sands later built the character and those ideas into the Night Buddies books.

Yes. The character John grew from Sands Hetherington’s son, John, whose bedtime imagination helped inspire Crosley and the original Night Buddies idea.

The Night Buddies world includes recurring characters such as Big Foot Mae, Crenwinkle, Fast Fanny Farnsworth, Rodney Oglesby, the Iguana Gang, and others encountered during John and Crosley’s Programs.

Night Buddies is written for young readers, but published reviews vary somewhat by title and reader. Reviews have placed books in the elementary-to-middle-grade range, with some recommending roughly ages 8–12. Because reading ability varies, parents and educators should review individual title information when choosing between independent reading and reading together.

Several reviews and educator comments have highlighted the series’ read-aloud appeal. The humor, character voices, invented words, and adventures can also give adults and children plenty to talk about while reading together.

The unusual spelling and expressions are intentional parts of the characters’ voices and Night Buddies humor. Crosley and other characters use invented words, dialect, and playful expressions throughout the series.

Some reviewers, including a school librarian quoted on the official site, have said the books may appeal to reluctant readers because of their humor, adventure, and unusual characters. Reading preferences vary, so Night Buddies should be presented as an option rather than a guaranteed reading solution.

A Program is the Night Buddies word for an adventure. When Crosley appears after lights out, he and John head out on a Program to investigate whatever strange problem needs their attention.

Many of John and Crosley’s adventures take place around the Borough, a nighttime city setting filled with unusual locations and characters. Later books take their adventures even farther, including into the sky.

Whatchamacallits are part of the playful world of Night Buddies. Crosley carries unusual gadgets and doodads that help the pair during their Programs, including the I-ain’t-here doodad used to make them invisible.

Pineapple cheesecake is one of Crosley’s favorite foods and became central to the first Night Buddies mystery, when the world’s supply begins disappearing from the Pineapple Cheesecake Factory.

Night Buddies is written by Sands Hetherington.

The series grew out of bedtime storytelling with his son, John. John invented Crosley the red crocodile, and father and son continued developing ideas and episodes together. Sands later turned those ideas into the Night Buddies stories.

Yes. The Night Buddies books include illustrations. Illustrator credits vary by title, so the individual book pages should be used for the official credit for each book.

Visit the Night Buddies Book Series page for the full series and links to individual book pages.

Start with Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare, the first adventure and the original introduction to John, Crosley, the Borough, and their nighttime Programs.

Use the purchase links on the individual book pages for the currently approved retailers and formats.

Yes, the Night Buddies website includes dedicated resources for parents and for teachers and librarians, including series information, reading considerations, discussion ideas, and links to the books.