The Peril of the Sinister Scientist

The Peril of the Sinister Scientist was actually the first book I had published, back in 2009. It’s  middle grade fictions for kids from eight to thirteen years old.

It’s about a boy named Joshua Davidson who thinks he might have been cloned from the blood on the Shroud of Turin because a scientist who had worked on that experiment twelve years earlier seems to be stalking him. But who is Joshua really? If he learns his true identity will his life be changed forever?

I got the idea for the book long before I wrote it when the What Would Jesus Do movement was popular and I was often substitute teaching in a Middle School. I wondered, what would Jesus do in Middle School?

People who read this book have told me it had them laughing out loud. 

It can be ordered online or through local bookstores.

My Books for Kids

I don't often mention my own books, but decided to do it once in a while. They're all available online at places like Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and local bookstores can get them through their distributors.

The Peril of the Sinister Scientist is about a kid in Middle School who thinks he was cloned from the blood on the Shroud of Turin. He needs to know What Would Jesus Do. The publisher rushed it into publication so I could have it ready for a group book signing so the kid on the cover doesn't look at all like the main character.

Secret Service Saint is about Nicholas, who discovers the fun of doing secret good deeds. It's a surprise at the end that he becomes known as Santa Claus, so this might be a good time for kids to hear the story and learn the truth about Santa Claus.

Signs of Trouble is about kids who get separated from their Special Ed class on a field trip and use what they've learned about recognizing signs and following safety rules to get reunited. It has educational information in the back that would be helpful for classes and home schooled kids.

Slime & All is about a giant, talking worm who wants a friend and a boy who helps him. It's written at second grade reading level and I hope it encourages kids to accept people who are different.

A Shadow of Fear is about a boy who must face his fears to help a friend with a special need when her "helper dog" is lost. (It's not an official Service Dog.)

It's just a coincidence that all my books for kids have the letter, S, in the titles.

My Writing

I don't often blog about my own writing, but I want to share that I've had several things published lately.

Most recent is a story in the newly released anthology, Inspire Forgiveness. I participated in a book launch event fot that book this week. I was please to discover that my story is the first one in that anthology, and to learn that the first and last ones are chosen because they should be expecially inspiring to readers.

I've also had several articles in a Nevada County newspaper, The Union, recently.

I write fiction for kids and non-fiction for adults, but haven't had any new books for children published lately. Since the already published ones are still available, I'm hoping some people will choose to give them to kids for Christmas.

You can learn more about those at http://www.janetanncollins.com.

What I Review

This is called the Onwords (On Words) blog and it's about words (i.e. language,) books, and kids.
A lot of my posts are reviews of books for kids. That includes all three of the basic topics.

Where do I get all the books I review?

Sometimes I trade with other authors who are willing to review books I've written.
At other times I review library books. I get some at our community's free book swap. 
And once in a while I review one of the many books already on my own shelves.

I can't begin to count the number of kids' books I've read in my life.

When I entered second grade I was reading at fifth grade level, and immediately became a bookaholic with no intention of ever getting into recovery.

As a parent, teacher, and grandparent I've read books to children (usually picture books) hundreds of times. For my own pleasure I usually read five or six middle grade books every week with an occasional chapter book or Young Adult novel thrown in.

I refuse to review books I don't like because it's hard for writers to sell their books and I don't want to make someone else's job more difficult even if I don't like their work myself.

I hope some people who read these posts find out about books they should buy or check out of the library for their own kids, grandkids, students and young friends to read. It would be great if my words here about books help children discover the joys of reading.

Maybe some of them will become bookaholics, too.

Survival Secrets of Turkey Vultures

This book is suggested for kids up to eleven years old, but I think it would be of interest to anyone who cares about natural science and ecology even if they're adults. I found it fascinating.

Vultures have a bad reputation but, as the book explains, turkey vultures aren't dangerous to anyone and they do a lot to help the environment. And, as the multiple photos show, they do slightly resemble turkeys although they're not especially related to those birds.

Frankly, I think every science classroom should have a copy of this book and kids interested in the natural sciences will enjoy it. Well, since some of the birds' habits are a bit disgusting to humans, most boys would probably like it more than many girls would. But anyone who reads it and isn't already an ornithologist will learn a lot. Debra Toor has done a great job.

Why I Read

Why do I read so much?

I'm a bookaholic with no intention of getting into recovery.

I learned to read well at an early age and discovered books could take me away from my troubles. My father had died, we were poor, I had severe, chronic asthma and got teased and bullied in school. Books took me away from all that.

They also opened up new worlds to me. I learned a lot about another culture and another time in history from the Heidi series and The Little House in the Big Woods. Those were some of the first "big kid books" I owned.

And that made me aware that I could explore the world and learn a lot by reading fiction and non-fiction.

Books have helped me understand other people and both the fiction and non-fiction ones I've read have enriched my life in more ways than I can explain.

Years ago I wrote this poem which tells why I love to read. (Feel free to share it as long as you give me credit.)

The Library

by

Janet Ann Collins


In the library I look and look

Until I choose one special book.

I open the book and there I see

A world of wonders waiting for me.

I read the book and then I find

All of those wonders are now in my mind.      

-->

Why Teach Reading?

Anyone who reads my blog posts knows I often review books for kids. Why do I think those matter?

Because they open kids' imaginations and involve their intelligence and imagination.

In our modern world where so much is done by texting, Skype, and other visual media it would be easy to think only minimal reading will be important for future generations.

That's wrong!

Nobody will ever know how much the world has been influenced by the things people in the past read that shaped their minds and attitudes.

I could go on all day about how wonderful books are, and how important, but that's enough ranting for now.

Books That Change Lives

Someone in a Yahoo group I belong to recently posted something about a book she read at a difficult time in her life changing her attitude. Looking back, I can remember many books that made a difference in my life in similar ways, and I hope the things I write will do the same for others.

For example, my newly published book, Signs of Trouble, is an exciting story (I hope) but the included educational activities are intended to help kids learn safety and reading skills and to understand others with special needs.

However writers often never know how things they've written have influenced others. Sometimes even the readers themselves don't realize that something in a book or article has made a tiny difference that will ultimately combine with other influences to make a big change in their attitude or behavior.

When we are aware that something we read has helped us, if only in a small way, letting whoever wrote it know would make a positive difference in that author's own life.

Since this is the season of Thanksgiving why not send an e-mail message or even an old-fashioned letter to someone whose writing has been helpful to you?

What a Difference the Books Made

I had never been one of the popular kids, and in grade school had been the class victim, constantly teased and made fun of because I was skinny and had asthma. That's why I was a little nervous about attending a high school reunion. When I finally went to one, to my amazement, several people said they remembered me as brave.

What? That didn't make sense at all. I'd been terrified most of the time.

But afterwards I remembered a number of incidents when I had stood up for what was right even though it had been risky to do so.

Why had I done those things?

Because that was how the protagonists in all the books I read behaved, so it never occurred to me that there was an alternative. Of course I couldn't just stand by and let injustice be done even if I might get in trouble or even hurt as a consequence.

It's really true that reading helps to develop character. Of course all media have that sort of influence on kids. It's very important to let them experience lots of stories where good values are demonstrated whether in books, TV, movies, on the net or anywhere else.

The power of story is great, wherever it is found.

Importance of Books

In this modern world full of technological advances many people are suggesting books may become obsolete. I think they're wrong.

It is true that books took the place of scrolls, paper took the place of vellum, and printed books took the place of handwritten ones. Maybe in the future people will consider e-books more convenient than hard copy ones. It would certainly be an improvement if students could read their textbooks on e-book readers instead of carrying heavy copies in their backpacks. And there are times when entertaining children with e-books on a small, hand-held device is extremely helpful.

But bookaholics like me will always enjoy turning battery-free pages and nothing can take the place of a parent reading a bedtime story out loud from a traditional picture book.

In the 1940s many people thought TV would make movies obsolete, and my grandfather told me when movies were first invented people said they would completely replace plays. Obviously neither has happened. I think there will always be room for both traditional hard copy books and whatever kinds technological advances produce in the future.

Time to Read

Happy New Year!

Nearly every culture in the Northern hemisphere has some sort of important holiday near this time of year. When the nights get longer and the weather gets colder  I guess people need something to cheer them up.

But celebrations aren't the only thing to enjoy. Several years ago I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area, where light snow may arrive about every ten years, to the Sierra foothills where Winter snow is a given. I love it, as long as I don't have to drive.

Both rain and snow can be beautiful, but in both places I especially love spending a winter day indoors, curling up with a good book. Several people who know me well gave me books for Christmas and I've already read and enjoyed some of them. 

If you're feeling gloomy and need some cheering up, I highly recommend heading to your local library or bookstore and stocking up on hours of pleasure to enjoy during the stormy days yet to come.