About
Allison Estes grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, and recently moved back after a 29-year stint in New York City. She has written numerous books for kid and adult readers, including "The Short Stirrup Club" series (Simon & Schuster); "Paw & Order: Dramatic Investigations by an Animal Cop on the Beat" (Bowtie Press); and a picture book, "Izzy & Oscar" (Sourcebooks, 2015). She is an adjunct professor of IMC Journalism at the University of Mississippi and a faculty and founding member of New York Writers Workshop http://www.newyorkwritersworkshop.com/. She also works as a freelance editor, and has taught writing workshops to all ages for about a million years. If she isn't busy working or soccer-momming, she is probably at choir practice, riding to hounds, or reading a book.
Featured Work
Izzy & Oscar
Have you ever taught an octopus to roll over? It’s harder than it looks. Izzy has always wanted a pet. So when an adventurous octopus squiggles into town, Izzy decides to keep him. After all, a real pirate captain has to have a mascot. Oscar is not very good at going for walks or playing fetch. (Although he is amazing at hide and seek). And he’s definitely not like other pets…but he is just right for Izzy. Readers will be tickled by Izzy’s attempts to teach Oscar to behave like a dog, a parrot, a pony—and gratified by Izzy’s realization that in the end we love others for who they are…eight arms and all!
“This exciting story is full of rich vocabulary, beautiful pencil and dye illustrations, and belly-laugh humor that young children will love.” School Library Journal
“A goofy, good-natured story of a decidedly nontraditional pet.” Publisher’s Weekly
“A grand addition to any pet-themed read-aloud session.” Kirkus
*An Accelerated Reader Quiz Selection
Release date: April 7, 2015 | Age Range: 4 – 8 years
