Presentation

Today I’m doing a presentation of some of my books at the Sacramento Children’s Museum as one of their March Literacy Month programs.

This should be fun for me, and I hope for the kids who attend as well.

I enjoy kids a lot - after all, I’ve been a teacher most of my adult life. That’s one reason why I write books for kids. 

Don’t tell, but the other reason is that I’m still a kid on the inside. ;-)

And I hope the kids who come will all become kids who enjoy reading.

Harriet's Heartbroken Heart

In Harriet’s Heartbroken Heart twins Harriet and Harrison do everything together until Harrison becomes seriously ill and then dies. 

Harriet is devastated, of course, but works through her grief and finds hope at the end of the story. 

This book manages to cover the painful topic of death without being depressing, and the illustrations by Jack Foster are cheerful and cute. 

It will be a wonderful help to children dealing with grief from the death of anyone they love. And kids who know someone else dealing with grief will find it helpful, too. 

 Counselors who work with kids should all have copies available to share with them.

Authors Lainie and Nika Belcastro have both worked with children dealing with emotional pain, so they were highly qualified to write this book. 

There are very few books available for kids coping with the death of a loved one, so Harriet’s Heartbroken Heart is much needed. 

The Dessert Garden

This book starts out like a fantasy. Martin and Julio expect to find doughnuts and cupcakes growing on trees when their parents take them to the Dessert Garden the next day.

But the garden is real, and the kids discover all kinds of delicious fruits growing there, and some healthy desserts made from them.

This charming picture book is both fun and educational. It will help motivate kids to appreciate eating healthy food instead of junk food. And they'll learn something about Latino culture and a few words in Spanish in the process.

Diane de Anda has done a great job writing this book, and Eugene Ruble added colorful illustrations.

I hope lots of kids get to enjoy and learn from The Dessert Garden.

Cosmic

Liam, the main character in Cosmic, is like any other kid except that he looks like an adult. That enables him to become the chaperone for a bunch of kids on a secret space flight.

The book is nearly half over before the kids actually get sent into space, but it's an adventure from the very beginning.

Kid who read this book will have to wonder what it would be like to look like an adult and have to act like one to convince real adults they're one of them.

And the interactions between the kids are realistic.  The author, Frank Cottrell Bouce, obviously knows kids.

And when Liam manages to become the chaperone, that's only the beginning of the adventure. Due to some errors, the kids might never get back to Earth, and the trip is secret so nobody would even search for them.

Cosmic is an exciting book that will be enjoyed by both middle grade boys and girls.
 

Wonder

I decided to read the book, Wonder, by R. J. Pelacio because I'd heard that it was good.

It not only is a good book, it's one of the best I've ever read, and I've read thousands.

The book is about a boy named Auggie who was born with a severe facial deformity and has been home-schooled all his life. When people see him, they often react with horror or embarrassment.

But Auggie's parents have decided to enroll him in a mainstream school for fifth grade.
He's terrified about how other kids will react to him.

And they do react to his appearance.

The story is realistic - the author obviously understands kids - and the plot is fascinating.

The point of view characters change every so often, but readers are given clear warning when that's happening, so it isn't confusing.

I've always cared about kids with Special Needs, and my tagline is, Opening Eyes, Opening Hearts.
Wonder will certainly open the eyes and hearts of kids who read it, but it's also a just, plain, good story.

I hope Palacio will write more books in the future, but it will be difficult to produce any as good as this one.

Life On Mars

No, this isn't a post about a scientific discovery. At least not exactly.

It's a review of a book for kids.

Life on Mars by Jennifer Brown is a middle grade fiction book about Arty, a boy with the usual problems of sibling rivalry with his sisters. He has two good friends, a fascination with astronomy, and an active imagination.

Then a strange, scary, old man moves in next door, and Arty's dad looses his job so they'll have to move away. Things keep getting more and more difficult.

When Arty has to stay with that scary neighbor he finds out the man can help him find out about life on Mars. Then even more things change.

I couldn't help caring about Arty as if he were a real kid.

The story is fun, exciting, and kids who read it will enjoy learning about astronomy without being bored.

King of Shadows

I've read thousands of books for kids in my life, and King of Shadows by Susan Cooper is certainly one of the best.

It's about a boy in a drama troupe rehearsing to produce a play by Shakespeare who is transported back to the past and actually meets Shakespeare himself. But there's a lot more to the plot than that.

Anyone who is interested in Shakespeare or history will enjoy this book.

Anyone interested in drama or the theater will enjoy this book.

Anyone who likes a book with an exciting plot, realistic characters, and excellent writing will enjoy it.

And anyone who enjoys all three will absolutely love it, as I do.

Now I'll have to read more books by Susan Cooper.

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party

I recently read Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine.

The book is based on the author's personal experiences growing up in China under the Communist "Cultural Revolution."

Middle grade kids who read it will be amazed at the sort of things people experienced in China back then, but people in my generation heard about all that in the news back when it was happening.

The book is well-written and the main character is easy to care about.

In spite of the terrible things going on, the book isn't depressing, has a satisfying ending, and will encourage young readers to stand up for what they believe is right.

I hope lots of today's kids will read it.

I Have A Voice

I've been interested in, and worked with, people who have special needs most of my life, but the main character in this book has a condition I'd never heard of before. It's called Selective Mutism.

Jamie is unable to speak to anyone except members of her immediate family, and she'll be starting Kindergarten soon. What can she do?

Her mother takes her to Dr. Faye, who helps her work through her problem.

When Jamie meets another girl on her first day of school she is able to speak without a problem. She is no longer selectively mute!

Joni-Klein Higger has written other books for kids, and did this one with assistance from therapist Flora Zaken-Greenberg, Ph.D.

While the story, and colorful pictures by Eileen Goldberg, are intended for kids, the information at the back of the book about Selective Mutism will be helpful to adults who know someone with this condition.

In my opinion, every school with Special Education classes should have a copy of this book, as should anyone who knows or works with children who have Special Needs.

And lots of kids will enjoy reading the book because it has a positive message and will help them accept others who are different from themselves.

Too Big

Too Big is a middle grade book about Shelby, a ten year old girl who is big for her age. She is doing so well academically she could be moved up to Middle School.

The choice is up to her.

But if she does that she'll have to leave her best friend behind. And if she stays in her current school she must continue to deal with the teasing and meanness going on there.

What should she do?

I read middle grade fiction all the time, and found this book to be a really good one. It's a page turner and I had to keep reading as it brought me through the exciting drama Shelby endured.

The author, Judy Dearborn Nill, certainly understands what it's like to be a kid and she has written an excellent book.

Colby Mouse's Christmas Gift

Colby Mouse's Christmas Gift by Barbara Bockman is an unusual Christmas story.

Like many other books, it tells about a family decorating their tree, and getting ready for Christmas on Christmas Eve.

But it also tells about a mouse and the trap set to catch him. His name is Colby, like the cheese.

Thank goodness it's a catch and release trap, not one that will hurt the poor mouse, and the human father plans to set the mouse free in the woods.

Colby listens as the father reads the Nativity story and wants to share the joy of giving and receiving gifts.

On Christmas morning as the humans open their gifts they discover one from the mouse. He has left the cheese from the trap on a plate and traded it for a candy cane, which he considers his gift from them.

The book doesn't explain how the mouse got the cheese out of the trap without getting caught, but kids who hear this book read to them will be glad he did.

KC Snider's bright and cheerful illustrations add a lot to the pleasure kids will get from this book.

My Books for Kids

    I don’t usually talk about my own books here but, since Christmas is approaching, I thought some people might like to consider them as gifts for kids. They’re all available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and can be ordered at local bookstores.

    Signs of Trouble is about kids with learning disabilities who get separated from their class on a field trip and use what they’ve learned about safety to get reunited. Educational material for early readers is included at the end.



    Slime & All is about a giant, talking worm who wants a friend and a boy who helps him. It’s an early chapter book at Second Grade reading level.

  















The other books all have Christian content.

    Secret Service Saint is especially appropriate for this time of year. It’s about Nicholas, who

discovers the joy of doing secret good deeds and eventually becomes known as Santa Claus.

















  The last two books are for readers from 8 to 13 years old.

    The Peril of the Sinister Scientist is about a boy who thinks he was cloned from the blood on the Shroud of Turin because a scientist who worked on that experiment is stalking him. The concept is, what would Jesus do in middle school? (The kid on the cover does not look like the main character.)

    A Shadow of Fear is about a boy who needs to face his fears to prove he’s mature enough to go to camp and also to help a friend with Special Needs.

   

Three Wise Animals

Okay, I know it's only the beginning of November, but I couldn't resist reviewing this cute Christmas picture book.

If you read my blog posts often you probably know I like books that take an unusual approach to a familiar topic, and this book certainly does that.

Everyone has heard of three wise men who go to see baby Jesus, but three wise animals? Now that's a new idea. Author Robert G. Seal is creative to have thought of it.

In Three Wise Animals a lamb, a bull and a ferret must get past the dangerous, evil wolves to bring their gifts to the baby in the manger, and they're helped along the way by an angelic bunny.

Jeff West's illustrations are amusing - sort of like comic book pictures - and kids will love those as much as they enjoy the story.

Once, Twice, Thrice

I've always been interested in language, even as a child. Once, Twice, Thrice by Kim Chatel should encourage today's kids to find language interesting, especially our own English language.

The silly book is about the illogical way some English words form a certain pattern when becoming plurals while others don't.

Kids who read this book or hear it read will probably be giggling before they reach the end.

And it may help them get better grades in school, too. It will hold the interest of classes when teachers read it to them.

This book will also be a great bedtime story for parents to read aloud. It shows a loving relationship between a father and his daughter that's emphasized by Kathleen Bullock's illustrations.

While the book is designated for four to six year olds, it might also appeal to children who are a little bit older.

Max Elliot Anderson

Anyone who knows me or reads my blog posts knows I read a lot of books for kids.

I've read several books by Max Elliot Anderson in the past. Recently I read three more and enjoyed them a lot.

Those books are: Lost Island Smugglers, which is a Sam Cooper Adventure, and both The Cat Burglars and Funny Money. The last two are part of another series, The Accidental Adventures of Kurt Benson and His Friends, Riley and Jordan. (That series name is a VERY long subtitle!)

Anderson writes just the sort of stories boys, even reluctant readers, will love!  His books aren't long, each one is full of exciting adventures, and the characters are realistic.  Of course lots of girls will enjoy reading them, too.

In some ways these books are similar to classic series like The Hardy Boys mysteries, but they take place in modern times. And, unlike some of the classic adventure series for kids, it's believable that the kids in his series get into the scary situations and are able to handle them.

Anderson has written about two dozen books for kids and I expect to read more of them in the future.

Mrs. Betsy Fieldmouse Borrows an Egg

The first time I saw the cover of this book I was charmed by the cute illustration. And the title sounded interesting.


I'm glad I took the few minutes needed to read the book, because I enjoyed it a lot and I'm sure lots of little kids will, too. (Okay, I admit I'm still a kid on the inside.)

The plot about a mouse borrowing an egg to bake a cake is unique, but Barbara Bockman followed a pattern used in many classic picture books in writing it. She's a great writer and Elexis King is a great illustrator.

 Anyone who has or knows little kids should consider getting this book when they do their Christmas shopping.

Mom, Is There A Santa Claus

When I was a kid and asked my mother if Santa Claus was real, she replied, "Santa Claus is the spirit of Christmas."

This book, by Susan J. Berger, is about a boy named Luke who asks the same question. His mother tells him Santa is the spirit and joy of giving to others at Christmas.

Later Luke experiences that joy by helping a younger boy keep his belief in Santa Claus.

If you've read my own book, Secret Service Saint, you know the real man, Saint Nicholas, did secret good deeds and later became known as Santa Claus.

Both my book and Mom, Is There A Santa Claus help kids understand that Christmas is about giving and helping others, not about being greedy and getting things.

And the baby whose birth is celebrated at Christmas shared the same message with His life.

This book would be great for any kids who are wondering about the reality of Santa Claus.

K.C. Snider's illustrations are perfect for the story. Some of them could be on Christmas cards.

Lee Roddy

A writer I've met, Lee Roddy, is the author of books for kids that might be considered classics.

I think he started getting his books published in the 1970s, though that could have happened even earlier, and today's kids are still reading them.

Dozens of his books are still in print and some of those have been written more recently.

I have lots of them on my own shelves

Kids love Roddy's books because they're full of action and adventure. Some have girl protagonists, but a lot of the main characters are boys.

Since the stories take place in various locations and time periods, their young readers are learning information at the same time they're enjoying the exciting plots.

I found his website, and in case anyone reading this blog post is interested in learning more about his books, here's the link:
http://www.leeroddybooks.com/index.htm

Childhood

Recently I've posted about things I remember from my childhood. I often post about books for kids, because I enjoy reading - and writing - those.

In many ways I'm still a kid on the inside. I love playing with my dog, taking walks in the woods, and using my imagination.

But would I want to go back to being a child?

It would be nice to have my mother do the cooking and shopping, but would I want her always telling me what to do again?

It would be fun to play imaginative games with my friends, but I can still share things we imagine with people in my critique groups.

And would I want to give up my own memories of becoming a wife, raising my kids and all the other things I've experienced and learned? NO!!

As the old song about childhood says, "Once you've crossed its borders you can never return again."

But it might be fun to go back once in a while and experience life through a kid's eyes for a short time. Come to think of it, that's what I do when I read and write books for kids.

What about you? Would you like to become a kid again?

Magical Max and Magical Mickey's Big Surprise

I've reviewed several books in Penelope Anne Cole's series about kids in a family who have magical abilities when they're little, but lose them when they get older.

In this book, twins Max and Mickey plan to use their magic to create a surprise.

Their older brother and sister, Matt and Mea, and Lily, their friend who uses a wheelchair, will all be graduating on the same day.  (Those characters were featured in Cole's earlier books.)

Everyone in the family is preparing graduation gifts and trying to keep their gifts secret.

On graduation day all the gifts are revealed, but none are as amazing as the one Max and Mickey have created.

I won't reveal any of the secrets here, because I don't want to spoil the reading experience, but I will say I loved the climax.

But Max and Mickey are about to loose their magic, so this book is probably the last one in the series and I'm sorry to see it end.

I'll miss the colorful illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier, too.