Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. This title is now available in stores and online!
New in Paperback:
The Puffin Keeper Written by Michael Morpurgo Illustrated by Benji Davies 112 Pages | Ages 9-12 | Paperback ISBN 9781774884249 | Puffin Canada As a child, Allen is saved from a nautical disaster by Benjamin Postlethwaite, a solitary lighthouse keeper. Years later, Allen returns to the lighthouse, and the two nurse an injured young puffin back to health. When Allen is called up to fight in World War Two, he’s not sure he’ll see his mother or Benjamin again, but his fond memories of his time at the lighthouse keep him going, even through prison camp. Allen and Ben’s enduring friendship over the years is the basis for this story about friendship, art, war and an incredibly adorable puffin. From masterful storyteller Michael Morpurgo and world-class illustrator Benji Davies comes this truly beautiful tale which will enchant readers of all ages.
We can’t wait to see you reading this title! If you share this book online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will launch you into the universe of the brilliant minds behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to X. Fang!
About the Author:
X. FANG, who also goes by Susan, is a visual artist and maker of books for young readers, including Dim Sum Palace, winner of the 2023 Society of Illustrators’ Dilys Evans Founder’s Award among other honors, and We Are Definitely Human, an Indie Next Pick and the recipient of 5 starred reviews. She exhibits her art throughout the U.S. and internationally and has worked professionally as a graphic designer and art director for film and television studios. Born in Taichung, Taiwan, raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she now lives in rural Maine with her husband, son and their dog, Pamela.
Spotlight on X. Fang:
What inspired you to write a story about an alien invasion with a humorous twist? Can you share any particularly funny moments or lines from the book that you enjoyed writing?
Before I had a story, I had the title: We Are Definitely Human. A few years back, my hair stylist was telling me about a conspiracy theory that claims lizard people lived among us and how some have even infiltrated the highest levels of government. That was such a funny idea to me that I immediately repeated it to my husband and we had a great time imagining terrible disguises these lizard people could wear. Then I had a thought: what if instead of disguising themselves they did nothing and just insisted they were human. I love the idea of someone pretending to be something they are very obviously not.
What was the process like for creating the visual humor in the illustrations?
It was important for the three “humans” to really stand out in town. So I tried to give them silly shapes, loud colors, and gestures and actions that were awkward. There were so many opportunities for humor whenever the “humans” interacted with the town people just in the subtle facial expressions and body language. It was a lot of fun.
The book explores themes of kindness and acceptance. What message do you hope readers, both young and old, take away from this story?
Kindness can be expressed in many forms. In this case, kindness is expressed through a helping hand. I hope the big takeaway that readers get from this story is that kindness is not conditional, and even the tiniest act of kindness can ripple through the galaxy.
How has the reception been for We Are Definitely Human, and what feedback have you received from readers? Have there been any particularly touching or memorable responses from children or parents about the book?
The feedback has been wonderful. Kids love the various jobs held by these interesting “humans” and the adults love the message of kindness. I had one kid ask me if I was an alien, and I replied that I was “definitely human” but they remained skeptical.
Can you give us any hints about what’s next for you in terms of future picture books or other book projects?
I’m finishing up my third book. It’s called Broken and it’s a about a little girl, her grandma, a cup, a cat, and cake. After that I get to illustrate an amazing story written by the very clever Mac Barnett.
Books by X. Fang:
We Are Definitely Human By X. Fang 48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774882023 | Tundra Books When three mysterious visitors from “Europe” crash-land in Mr. Li’s field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and offers to help fix up their “car”. No, there’s nothing strange about these guests at all. Just like other humans, they “make business”, “play sportsball” and “wear hat”. As the townsfolk also come to the aid of the visitors and the gathering turns into a little party, interplanetary relations reach an all-time high. A sweetly funny extraterrestrial offering that explores surprising acts of kindness and acceptance, X. Fang’s second picture book is truly out of this world.
Dim Sum Palace By X. Fang 48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774881989 | Tundra Books Liddy is so excited about going to the Dim Sum Palace tomorrow with her family that she can’t sleep. So when a delicious smell wafts into her room, she hops out of bed, opens her door and steps into . . . an actual palace of dim sum! There are dumplings, baos, buns and more delicious treats than one girl can possibly eat. Liddy just has to take a bite, but she slips and falls . . . into a bowl of dumpling filling. The chefs are so busy rolling, folding and pinching dough that they don’t notice they’ve prepared a most unusual dumpling for the Empress – a Liddy dumpling! Worst of all, she looks good enough to eat . . .
Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. This title is now available in stores and online!
Fantastic Lou By Qin Leng 96 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774885673 | Tundra Books Meet Lou. Lou is many things: clever, creative, competitive, thoughtful, funny . . . and, most of all, FANTASTIC! He meets life’s ups and downs with courage, curiosity and a plucky openheartedness. He enjoys his own thoughts and solo company but is always ready to dance, wrestle, wriggle, somersault and karate chop his way into his parents’ day (or night). With the sweetest touch and most expressive lines, Qin Leng perfectly captures the emotional essence of young childhood, while offering a celebration of imaginative play and fantasy worlds. From his bedtime antics and rock ‘n’ roll moves, to his bathtub heroics and toilet musings, Lou will utterly charm readers of all ages.
We can’t wait to see you reading this title! If you share this book online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.
The Geisel Award is an annual award given to the most distinguished book for beginning readers published in English. We would like to congratulate Jashar Awan whose book Towed by Toad was named an honor book in this year’s 2025 ALA Youth Media Awards! This playful, funny and refreshingly sweet picture book is a perfect read aloud and we’re thrilled to see it receive such a wonderful accolade.
Towed by Toad By Jashar Awan 48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774883488 | Tundra Books Toad and his tow truck are always on the move to lend a hand to anyone who needs help. Whether it’s a flat tire or engine trouble, it’s Toad to the rescue! Pop does his best to try to get Toad to slow down and take care of himself, but there always seems to be someone else who needs to be towed by Toad. How can he say no? Toad is so used to being the problem solver that when his tow truck breaks down, he does everything he can to fix it himself – and can’t! What happens when the helper needs help? Towed by Toad is a peppy read-aloud full of fascinating vehicles and endearing characters.
Congratulations once more to Jashar Awan. Thank you to the 2025 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book Committee for all their hard work. For more information about the Geisel Award and this year’s honorees, please click here.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will launch you into the universe of the brilliant minds behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Paul Gilligan!
About the Author:
PAUL GILLIGAN writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café with Andrews McMeel, which runs in over 250 newspapers around the world and has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He is also the author-illustrator of Pluto Rocket: New in Town, Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid, Pluto Rocket: Full Blast!, King of the Mole People and its sequel, Rise of the Slugs, and the graphic memoir Boy vs. Shark. He also has animated shows in development with Guru Animation, the CW Network and the BBC. Paul is based in Toronto, Ontario.
Spotlight on Paul Gilligan:
What inspired you to create the characters of Joe Pidge and Pluto Rocket? Joe Pidge and Pluto Rocket have such distinct personalities. How do you develop and balance their characters throughout the series?
The first time I heard the name Pluto Rocket was when my daughter Rosa, who was five at the time, was running around pretending she had powers and saying, “I’m Pluto Rocket!” I thought, that’s a great name. I quickly searched the internet to make sure Pluto Rocket wasn’t a guest star on Paw Patrol or something, and after I verified it had sprung from her own mind, I wrote it down. And watching Rosa zoom around, Pluto’s character started taking shape.
I’d already come up with a character named Joe Pidge: a stylish, strutting, sort of Ratso Rizzo type, but in kid-friendly pigeon form. He was a smart, colorful, confident character who had shades of my son, Evan.
The two characters immediately started having conversations in my mind, which felt like extensions of the ones my kids were having as they spiraled around our house. I just started taking notes.
The series is known for its humor. How do you incorporate comedy into the storyline while still maintaining an engaging plot?
Pluto Rocket is on a secret mission to check out life on Earth. She’s snuck away from Pluto, so needs to keep a nice, quiet profile. The first inhabitant of Earth she meets is Joe Pidge, a loud, fast-talking pigeon who thinks he knows everything. If you have one character who has certain traits or goals, it’s often good to have a second character who runs the opposite way, so they can bounce off each other.
When I write, I don’t think about writing for kids. I just focus on coming up with a good and funny story. And then just make sure to remove any inappropriate parts.
As a graphic novel, the illustrations play a crucial role. Can you describe your process for creating the artwork for the series?
A crucial aspect of graphic novel layouts is making sure to leave enough room for the word balloons, especially with gabby characters like Joe Pidge. I start with really rough sketches. Once I decide that I like where everything is, I do the pencils more tightly, then add the dark lines, colors, background details, and finally those word balloons, hopefully without cutting off any faces. I do everything in Procreate on the iPad.
The series explores themes of friendship, exploration, and overcoming fears. What key messages do you hope young readers take away from Joe and Pluto’s adventures?
I’m aiming to create characters who embody a child-like awe of the world, who remind all of us to remember how magical everything is around us is, from distant planets to how delicious ketchup is on French fries. The messages are (1) be welcoming of those who are different, (2) travel and embrace new places, and (3) being outstanding is more about being yourself than wearing a distinctive hat.
How has the reception been for the Pluto Rocket series, and what feedback have you received from readers? Have there been any particularly touching or memorable responses from children or parents about the books?
The reception? Tears of laughter streaming down everyone’s faces, and loud demands for Pluto be reinstated as a planet. Or at least, that’s what’s happening in my dreams. In reality, the first book has been nominated for several awards, so that’s nice. But, of course, it’s wonderful when I get fan mail or – best of all – fan art from a reader who says they love the characters and can’t wait for more. To all of those readers, tighten your rocket straps, more Pluto will be blasting off soon!
Books by Paul Gilligan:
Pluto Rocket: New in Town (Pluto Rocket #1) By Paul Gilligan 88 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Paperback ISBN 9780735271920 | Tundra Books Meet Pluto Rocket, a friendly alien, and Joe Pidge, a wise-cracking pigeon, in the first book of this hilarious new early graphic novel series, for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Pizza and Taco! Joe Pidge, not just a pigeon but also the stylish king of the neighborhood, is bobbing his way down the street one day when, all of a sudden, Pluto Rocket enters the scene. It turns out, Pluto is from another planet, and is disguising herself for her secret mission – to find out what life in the neighborhood is really like. Lucky for Pluto, Joe Pidge has seen it all before, eaten it all before, and pooped on it all before, so he takes her under his wing and the two become fast friends. But Joe is the one who actually learns a thing or two and whose mind is blown by the out-of-this-world Pluto in this hilarious graphic novel series from Paul Gilligan, creator of the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café!
Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid (Pluto Rocket #2) By Paul Gilligan 88 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Paperback ISBN 9780735271951 | Tundra Books Joe Pidge, king of the neighborhood, and Pluto Rocket, an alien who’s new in town, have become fast friends, with Joe acting as Pluto’s guide on her secret mission to discover what life in the neighborhood is really like. But on Joe’s tour (where he shows Pluto the best fire escape and the best garbage can in the world!), it becomes clear that Joe has never actually left his tiny slice of the planet . . . Pluto encourages Joe to get out of his comfort zone, but Joe delays by creating an outlandish list of supplies they’ll need to get before they go! Is Joe Pidge afraid of leaving his safe little neighborhood? And if that’s tough, imagine how Joe feels when his hat, his trademark super-flavio look that helps him stand out from the other pigeons, goes missing. Thankfully, Pluto is here to help save the day in the second book of this hilarious graphic novel series from Paul Gilligan, creator of the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café!
Pluto Rocket: Full Blast! (Pluto Rocket #3) By Paul Gilligan 96 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774885413 | Tundra Books Available: March 18, 2025 Joe Pidge, king of the neighborhood, and Pluto Rocket, an alien who’s new in town, have left the safety of Joe’s neighborhood to discover other places on Earth for Pluto’s secret mission – to explore the planet and prove that Earthlings are nice. But Joe is way out of his comfort zone! What starts as a casual walk into a new town turns into a high-speed chase as Joe is convinced the duo is being pursued by a wolf (it’s really a poodle). Later, Pluto’s habit of helping people leads to the two being celebrated as heroes! But when their publicity makes its way back to Pluto’s home planet, Joe and Pluto have to find a way to escape to the moon . . . and fast, in the third book of this hilarious graphic novel series from Paul Gilligan, creator of the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café!
Boy vs. Shark By Paul Gilligan 240 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover ISBN 9781774880449 | Tundra Books In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn’t have a whole lot to worry about other than keeping his comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of his best friend, David. And then Jaws comes to town. Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven’t seen it, not only are you missing out, you’re also kind of a wimp. Needless to say, Jaws leaves young Paul a cowering mess, and underlines the growing gap between him and David as well as the distance between where he stands and the world’s expectations of a boy’s “manliness.” And when Jaws himself becomes a kind of macho Jiminy Cricket for Paul, what is a scared and overwhelmed boy to do?
