BRUCE COVILLE is the author of over 100 books for children and young adults, including the international bestseller My Teacher is an Alien, the Unicorn Chronicles series, and the much-beloved Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. His work has appeared in a dozen languages and won children's choice awards in a dozen states. Before becoming a full time writer Bruce was a teacher, a toymaker, a magazine editor, a gravedigger, and a cookware salesman. He is also the creator of Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company devoted to producing full cast, unabridged recordings of material for family listening and has produced over a hundred audiobooks, directing and/or acting in most of them. Bruce lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, illustrator and author Katherine Coville. Visit his website at www.brucecoville.com.

In this magical fantasy adventure by the award-winning author of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, a talking toad takes a girl on a wild ride.

Jennifer Murdley has always wanted to be pretty.

That's why she's so surprised to leave Mr. Elives's magic shop with a particularly ugly toad. As her worst enemy says, "A toad for a toad."

But this toad can talk. And what it has to say sets Jennifer off on a journey that leads her into the company of the Immortal Vermin and straight to the Beauty Parlor of Doom . . . where she comes face-to-face with her deepest fears and dreams.

Jennifer Murdley would give anything to be beautiful. But sometimes anything is too high a price to pay.

"Endlessly funny . . . . A roller-coaster ride of a story, full of humor and even wisdom." -Kirkus Reviews

"Fast-moving with slapstick humor . . . . Recommended." -Horn Book