Wanted...Mud Blossom

When Junior brings home the classroom hamster, Scooty, he decides to build the best hamster tunnel ever. But when Scooty goes missing, all evidence points to Mud. In the meantime, Mad Mary is missing, too--although her bag and walking stick were found near the hgihway. When Mary later wakes up in the hospital, she realizes that the Blossom family might just have provided her with the strength she needs to pull her life back togeether. It's anything but an ordinary weekend with the Blossoms!

Betsy Byars has written more than sixty books for young readers. Her books have been translated into nine languages and have appeared on national television. She writes based on real-life experiences; and many friends, enemies, and interesting people she has met often show up in her fiction. In 1971 her "Summer of the Swans" was awarded the Newbery Medal. She lives in Seneca, South Carolina.

Amanda Haley has written and illustrated picture books and easy readers as well as designed paper goods and stationery. Booklist praised her "large, sweet, colorful" illustrations for Reading to Peanut by Leda Schubert. She lives in Ohio.