Published Work
BRANDON AND THE TOTALLY TROUBLESOME TIME MACHINE
A fun, inventive romp of a picture book about a boy who travels back to yesterday to fix his homework but gets into a battle across time with his past and future selves, from award-winning author Seth Fishman.
Brandon built a time machine! (It wasn’t that hard.) Now, he can visit super cool moments in world history (as well as family history). But what Brandon really wants to do with his time machine is FIX HIS HOMEWORK. (He might have done poorly because he was busy building his time machine.)
Will future Brandon be the solution to all of past Brandon’s problems? Or is not wanting to do homework a timeless dilemma?
Perfect for fans of Corinna Luyken’s The Book of Mistakes, this humorous yet heartfelt story playfully explores the importance of being on your own team and facing challenges head-on rather than fixating on the past or looking to the future. Illustrator Mark Fearing's fresh, retro art style brings wit to every page.
"This flippantly funny selection will appeal to reluctant readers, mistake makers, and homework shirkers alike. A lively lesson on the value of hard work and perseverance embedded in a wacky time travel adventure."—Kirkus
WELCOME TO FERAL
How many kids will go missing before this small town admits it’s haunted? Find out in this freakily fun new graphic novel series!
Feral has everything a town should have: Main Street, City Hall, a population just over sixteen thousand . . .
But Feral also has secrets. Mysteries. Unexplained disappearances. In five spooky stories, an intrepid resident invites readers to look a little closer at this scenic rural town. Are you game to investigate what’s going on in Feral? If you pay attention, you might notice something where it shouldn’t be.
Be careful, though. Whatever you do, do not go into the Messner Mansion. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! With vibrant art, clever humor, and heaps of unsolved mysteries, animator Mark Fearing conjures a fearsome saga out of small-town terrors. The first entry in this inventive new series is sure to scare young readers silly. Don't miss the next adventure: Last Exit to Feral!
Named to the Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
The second adventure in the weird town of Feral!
LAST EXIT TO FERAL
Can two girls get to the bottom of their small town’s secrets, or will they become another ghost story? Find out in the second entry of this freakily fun graphic novel series!
Feral is littered with secrets, mysteries, and unexplained disappearances. The town has always been weird… and most residents just accept that.
But intrepid young investigators Freya and Monica are sure that Feral is getting weirder. Kids are disappearing more and more, signs of the supernatural are surfacing in new places, and the lights went on in the abandoned Messner Mansion. Even though they know they shouldn’t, the girls can’t resist the temptation to find out what’s inside.
The adventures from Welcome to Feral continue as they descend into the deep, dark passages hidden below the haunted town. If they aren’t careful, they might become the town’s next unsolved mystery!
With vibrant art, clever humor, and plenty of thrills, animator Mark Fearing conjures a fearsome saga out of small-town terrors.
Named to the Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List
CASTLE GESUNDHEIT!
The Baron Von Sneeze's coughing and sniffling is keeping the village of Handkerchief awake! Will Fiona be able to help him . . . and his many cats?
The poor villagers of Handkerchief! For as long as they can remember, the Baron Von Sneeze, who lives in Castle Gesundheit, has been sniffling, wheezing, and coughing day and night, and no one can get any rest. Hoping for some sleep, a girl named Fiona finally drums up the courage to visit the castle and find out what’s ailing its noble resident. When she arrives, she discovers that the Baron Von Sneeze is the only human around, and that he’s convinced his itchy eyes and runny nose are incurable. But as Fiona walks through the many rooms amid the baron’s hundreds of cats, she has a suspicion just what (or who) might have him feeling so unwell, and she has the perfect solution! Mark Fearing’s satisfying tale about lending a helping hand will have little listeners joining in a chorus of “ahhhh-chooo!”
Fearing’s (the Middle School Bites series) broadly comic digital cartooning takes off quickly as it introduces readers to a town where everyone comically covers their ears. . . the book really hits its stride when the action moves to the castle, where bright-hued art keenly conveys the Baron’s plethora of furry, emphatically free-range friends.
—Publishers Weekly
MIDDLE SCHOOL BITES
Written By: Steven Banks. Illustrated by: Mark Fearing
Tom is desperate to fit in at school, but he's hungry and howling, not to mention half dead. Blame it on the vampire - and the werewolf - and the zombie - in this monstrously funny new series from SpongeBob SquarePants head writer Steven Banks.
"What are you waiting for? Open this book right now!" (Tom Angleberger, New York Times best-selling author of the Origami Yoda series)
Thanks to a series of unfortunate bites, 11-year-old Tom is a triple threat: he's a Vam-Wolf-Zom. And just in time for the first day of middle school. So much for his Invisible Tom Plan. He never thought to make a What If I Turn Into a Vampire Werewolf Zombie Plan. Maybe it's time for a Run Away and Live Somewhere Else Plan? Check out all four Middle School Bites books!
GLORY ON ICE
Written by: Maureen Fergus Illustrated by: Mark Fearing
Knopf Books for Young Readers
A centuries-old vampire decides to bring his crushing-and-destroying skills to the ice in this hilarious story about the newest (and oldest) member of the local peewee hockey team.
After centuries alone in his old castle, Vlad is ready to try something new. When he hears the local hockey team gushing about how they'll crush and destroy their opponents in the next game, he knows he's found the activity for him! Vlad immediately gives the game his all, but he soon realizes that super-human powers don't mean much in hockey without a mastery of the basics.
After weeks of practice, he's finally ready for the big game...but can a hundreds-of-years-old vampire really learn new tricks? This hilarious, energetic picture book encourages teamwork, perserverance, and a love of hockey that will last a lifetime, even for an immortal being.
Who hasn't misplaced something important? Readers large and small will laugh knowingly along with this relatable (and rather giant) case of forgetfulness.
Belbum is a giant. Like most giants, he is very good at stomping, napping, and losing things. One day he loses something especially important, though: his only pair of pants. After searching high and low, Belbum sets off to ask his friends whether they have any pants he can borrow. But the cyclops only wears tunics. The gnome's pants, stretchy as they may be, are far too small for Belbum. And unicorns don't even wear pants. There's only one thing left for Belbum to do: walk to the tailor in town . . . in his underwear From the author-illustrator of The Great Thanksgiving Escape comes an enchantingly silly tale about forgetting your things -- and holding your head up high.
"Illustrating in bold and brassy digital cartoons, Fearing (The Great Thanksgiving Escape) gives readers lots to laugh about, including Belbum’s friends’ unhelpful suggestions (“I don’t wear pants. You could try that,” offers Lucy the unicorn), the ways those friends make use of his spare pants (the gnomes turn them into a canopy for a picnic spot), and the contrast between the giant’s crankiness and sheepishness."
—Publishers Weekly
The Frightful Ride of Michael McMichael
Bonny Becker and Mark Fearing join forces for a deliciously spooky story — with a twist ending that’ll leave readers hungry for more.
Age Range: 4-8 years.
Picture Book. Candlewick Press.
When the Thirteen bus pulls up one dreary, stormy evening, something about it doesn’t seem quite right. The driver grins down with a mouthful of long, white teeth, and there’s barely any room to sit, but Michael McMichael is bringing his gran something very dear, so he gets on board despite his misgivings. But as they travel on and the rest of the passengers get off, Michael realizes there’s nothing normal about this bus — and the driver is getting creepier by the minute. Best-selling author Bonny Becker’s cleverly rhyming text will chill and thrill readers alongside Mark Fearing’s wonderfully funny illustrations, making this book perfect for Halloween story times — and lovers of things that go bump in the night.
Great, Now We've Got Barbarians!
Jason Carter Eaton (Author) Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Candlewick Press (February, 2017)
An untidy kid sets off a pest invasion like no other in this boisterously fun picture book about the perils of messy habits.
Playing and having fun is a kid’s job, right? Cleaning up is a parent's job, right? Why do grown-ups make such a fuss about tidiness and cleanliness, anyway? What’s the worst that could happen? A couple of ants pass through? A lone little mouse pays a midnight call? No big deal, right? Right? Author Jason Carter Eaton and illustrator Mark Fearing are here to caution you that being a slob might in fact be a big deal—a really big deal. Maybe even a BARBARIAN-size deal! This outrageously absurd cautionary tale might just make you think twice about the cupcake crumbs in your bed and the half-eaten cheese curls behind the sofa. After all, you could end up with an infestation of barbaric proportions!
"...The story has the narrative momentum and comic beats of a cartoon short, and although Eaton’s (How to Track a Truck) text tends toward the literal, Fearing (Superhero Instruction Manual) has a broad visual repertoire when it comes to goofy, hirsute men in animal pelts and horned hats. It’s the truth served up with a good laugh, and it gives parents a new calamity to invoke the next time they’re confronted with a messy room."
— Publishers Weekly
Chicken Story Time
Sandy Asher (Author) Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Dial Books (December, 2016)
A wonderfully silly take on library story time that’s perfect for children, chickens, and everyone in between! Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to story time at the library, of course! The children like the chicken, the chicken likes the children, and everyone loves story time. So it’s no surprise that more children (and more chickens!) get in on the fun until there are more kids and critters than the librarian knows what to do with. Luckily, she comes up with a creative solution and manages to find little R & R for herself.
Fans of Bats in the Library and Library Lion will fall in love and story time will never be the same!
"This book may make free-range storytimes de rigueur."
— Kirkus Reviews
"Asher’s poker-faced, repeating text...offers the perfect setup for Fearing’s wonderfully silly and well-choreographed cartooning."
— Publishers Weekly
Superhero Instruction Manual
Kristy Dempsey (Author) Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Alfred A. Knopf (May, 2016)
Anyone can be a superhero and this guidebook will show you how! Join an aspiring hero as he selects a secret identity, chooses a power, and much, much more. But be warned: it isn’t easy being super. And sometimes the greatest acts of heroism need a helping hand to get off the ground. Kristy Dempsey’s rollicking text, coupled with Mark Fearing’s expressive, cartoon-style illustrations will have readers laughing all the way to infinity and beyond!
"This funny, spirited exploration of superhero culture sans violence and with an added dose of familial love is a powerful addition to any bookshelf." — Kirkus
Martha HATES green beans. When some mean, green bandits stroll into town, anyone who ever said "Eat your green beans" is in big trouble. But when the beans kidnap Martha's parents, Martha is forced to take action. She can think of only one way to stop the villainous veggies from taking over her town, and it’s not pretty...or tasty. Featuring absurdly funny text and illustrations with attitude, this is a hilarious read for everyone – even the pickiest of eaters.
"With a wacky premise and a perfect tone, this saga is sure to please vegetable haters everywhere." - School Library Journal
"Despicably delightful. The expressions on Martha’s dog’s face, alone, are worth the read." - Library Media Connection
"LaRochelle's text is both picturesque and succinct, a tasty treat to read aloud." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Dramatically comic illustrations rely on bold colors as well as exaggerated gestures and facial expressions to heighten the absurd...a must for picky eaters." - Kirkus Reviews
TOMMY CAN’T STOP
Tommy Can't Stop
Tim Federle (Author) Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Disney Hyperion
What can Tommy do with all that energy? Tommy bounces, and he leaps. Tommy clomps, and he bulldozes. Nothing tires Tommy out, and his family can't keep up! But then his sister has an idea: could tap class be just right for Tommy?
This exuberant picture book, written by Broadway dancer Tim Federle, with illustrations by Mark Fearing, stars one very energetic kid who finally finds his place in the spotlight.
"Federle has good fun with language and similes in his picture-book debut. His little tapper is a strong and sturdy boy who finds the perfect outlet for his volcanic energy. Fearing’s full-bleed artwork is full of motion, with his Tommy sporting a mop of blond hair and googly eyes. An animated line of dashes that flits around the apartment allows readers to truly appreciate Tommy’s energy spurts. An enjoyable performance for both the boisterous and the calm.. "
— Kirkus
A Very Witchy Spelling Bee
George Shannon (Author), Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Cordelia loves to spell in every way: studying spelling and practicing spells. She especially likes to double spell, turning her C-A-T into a new C-O-A-T by zapping it with the letter O. So when she sees a sign for the Witches' Double Spelling Bee, she knows it's meant just for her.
Cordelia is determined to W-I-N—but so is the thirteen-time champion Beulah Divine, age two hundred and three. Has Cordelia studied and practiced enough to outspell the most fiendish witch at the bee?
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION!
"It's difficult to make a subject like spelling memorable, but Shannon's text engagingly demonstrates the relationship between words while Fearing's pencil and digital illustrations lend a Saturday-morning-cartoon quality to the characters and the comedic spell-casting action."
— The Horn Book Magazine"Shannon and Fearing combine their considerable talents to create a most bewitching tale of self-confidence and perseverance."
— Kirkus"Spelling truly is magic in Shannon's easygoing story about a purple-haired witch named Cordelia who loves spelling words and casting spells."
— Publishers Weekly
EARTHLING!
EARTHLING!
Mark Fearing (Author & Illustrator)
Published by Chronicle Books (2012)
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION!
"An exhilarating hoot. By the time Fearing brings 'Earthling!' in for its landing, with a bit of L. Frank Baum flourish, the entertainment experience feels remarkably complete: good art, good design, good inking, tight story. May Fearing whoosh and scree his way to the finish line of his next book soon."
— New York Times“A high-octane space adventure starring a lovable hero kids will quickly relate to. Earthling! is the perfect book for young readers!”
— Jarrett J. Krosoczka, creator of the bestselling Lunch Lady series
When nine-year-old Bud accidentally catches the wrong bus and finds himself launched into a far-away galaxy, making friends is the least of his problems! At Cosmos Academy, Bud soon learns that Earthlings are the most feared creatures in the galaxy. But with the help of his new friend, Gort, Bud hides his true identity and even learns to play anti-gravity Zero-Ball (when he's only ever been good at watching sports). But with paranoid Principal Lepton threatening to expel any Earthlings, and nothing more than Gort's Blip-computer to determine Earth's coordinates, Bud may be lost in space forever! Both gripping and hilarious, this dynamic graphic novel is perfect for kids who crave adventure with a sense of humor.
The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot
Margaret McNamara (Author), Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Published by Schwartz & Wade (September 27, 2011)
GREEP BOINK MEEP! The three little aliens are happily settling into their new homes when the Big Bad Robot flies in to crack and smack and whack their houses down! A chase across the solar system follows in this out-of-this-world version of the classic Three Little Pigs tale.
Margaret McNamara (How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?) and Mark Fearing (The Book that Eats People) have created a humorous and visually stunning story that kids will adore—and that will introduce them to the planets and the solar system. The endpapers even include a labeled diagram of all the planets. (From the publisher)
"This strikingly illustrated book features three tiny green aliens, each with a distinctive, expressive look and personality -- and one giant, menacing Big Bad Robot, set against black, starry space."
— CommonSenseMedia.org"The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot is an adorable space version of The Three Little Pigs. Adults can use this book as a great learning tool about the pros and cons of places to live in space, as well as the importance of putting safety first."
— The National Space Society
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING ESCAPE
The Great Thanksgiving Escape
Mark Fearing (Author & Illustrator)
Candlewick Press (September 9, 2014)
It's another Thanksgiving at Grandma's.
Gavin is ready for a day of boredom, but his cousin Rhonda has a different idea: escape from the kids’ room and head for the swing set in the backyard!
Gavin isn’t so sure, especially when they encounter vicious guard dogs, a hallway full of aunts, and, worse yet, the great wall of butts! Will they manage to avoid the obstacles and find some fun before turkey time, or will they be captured before they’ve had a taste of freedom? A hilarious, kid-friendly take on Thanksgiving — full of family, food, and lots of fun!
"Fearing’s first solo picture book, based on his memories of Thanksgivings past, is a hoot for all ages. Kids will identify, and parents will reminisce. The digitally manipulated colored-pencil illustrations from a kid’s-eye view layer the humor on an exaggeratedly goofy text. A holiday offering that definitely makes a fun all its own."
— Kirkus
So You Want to Catch Bigfoot?
Jamie Michalak (Author), Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Candlewick Press (May 24, 2011)
As seen in the film "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer."
Stink is on high alert when several sightings of Bigfoot have been made in the neighborhood. To assist him in his search for the elusive creature, Aunt Opal gives Stink a copy of So You Want to Catch Bigfoot? Now Judy Moody and Bigfoot fans alike can own a facsimile of this valuable field guide, containing everything you need to know about the furry fugitive, including tips on trapping and releasing your specimen.
"Most readers of all ages will laugh at the humorous text and illustrations which depict commonly accepted Bigfoot lore. This guide addresses skeptics' claims Bigfoot is a hoax and examines theories that Bigfoot is an alien, giant ape, or upright bear."
— Children's Literature
The Book That Eats People
John Perry (Author), Mark Fearing (Illustrator)
Tricycle Press (October 13, 2009)
Legend has it there exists a book that eats people. This is that book!
"From the grim warning on the first page (CAUTION! This is a book that eats people) to the advice at the end (Never read this book with syrupy fingers. Never read it with cookies in your pocket. Never turn your back on it), Perry's debut soldiers on with a Lemony Snicket–like straight face. Fearing draws the book-within-a-book with blood-red covers, heavy-lidded eyes and a mouthful of fangs, packing his collage spreads with torn and crumpled papers (which take on an especially gruesome vibe in this context). It's all irresistible. Read it. Carefully. All ages."
— Publishers Weekly"This hilariously dark story is illustrated with collage elements using Photoshop in a jazzy, jangly style that is part noir and part graphic novel. Big-eyed characters are stalked by a wonderfully sinister and pointy-toothed tome. Readers who love monsters and a good scare while still delighting in silly proceedings will definitely want to brave this tale."
— School Library Journal"Perfect for sharing with susceptible younger sibs or as a gift item for frenemies."
— Kirkus
DILLY DALLY DAISY
Author & Illustrator: Mark Fearing
Dial Books
Get ready with Daisy the dawdler as she tries (really!) to get it together in this very real, very funny spin on dilly dallying. Daisy Marsha Martin is always late. For good reasons, of course. She’s busy saving the world, or teaching her stuffed animals to dance, or finding the perfect shirt to wear. But if Daisy is late one more time, then it’s no more mermaid swim class for her! This is the perfect story for fans of everyday silliness and for every kid who has been told to stop dawdling.
History meets hijinks in this first title in a hilarious new middle grade series for fans of Timmy Failure and The Terrible Two, when Ben Franklin accidentally time travels to a 10-year-old's home in 21st century America!
Nolan is a typical kid living in a typical 21st century American town. Ben Franklin is, well, Ben Franklin—Founding Father, inventor of the lightning rod and bifocals, and more. When, through a bizarre set of circumstances, Nolan and his little sister, Olive, find Ben in their house, chaos isn't far behind.
From introducing him to the toaster to taking him to the public library (another Ben invention) to preventing a nosy neighbor from blowing Ben's cover, Nolan does his best to be Ben's tour guide to the new world he helped form.
With tons of funny illustrations throughout—plus graphic novel-style sections interspersed—readers will love adventuring alongside this awesome threesome.
“What a smart, funny, action-adventure! This is bursting with great heart, fascinating history, and Ben Franklin’s stinky feet. I want more, more, more of this series.” —Jon Scieszka, author of the Frank Einstein series
In this hilarious follow-up to BEN FRANKLIN'S IN MY BATHROOM!, history and hijinks collide once more when Eleanor Roosevelt accidentally time travels to a ten-year-old's home in 21st-century America!
When Eleanor Roosevelt time travels to Nolan and Olive's house in modern-day Illinois, the kids don't know who she is at first. After all, she's old and wearing a hairnet. But the First Lady of the United States--some 80 years ago, that is-- isn't a mystery for long when she starts spouting things like "You must do the things you think you cannot do." Fresh off a visit from Ben Franklin, Nolan and Olive know what they're in for with this latest guest: an adventure. From drawing on ideals of civil protest to save the town park, to (almost) doing a loop-de-loop in a single-engine plane, to avoiding that know-it-all snoop Tommy Tuttle, there's one laugh after the next in this second book in the History Pals series. Fun back matter expands the story and unpacks the amazing life of Eleanor Roosevelt.