Bernard Pepperlin: A Magical Chapter Book About the Dormouse from Wonderland for Kids (Ages 8-12)

“Bernard and his newfound friends—revolutionary rats, wise-cracking cats, and coffee-chugging squirrels, to name a few—will delight and inspire readers of all ages!”    —Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Medal-winning author of Hello, Universe

The drowsy Dormouse from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is transported to modern-day New York City for the adventure of a lifetime in this middle grade novel that’s perfect for fans of Stuart Little and written by critically acclaimed author Cara Hoffman.

When a girl in a blue dress crashes the Mad Hatter’s eternal tea party, the sleepy Dormouse feels more awake than he has in a long time. He wishes he could follow her and be a part of her adventure.

And as luck would have it, a surprising twist of fate sends the Dormouse on an adventure of his own, where he must not fall asleep. For he is destined to save a magical world outside Wonderland, and it will take all his courage—and a few new friends—to do it.

New York City is a long way from Wonderland, and Bernard will need more than just courage to survive.

• An Alice in Wonderland Retelling: The sleepy Dormouse leaves the Mad Hatter’s tea party behind for a brand-new adventure on the streets of modern-day New York City.
• Unlikely Friendships: To succeed, Bernard will need the help of wise-cracking cats, revolutionary rats, and even coffee-chugging squirrels.
• A Secret World of Animals: Discover a hidden animal society living just beneath the notice of humans, with its own subways, heroes, and villains.
• A Humorous and Heartfelt Adventure: Perfect for middle grade readers who love classic tales like Stuart Little, this story is packed with courage, humor, and heart.

Cara Hoffman is the author of three critically acclaimed novels for adults: Running (a New York Times Editor's Choice), Be Safe I Love You (nominated for a Folio Prize), and So Much Pretty (a New Yorker Books Pick and New York Times Best Suspense Novel of 2011). She is also the author of the popular middle grade novel Bernard Pepperlin (a Junior Library Guild Selection). She has written for Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Paris Review, Bookforum, and National Public Radio, among others, and has been a visiting writer at University of Oxford. She lives in Manhattan and teaches at the Stonecoast MFA program at University of Southern Maine.