Pen Pal

Everyone's favorite penguin--and the star of two best-selling readers in clubs and fairs--is back in another adorable adventure!

Tony Baloney is excited. It's Pen Pal Month at school. Tony hopes he and his new pen pal Sam will become friends for life. It looks promising. The two have a lot in common: Sam rides a scooter, plays baseball, is a middle-child, and has a stuffed animal buddy, just like Tony! But when Sam's class comes to visit, Tony gets a big surprise: Sam is a girl! Can Tony be friends for life with a GIRL?

Pam Munoz Ryan is the recipient of the NEA’s Human and Civil Rights Award and the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for multicultural literature. She has written more than thirty books for young readers. Her celebrated novels, such as Riding Freedom, Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi Leon, Paint the Wind, and The Dreamer, have cumulatively won countless accolades, among them two Pura Belpre Awards, a NAPPA Gold Award, an Americas Award, and several ALA Notable citations. Pam has also written numerous picture books, including Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride and When Marian Sang, both illustrated by Brian Selznick, and Tony Baloney illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, as well as a beginning reader series featuring Tony Baloney. Pam lives near San Diego with her family. You can visit her at www.pammunozryan.com.

Edwin Fotheringham has illustrated numerous award-winning picture books, including Barbara Kerley's WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?; THE EXTRAORDINARY MARK TWAIN (ACCORDING TO SUSY); THOSE REBELS, JOHN & TOM; and A HOME FOR MR. EMERSON; as well as Shana Corey's MERMAID QUEEN and Pam Munoz Ryan's TONY BALONEY. Fotheringham lives in Seattle, Washington. You can visit him online at www.edfotheringham.com.