Books with author Brett Helquist

Dear possible reader of this book, I want to be a writer, just like my uncle Harold, who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula. So I wrote this story. And boy! Did I ever get into trouble! My friend Delilah stopped speaking to me because I put her in my book. Uncle Harold stopped speaking to me because I didn't put him in my book. A writer's life isn't easy! But back to my story: It's about how a talented and lovable (not to mention smart) wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie saves the world from a disgusting, evil menace named...oops, that would give away the story. But trust me, this menace is disgusting and evil, all right!!! Uncle Harold, who is speaking to me again, says it's an exciting book, even though it has too many adjectives. I have no idea what he's talking about. I just hope you like the story. Your friend, Howie

Dear Reader, The guy who usually writes these letters asked me to do it instead. Maybe he was having a bad writing day. Maybe he wanted me to play the sap for him. Or maybe he ran into Trouble with a capital T. Well, Trouble's my business. I'm a dog. I'm a detective. The name's Bud Barkin. And this book is about a case I had involving a dame named Delilah Gorbish, whom I would call Trouble with a capital T except I've used that metaphor already, and a clown named Crusty Carmady whose calling card is a teakettle that he heaves through windows. Nice pair of birds. The mystery deepens with another character called the Big Fish, who isn't really a fish and who's addicted to the Home Shopping Network. Hey, I don't write 'em -- I just solve 'em. If you're interested you might want to come along for the ride, which is wilder than a bunch of English teachers at a grammar fair. Just remember: I do all the similes. Yours truly, Bud Barkin, P.E.

Dear possible reader of this book, My editor asked me to write a third book in my series, Tales from the House of Bunnicula. And did I have trouble getting started! I was afraid I used up all my ideas. But faster than a writer can say "What if?" I came up with a story! It's about a lovable and smart (not to mention cute) orphan wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie, who has a mysterious pain in his leg and is mysteriously invited to attend the Dogwiz Academy for Canine Conjurers. Together, Howie and his best friend, the very, very, very smart Delilah, who speaks in a British accent in this book for some reason, discover they must fight a sinister foe...The-Evil-Force-Whose-Nam-C'not-Be-Spoke!!! Uncle Harold (who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula), says my story is a very funny parody. Delilah says she likes the accent, but thinks her character doesn't get to speak enough. I have no idea what they're talking about. I just hope you like the story. Your friend, Howie

Dear possible reader of this book, I wasn't sure I'd be able to write a book ever again after Canine Quarterly reviewed my series, Tales from the House of Bunnicula. They said I would never win the Newbony Award. Was I depressed! And I didn't even know what a Newbony was! Luckily Delilah's read a lot of Newbony books, so she helped me write this one. It's about a poor (but very cute) orphan dachshund puppy named Howie Monroe, who lives on the prairie and yearns for a chicken bone. (I know. Trust me.) Things really get exciting when Howie and his best friend, the smart and well-read Delilah, find a time machine and travel back to ancient Egypt where they uncover...the mystery of the Pharaoh's tomb!!! Uncle Harold (who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula) says he thinks Delilah and I learned a lot about working together. I'm just glad we're still speaking to each other, and I hope you like the story. Your friend, Howie

Dear possible reader of this book, After I wrote my first book, It Came from Beneath the Bed!, my editor asked me to write another one. (Another one! This is hard work! I'd like to see him write another one!) So anyway...in this book the lovable and smart (not to mention talented) wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie and his friend, the beautiful and brilliant Delilah, face their biggest challenge yet: the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6!™ Along the way Delilah gets turned into a squirrel and has to beg for acorns. (Hey, don't ask me! Read the book!) My uncle Harold (who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula), says he likes my book a lot, but it has too many adjectives. Delilah says I have a lot to learn about writing girl characters. I have no idea what they're talking about. I just hope you like the story. Your friend, Howie

Sequel to A Rat's Tale. In A Rat's Tale, Montague Mad-Rat saved the day for the wharf rats of New York City and won the affection of the she-rat of his dreams, the lovely Isabel Moberly-Rat. All ratdom hailed Montague as a hero -- except for the rat whose story is at the center of this captivating sequel. A rodent of impeccable breeding and exquisite personal hygiene, Randal Reese-Rat is mad with jealousy, believing Montague has stolen his former bride-to-be. His jealousy is no secret on his wharf, and when an unthinkable crime is perpetrated against Izzy and Monty on their wedding night, Randal is the prime suspect. Now on the lam, with a price on his head and thugs on his tail, Randal involves secret friends of his in a perfect and horrible revenge on the whole rat colony, Izzy and Monty included. But his plans are hopelessly complicated when a new rat enters his life, an exotic she-rat who also happens to be the cousin of his nemesis, Montague.

In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back. In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy. Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle—three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined—a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever . . . Someone just like Odd .

The captivating sequel to a Rat's TaleRandal Reese-Rat is mad with jealousy, believing Montague Mad-Rat has stolen Isabel, his former bride-to-be. His feelings are no secret on his wharf, and when an unthinkable crime is perpetrated against Izzy and Monty on their wedding night, Randal is the prime suspect. Now on the lam, with a price on his head and thugs on his tail, Randal involves animal friends of his in a perfect and horrible revenge on the whole rat colony. But his plans are hopelessly complicated when a new rat enters his life, an exotic she-rat who shares his unusual interest in non-rat species -- and who also happens to be a cousin of his nemesis.

From the New York Times bestselling team behind Chasing Vermeer comes another thought-provoking art mystery--featuring Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie house!Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two junior sleuths to piece together the clues. Stir in the return of Calder's friend Tommy (which creates a tense triangle), H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright, and the kids become tangled in a dangerous web in which life and art intermingle with death, deception, and surprise.

First Three Volumes in the Tales from the House of Bunnicula Series by James Howe: 1. It Came from Beneath the Bed! 2. Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6! and 3. Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom. All are First Editions /1st Printing Antheneum Books for Young Readers Hardcovers. Plus Bonus Tales from the House of Bunnicula Writing Journal (Paperback)