​(Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2015)
Illustrated by Liz Starin
Roar!
With scissors and tape a boy transforms himself into…a dragon! “ROAR!” he says. He is BIG. He is SCARY. Well, not really. When two dragons come over for a play date, what on earth will these three find to do together? The boy doesn’t have big teeth and he can’t breathe fire. He is just a boy. And the dragons can’t eat ice cream or do cartwheels. They are just dragons. Luckily, the dragons care more about what they all can do together, like make silly faces and do the funky monkey dance. What they really care about is being friends.
Raves and Reviews:
"Big hearted, heart gladdening, and—best—a light-hearted approach to finding friends."—Kirkus Reviews
"Sketchlike illustrations polished with watercolor make this title vivid while maintaining a childlike, hopeful quality. The resolution is particularly clever and fun. "—School Library Journal
​(Sterling, 2015)
Illustrated by Goro Fujita
Your Alien
When a little boy meets a stranded alien child, the two instantly strike up a fabulous friendship. They go to school, explore the neighborhood, and have lots of fun. But at bedtime, the alien suddenly grows very, very sad. Can the boy figure out what his new buddy needs most of all? This funny, heartwarming story proves that friends and family are the most important things in the universe . . . no matter who or where you are.
Raves and Reviews:
STARRED REVIEW: "Not since E.T. has extraterrestrial entertainment stood such a good chance of making kids (and their parents) tear up."
— Publishers Weekly
STARRED REVIEW: "Sauer’s sweet tale of interplanetary friendship makes terrific use of second-person narration. Young listeners will identify with the young protagonist whether they have dreamed of having an alien best friend or not (but really, who hasn’t?). Fujita’s digitally created cartoon illustrations have the appearance of acrylic paintings and augment the gentle humor of the simple tale. Will likely inspire preschoolers to stare hopefully heavenward looking for their own close encounters."
— Kirkus Reviews
"A tender and playful look at the meaning of home—with aliens!"
— School Library Journal
* An All the Wonders "The Best Book Ever [This Week] " selection
* Atlanta Parent Magazine Best Book of 2015
* NPR Best Book of 2015
* 2016 SCBWI Crystal Kite Finalist
* Foreign Rights: France, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Chinese
* Developed into a musical by ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
​(Disney*Hyperion, 2015)
Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Ginny Louise and the School Showdown
The Truman Elementary Troublemakers are a bad bunch. Especially these three: Cap'n Catastrophe, Destructo Dude, and Make-My-Day May. But they are no match for Ginny Louise, the new hedgehog in school. Her unwavering cheerfulness in the face of their bullying will make young readers holler with glee. Full of rhymes, wordplay, and comic misunderstanding, this book will lend itself well to reading aloud as well as discussions about peer dynamics.
Raves and Reviews:
"Never underestimate the power of good, especially when it's wrapped up in as sweet a package as Ginny Louise." — Kirkus
“Ginny Louise gets her way through optimism, kindness, and sheer stubborness. Lively illustrations, the subtle western theme, and a positive message will have kids kicking up their heels in their own hoedowns. Yippee-ki-yay!" — Booklist
"...a sweet and funny reminder that peer pressure can go both ways."
— BCCB
* 2015 CBC "Hot Off the Press" List
​(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013)
Illustrated by Micheal Slack
Nugget & Fang
In the deep ocean, tiny Nugget and big, toothy Fang get along swimmingly—until Nugget’s first day of minnow school. There Nugget learns that minnows are supposed to be afraid of sharks! How can they possibly be friends? Desperate to regain Nugget’s trust, Fang goes to wild (and hilarious) extremes. But it’s not until his big sharp teeth save the entire school that minnows learn this shark is no foe. Fantastically stylized artwork adds even more humor to this undersea story of unlikely friendship.
Raves and Reviews:
"It's darn near impossible to resist such an earnest, toothy hero."—Kirkus
"Sauer creates kindly characters and hits sweetly humorous notes throughout."—Publishers Weekly
"The text's cadence is well-timed for sharing aloud, and both narrative and illustrations zing with humorous touches."—School Library Journal
"Kids are likely to snap it up hook, line, and sinker."—BCCB
* Scholastic Book Fairs and Reading Clubs Selection
* Scholastic Australia Reading Clubs Selection
* Scholastic Canada Reading Clubs Selection
* 2014 Winner of the Oklahoma Book Award
* 2014 Texas 2X2 Book Selection
* 2014 Winner of the Oklahoma Book Award
* 2014 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Finalist
* 2015 Washington Children's Choice Award Nominee
* 2016 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee
* 2016 Book Choice for Read Across Oklahoma
* 2016 New York State Reading Association Charlotte Award Nominee
* 2016 Book Choice for Read Across Oklahoma
* Developed into a musical by ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
* 2019 Amazon Prime Book Box selection