The Creature Department

It’s a tentacled, inventive, gooey, world in there. . . .

Elliot Von Doppler and his friend Leslie think nothing ever happens in Bickleburgh, except inside the gleaming headquarters of DENKi-3000?the world’s eighth-largest electronics factory.

Beneath the glass towers and glittering skywalks, there's a rambling old mansion from which all the company’s amazing inventions spring forth. And no one except Uncle Archie knows what’s behind the second-to-last door at the end of the hall.

Until Elliot and Leslie are invited to take a glimpse inside.

They find stooped, troll-like creatures with jutting jaws and broken teeth. Tiny winged things that sparkle as they fly. And huge, hulking, hairy nonhumans (with horns). It is unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

But when Chuck Brickweather threatens to shut down the DENKi-3000 factory if a new product isn’t presented soon, the creatures know they are in danger. And when Uncle Archie vanishes, it’s up to Elliot, Leslie, and every one of the unusual, er, ?employees” to create an invention so astonishing it will save the creature department.

Robert Paul Weston wandered the earth for many years doing all sorts of odd jobs. In 2008, he published his first novel-in-verse, Zorgamazoo, recipient of the California Young Reader's Medal, the Silver Birch Award, the Children's Choice Award, and an E.B. White Read Aloud Honor. His second novel was the hard-boiled fairy tale Dust City, which was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult Mystery. He is publishing Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff in February 2013. When he isn't writing, Robert still wanders the earth. At the moment he lives in London, England. For more about his latest adventures go to: www.robertpaulweston.com.