Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare

Overview

The book is all about the nighttime adventures of a young boy named John, who is not ready to go to sleep, and his friend, a bright red crocodile named Crosley who turns up under John's bed.

They sneak out of John's house using Crosley's "I-ain't-here-doodad" which makes them invisible to John's parents. They then embark on an adventure chasing down enemies and cleaning up one mess after another as they solve the earthshaking mystery: who stole all the pineapple cheesecakes from the only factory in the world that makes them!

The investigation starts out fine, but things get a little crazy when Crosley, who is allergic to water, gets wet. Hilarious things happen when Crosley's allergy to water kicks in, and when they get to the pineapple cheesecake factory and meet Big Foot Mae, the investigation gets more complicated and zany than either of them bargained for.

Night Buddies is an astonishing and inventive adventure with unforgettable cast of characters that will make you laugh and win over your heart. The book has lots of thoughtful, multi-layered twists, giggles, and perils -- things kids can relate to and enjoy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780984741717
Publisher:	Dune Buggy Press
Publication date:	06/01/2012
Series:	Adventures After Lghts Out , #1
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	130
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

About the Author

Sands Hetherington credits his son John for being his principal motivator for writing the Night Buddies series of books. Sands raised his son as a single parent from the time John was six. He read to him every night during those formative years. He and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. He lives in Greensboro.

Editorial Reviews

“This little book is a winner!”

—Grady Harp, Hall of Fame Amazon Reviewer

“Hetherington seems to have the right ingredients for a classic children’s whodunit—talking animals, an unsolved mystery and a brave hero willing to face unforeseen foes…”

—Kirkus

“Stating that Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare is a creative, imaginative and delightful tale is simply giving it its just desserts. Yerk! Yerk! Yerk!”

— Drew Aquilina, International award-winning cartoonist and author, Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up

“Night Buddies is a terrific story my second and third-graders would love to have read to them, complete with its colorful dialect. Thanks for the sneak peek!”

— Lorie Thompson, Principal, Haskell Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District

“Two unlikely friends-one human and one crocodilian-embark on an adventure to solve a mystery: where did all the pineapple cheesecakes go? Have fun reading this lively story.”

— Diane Witt, Retired Public Elementary School Teacher (30 years), Boulder, Colorado

“Night Buddies is visionary, conceptual, and a forecast of fun for children and schoolteachers alike. Author Sands Hetherington with mastery unveils creativity with purpose, inventions in language, and makes reading fun.”

— Al Carrozza, author of Universal Enzyme

“Don’t miss this wonderful new children’s book, Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare. Your children will thank you!”

— Kathi Macias, award-winning author of more than 30 books including Special Delivery (Freedom Series)

This fast-paced, warm-hearted story is written in several amusing dialects and will appeal to kids from 8 to 10 or 11. Boys who are reluctant readers will especially enjoy it.”

— P. Joy Webster, school librarian and author of Don’t come here, Julie! chosen as Book of the Year 2010 (Young Adult Science Fiction category)

From the Publisher

Gr 3–4—One night John can't sleep. As he lies in bed thinking about the pineapple cheesecake he had for dessert, a red crocodile climbs out from under his bed. Crosley becomes John's Night Buddy and they are soon off on to solve the mystery of the disappearing dessert. The story is bogged down by a heavy use of dialect, which reads more like poor grammar than colorful vernacular (especially since there is no indication of the locale). During one exchange, John questions Crosley about his continual use of the word "ain't," saying his parents have told him he shouldn't use it. Crosley's response, "They're exackly right….But ya see, with us crocodiles it's a little different situation. We got some special words that we have t' use just because we're crocodiles." The mystery is often lost in unnecessary interludes about drooling over pineapple cheesecake or why it's okay to not have a middle name. Crosley continually refers to the Night Buddy "program," but it's not explained until the final chapter in what feels like an afterthought. With a slight plot filled in with random details and amateurish illustrations scattered throughout, this title is one to skip.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

School Library Journal