Mike Thaler

Summer vacation has officially come to an end, which means it is unfortunately time to head back to school. For Hubie, the miserable process of getting ready for the new academic year is somehow way worse than actually sitting in a classroom. His mother insists on picking out all the wrong clothes for his new wardrobe, completely embarrassing him. To make matters worse, he has to endure anxiety filled, back to back appointments with both his doctor and his dentist. Meanwhile, terrifying rumors are rapidly spreading around the playground about a brand new teacher who is supposedly meaner than anyone else in the building. Follow along with Hubie as he hilariously struggles to survive his back to school preparations without totally losing his mind.

Jump in It is time for the class to visit the school library, but Hubie is convinced it is a terrible idea. He has heard horrifying rumors about Mrs. Beamster, the school librarian, and he is sure she is a strict monster. Why it pulls you in Kids at school call her the Laminator. They say that if you get caught whispering among the bookshelves, she will laminate you on the spot! It is so funny to see how Hubie lets these silly rumors run completely out of control. He pictures a terrifying library where all the books are bolted directly to the shelves and reading is a dangerous mission. What you will discover You will laugh as Hubie nervously steps into the library to face his fears. This clever story proves that rumors are usually wrong and shows just how wonderful and welcoming a real library can be.

Jump in There is a brand new kid transferring to the school, and his name alone is enough to strike fear into everyones heart: Butch Pounder. Hubie has heard the terrifying rumors, and he is convinced that a giant, mean bully is coming to town. Why it pulls you in We have all been a little nervous about someone new, but Hubie takes it to a whole new level. He has heard unbelievable stories about Butch, like how he beat up an entire football team all by himself. Hubie is absolutely certain that their first meeting will end with him sitting in the school nurses office. The way his imagination runs wild makes the story incredibly funny, especially because you know the rumors are probably completely ridiculous. What you will discover You will smile as Hubie eventually crosses paths with the dreaded new kid. It turns out that a scary reputation does not always match reality. This entertaining and heartwarming story shows that instead of a terrifying monster, the new kid might just be someone looking for a friendly tour guide and a great new friend.

Jump in The school librarian has just announced that a massive book fair is coming, but Hubie is feeling highly suspicious. Based on the weird rumors floating around the playground, he is bracing himself for a truly terrifying event. Why it pulls you in Book fairs are usually the best part of the school year, but in Hubies mind, anything connected to the school can easily turn into a disaster. He has heard some incredibly bizarre things about what actually happens when the books arrive, and his imagination instantly goes into overdrive. Watching Hubie turn a normal, fun school activity into a dramatic, monster filled conspiracy is what makes the Black Lagoon books so entertaining. You know the book fair is going to be amazing, which makes his wild fears even funnier. What you will discover You will join Hubie as he cautiously explores the fair to see if the scary rumors are true. Along the way, you will laugh at his silly misunderstandings and discover the actual magic of finding the perfect story. It is a wonderful celebration of books, reading, and learning to let go of your wildest worries.

Jump in It is the very first day of school, and Hubie expects nothing but the absolute worst. He has been assigned to Mrs. Greens classroom, and according to the terrifying rumors, she is not just a strict teacher, she is an actual monster! Why it pulls you in The anxiety of meeting a new teacher is something everyone understands, but Hubie takes his worries to a hilariously dramatic level. He actually falls asleep and dreams that Mrs. Green is a scaly, fire breathing creature with a tail and smoke pouring out of her nostrils. She makes the kids do horrible things, and Hubies overactive imagination creates the funniest, most ridiculous school nightmare you could ever picture. His panicked reactions to ordinary school tasks will keep you laughing page after page. What you will discover You will chuckle as Hubie finally wakes up and meets the real Mrs. Green face to face. This classic story hilariously perfectly captures those first day jitters and reminds you that the scary stories you hear about teachers are almost always completely wrong. It is a delightful, comforting tale wrapped in a delightfully spooky package.

Jump in Mrs. Green has just announced that a brand new student is joining the class, and he is traveling from very far away. Naturally, Hubies mind starts racing, and he immediately assumes the new kid must be an alien from Mars. Why it pulls you in Meeting someone new can be a little intimidating, but Hubies fears are completely out of this world. He starts panicking that the new arrival might have blue skin, green antennae, and bright purple eyebrows. He even worries that the new kid is a body snatcher planning to take over the entire planet! It is so funny to read how Hubie takes a simple classroom announcement and turns it into a full blown science fiction invasion. His wild guessing games make the wait for the new student incredibly entertaining. What you will discover You will laugh out loud as the mysterious new kid finally walks through the classroom door. This hilarious story shows that letting your imagination run away from you can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. Ultimately, it is a heartwarming reminder that no matter where someone comes from, they might just become a great new friend.

Jump in It is Dental Health Month at school, and Dr. B.N. Payne is coming to check everyones teeth. For Hubie, there is absolutely nothing worse than going to the dentist, except maybe having the dentist come to him! Why it pulls you in We all get a little nervous about dental checkups, but Hubie has heard rumors that will make your jaw drop. Kids are whispering that the dentist has two heads, four hands, and likes to put massive bridges into peoples mouths. Hubie cannot even figure out how a real bridge could possibly fit inside someone's head! Watching Hubie stress out over these outrageous, monstrous rumors is incredibly funny. His vivid imagination turns a routine health check into a hilarious, terrifying ordeal that you simply cannot look away from. What you will discover You will join Hubie as he bravely opens wide and finally faces his turn in the dentist chair. This clever and amusing story proves that taking care of your teeth is actually quick, easy, and completely painless. It is the perfect book to help laugh away any fears of the dentist.

Jump in Hubie is running late for school, which means he has to face his ultimate fear: walking into the main office to get a late slip from the ferocious school secretary, Mrs. Armbender. Why it pulls you in Getting a tardy slip is never fun, but Hubie is convinced he is walking into a trap. He has heard the wildest stories about Mrs. Armbender, like how she has eight arms and hangs rule breaking students by their thumbs! According to the playground whispers, she knows every single thing that happens in the building, and even the principal is terrified of her. Hubies extreme panic over a simple piece of paper is laugh out loud funny, and his dramatic imagination turns the school office into a terrifying dungeon. What you will discover You will chuckle as Hubie slowly opens the office door to face the attendance taking monster. This highly entertaining story reveals the truth behind the scary rumors and shows that the people running the school are actually there to help. It is a fantastic, funny reminder that being late is not the end of the world.

Jump in There is a brand new cafeteria lady at the school named Wanda Belch, and the lunchroom rumors are already swirling out of control. Hubie is convinced that lunch is about to become the most dangerous part of the day. Why it pulls you in School lunches can be mysterious, but Hubies imagination makes them sound downright terrifying. He hears that Wanda drives a garbage truck to work and learned all her cooking skills on a pirate ship! The kids whisper that her favorite dish to serve is a bubbling Souffle of Science Experiments. Watching Hubie dramatically stress over what might be hiding on his lunch tray is incredibly funny. His wild fears perfectly capture the hesitation kids feel when facing unfamiliar cafeteria food, blowing the whole situation beautifully out of proportion. What you will discover You will laugh out loud as Hubie finally steps up to the lunch line to face Wanda Belch and her mysterious menu. This hilarious story serves up plenty of giggles and shows that the scary rumors about the cafeteria are completely cooked up. It is a delightful reminder not to judge a meal before you have even seen the plate.

Jump in It is the first day of music class, and Hubie is already terrified. He has heard the wild rumors about the new music teacher, Miss Rhoda LaNote, and his imagination is working overtime picturing a terrifying instructor armed with a laser baton. Why it pulls you in Have you ever been nervous about meeting a new teacher because of crazy stories you heard from other kids? Hubie expects the absolute worst. He imagines Miss LaNote making students memorize a million songs, forcing them to sing through their toes, or locking them in a prison if they hit the wrong note. It is incredibly funny to watch Hubie stress out over these unbelievable myths, knowing that the reality is probably completely different. His over the top fears make the actual first day of class that much more entertaining. What you will discover You will giggle your way through this amusing story as Hubie finally faces the music. By the end, you will see how easy it is to let rumors turn an ordinary teacher into a scary monster. It is a wonderful, silly tale that reminds you not to believe everything you hear and shows that trying new things at school can actually be a lot of fun.

Baseball fever is spreading through the entire school, but Hubie is just feeling completely sick to his stomach. Everyone is going absolutely batty because the big baseball tryouts are rapidly approaching. Unfortunately for Hubie, his athletic track record is not great. Last season, the only hit he managed to get was right in the head when he completely missed catching the ball. Now he has to step up to the plate again. Armed with extra practice and a brand new baseball mitt he affectionately calls Grabber, Hubie hopes to turn his luck around. Step up to the bat and find out if Hubie will finally knock one out of the park and make the team, or if he is doomed to face another strikeout.

Somewhere in the dark and spooky caverns beneath the elementary school, the mysterious custodian is lurking. Hubie and his friends have heard wild rumors about Fester Smudge. They say he is a dark phantom wreaking total havoc throughout the building, deliberately making the classrooms boiling hot all summer and freezing cold all winter. The students even whisper that he is so mechanically challenged that he cannot change a simple light bulb without blowing the entire ceiling off. The school seems to be in a massive fix with this guy around. But when a student gets completely stuck with a jammed locker, they might just have to brave the basement and ask the dreaded custodian for some help.

Strap on your seatbelts, because it is going to be an incredibly bumpy ride to school. There is a brand new school bus driver in town, and his name is T Rex Fenderbender. Hubie and his friends have heard some completely terrifying rumors about this guy. The kids whisper that he drives the big yellow bus like he is aggressively racing in the Indy 500. Even worse, word on the playground says that he forces the students to jump out and rebuild the engine whenever the bus breaks down on the side of the road. Ride along with Hubie as his wild imagination shifts into high gear. Will the morning commute turn into a high speed nightmare or a totally thrilling adventure?

Mrs Green is out sick today, which means Hubie and his classmates are getting a substitute teacher. The students are completely thrilled and ready to party the entire day away. That is, until they actually meet their temporary instructor, Mr Frank N Stein. Suddenly, a fun free day turns into a giant, hulking nightmare. Hubie lets his imagination run completely wild, picturing a literal nine foot tall monster who smashes directly through the classroom walls and effortlessly hurls misbehaving students straight into outer space. Join the incredibly funny classroom chaos as Hubie bravely faces his comically horrific fears. You will quickly discover that getting a new teacher might just be the most monstrously entertaining adventure of the whole school year.

Hubie has just been sent straight to the principal office, and he is absolutely terrified. Everyone knows that getting called down the hall is the worst thing that can happen to a student. Hubie lets his wild imagination completely take over as he slowly walks toward the dreaded door. Does Mrs Green actually feed mischievous kids to a hungry alligator she keeps hidden in her office? Does she really keep rule breakers locked away in tiny cages underneath her wooden desk? Hubie is convinced he might hear other kids screaming for help at any moment. Follow along on this playfully frightening adventure as the simple anticipation of meeting the principal turns into a hilarious journey of monster sized fears and very funny surprises.

There is supposedly a real nurse working at the school, but no one has ever actually seen her. The students whisper that she is a literal ghoul who haunts the medical room. Rumor has it that she uses a giant thermometer the exact size of a flagpole and a wooden surfboard for a tongue depressor. The kids even say that if you fail her terrifying eye test, she will use your eyeballs as billiard balls. Hubie swears he will absolutely never step foot inside her office. But when he suddenly feels sick during the middle of the school day, he has no choice but to face his deepest fears. Find out what happens when Hubie finally meets the infamous nurse face to face.

Mrs Green just announced some thrilling news to the entire class. They are officially getting a brand new class pet. As usual, Hubie immediately lets his imagination run totally wild. He begins to panic, wondering if the mysterious new animal will have giant fangs, sharp horns, or glowing headlights for eyes. Considering all the other terrifying things at his school, Hubie is absolutely convinced that his teacher is bringing a vicious monster into the classroom. His absolute worst fears seem totally validated when Mrs Green wheels in a massive, covered cage. Peek inside this hilarious story to discover exactly what kind of mild or wild critter is hiding inside, and see if the students can survive their newest furry friend.

You have probably heard some terrifying rumors about the art teacher. As Hubie heads into his very first art class, he is incredibly nervous about meeting the infamous instructor. The other students have been whispering some truly weird and scary stories about what happens inside the art room. Hubie lets his wild imagination completely take over, convinced that the new teacher is an absolute monster who will make class a nightmare. But when he finally walks through the door, he is in for a massive surprise. Discover the hilarious truth behind the silly rumors as Hubie learns that trying new experiences and meeting new teachers is not nearly as scary as his imagination makes it seem.