Frank and the Bad Surprise

Book 1

Martha Brockenbrough author Jon Lau illustrator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Levine Querido

Published:27th Feb '25

Should be back in stock very soon

Frank and the Bad Surprise cover

A Delightfully Relatable Sibling Story: In the first installment of the Frank and the Puppy early reader series, Frank the grumpy tuxedo cat learns to get along (and sometimes not) with his humans’ excitable new corgi 

Frank the cat has it good: Tons of toys, unlimited Whiskies™ and space and quiet to stretch and nap and think and write.​ Then his people bring home a box. A box with something unexpected inside. A puppy.​ A puppy who doesn’t know the rules of naps. A puppy who slobbers and tackles and barks.​ This won’t do.​ Frank will just have to find a better home. Should be easy, right?

This heartwarming and humorous chapter book explores themes of friendship, respect, and understanding. With its charming watercolor illustrations and relatable characters, Frank and the Big Mistake is sure to delight young readers and spark important conversations.

Dive into a world of laughter and friendship with Frank the tuxedo cat and Sunny the corgi pup. This delightful series is perfect for young readers who love charming animal tales and heartwarming stories.

Why Kids Love the Frank and the Puppy series:
— Unforgettable Characters: Frank and Sunny's unique personalities and heartwarming bond will captivate young readers.
— Engaging Stories: Short, easy-to-follow chapters make reading fun and accessible for early readers.
— Whimsical Illustrations: Jon Lau's colorful and expressive illustrations bring the story to life.
— Diverse Representation: The series features a loving, multiracial, queer family, promoting inclusivity and understanding.
— Humorous and Relatable: The silly antics and everyday situations will resonate with young readers.

Also...Did we mention a celebrity endorsement? The Frank the Puppy series was featured on Bedtime Stories with Ryan, Ryan Reynolds’s TV show on Maximum Effort Channel.

P R A I S E

AMAZON BEST OF THE YEAR

“Highly relatable.”
Horn Book 

“A series opener that will delight cat AND dog fans.”
Kirkus

“Cute and hilarious.” 
Booklist

“Cute and hilarious” — Booklist


“Lots of white space, repeated vocabulary, and humorous spot and full-page illustrations create a welcoming reading environment for youngsters. The fact that Frank’s humans are a mixed-race gay couple only boosts this book’s value.” — Booklist


“Brockenbrough’s appealing early chapter book features simple, declarative sentences with lots of repetition and cat-centered humor. Lau’s digitally manipulated, painted illustrations showing a slobbery corgi, an expressive cat, and two brown-skinned humans convey both Frank’s moods and the gentle humor.” —Kirkus Reviews


“A series opener that will delight cat AND dog fans.” —Kirkus Reviews


“Brockenbrough’s wry prose perfectly captures Frank’s feline perspective, and in several of Lau’s paintings, you’ll swear you can almost hear Frank purring. But the best part is the way Brockenbrough engineers a moving reconciliation between the two former enemies, neatly sidestepping schlock and sentiment and going straight for understated emotional truth. It’s positively the cat’s pajamas.” — Book

ISBN: 9781646145003

Dimensions: 210mm x 165mm x 22mm

Weight: 62g

64 pages