Publisher Description

Courage yields unexpected surprises when Justin visits his school's dreaded lost and found. A witty, award-winning story about childhood fears from Bill Harley and Adam Gustavson.When Justin loses the special hat his grandmother made for him, he looks everywhere for it. Everywhere, that is, except the lost and found. Mr. Rumkowsky, the old school custodian, is the keeper of all the lost and found items, and everyone is afraid of him-including Justin.When he finally musters the courage to enter Mr. Rumkowsky's domain, he discovers a whole world of treasures. But things keep getting weirder and weirder, until way down at the bottom of Rumkowsky's giant box, Justin unearths something completely unexpected...

Author Biography

Bill Harley is a two-time Grammy Award-winning storyteller, musician, and author who has been writing and performing for kids and families for more than forty years. He has appeared nationally in theaters, schools, libraries, festivals and conferences, as a workshop leader and keynote and inspirational speaker. His picture books and middle-grade novels have won wide acclaim, from Bank Street School of Education Best Books, Children's Choice Awards, Green Earth Book Awards, and pick of the list from ABA.Harley was called "the Mark Twain of contemporary children's music" by Entertainment Weekly. He lives in Massachusetts.Adam Gustavson holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and a BFA from Rowan University and has taught at Seton Hall University and Philadelphia's University of the Arts. He is the award-winning illustrator of over thirty books for children. He lives, paints, teaches, and plays music in his home state of New Jersey, along with his charming family and a neurotic poodle.

Review

"An easily relatable story. . . readers will grasp the joke and have an additional laugh as they view the artwork on the final pages. The large-size font will be an aid to those learning to read using the picture clues. A welcome addition." —School Library Journal

"With stifling tension, Harley has found the perfect emotional pitch to explore such universal childhood fears. . . Gustavson enhances the dramatic mood with realistic double-page spreads that artfully use a child's-eye perspective" —Kirkus Reviews

"Gustavson's well-composed paintings bring the story to life on the page through expressive character portrayal and the clever details of setting. . . An excellent read-aloud choice for classroom or library." —Booklist

Review Quote

"With stifling tension, Harley has found the perfect emotional pitch to explore such universal childhood fears...Gustavson enhances the dramatic mood with realistic double-page spreads that artfully use a child's-eye perspective" Kirkus Reviews

Details