Joey Makes a Map
Joey knows where every one of his leases is. A book about knowing where things are, which is not the same as knowing what they say.
A Golden Badger Books Classic
Joey and the Lease
Joey takes pride in keeping everything in its place. But as his collection of leases grows, he discovers that important things can be easy to miss.
A story about curiosity, responsibility, and paying attention.
- Series
- Golden Badger Books Classic
- Format
- Hardcover picture book with gold foil spine
- For
- Young readers, and the grown-ups who read to them
- Reading level
- Every word
- Published
- 2026
Look inside
The first few pages. Please take your time with them.
About the story
Joey has a secret dream
He dreams of one day owning lots of leases. He will collect them, and place them neatly on his shelf, and make maps showing where they all are.
At first, Joey studies every lease carefully. After a while they all begin to sound the same.
Then one day, Joey buys a lease that looks different.
In this story
Meet the characters
Joey
An adventurous and responsible young boy. He owns a great many leases.
Joey’s Friends
They are very impressed. None of them read their leases either.
The Man with the Briefcase
A visitor. He knocks first, and he asks one question.
The Man with the Very Large Desk
He reads very carefully. He even uses a magnifying glass.
Questions to talk about together
For after the last page. There are no wrong answers, though some are better than others.
- Why did Joey stop reading his leases?
- Joey already knew what the lease was going to say. Did he?
- None of Joey’s friends read their leases. Does that make it all right?
- Who in the story read the lease very carefully? There are two of them. One has a briefcase. One has a very large desk.
- Joey looked at the colors. What else could he have looked at?
- What will you read today?
What readers are saying
Praise for Joey and the Lease
“I read all of it. I would suggest that others do the same.”
The Man with the Briefcase
“Very carefully written. I used a magnifying glass to be sure.”
The Man with the Very Large Desk
“We were very impressed.”
Joey’s friends, who have not read it
How it ends
Now Joey knows better
We will not give away the middle. But we can tell you that by the last page, Joey sits down, opens the lease, and reads every word.
We think it is the best ending we have published.
Keep reading
More from the shelf
The Man with the Briefcase
He is polite. He is on time. He has read all of it. A gentle introduction to visitors.
The Very Small Words
A first book of words that are easy to miss. Magnifying glass recommended.
Everyone Said Joey Was Clever
Everyone said so. Joey agreed. A story about listening carefully to compliments.