Books

I’m the author/illustrator (or co-author) of several books. 

The latest: my new three-book series for kids, the Totally Weird Activity Books, are NOW AVAILABLE for purchase! The books are published by West Margin Press, an imprint of Turner Publishing, and were co-created with my lifelong friend, writer Ted “T.M.” Murphy.

Below are the covers and links to buy each of my books…

UNUSUAL OBJECTS IN FANTASTIC PLACES (Ages 8-11)
Available in hardcover or paperback on April 25, 2023.
Order your copies now on Amazon.com

Featuring 23 unique story starter prompts plus cool, colorful artwork, Unusual Objects in Fantastic Places makes creative writing more fun than ever! It all begins with a strange object in a peculiar place… you decide what happens next! Accompanied by bold and bright illustrations, each prompt transports you to a different location with a new item that appears out of place. Let your imagination run wild as you read the beginning of the story and write in plot twists, add new characters or objects, and more—the possibilities are endless! Perfect for aspiring writers, avid readers, and creative kids who have a story to tell.

SUPER STRANGE STORY STARTERS (Ages 8-11 and up)
Buy your copies now on Amazon.com
With 22 unique prompts plus colorful illustrations, this creative writing book is ready to go in any direction you want. Each story starter prompt includes space inside to write down and explore ideas of what happens next. There is no wrong way to tell a story, so find inspiration in the artwork details, throw in plot twists, reveal secret desires, make happy endings (or not), introduce new characters. . . the possibilities are endless!

CREATIVE COLORING AND FAR-OUT FUN! (Ages 7 and up)
Buy your copies now on Amazon.com
Each page includes dynamic black-and-white illustrations, plus a cool interactive element to spark the imagination. Complete half-finished drawings, create your own story from the writing prompts, solve word searches, and fill in the blanks with ideas as you color through this fun, wacky journey. There’s something in here for everyone! Part of the Totally Weird Activity Book series, Creative Coloring and Far-Out Fun is perfect for young artists, illustrators, coloring book fans, writers, and puzzlers who like to imagine and create things.

Be sure to visit TotallyWeirdActivityBooks.com to learn more about our fun series!

Meanwhile, you can explore and buy my other books below…

THE DAYDREAM GARDEN
The Daydream Garden is a unique and peaceful book collection of sixteen illustrations, self-published in 2020 and sold exclusively by me. The introduction describes “a place you can go when you want to be free…a daydream garden by the sea.” Turn the pages and you’ll find tranquil, magical scenes; a wishing fountain, a bridge under the stars, a mystical gazebo, and other dream-like garden imagery. There’s no story here, the pictures say it all, with titles suggesting deeper meanings. It’s not a children’s book, though kids enjoy the art. It’s more of a picture book for adults, ideal for coffee tables. People tell me it makes them feel calm. Makes a nice gift for daydreamers and garden lovers alike. Go HERE to see glimpses of the art.

Or just buy now:


How many copies?



Price for ‘The Daydream Garden’ includes shipping and handling. Sales tax calculated at check out.)

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MARK PENTA’S SKETCHBOOK
Buy yours on Amazon.com!

This self-published book contains 20 years’ worth of my personal sketchbook art — drawings of real people that I saw (and stealthily drew) in restaurants, bars, coffee shops, malls and other public places. Created between the years 1995-2015, the drawings are presented in chronological order. Makes a fun coffee table book or a great gift for anyone interested in how I capture faces and personalities on paper. I’m glad to finally share this slice of my creative life!

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CAPE COD INVASION!
Contact me to order a signed copy.
Cape Cod Invasion! is a 32 page full color picture book I wrote and illustrated. Published by Commonwealth Editions, it celebrates summertime on Cape Cod, depicting familiar places in almost every town. But there’s a twist — flying saucers appear in the skies of every scene – “visitors”, like tourists, invading the Cape. This makes a lovely and slightly quirky coffee table book, souvenir, or gift for anyone who loves Cape Cod. I now own all the inventory and can sell you copies myself. See illustrations from the book here.
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YOUNG JESUS CHRONICLES
Young Jesus Chronicles is a book of cartoons that I co-authored and illustrated, published by Andrews McMeel. With our Catholic upbringing, my co-author and I realized not much was written in the Bible about Jesus’ childhood, so we created 80 lighthearted cartoons to fill in the blanks. The book was “praised” by priests and CCD teachers for being funny without being offensive. It makes a great Christmas gift!

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CARTOONS BEFORE COFFEE
Buy yours on Amazon.com.
Cartoons Before Coffee, self-published in 2011, is a very weird book of gag cartoons that I conceived as a morning drawing exercise to amuse my Facebook friends. My goal was simple; to roll out of bed, grab a pen, and scribble a cartoon before sipping my first cup of coffee. No penciling, no erasing, no perfection, just wacky fun. The result is offbeat for sure! They’re strange. They’re curious. They’re caffeine-free…They’re ‘Cartoons Before Coffee’! (Rated PG).