by Peter Nelson
“Awwww . . .” A small group of people, young and old, whom Jordan had never seen before, were gathered behind them, smiling down at the playpen. Mrs. Grimsley stepped up and addressed them.
“Gather around, not too close, please,” she began. “This is one of the many cryptids who will be in residence here. He’s Chupacabra, a rescue, you might say.” She winked at her children and father-in-law. “He’s currently being housebroken, and trained to not wipe out the human race in order to take over the world.”
The crowd took a collective step back. “All right, this way, please.” Mrs. Grimsley led them toward the greenhouse but turned them around to look back at the former retirement home before leading them through the greenhouse door.
She gestured toward Grampa Grimsley’s old house. “As you all know, Harmony Acres will be the first academy of its kind. Once completed, it will educate potential human students like yourselves on many magnificent mysterious creatures. Students here at, um”—she paused—“Hacks Faces—will be taught about cryptids by cryptids, as each class will have its own ‘Creature Teacher.’ Graduates will leave our academy with a better understanding and knowledge of not just cryptids but of the world that together we all share. This way, please.”
She gestured toward the entrance to the greenhouse. “Now if you’ll just follow the ramp down to our underground administrative offices, our heads of admissions, Francine the Australian Bunyip and Clarissa the Christmas Island Colossus Crab, will be more than happy to answer any questions you have and help start you in the application process. And please help yourselves to a carrot on your way down—they’re nature’s toothbrushes! Watch your step, thank you!”
“Nice work, Mom,” Jordan said as his mother rejoined them. “Super professional.”
“Thank you! That was my last tour of the day. It does get tiring.”
Hap ran up to them, quite out of breath, from inside the swamp. “Oh, glad you guys are all together. Mr. G wanted you all to meet him by the boathouse. It’s urgent.”
“Urgent?” Nervous glances were exchanged. “Is everything all right?” Jordan asked.
“You’d just better go quickly,” Hap said. “I’ll go and find Doris.”
Abbie scooped Chunk into her arms, and Grampa Grimsley grabbed Chupacabra. They all quickly made their way deeper into the swamp.
Mr. Grimsley stood at the foot of the dock, grinning ear to ear. Floating behind him was the former Mayan Princess. The lettering on the side of the boat had been painted over, rather crudely in what Jordan suspected might be a Skunk Ape’s sloppy handwriting. The bow now read GRIMSLEY FAMILY RAMBLER II. A large pink, silk banner hung from the railing running alongside the boat. Beautiful stitchwork on it read: CREATURE CRUISES! TOURS AVAILABLE NOW!
Standing at the railing were Syd, Wilford, Alistair, and Buck Wilde, waving down at the Grimsleys.
“All aboard!” Mr. Grimsley held out his hand for his wife and accompanied her down the dock.
A gray streak dived out of the sky as Kriss dropped Bernard on the deck of the ship. He then zoomed over and scooped Abbie up in his arms, setting her down on the deck before tumbling to a horrible landing. Jordan and Grampa Grimsley were the last to board, laughing as they ran down the dock and onto the ship.
Once on board, the Grimsleys found the swimming pool up on the Lido deck occupied by two and a half tons of Loch Ness Monster and a white, furry Trunko. Nessie and Moe were lazing about in the water, taking in the warm, late-summer sun. In the adjoining hot tub was Gilligan, grinning ear to ear.
“Now this is livin’!” the Feejee Mermonkey said, sipping from a pineapple.
Jordan and Abbie turned to their grandfather. “Did I read somewhere that C. E. Noodlepen had something to do with this purchase?” Jordan asked.
Grampa Grimsley shrugged. “Name doesn’t ring a bell.” He smiled. “But then, I’m pretty old and my memory isn’t what it used to be.”
Abbie rolled her eyes. “You may be my grandfather,” she said. “But you’re still a first-class dorkface.”
BEEEEEYOOOOOO!
The Grimsley Family Rambler II let out a loud horn blast as it pulled away from the end of the dock. Abbie, Jordan, and Grampa Grimsley moved to the stern. Mr. and Mrs. Grimsley joined them, along with Syd, Wilford, Kriss, Harvey, Alistair, and Buck Wilde.
Back on the shoreline, Doris, Hap, the Face Chomper creatures, and their Creature Keepers ran down the dock, waving bon voyage. Doris pulled a carrot out and winged it onto the Lido deck of the ship.
A bus-sized blur of white fluff suddenly came bounding out of the swamp. Peggy hopped over the entire dock, landing squarely on the ship’s lower deck. Perched on her back was Harvey Quisling, holding on for dear life but laughing his heart out.
The little ship bucked and rocked as it absorbed the impact of the giant Jackalope. But the Grimsley Family Rambler II easily steadied herself, then slowly sailed away from the Okeeyuckachokee Swamp, straight into the sun setting over Ponce de Leon Bay.
PONCEDELEON
CENOODLEPEN
ELDONPECONE
Acknowledgments
For their never-ending love and support, we thank our families and friends. To the many humans who helped us hatch Creature Keepers, we send humongous Skunk Ape hugs:
Editor and First-Class Badger Ranger Jordan Brown, who kept our wild stories from wandering away from us but always protected their ferocious fun.
Brenda Bowen and Tina Wexler, our agents, friends, and biggest (grown-up) fans.
Everyone at HarperCollins Children’s Books, including layout, lettering, and digital artists Alison Klapthor, Annemieke Beemster Leverenz, and Rick Farley. Also, CKCC West computer artists Jenny Yurshansky, Lovemando, Charlie Nelson, and Indigo Perez.
Lastly, to our young fans everywhere—thank you for your letters, artwork, book reports, videos . . . and most of all, for reading!
Gratefully,
Ro & Peter
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Credits
Cover art © 2017 by Rohitash Rao and Rick Farley
Lettering by Annemieke Beemster Leverenz
Cover design by David Curtis
Copyright
Balzer + Bray is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
CREATURE KEEPERS AND THE PERILOUS PYRO-PAWS. Copyright © 2017 by Peter Nelson and Rohitash Rao. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2017949411
ISBN 978-0-06-223650-0 (trade bdg.)
EPub Edition © December 2017 ISBN 9780062236517
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FIRST EDITION
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