Ninja Boy Goes to School

The author of the 100 Cupboards series explores the perils of being a ninja at school. Dressed in black, with a blue headband, orange sneakers, and a tiger backpack, Ninja Boy stealthily conceals himself on the school bus ceiling and escapes his classroom through the window (“A ninja’s spirit is never caged. A ninja leaps like a gazelle and floats like a cherry blossom”), earning him a visit to the principal’s office and punishment from his none-too-happy parents. Harrison’s smudgy cartoons feature gap-toothed, chubby-cheeked kids and comically pugnacious adults. This one’s for the troublemakers. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Aaron Rench, Leaptide Literary Group. (July)