Howard McWilliam – illustratör

A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humor over fear, appeals to a child’s love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child’s imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week." Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they've got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn't enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.

Scholastic Book Club Selection

Winner of 6 state awards: Alabama Camellia Award (2010-2011), Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award (2011), California Young Readers Medal (2011-12), Georgia Picture Storybook Award (2011-12), Nevada Young Reader Award (2011-12), Virginia Reader's Choice Primary Award (2012-13)

Included on 5 other state award lists: Mississippi Magnolia Children's Choice Award list (2012-13), Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (2011-12), South Dakota Prairie Bud Award list (2011-12), Washington Children's Choice Book Award list (2010-2011), Wyoming Buckaroo Award list (2011-12)

Additionally, these regional awards lists: Connecticut Charter Oak Children's Book Award list (2011-12), Iowa Regional Goldfinch Award Winner (2009-10)

Storytelling World Award Honor Book 2010

What if you woke up one morning and discovered your body was covered in an animal's scales, feathers, or fur instead of your own skin? How would that change your life? What If You Had Animal Scales!? is the next imaginative book in Sandra Markle's popular What If You Had series.

If you had a chinchilla's fur, you'd never need to worry about bug spray. If you had a hammerhead shark's scales, you'd be the fastest swimmer on the team! And if you had a honeybee's coat, you'd always bring home the biggest haul on Halloween.

Discover what your life would be like if you had these special coats -- and find out why your skin is just right for you!

If you could have any dinosaur body part, which would you choose?

What if you woke up one morning and you had sprouted a dinosaur body part overnight?

Sandra Markle's bestselling What If You Had... series is now in Scholastic's Level 2 reader format! Perfect for kids just learning to read independently, this imaginative book explores what would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw a dinosaur body part instead of your own!

From a Velociraptor's sharp sickle-tipped toes to a T. rex's giant curved teeth, and from the body armor of an Ankylosaurus to the long neck of a Brachiosaurus -- discover what it would be like if you had one of these wild dinosaur parts! Readers will also learn what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur and why they aren't around today.

What if you woke up one morning and your eyes weren't yours?

Sandra Markle's bestselling What If You Had... series is now in Scholastic's Level 2 reader format! Perfect for kids just learning to read independently, this imaginative book explores what would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw a pair of animal eyes instead of your own.

From the chameleon's eyes that can point in different directions, to the colossal squid's eyes that shine in the dark, discover what it would be like if you had these special eyes. Then, find out why your eyes are just the right ones for you!

If you could have any animal's home, whose would you choose?

What if you woke up one morning and discovered you were living inside a wild animal's home instead of your own? How would that change your daily life? What If You Had an Animal Home!? is the next imaginative book in Sandra Markle's popular What If You Had...? series.

If you had a honeybee’s home, you’d always have room service. If you had a meerkat’s home, you’d play hide-and-seek for hours. And a hermit crab’s home would follow you wherever you go! The animal kingdom has tons of amazing homes, but yours is pretty great, too!

Discover what your life would be like if you had these special animal homes -- and find out why your home is just right for you!

A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humor over fear, appeals to a child’s love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child’s imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week." Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they've got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn't enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.