The third book of the Jonathan the Husky book series titled “Campus Construction” officially made its way to bookstore shelves on Oct. 11.
“There’s always construction happening at UConn and when Jonathan uncovers an old blueprint, he jumps at the chance to not only build a project but also a legacy,” the book’s official description states.
With the current roof renovation happening to the iconic domed arena, Gampel Pavilion, and other building restoration projects, University of Connecticut students and families are no strangers to closed roads and walkways, which is familiarly focused on in this third book.
Written by UConn alum Bethany O’Brien and illustrated by Anastasiys Halonka, the children’s storybook is targeted for those aged 3 to 10. The awaited release follows the sale of 3,000 copies of the beloved stories highlighting the fluffy-tailed mascot.
“To everyone who has bought a book, shared a post, invited us to an event, introduced our books to a classroom or library, or simply cheered us on – thank you. You have helped turn one little idea into a growing series, and I am so grateful,” a heartfelt social media post by @husky_books said in celebration of the milestone.
The book series follows Jonathan through bedtime adventures that draw inspiration from traditions and places on the UConn Storrs campus. As a 2011 alum herself, O’Brien said that writing these children’s books was a “walk down memory lane.”
O’Brien’s two previous books, “The Lucky Husky” and “Dairy Bar Disaster,” introduce readers to campus superstitions with the esteemed UConn basketball teams and to a popular on-campus location, the UConn Dairy Bar.
Her initial inspiration to write the series comes after searching for a children’s book in the bookstore but having no luck, she said in an interview with the UConn 360 show in October 2025.
The series will not end with this third edition. Jonathan’s next adventure will be coming in April 2027, in the fourth book of the series titled “The Greatest Gift,” according to Lancaster Publication’s website.
“Campus Construction” is available for sale in UConn Bookstore locations and online through Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Amazon.