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For Loretta
The illustrations in this book were created digitally using an iPad Pro and Procreate. Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-1-4197-5392-3 Text and illustrations © 2022 Gerald Kelley Book design by Jade Rector Published in 2022 by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. and bound in China Not for Printed resale, duplication, or 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 reposting. Please do not quote without Abrams Books for Young Readers are available at special discounts comparison to theandfinished when purchased in quantity for premiums promotions as book. well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below. Abrams® is a registered trademark of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
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by
E. G. Keller
Abrams Books for Young Readers 0 New York
Murray was a very good boy. He loved his humans. He loved his home.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without And he really loved his job: to the finished book. comparison
He took his job seriously.
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Nothing would come between him and the humans he loved.
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One day, he was making his rounds when the humans did the most peculiar thing:
They planted a tree in the living room.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
Murray was troubled by how quickly his home changed after that. The house was no longer safe! Threats lurked everywhere.
He SNATCHED a flashy snake!
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He GRRRRRRed at the smelly sticks.
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He PUUUUUULLLLED at the laundry that was wrongly hung on the fireplace.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
He HARROOOOOOOed to drown out the terrible sounds coming from the front stoop.
But Murray’s home wasn’t the only thing that had changed.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. And a peculiar person beganNot for resale, duplication, or popping up everywhere. reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. Who was this guy? Murray’s humans seemed to love him.
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But Murray wasn’t impressed.
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On a snowy night, after one last patrol of the house . . .
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HIM!
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THE
MESS!
What would happen when everyone woke up tomorrow?
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This wouldn’t do at all!
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
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Though he couldn’t understand why this odd fellow didn’t simply use the front door like everyone else . . .
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. . . Murray began to see why everyone liked him so much.
And the next morning . . .
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. . . there was even a gift for Murray.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.