The Real McCoys: Two's a Crowd - by Matthew Swanson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The second book in the critically acclaimed, illustrated middle-grade series, The Real McCoys, in which a precocious detective solves mysteries with her super-smart little brother.

When a baffling mystery strikes Tiddlywhump Elementary, sibling detectives and absolute opposites Moxie and Milton McCoy are on the case. She's the doer. He's the thinker. She's the heart. He's her heartburn.

Moxie's friend Emily has received a suspicious letter signed with nothing but a sinister purple squiggle. Then more letters arrive--along with more questions. Who sent them? What do they mean? Is the world on the brink of collapse?

Milton and Moxie are the perfect problem-solving team...if only they could get along. When their partnership falls apart, Moxie races to identify the mysterious Squiggler first--while learning the hard way that two McCoys really are better than one.

With energetic illustrations on every page, Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr's The Real McCoys: Two's a Crowd is a vivaciously funny and irresistibly heartfelt mystery for young readers.

An Imprint Book

Praise for The Real McCoys:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"Readers will breeze through this ingenious combination of text and art, eager for Moxie and Milton's next case." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Swanson's witty text is enhanced exponentially by Behr's bold, original artwork to create a uniquely told whodunit with wide appeal. . .An exceptional book." --Booklist, starred review

Review Quotes

The Real McCoys:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"Readers will breeze through this ingenious combination of text and art, eager for Moxie and Milton's next case." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Swanson's witty text is enhanced exponentially by Behr's bold, original artwork to create a uniquely told whodunit with wide appeal. . .An exceptional book." --Booklist, starred review

"Delightfully topsy-turvy. . .readers will hope to see more of both siblings soon." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An exceptional middle-grade read packed with giggles for young sleuths who love to explore a little off the beaten path." --Kirkus Reviews

"An ingenious new series...an innovative reading experience that surprises and delights. Wordplay, witty descriptions and visual jokes abound." --The Washington Post

"Swanson and Behr have created a gem with this hilarious elementary-level read with graphic novel tendencies." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This clever, funny, delightful book is just what this crazy world needs. The surprising and inventive interaction between text and illustration shows that two brains are, indeed, better than one--especially when they belong to Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr." --Andrea Beaty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ada Twist Scientist

Praise for Everywhere, Wonder:

"A sweeping exploration of imagination, appreciation, and possibility."--Publishers Weekly

"Swanson's fanciful and whimsical exploration of the meeting of imagination and story is strengthened by the jewel-toned colors and sheer scope of Behr's illustrations." --Kirkus Reviews

"A tribute to the power of imagination awaiting those who are open to the marvels that surround them." --School Library Journal"

Praise for Babies Ruin Everything:

"Babies Ruin Everything speaks to that older brother or sister, telling them, simply: 'I hear you. This is hard' This is a wonderfully empathetic and funny book that doesn't talk down to older siblings and their real struggles having their world turned upside down. I love my little sister, but if I was still three, I'd probably be trying to sell her to you." --Kate Beaton, author and illustrator of The Princess and the Pony and the #1 New York Times bestseller Hark! A Vagrant

"A fun read that can empower big sisters and brothers to make the most of their new family roles." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr are the author-illustrator, husband-wife duo behind Ten Thousand Stories, Babies Ruin Everything, Everywhere, Wonder; The Real McCoys, and more than sixty illustrated books for children and adults. They run two small publishing companies and a letterpress shop out of their Maryland home/barn/studio, teach and speak on creativity and collaboration, and have four small-but-obstreperous children.