Sparky!

Illustrated by Chris Appelhans
The ingenious author of 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore and a brilliant illustrator and production designer of the Coraline movie have created a hilarious, touching picture book perfect for young animal lovers. Like the Caldecott Medal-winning Officer Buckle and Gloria, Sparky stars a pet who has more to offer than meets the eye. When our narrator orders a sloth through the mail, the creature that arrives isn't good at tricks or hide-and-seek . . . or much of anything. Still, there's something about Sparky that is irresistible.

Winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award
  • WINNER | 2015
    Charlotte Zolotow Award
  • AWARD
    ALA Alex Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    New York State Charlotte Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    ALA Alex Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Colorado Children's Book Award
  • AWARD | 2015
    ALA Alex Award
  • NOMINEE | 2015
    Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children's and Teens
  • FINALIST | 2015
    ALA Alex Award
  • FINALIST | 2013
    ALA Alex Award
© Emily Tobey
Jenny Offill is the author of the novels Last Things (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the L.A. Times First Book Award), and Dept. of Speculation, which was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Pen Faulkner Award and the International Dublin Award. She lives in upstate New York and teaches at Syracuse University and in the low residency program at Queens University. View titles by Jenny Offill
CHRIS APPELHANS has worked on several films. He was an illustrator and production designer for Coraline, an environment designer Fantastic Mr. Fox, and a visual development artist for The Princess and the Frog. This is his first picture book. View titles by Chris Appelhans

About

The ingenious author of 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore and a brilliant illustrator and production designer of the Coraline movie have created a hilarious, touching picture book perfect for young animal lovers. Like the Caldecott Medal-winning Officer Buckle and Gloria, Sparky stars a pet who has more to offer than meets the eye. When our narrator orders a sloth through the mail, the creature that arrives isn't good at tricks or hide-and-seek . . . or much of anything. Still, there's something about Sparky that is irresistible.

Winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award

Awards

  • WINNER | 2015
    Charlotte Zolotow Award
  • AWARD
    ALA Alex Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    New York State Charlotte Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    ALA Alex Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Colorado Children's Book Award
  • AWARD | 2015
    ALA Alex Award
  • NOMINEE | 2015
    Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children's and Teens
  • FINALIST | 2015
    ALA Alex Award
  • FINALIST | 2013
    ALA Alex Award

Author

© Emily Tobey
Jenny Offill is the author of the novels Last Things (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the L.A. Times First Book Award), and Dept. of Speculation, which was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Pen Faulkner Award and the International Dublin Award. She lives in upstate New York and teaches at Syracuse University and in the low residency program at Queens University. View titles by Jenny Offill
CHRIS APPELHANS has worked on several films. He was an illustrator and production designer for Coraline, an environment designer Fantastic Mr. Fox, and a visual development artist for The Princess and the Frog. This is his first picture book. View titles by Chris Appelhans

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more