"Buddy does not know what is in the box that Meredith carries into the living room. But when the small, prickly creature says he is a pirate--and that Buddy is a pirate too--the two mismatched friends are off on a grand adventure"--Amazon.com.

Maureen Fergus is an award-winning author of books for kids of all ages. Her novels include The Gypsy King trilogy and Ortega; her picture books include And What If I Won't? and The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten. She currently lives in Winnipeg with her husband, three kids, a dog, and a hedgehog.

Carey Sookocheff's illustrations have garnered awards from Communication Arts and American Illustration as well as the Society of Illustrators. She lives in Toronto with her husband, two daughters and one dog. Buddy and Earl is her first picture book.