They Call Me No Sam! [Hardcover]

• An InstantNew York TimesBestseller
• An Indie Next Pick
• A howlingly funny tale. —ALABooklist(starred review)

From Drew Daywalt, the #1New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Day the Crayons Quit, and illustrator Mike Lowery comes a heavily illustrated, paper-over-board middle grade novel about Sam, a noble pug who will go to any lengths to protect his family from the bad guys!

Meet Sam: an insolent pug—and incidental hero—who will stop at nothing to protect his family!

When scientists Elaine and Gary Peterson adopt Sam to keep their son, Justin, company in the midst of a top-secret research project, they never imagine the precocious pup will cause more harm than good. But from chewing up Elaine’s hair dryer (the “brain-melting heat cannon”) to his inability to be house-trained (who could resist the “pooping rug”?), the Petersons aren’t sure how much more they can take. And that'sbeforeSam starts harassing Justin’s crush (and potential new friend), Phoebe, who Sam is sure is an evil wizard out to harm Justin.

But when a pair of crooks encroaches on the Peterson household in an attempt to steal their confidential findings, Sam’s actions—never mind his reasoning for them—just may save the day.

Sam’s diary entries—written in arch first-pooch prose by Daywalt (The Wrong Book) and accompanied by slapstick b&w comics and spot illustrations by Lowery (Pizza Shark)—craft a humorously tender look at the daily life of a pup whose bark is worse than his bite, but whose determination to protect and love his family is fiercer than any threat.  -Publishers Weekly

“Animal lovers who are edging into longer chapter books will appreciate tlc4