My Good Crooks Book series is about twins Billy and Jillian Crook. Even though their last name is Crook, they love doing good deeds, especially when that involves animals.
Have fun reading and singing and dancing to the songs that are included in the books. And, of course, have fun doing good deeds!
Books
 Good Crooks Book One: Missing Monkey! (Darby Creek, 2015) Billy and Jillian Crook have a big problem. Their parents are crooks, but they want to do good deeds–especially when a monkey needs to get back to the zoo! Best for ages 7-10. A Book of the Month Club selection. |
 Good Crooks Book Two: Dog Gone! (Darby Creek, 2015) When their thieving parents kidnap a rich and famous TV dog, twins Billy and Jillian, tired of being crooks, try to return the dog to its rightful owner. |
 Good Crooks Book Three: Sniff a Skunk! (Darby Creek, 2015) Billy and Jillian discover a lonely little orphan skunk in need of help. Will they be able to rescue the skunk and keep their parents from pulling off the next heist? Will their new furry friend help by raising a stink? |
 Good Crooks Book Four: Quackily Ever After! (Hive Audio Project) In the grand finale, will Billy & Jillian prove that they were stolen and find their real parents? Listen here. |
Songs
Stinky Style Song from Good Crooks Book 3: Sniff a Skunk. Play it here:
If you can’t see the media player, that means your computer is blocking it. Try going directly to Soundcloud: Stinky Style
The Dog Song from Good Crooks Book 2: Dog Gone!
If you can’t see the media player, try going directly to Soundcloud: The Dog Song
Puppet Show
Put on your own puppet show with Billy, Jillian, Poochie, and the Squirrel!
Download these free stick puppets, cut them out, color them, tape a popsicle stick to the back of each puppet, and you’re ready to go.
If you want to make costumes for your stick puppets, get some ideas here.
Readers Theater
Print out this script and put on a Readers Theater show.
Write Your Good Deed
Print this activity to write down your own good deed.
Pin the Tail on Stinky Game
Print out this picture of Stinkball without her tail. With the help of adults, cut out Stinkball and her tail. Use these cut-outs to play “Tape the Tail on the Skunky.” Directions of pages 116-118 of Good Crooks Book Three: Sniff a Skunk!
For Teachers & Librarians
Zella Ramirez says
I love your songs for the Stinky Style and the Bake Sale for Dog Shelter Rap and please, please! very much make another book. No pressure but please! Do they find their parents and if you don’t want to tell me then write it in the next book. And will they get away from their crook parents? P.S. Please write back. Love, Zella, age 8
Mary Amato says
I’m hoping my publisher will let me write book four! I have to get permission from them. Thanks for writing!
Grandma Barb says
My grandson an I love the Good Crooks series. Can we hope #4 is coming soon?
Mary Amato says
I’m hoping to release book four next year. Try my Riot Brother series and also my book Please Write in this Book.Happy reading!
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Dawn Uhles says
My class and I are eagerly awaiting the 4th book. Has it been released yet?
Mary Amato says
Hi! I’m so happy you’re looking forward to Book IV. Not ready yet! I’ll let you know when it’s out.
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Rach Pamplin says
I liked your book and song. The stinky style song was stinky and funny. It made me laugh. Do you write different books? Is it fun to write books? Is it easy to write books? Do you get ideas from other books to help you write your books? Please write back. Thank you. Rach Pamplin Age 7
Mary Amato says
Hi Rach, it’s hard but rewarding to write books! It is so fun to get messages from readers.Thanks for writing.
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Scarlett says
Hi Mary!
My dad and I loved your book. I loved Stinkball. My dad thought a rocket powered wheelchair ride would be awesome.
Looking forward to book 4.
Love Scarlett, age 8
Whomp. Whomp. Whomp.
Mary Amato says
Hi Scarlett, I’m so happy you and your dad loved the Good Crooks. I had fun writing them. I want to write book 4 but I haven’t gotten the okay from my publisher yet. Keeping fingers crossed.
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Sarah Stirling says
I love your books!
Mary Amato says
Hurray!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Jen K says
Just finished reading book 3 of the Good Crooks. Both my 4- and 7-year old boys have loved this series. They have a great amount of silliness and fun with fantastic events, and a love of good deeds makes it a parent pleaser as well. Can I write your publisher and ask them to let you write a 4th? We can’t wait to get our hands on it!
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Second Grade says
Hi! We are second graders. We loved the book and the song! We want a book four!
Blairsville, PA students
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Isha says
NO BOOK FOUR?!! Oops. How rude of me. I am Isha, and I am 9. I have read your books and they are AMAZING. Are you going to stop the series right before they find out who their real parents are?? No way!
Love, Isha.
P.S. Please reply.
Mary Amato says
I’m sad, too.
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Mason says
I love the skunk song thanks
Mary Amato says
YAY!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Jen L. says
I am a fifth grade teacher. Your Good Crooks book series was just the ticket to get my struggling readers turned on to reading! It is hard to find lower level chapter books that fifth graders enjoy. These fit the bill! I am so sad to hear there won’t be a 4th book! My class will be HIGHLY disappointed!
Thank you for the first three!
Mary Amato says
I’m happy to hear that. I loved writing the series, and I’m always trying to hook those reluctant readers. My new book, Our Teacher is a Vampire, has lots of humor and interesting graphics to pull readers on the ride. Hope your students enjoy it, too.
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Suri A says
I am third grade student, and I am gonig to do story telling performonce of “Dog Gone.” Any suggestion? I will sing “Bake Sale for Dog Shelter Rap” becuase I love it. wish me luck!
Mary Amato says
Hi, I’m sorry it has taken me so long to see this. I moved and haven’t had a chance to check my messages. I’m so excited that you did a story telling performance. How did it go? I wish I could hear you sing the rap!!!!
Suri A says
I did great! I won 4th place in storytelling!!! The rap was so much fun to do in each round.
I think Good Crooks Dog Gone! is a great funny book. I may get another invotation for same story telling performance next month again. Wish me luck again!
Mary Amato says
Fantastic! I’m so excited for you. Getting up in front of people and performing takes a lot of courage and is a wonderful learning experience. Good luck again!
Suri Almasi says
I have a great news, I won the first place in storytelling on Good Crooks Dog Gone!
Thank you for the wonderful and funny story!!!
Mary Amato says
Hurray! Congratulations. Happy storytelling!
Laura Garcia says
Dear Ms. Amato,
During a recent parent conference I learned that you had replied to an email from my third grade student, thank you for being such an inspiration.
Mary Amato says
Thanks for your work helping students. I’ve replied to your question via your direct email address. Cheers!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Michah Martin says
Hi Mary Amato, how are you doing? Please do a book four and we know they won’t let you do a book four but please get them concerned to and I love your songs and books but I haven’t got to do book two yet. I wil tell you when I get it and I’ll love it. I’m seven years old.
From Michah
Mary Amato says
I’m so glad you love the Good Crooks and love the songs. I’m writing a new series that will have songs in them, too. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the series will come out in Fall 2017!!!!! I’m CONSIDERING producing a fourth Good Crooks book as an audio book on my own…would you listen to that?
Michah Martin says
This is Michah. Thanks for asking and of course, I will listen to another Good Crooks book and the songs that you make. I will hope you make a fifth and sixth and seventh book. I hope you have a Good day.
Mary Amato says
Fourth story coming in May as audio book!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Regina Haecker says
Please write book 4! And 5 and 6! We loved all 3 books there has to be more!! We would read them all!
Love, Keith (9), and Ian (5)
Mary Amato says
Thanks, guys! I would love to continue the adventure.
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Brittany Dunlap says
I’ve been reading the Good Crooks series to my boys at bedtime and we just finished. Please please please find a way to tell us if Jillian and Billy find their parents! We would listen to an audiobook, or purchase an eBook, whatever. We just need to know!
Mary Amato says
Thanks! I love that you are reading at bedtime. That is the best ritual in the world. I will keep you posted on the fate of Book Four and Billy and Jillian.
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Elizabeth Bradley says
Hi! My mom and I love reading your books together and are super excited for book 4. I saw you said it would be an audiobook in May but we can’t find it. Is there a way to get it? We’re dying to know how it all ends!
Mary Amato says
The audio book was delayed. I’m hoping it will be out in February! I know that’s a long time to wait!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Leona says
Hi Mary
I love the story book dog gone.
In which book will I come to know who are Jillian and Billy’s parents?
Love
Leona
7 yrs old
India, Qatar
Mary Amato says
I am hoping to release the fourth and final book this summer.
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Melissa says
My son (and I) absolutely loved your first three Good Crooks books!!! We just zipped through the last two in a few days because my son didn’t want to stop reading them! This is the first time he’s actually ASKED to read and did NOT want to stop! This is a BIG deal and made my heart so happy!! Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us! Did book four finally come out? I can’t seem to find it at my library or online. We can’t wait to read more and find out if the twins find the Deeds!
Mary Amato says
Thanks so much for these words of encouragement for me! I’m so happy your son was hungry to read more. I’m stilllllllllll working on trying to release the audio of book 4. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, try my Riot Brothers and my Please Write in this Book. Happy reading!
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Melissa says
My son asked me last night if book 4 ever came out & we were thrilled to discover that you have been posting the chapters!!! Between last night and tonight, we have finished listening to all of the chapters you have posted so far. My son was enjoying the story so much that he didn’t want to stop listening to it last night and was anxiously awaiting bedtime story time all day today. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us! We can’t wait to find out what happens next!
Mary Amato says
Will be releasing three more chapters by tomorrow.Thanks so much for writing! Knowing that your son and other kids are out there waiting helps to keep me going!
Dawn Uhles says
Hello, I have read the first three books in the Good Crooks series to each of my first grades classes these past few years. We love the characters and are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of Jillian and Billy’s real parents. Any update for us on the fourth book?
Thank you
Mary Amato says
Thanks! I love those first graders. They are so ready to enjoy learning.
Mary Amato says
Book Four is here! Am releasing several chapter per week on audio. Please share! https://www.maryamato.com/good-crooks-book-four/
Kathy Burcham says
My grandson (now 6) and I have loved the Good Crooks series. We received the first book from our library reading club, and I bought him books 2 & 3 for his birthday. We just discovered there’s an audio book #4 when looking up the funny songs. Can’t wait to listen. He totally loves these books and laughs out loud at the gross and silly parts. Thank you, and write more books, please!
Mary Amato says
Oh joy! Hearing that my books are a hit with young readers make me so happy. Your grandson would probably love my Riot Brother books when he is done with Billy & Jillian’s adventures.