Ralphie might have wanted a Red Ryder B B gun in Jean Shepherds A Christmas Story, but the kid in this story wants a lot more. He fantasizes about becoming the Lone Ranger, the Masked Man himself, but is thwarted at every turn. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when the Masked Kid tries to realize his dreams, only to discover they may be harder than he thought.

A fast-paced, madcap adventure from the always surprising raconteur, Avi! It's the spring of 1945 in Brooklyn, and while WWII rages in Europe, sixth grader Frankie Wattleson--inspired by the heroics of The Lone Ranger and other radio show idols--sets out to right the wrongs of the world. Frankie is so caught up in his superhero stories that he becomes convinced the tenant renting his brother's room is a mad scientist. Can Frankie and his trusty sidekick, Mario, save the world from an evil genius? Or will Frankie's mother pull the plug on their schemes before they can save the day?

As a children's book author and illustrator, as well as a mother and grandmother, I understand that our "new normal" can be scary for little ones. Children are learning how to process and understand facial expressions and emotions, during a time when everyone is wearing a mask. Now the faces of their loved ones, teachers, friends, and local grocery clerks are all covered. It can be scary and confusing. Who's Behind the Mask? aims to help calm some of those fears. Each page shows an example of someone in a mask. Children can turn the page to see a smiling face underneath. Even the doggie is wearing one!

He was born that way. Few would forgive his appearance. Fear and revulsion, even rage, were not unfamiliar to him. The villagers, but for one small child, have not been kind. The forest, his home, was not only a sanctuary, ironically, it also became his prison. One day, the forest offered him something more. What he found both chilled and excited him. It was a discovery that would change his life forever. The Mask is an allegorical tale that touches upon our human frailties, inspires us to find our inner truth, and dares us to be more courageous than we can imagine. Beautifully illustrated and designed, The Mask compels a reader to ponder important social issues such as bullying and body image as well as the meaning of beauty and truth.

Ride with the Masked Kid in his new white bat-winged Impala as he ventures across the northern prairies through rain, heat and hail to the forests of Olympia on his way to graduate school. Be with him in his chemical adventures and hilarious faux pas as a teaching assistant. The triumphs and disasters continue, as he discovers that once you've put on a mask, it's hard to take it off.

Things were just getting started in Who Was That Masked Kid?. The kid may have taken off the mask, but now he’s got a new goal: become a boy genius like Tom Swift. Be with his parents as they run from noxious gases emanating from his room and horrific, weird biological experiments. Discover the secret of the red button and find out why the kid almost killed himself getting to his first job. Be ready. The masked kid has returned, and nobody is safe.

Graduating from high school, the Masked Kid narrowly escaps a mob of angry classmates blaming him for making their annuals late. He becomes a budding young college scientist with good intentions but terrorizes his fellow students with experiments gone wrong. He goes on to become a Secret Agent in his own mind, horrifying dates with a car that cuts out intermittently on dark highways. Later, fantasizing that he is the Caped Crusader, he applies 'Roommate Revenge' to defend his Boy Wonder roommate against a heartless ex girlfriend. Nobody is safe, the Masked Kid is on the loose again, and will soon be heading West.