Kelly Murphy – illustratör

Lucian's father called them faraway things, those mysterious objects orphaned upon the windswept shore, their stories long lost in the shroud of ocean fog. Lucian's discovery on the beach this particular day, though, is no ordinary faraway thing. It's a cutlass: strong, shiny, and powerful. As its history comes to light, Lucian faces a choice: cling to the sword he loves or accept a gift that shines farther, wider, and deeper than he could have ever dreamed. Stunningly illustrated with evocative art by Kelly Murphy and written by award-winning and bestselling writer Dave Eggers, here is a profound and resonant tale about the reward of letting go.

From the award-winning team who created Masterpiece comes a charming chapter book about a young bulldozer who is nervous about making friends and starting school.★ "Broach and Murphy rev up for a promising new series.... An enthralling tale about doing the heavy lifting of making friends." -Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewBulldozer is shy when it comes to making new friends and nervous about starting school. But when he meets his new neighbor Millie and her little brother Jay, Bulldozer embarks on a daring adventure to rescue a stranded cat. With the help of his own machinery-and a plate of freshly baked cookies-Bulldozer overcomes his fears just by being himself.The beloved team of Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy are back with a compelling new series about an endearing bulldozer living in a human world. Each book contains five chapters, perfect for emerging readers learning how to read on their own.

Bulldozer overcomes his anxieties before the first day of school in this second installment of the Bulldozer and Friends series, by the award-winning team who created The Masterpiece Adventure chapter book series.Bulldozer is nervous about his new school year and worried he won't fit in. His friend Millie tries to reassure him, but Bulldozer isn't convinced...especially when he gets to his classroom and things start going wrong. But just when he's sure his day couldn't get worse, something amazing happens! The first day of school proves to be special for everyone, all because of Bulldozer.Perfect for kids learning how to read on their own, the second book in this endearing series follows Bulldozer through the challenges and rewards of going to school.Praise for Bulldozer's Big Rescue:★ "Broach and Murphy rev up for a promising new series.... An enthralling tale about doing the heavy lifting of making friends." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review★ "This sweetly simple story addresses sometimes-challenging issues surrounding meeting new people with a light and understanding touch, and expressive drawings with muted orange accents bring Bulldozer and his world to life." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

“He’s the G.O.A.T. Greatest Of All Time!”Wow . . . Goat had no idea!But why is he the greatest? Is he the fastest? Nope, Horse easily beats him in a race. Maybe he’s the strongest? No, that’s Donkey. Goat isn’t the highest jumper, either, or even the best spitter - and he’s definitely not the bravest. Out of ideas of what makes him great, he’s beginning to doubt that he’s great at anything when a sudden call for help gives him his chance to shine.Kids will get a kick out of Goat’s antics and cheer him on as he finally stops comparing himself to everyone else and discovers that there’s greatness in us all.

Heartwarming, charming and sometimes spine-tingling, thisstory by award-winning author Kara LaReau is about fitting in, standingout, overcoming fear, and finding a place called home.A young and frightened kitten is brought starry-eyed into a newhousehold. A boy named Max is trying desperately to get over theloss of his former beloved pet. But ghosts don't always enjoy beingforgotten. Sometimes they must make their presence known.In her cage at the Mount Charles Animal Shelter, Kitty feels saferthan she did in the woods. And then Max appears at the shelter.Max has adopted all sorts of pets over the years and he seemskind. When Max chooses Kitty, she is going to have a home at last.There is a scent lingering in the house on 5 Manderley Lane. Thescent rises from every chair leg, every carpet fibre, every pillow,even inside the bathtub. Everything smells like Licorice. Itis the strongest upstairs in Max's room, almost overpowering. Ifthe smell isn't enough, Duchess, the family's old parrot, won'tlet Kitty forget that she is a replacement. And soon, Kitty findsherself trapped in the long shadow of the cat that came beforeher. But is it just a shadow? Or is there something really thereon the other side of it ... haunting her...Licorice is an atmospheric and gripping story full of twists andturns and gorgeous black and white illustrations throughout byKelly Murphy.

A swashbuckling story of two very different cat brothers and their adventures at sea. Anton and Cecil are as different as port and starboard. Cecil, stocky and black with white patches, thirsts for seafaring adventure. Slim, gray Anton prefers listening to the sailors’ shanties at the town saloon. One day when Anton goes to the harbor, he’s taken as a ratter on a ship bound for the high seas. Cecil boards another ship in hopes of finding Anton. What begins as a rescue mission turns into a pair of high-seas adventures. Anton takes on a fierce rat, outwits hungry birds, and forges a forbidden friendship, while Cecil meets dolphins and whales and finds himself in a pirate raid. On an ocean as vast as the one Anton and Cecil have discovered, will they ever see home--or each other--again? Includes a sneak peek at the next adventure in the series, Anton and Cecil: Cats on Track.

April Pulley Sayre's wry, quirky storytelling tone shines from the warning on the first page ("This is a S-L-O-W book. Do not read it while surfing, water skiing, or running to escape giant weasels.") right through to the glossary at the end. In between, readers will explore an astounding variety of information about all things slow-in nature, geology, art, outer space, etc. Throughout, The SLOWEST Book EVER playfully encourages readers to slow down and savor everything. As Sayre shows: "If you think slowly enough, the entire world is amazing." This innovative nonfiction work is a treasure trove of information that begs for multiple readings.