What started out as an ordinary summer becomes the story of a lifetime in this exciting series opener packed with magic and monsters! When Ben Silverstein is sent to the rundown town of Buttonville to spend the summer with his grandfather, he's certain it will be the most boring vacation ever. That is, until his grandfather's cat brings home what looks like . . . a baby dragon? Amazed, Ben enlists the help of Pearl Petal, a local girl with an eye for adventure. They take the wounded dragon to the only veterinarian's office in town—Dr. Woo's Worm Hospital. But as Ben and Pearl discover once they are inside, Dr. Woo's isn't a worm hospital at all—it's actually a secret hospital for imaginary creatures. After Ben accidentally leaves the hospital's front door unlocked, a rather large, rather stinky, and  very hairy beast escapes into Buttonville. Now Ben and Pearl are tasked with retrieving the runaway creature. Suzanne Selfors delivers a wild journey filled with mythical creatures and zany adventures that are anything but imaginary. This book includes bonus writing, art, and science activities that will help readers discover more about the mythological creatures featured in The Sasquatch Escape . These activities are designed for the home and the classroom. Enjoy doing them on your own or with friends! Gr 3-5-Ben Silverstein, 10, is sent to his grandfather's house in sleepy Buttonville for the summer while his parents sort out "some troubles." When his grandfather's cat brings home a baby dragon, Ben discovers that Buttonville may actually be the most exciting place in the country. He and his new sort-of friend, Pearl Petal, discover that the old button factory is now home to Dr. Woo and a hospital for creatures from the Imaginary World. When they arrive with the injured baby dragon, Ben inadvertently lets a sasquatch into the Known World, and he and Pearl must return the hairy beast before anyone notices him. Funny, touching, and sure to please, this title is full of charm. Kids will relate to Ben and his troubles, root for the amazing animals, and enjoy Santat's zany illustrations. Selfors ends the book with information about the featured creatures, story and art prompts, a "Science Connection," and a cool recipe. Recommended to fans of Gordon Korman's "Swindle" series (Scholastic).-Terry Ann Lawler, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, AZα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Sent to spend the summer in his grandfather’s small town, 10-year-old Ben Silverstein has an adventure bigger than any he could fabricate when he and new friend Pearl corral an escaped Sasquatch. In this promising start to the Imaginary Veterinary series, Dr. Emerald Woo, veterinarian to imaginary creatures, has set herself up in a closed-down factory. Because the kids have discovered her secrets, rescuing not only the foul-smelling bigfoot but also a wyvern caught by Grandpa Abe’s cat, she offers them summer apprenticeships in what she calls Dr. Woo’s Worm Hospital. They will be supervised by the mysterious Mr. Tabby, a man with a red mustache and a long cat’s tail. The title concludes with further information about the mythical creatures, suggestions for readers’ own stories or art, a science connection, and a recipe for pudding. The series’ preposterous situation and the need for secrecy provide plentiful opportunities for suspense as well as humor, and it should appeal to middle-grade readers who will ignore the curricular postscripts. Santat’s finished illustrations were unavailable for review. Grades 3-6. --Kathleen Isaacs "The best books are those in which imaginary creatures leap off the page and into our world -- just one of the reasons why this book is a ton of fun. I can't wait for more adventures!"― Wendy Mass, New York Times bestselling author of The Candymakers "An entertaining story that will pique readers' interest from the first dragon sighting....Santat's characteristically dynamic illustrations complement a story that will have readers eager for the next book in the Imaginary Veterinary series."― Publishers Weekly "A solid, entertaining opener. Ben and Pearl are Everykids that readers will relate to, and the adults of Buttonville are often delightfully weird and clueless....More hijinks-filled adventure than mystery, this is sure to win an audience."― Kirkus Reviews "Funny, touching, and sure to please, this title is full of charm. Kids will relate to Ben and his troubles, root for the amazing animals, and enjoy Santat's zany illustrations."― School Library Journal * "From the first dragon sighting, readers will be thoroughly entertained with this hijinks-filled adventure story. Ben and Pearl are fun-seeking characters, while Santat's illustrations perfectly complement a story that mixes reality with the imaginary. Young readers will be anxious for future adventures in the Imaginary Veterinary series."― Libr