Children's series
Gene Drives
Ten Adventures of the Boy Who Brings Everyone Home
Gene can drive anything. So when someone is lost, stuck, or far from home, Gene is the one who goes to get them, with his dog Sprocket riding shotgun.
Back on the farm, Grandpa Crank keeps things running (mostly), Gerald the goat keeps things interesting, and Tulip the cat keeps her opinions to herself (rarely). Across ten illustrated adventures, every story ends the same way: with everyone home.
Gene Drives was created with Jon's son, Eli, who has been a co-conspirator on every book.
Nature Calls
A moose calf is stranded far from its mother, so Gene takes Grandpa Crank's safari truck, Nature Calls, out to bring it home. The first adventure for a boy, his dog Sprocket, Gerald the goat, and a barn full of remarkable vehicles.
The Snow Kitty
When Sprocket discovers that Lucille is in trouble, Gene sets out in Snow Kitty, the snowcat, through deep snow and past a bear, to get her home and to help.
Stelly Helly
A wildfire traps Gene's classmates and their teacher, Ms. Judy. Gene flies Grandpa's helicopter, Stelly Helly, into the fire zone to bring them out, while Sprocket keeps frightened Rainier calm.
Old Faithful
An earthquake cracks a dam, and Gene takes Old Faithful into the disaster zone. The people downstream aren't the only ones who need him: a bear cub has lost its mother.
Digger Rigger
A volcanic eruption leaves people trapped, and Gene drives the massive Digger Rigger into the danger zone. Among those he finds is a familiar face: Rainier, whom Gene first rescued in Stelly Helly.
Old Sandhill
A window washer is stranded high above the ground, and Gene raises Grandpa's crane, Old Sandhill, to make the rescue. Along the way, a cat named Tulip finds a home.
Lunar Schooner
Gene takes Grandpa's moon rover, Lunar Schooner, into a toxic refinery emergency, where Sprocket becomes the hero of the day, and Gene finally gets to tell her, “Welcome home, girl.”
Little Bo Deep
Dolphins are trapped, the anchor is broken, and there's a shark in the water. Gene takes Grandpa's submarine, Little Bo Deep, below the surface, and Gerald the goat proves he's far more than comic relief.
Breathless Wonder
An avalanche leaves people and a baby goat stranded in the mountains. Gene rises to the rescue in Grandpa's hot-air balloon, Breathless Wonder, where Gerald's goat instincts, and his hoof clippers, save the day.
Over the Moon
A meteor strikes the space station where Gene's father works. This time the person Gene has to bring home is his own dad, so he walks past every vehicle in Grandpa's barn and takes Over the Moon into space.