Authors Receive Story Monsters Seal of Approval

 

Kid-tested, Story Monster Approved! 
Congratulations to our newest approved authors!

Picture Books (Ages 3-8)

Dear Master Dragon
Alva Sachs, Patricia Krebs

Danny Dragon decides to write a letter to The Master Dragon for help. Will The Master Dragon write him back or will he have to solve his problems by himself? Join Danny on his adventure as he discovers what it is like to be a REAL dragon.

The Fly with One Eye
R.M. Halterman

The Fly with One Eye follows an imperfect toy’s quest to belong as she grows from an outcast among the sale rack of toys to a hero. After the store closes for the night, one of the toys finds himself in trouble. It is the fly with one eye who brings everyone together and shows that we can’t be defined by our differences.

The Bat Book
Conrad J. Storad, Nate Jensen and Tristan Jensen

Bats are NOT scary! Little Boy Bat lives under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. One day he overhears some human kids saying mean, nasty things about bats. He decides to write and illustrate a book so that he can teach those human kids some facts and the truth about bats.

Ollie the Autism-Support Collie (Therapy Dogs) 
Billie Holladay Skelley, James Paul Skelley

Ollie the Autism-Support Collie provides an easy rhyming text and colorful pictures to help children understand how support dogs provide comfort and security.

First Chapter Books (Ages 6–10)

Lindie Lou Adventure Series
Jeanne Bender, Kate Willows

When puppies Lindie Lou, Jasper, Topaz, Ruby and Diamond are born in St. Louis they have no idea of the adventures that await them. Each of the books in the series take place in a different place and in a different month of the year. Three clues at the end of each book give the reader hints as to where Lindie Lou will go on her next adventure. Follow her to Seattle, Des Moines, New York, San Diego, Tokyo and more.

Middle-Grade Books (Ages 8–12)

Dilby R. Dixon’s The Dilbonary
Tony J. Perri

Dilby R. Dixon was no ordinary 10-year-old boy. He was an outcast, the odd kid in school. To occupy his time, Dilby turned to his wild imagination as he would dream of the most unbelievable places and have the most amazing adventures. From these dreams, he created a secret journal of weird words that he called, the Dilbonary, which he took it everywhere he went, guarding it with his life. No one knew the Dilbonary existed, that was until the 6th grade when Riley Rogers, the school bully, got a hold of it, setting off a chain of events that would alter Dilby’s life forever.
 

Tween Novels (Ages 10-14)

The Haunting at Ice Pine Peak
Wendelin Gray  

Trouble is brewing in the province of Ling-xiu when the murder of an elderly queen sends young Princess Bingsong into exile at a forgotten mountain villa. When a series of hauntings begin and she finds her father’s old diary, Bingsong, her handsome bodyguard Azuma, the villa’s mysterious steward LimTamm, and teenage servant girls Peitho and Lysithe are drawn into a 400-year-old murder mystery hinted at by a string of small nightingale paintings. 

Making a Difference

Hiccup's Hiccups: The Bubble in Me
Dr. J. Alvarez

The Hiccup's Hiccups series was written with the intention of teaching children to embrace their differences and to cultivate the values of empathy and kindness. With shorter chapters, bigger print, and a few illustrations, these hilarious chapter books will entice and enrapture even the most reluctant readers.

Bacon's Big Smooching Adventure
Olivia Johnson

Bacon's Smooching Adventure celebrates diversity and how wonderfully unique we all are. This book is fun, whimsical, and empowering to children who care about animals in need.

Leyni's God Adventure: Read, Imagine, Draw
Sandy Hill

Can a five-year-old make a difference in our world today? Can she dream a big dream and make it come true? Follow Leyni as she explores the possibilities of her dream in Leyni's God Adventure. Leyni's true experiences inspired this story.

School Life

Dear Master Dragon
Alva Sachs, Patricia Krebs

Danny Dragon decides to write a letter to The Master Dragon for help. Will The Master Dragon write him back or will he have to solve his problems by himself? Join Danny on his adventure as he discovers what it is like to be a REAL dragon.

First-Time Author

Bacon's Big Smooching Adventure 
Olivia Johnson

Bacon's Smooching Adventure celebrates diversity and how wonderfully unique we all are. This book is fun, whimsical, and empowering to children who care about animals in need.

Dilby R. Dixon’s The Dilbonary
Tony J. Perri

Dilby R. Dixon was no ordinary 10-year-old boy. He was an outcast, the odd kid in school. To occupy his time, Dilby turned to his wild imagination as he would dream of the most unbelievable places and have the most amazing adventures. From these dreams, he created a secret journal of weird words that he called, the Dilbonary, which he took it everywhere he went, guarding it with his life. No one knew the Dilbonary existed, that was until the 6th grade when Riley Rogers, the school bully, got a hold of it, setting off a chain of events that would alter Dilby’s life forever.

Education/Reference

Annabelle & Aiden: Worlds Within Us 
J.R. Becker

"How did our universe form?" Annabelle & Aiden wonder. Luckily, the friendly Tardigrade Tom answers by taking the children on their biggest adventure yet! Soaring through space and time, they witness the universe's earliest stages, marvel at the big bang, and learn how each and every one of us is literally made of the same stardust. Readers will be empowered, learning how we each hold a part of the universe inside us, and are far more special, interconnected, and “larger” than we may think.

Spirituality/Religion

Heaven, Just Believe: Read, Imagine, Draw
Sandy Hill   

Just think how much fun it will be to imagine and draw all your own art. You get to add your name, photo, and share about yourself as the artist of the book. The Imagine Book is a companion book to the illustrated version, Heaven, Just Believe.

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Story Monsters Ink July Book Reviews

Neck & Neck
by Elise Parsley (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Competition has its place in life. It can nudge us on to be our best. It can teach us the thrill of winning a prize, and reaching success. But sometimes, it can lose perspective and turn a positive into a threatening negative. Leopold, the zoo’s highlight of the fans, becomes threatened by the presence of a look-a-like balloon, and the battle begins. This comical story is sure to bring laughter, along with some clever insight. The illustrations are fun and lively, making this an all-around good time.

Scaredy Book
by Devon Sillett, Cara King (EK Books). Reviewer: Diana Fisher
Book—who has an endearing personality—loves his nook in the library, which is safe and cozy. But Book’s life is boring, until he summons up just a little courage, and then his adventure begins. Children will root for Book and applaud him in the end. His story will make you smile, and tickle your insides with warmth. The narrative is sweet, clever, inspiring, and amusing. And the whimsical illustrations complement the story wonderfully.

Anne’s Numbers
by Kelly Hill (Tundra Books). Reviewer: Diana Fisher
This charming board book, inspired by Anne of Green Gables, takes us along a walk through nature and teaches the numbers one through ten. The homey and gentle embroidered illustrations invite children to investigate and count the flowers, trees, friends, and other adorable elements of each tableau. Another in a series with Anne’s Colors—both books are captivating worlds to be in.

Roof Octopus
by Lucy Branam, Rogério Coelho (Sleeping Bear Press). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This is a lighthearted romp children will surely enjoy. It’s a delight from start to finish. A friendly giant octopus on the roof of an apartment building? Whatever could it want? The story, the colors, and the illustrations by Coelho all work hand in hand, making it truly a feel-good experience!

Animal Planet Chapter Book Series
by Animal Planet. Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Animal Planet is a popular division of Discovery Communication. This fact-packed series is as enjoyable and entertaining as its TV counterpart. Each book is filled with details, education, and great facts. Perfect for kids on all levels. Great for school reports. I read Book #5 Horses!, and Book #6 Dolphins! and found them both impressive.

Saffron Ice Cream
by Rashin Kheiriyeh (Arthur A. Levine Books). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Moving is hard. Whether it’s across town or across the big oceans, adjustments can be most uncomfortable. Excitement surrounds each new place, and each new discovery. Yet, sadness whispers in memory of old things left behind. Rashin lets herself find new joys, while she holds tenderly the old ones.

The One and Only Owen
by Nicole Evans Haumesser (Blurb). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Owen has lost sight of himself, and falls to wishing he were like others. Until he can refocus and find is own true value, his world takes on a gloomy outlook. We all have a part to play, a gift to add to the whole. Something so unique to us that it cannot be done by another. So, when we look and admire others, let it be for their special identity, and don’t let it take away from our own. Along with Owen, we learn life lessons to strengthen the heart.

Don’t Touch My Hair!
by Sharee Miller (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This story is a great reminder to regard the personal space of others with respect and that courteous and gracious behavior promotes strong and friendly relationships. Everyone has boundaries. A personal space we find comforting. We all may have encountered a person who stands a bit too close when they speak. As kind and considerate people, we should be aware of these unseen barriers, and do our best to respect them.

Bulldozer Dreams
by Sharon Chriscoe, John Joven (Running Press Kids). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
The illustrations will surely hold the interest of little ones as they read this story. Gentle reinforcement of nightly routines will tickle their fancy with these amazing machines. Additional titles include Race Car Dreams and Fire Truck Dreams. A great series to offer encouragement for strong and healthy bedtime habits.

Unstinky
by Andy Rash (Arthur A. Levine Books). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Living up to our name can be tough sometimes. Take Bud, he’s a stinkbug. Only thing is, he doesn’t stink! While all the others are outstinking each other, he comes up smelling like roses. Desperate to fit in, Bud tries hard to find his own personal foulness, but instead discovers a totally different talent. Sometimes, we just have to bring what we got and find our own special spot.

The Kool Kids & the Land Of the Giants
by James Tate. Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
A fresh take on an old tale. Size isn’t always necessary to win a battle, but a strong faith that dares to believe it’s winnable. The Kool Kids have that kind of faith. They have their own giant wreaking havoc in their land. His name is Obesity, and with faith and prayer, they know just how to bring him down. Tate opens the topic of fitness and health in terms and interests kids can enjoy. Positive stories told, and retold, bring confidence and strength for our children to meet all the giants of life that may cross their path.

Dust Flowers (Tales from American HerStory series)
by Lisa Gammon Olson, Kyle Olson (Eifrig Publishing). Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Everything about this touching story is soft and moving. From the illustrations by Kyle Olson, to the times in history that tore at the heart of its people. The reality of loss and hardship seen through a young child’s eyes, relates to us the dark days of drought that created the historic Dust Bowl Era of the early 1930s. This is a tender tale of love and hope, reminding us of the strength of those before us who endured and overcame, and forged the path we now travel. This is the first in a series to discover our nation’s past. I’m looking forward to the next.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Soul
by Susan Verde, Matthew Cordell (Abrams Books for Young Readers). Reviewer: Sherry L.
Hoffman
This is a book that resonates in the heart of its reader as the words by Susan Verde and illustrations by Matthew Cordell blend together in literary harmony. Told through the main character’s point of view as she poetically plans her act for the upcoming talent show at her school, readers are bound to make a connection through her love of music. This story trumpets the important message of being true to yourself and finding your inner voice. 

A Lion is a Lion 
by Polly Dunbar (Candlewick). Reviewer: Dr. Dawn Menge
This wonderful story answers the age-old question, “Is a Lion still a lion..?” What if he’s dressed himself up and uses his manners? Has his inner self changed because he appears to be kind or is he still dangerous? Should you welcome him into your home and treat him to lunch? This book is an enchanting way to help teach children to stand up for themselves, trust their instincts, and just say “No.”

Frog and Beaver
by Simon James (Candlewick). Reviewer: Dr. Dawn Menge
Frog and his friends the ducks and voles live happily beside the beautiful river. Along comes beaver searching for a place to build his first dam. Frog kindly invites him in to share in their world. But the animal friends soon learn that beaver might not be a good fit for their community when he stops the river from flowing. What happens next is a lesson on learning from your mistakes and how they affect others. This delightful book will help teach young readers about cause and effect and how to correct your mistakes when they have hurt others.

Goodnight, Seahorse
by Carly Allen-Fletcher (Muddy Boots). Reviewer: Denise A. Bloomfield
This is a delightful picture book that is reminiscent of the famous children’s story Goodnight, Moon, but the main characters are an adorable seahorse and other wonderful animals in the ocean. It is a simple book that children will enjoy hearing over and over again. I love the brightly colored illustrations and the pages at the end that include pictures and names of the animals of the coral reef. I even learned about an animal that I had never heard of before! I highly recommend this book for ages 2-5. 

Sewing the Magic In at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
by Lisa Gammon Olson, Lauren Rutledge (Eifrig Publishing). Reviewer: Denise A. Bloomfield
This is a charming story of a little girl named Nora who is a young seamstress for the circus. Nora is unaware of her part in the grand scheme of it all but she learns that she plays a big part in creating the magic. It’s a great story and it flows well from beginning to end. It also includes interesting facts about the circus and the illustrations are delightful! I would recommend this book for ages 6-11.

I Feel Teal
by Lauren Rille, Aimée Sicuro (Beach Lane Books). Reviewer: Julianne Black
There are so many reasons to love I Feel Teal. First, the illustrations are simply adorable, each spread creates such a deep plunge into the corresponding feeling of emotion. Second, it’s totally relatable. Each situation represented is a very solid, very real experience to which we all can connect. But I think the biggest reason is that while the book uses colors to describe emotions, it doesn’t use the same stock colors and situations with which young viewers are already familiar. This book doesn’t regurgitate “red is mad, yellow is happy,” but includes more shades and variations introducing scarlet, mauve, ecru, etc. A wonderful read for anyone, but an especially fun eye-opener for a younger crowd.
 
I’m Sad (The I’m Books)
by Michael Ian Black, Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Simon & Schuster). Reviewer: Julianne Black
I didn’t know I could feel so much love for a book about a little girl, a flamingo, and their potato friend. Wonderful quick read about not fixing feelings, but experiencing them and letting them be okay. Sometimes we are all just sad. This story is about not being cheered up, and how that is okay, too. Wonderful characters, easy to absorb dialog for younger readers, and a completely relevant and important subject for a 4 years and up audience.

Know Where You Are series
by Dennis Brown (Ricky Reader, LLC). Reviewer: Larissa Juliano
The Know Where You Are series is fantastic selection of board books intended to educate, enlighten, and explore the world around us and explains how our brain processes this invaluable knowledge. Each book includes gorgeous pictures, easy-to-understand dialogue, and topics presented in an approachable way. I just loved how topics like geography, the human brain, and thoughts and emotions are explained so clearly, with fun characters sharing extra tidbits of information in speech bubbles. The Know Where You Are series is leading the way for readers of all ages to understand and appreciate how truly amazing our mind, body, and world really are. 

Hammer and Nails
by Josh Bledsoe, Jessica Warrick (Flashlight Press). Reviewer: Larissa Juliano
This fresh and fun story begins with Darcy’s devastation over her play date cancellation and the expression on her face when Daddy tries to console her captures every emotion little children experience when they are disappointed. Darcy reluctantly agrees to have a “Darcy Daddy” day instead, but they must follow her play date plan list, of course! Dress-up? Daddy surprises Darcy in his tutu. Lawnmower turned into a carriage? Daddy had pink ribbons to spare. Hair salon time? Fancy hairdo’s coming right up! The illustrations are superbly done, and the relationship between father and daughter is perfectly captured. A must-read for every family. 

Megabat
by Anne Humphrey, Kass Reich (Tundra Books). Reviewer: Diana Perry
Daniel Misumi has just moved to a new house. It’s big and old and far away from his friends and his life before. And it’s haunted! Megabat is now living in an old house far from home, feeling sorry for himself and accidentally scaring the people who live there. Daniel realizes it’s not a ghost in his new house. It’s a bat. And he can talk. And he’s actually kind of cute. Megabat realizes that not every human wants to whack him with a broom. This one shares his smooshfruit. This is the cutest story I’ve ever read. A great book for an early reader. 

Louisiana’s Way Home
by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick). Reviewer: Olivia Amiri, age 11
Louisiana’s Way Home is a sweet, heartfelt story. I can tell you I wouldn’t want to be in Louisiana Elefant’s situation, which is to leave her home and everything in the middle of the night because her Granny wants to escape a family “curse.” Louisiana ends up in a small town in Georgia. Will she make her way back home to Florida or find a new home in Georgia? Will she discover the truth of the curse?  Sometimes the most difficult situations can be the best life lessons. I’m sure Louisiana can attest to that!

Red’s Planet
by Eddie Pittman (Harry N. Abrams). Reviewer: Olivia Amiri, age 11
Red’s Planet is a quirky, imaginative and fun graphic novel! This comic-style book is engaging, especially following headstrong, adventurous 10-year-old Red. Red longs to leave her annoying foster family for her perfect world but before she does a UFO mistakenly kidnaps her. I like this book because it’s funny and you can relate to this type of story. Sometimes things don’t always turn out as you expect, but making the best of what comes is pretty much what Red must do to survive. 

The Key to Everything
by Pat Schmatz (Candlewick). Reviewer: Diana Perry
Tash didn’t want to go to camp, didn’t want to spend the summer with a bunch of strangers, didn’t want to be separated from the only two people she has ever been able to count on: her uncle Kevin, who saved her from foster care, and Cap’n Jackie, who lives next door. Camp turns out to be pretty fun, actually, but when Tash returns home, Cap’n Jackie is gone. All she has is the key Cap’n Jackie always insisted had magic in it. Jackie always said all Tash had to do was hold it tight and the magic would come. Was it true? Could the key bring her back? Young readers will be aware of the foreverness of love, especially when it’s mixed with a little magic.

Whatshisface
by Gordon Korman (Scholastic). Reviewer: Diana Perry
When 12-year-old Cooper Vega moves for the third time in five years, he receives a state-of-the-art smartphone to help him stay in touch with old friends. He’s had phones before, but this one is buggy and unpredictable. When a boy named Roderick Northrop communicates with him through the phone, Cooper realizes that his phone isn’t buggy at all; the thing is haunted! I loved the ending that transformed both Roddy and Cooper from self-imposed losers to unexpected stars.  A great read with a great ending. Kids will love it.

Be Prepared
by Vera Brosgol (First Second). Reviewer: Diana Perry
All Vera wants to do is fit in―but that’s not easy for a Russian girl in the suburbs. Her friends live in fancy houses and their parents can afford to send them to the best summer camps. Vera’s single mother can’t afford that sort of luxury, but there’s one summer camp in her price range―Russian summer camp. This is the perfect coming-of-age story for any young girl who is new at school or the most unpopular. It serves as the perfect example that when you change a few things about your character, you can become a new person and that can change how everyone else sees you, too. A most encouraging and inspiring story – I just loved it.

Doodle Journeys: A Fill-In Journal for Everyday Explorers
by Dawn DeVries Sokol (Harry N. Abrams). Reviewer: Diana Perry
This is a fun activity book that gets kids to develop and increase creativity by drawing and writing to create a story. It opens young minds to real and imaginary experiences. This is not one for a young reader to finish in a few hours—I could easily see this entertaining youngsters for a few days. This is the perfect book to take on a long ride; your little creatives will enjoy using their imaginations to complete the many pages. Not only is it fun, it is most educational as well.

Rock Log Kids (Nature Journals)
by Daniel Brandt, DeAnna Brandt (Adventure Publications). Reviewer: Diana Perry
This is a scientific and exciting read for any youngster. It contains everything you need to know to start your own rock collection. The Brandts also include games and projects and teach everyday uses of rocks and minerals. There are pages and pages of log sheets—enough to assist the weekend junior geologist in logging all their many finds. A great way to spend a weekend outside in the fresh air. I highly recommend this book to young, aspiring collectors.

Racing Manhattan
by Terence Blacker (Candlewick). Reviewer: Diana Perry
Jasmine Barton grows up hearing terrible stories about her now-deceased mother. To make things worse, Dad mysteriously disappears. She lives her early teen years with relatives who treat her more like hired help than family. She lives a lonely life until the day she meets another unwanted creature—a horse named Manhattan. Young readers who love horses will get an insider’s view on the sport of equestrian riding and particularly, life with these beautiful animals. I particularly love how Jasmine and Manhattan bring out the best in each other and the wonderful surprise ending. A fantastic read!
 

To submit your book for review, email cristy@storymonsters.com for submission guidelines.

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Author Spotlight: Lea Herrick

Lea Herrick is the award-winning author of The Courageous Corgi and Ace, King of My Heart, and was inspired to write the books as tributes to her love for animals and the environment, with the hope that all living things will be cherished and protected.

Where did you grow up?    
I grew up in the Baltimore/Washington area but lived in Europe during part of my grade school years where my father was stationed abroad. I was given a wonderful opportunity to see other countries and cultures as a child at a time when most people were not traveling yet.

Did you read a lot as a child?  
Some of my first memories were of going to the Woolworth or Kresge dime stores with my mother and if I behaved, right before leaving the store, I would be allowed to select a Golden Book. Also, in elementary school, every child was given a Scholastic Books flyer to order books to purchase for reading at home. It was so exciting when the books arrived! I loved Margaret Rey’s Curious George series, the Homer Price books by Robert McCluskey, and Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary. I think there was a theme of curiosity and mischievousness that intrigued me. I also loved the Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene.

What were some of your favorite authors and books?   
I still love to read books for young readers, such as Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague series. I also have enjoyed Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie, Lisa Greenwald’s Dog Beach Unleashed and Gilbert Byron’s Mission Boy, which is a novel about Spanish Jesuits in the Chesapeake Bay area. My all-time favorite book is Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and I spent one entire summer reading that as a teenager.

What did you want to be when you grew up?   
Believe it or not, I wanted to be a geologist. At some point, I decided that maybe rocks were not my thing. Years later, I went on to get a Bachelor of Science degree and have loved animals, the beach, and things pertaining to nature ever since.

Tell us about some of the jobs you’ve had before you became a writer.  
I began babysitting and had a neighborhood carwash business at age 11. Then in my teen years, I worked in a movie theatre and eventually had jobs as a secretary, bookkeeper, bartender, waitress, social worker, and volunteer coordinator.

How did you get started writing?    
I was writing reports and newsletters in some of my full-time jobs, but when I retired, I felt a need to write a book as a tribute to my beloved corgi rescue dogs who came to my aid during a debilitating illness—hence, my first book in 2004, The Courageous Corgi, which is based on a true story. My two corgis came over to America from Wales and since my family also came to America from Europe, it became kind of autobiographical. I was thrilled when a London magazine picked up the story, and I even received a letter from Queen Elizabeth’s secretary regarding my book! Best Friends Magazine was the first to review The Courageous Corgi and just being a tiny part of the no-kill movement and seeing the growth in animal rescue is beyond words! Over the years, our family has had a number of rescue dogs, and currently my husband and I have two rescues—a standard poodle and a cocker spaniel. They came as a bonded pair and these “brothers” make us rich in love and teach us that the simplest pleasures in life are things that money just can’t buy.

Why do you write books?   
I love the creative process of telling a story, envisioning the cover, the art work, etc., but most importantly, want to convey a message in what I write. I want people to feel good at the conclusion of my books and take away something to inspire them as they go about their daily lives.

What do you like best about writing?   
I love watching the story unfold as it all comes together in a neat package.

What do you find the most challenging about writing?   
Multiple edits and rewrites to get the story and syntax just right can be very challenging, especially when you are trying to remember all your grammar rules from so many years ago.

What do you think makes a good story?   
Inspiration from a true event or place that the writer has experienced and has a passion for makes a great story. Write what you know.

Where do you get your inspiration?   
My inspiration these days are the animals and the beauty of our surrounding environment and wanting to share this message of protecting and conserving what is right in front of all of us. Also, my mother was my role model as she was a terrific writer and had a weekly column in our local newspaper as I grew up. She wrote poems during World War II, which unfortunately have been lost, but she also wrote a beautiful synthesis about immigration and her family in the early 1900’s, coming to America in steerage through Ellis Island.

Tell us about your latest book.  
Ace, King of My Heart is my latest book and is a celebration of the 50th birthday of Assateague Island National Seashore and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. It tells the story of the herd behavior of the wild horses on the barrier island off the coast of Maryland and incorporates the animals and plants of the ecosystems that co-exist with the horses on Assateague. The herd on the Maryland side of the island are never rounded up and sold. They are allowed to live out their days as free, wild animals. The book was written at the time of the first round of talks regarding off-shore drilling off the coast of Maryland, and I wanted to capture a snapshot of what Assateague was like at that moment in time, through the eyes of a young colt, so that no matter what happens in the future, we will always have a mental picture of the island before any man-made intervention.

I remember listening to the baseball games with my dad on the radio, and the announcers were so adept at describing everything that you could envision it, and it was like you were sitting right in the stands at the ballpark. That is what I try to do when I am writing a story so that you feel like you are in that place and time. The park rangers and so many people that take care of Assateague State and National Park need to be commended for the terrific job they do, and a special shout-out to all that helped with the book! I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my husband, who has worked with me and whose photographs served as templates for many of the illustrations in Ace, King of My Heart.

What’s next for you?   
I don’t think I am finished with the Maryland Eastern Shore as we have such bounteous gifts of beauty of our natural environment, and there are still more stories to tell.

Is there anything we didn’t ask that you’d like people to know about you and/or your books?
I’d like people to know that every person can have a second act, or a third act in life, and whatever that is, use your talents to try and make our world a better place. Take a chance, take a risk, and just go for it!

Lea's books are available on Amazon.com.

2018 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards Winners Announced

Grand Prize Winner:
The Hugsmiler’s Hugs: A Story About Learning Values by Jessica L. Simons

$100 Drawing Winner:
The Lost Celt by A.E. Conran

Activity Books

1st Place: Dino Mazes: The Colossal Fossil Book by Elizabeth Carpenter
2nd Place: Mindful Me Activity Book by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Stacy Peterson

Animals/Pets

1st Place: Looking for Lola/Taco by Jennifer Kuhns, illustrated by Gabrielle Pate and Edward Luena
2nd Place (tie): Penny the Pink Nose Poodle by Dana DiSante, illustrated by Ingrid Lefebvre        
2nd Place (tie): Bubby’s Puddle Pond: A Tortuga’s Tale of the Desert by Carol Hageman, illustrated by Nathaniel Jensen
Honorable Mention:
Cloud the Horse: Cloud and Reddy the Red-Shouldered Hawk by Elizabeth Goodman Hardwick, illustrated by Lindsey Rowland                             
Ellie the Wienerdog: It’s Hard to Swim by K.J. Hales, illustrated by Serene Wyatt    
Judah’s Promise by Irene Maslowski                                     
Noname The Feral Cat! by Cynthia O’Brien, illustrated by Anne Berry                   
Tamara Turtle’s Life So Far by Regan W.H. Macaulay, illustrated by Javier Duarte
Chuck’s Journey Home by Anne E. Soares, illustrated by Randy Jennings                            
Miles and Jax by Kimber Iverson, illustrated by Jill Pearson                       
Quincy the Quail Saves a Life by Barbara Renner, illustrated by Amanda M. Wells
Tales From A Crowded Pet Room by Theresa Cones                                        
The Tortoise Tales by Sally Scott Guynn                                 
Tootsie McPeezalot by Sharon P. Stanley, illustrated by Jack Foster                        
Don’t Feed the Elephant by Sherry Ellis, illustrated by Md. Anwar                            
Miles and Jax: Master Planners by Kimber Iverson, illustrated by Jill Pearson                    
Wings and Feet by Lisa Reinicke, illustrated by Scot McDonald                 
Look Out, Gentry! by Elizabeth Moerschel, illustrated by Eve Funnell                    
Adelita  by Dorothy F. Potash                                     
Super Rooster and Wonder Cat by Alma Hammond, illustrated by Hugh Keiser                 
Bart’s Escape out the Gate by Lisa Reinicke, illustrated by Analise Black                             
Bob’s Spiritfly by Laura Kristi Cronin, illustrated by Dominic Glover                        
The Twin Dolphin’s Adventure: Meet Dusk and Dawn by V.A. Boeholt                                
Cody the Pony Goes to Pony Club by Michelle Path                                         
Gifts of Spirit 2: Animals and Their Natural Gifts by Kimberly Heil                             
Why are the Pigs Purple? by Sharon P. Stanley, illustrated by Eugene Ruble                     
Fenix: The Fearless Feline by Corey Seemiller, illustrated by Kacey Seemiller-Mitchell  

Arts/Music

1st Place: Los pajaritos by Yolanda Borras, illustrated by David Hicock
2nd Place: Charlie the Caterpillar by Andy Gutman
Honorable Mention:
Pop Lullaby by Andy Gutman                                     
Singing Bird: A Child’s Story by Naejh, illustrated by Natalya Kharitonova            

Best Cover Design

1st Place: Ellie the Wienerdog: It’s Hard to be Good by K.J. Hales, illustrated by Serene Wyatt
2nd Place: Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg, illustrated by Valierie Sokolova
Honorable Mention:
Grandpa! Grandpa! What Will I See? by William P. Bahlke, illustrated by Lothar Speer  
Sonya Dor: Child Extraordinaire & Dreamer Galore by Saul Stoogenke, illustrated by Yoga D.C. Ariesta and Saul Stoogenke                               
Red Boots: Landis and his Magical Birthday! by Adam Wacker, illustrated by Aaron Boyd   
A Very Squeaky Mystery by Laura Angelina & Randy Williamson                               
Charlie the Caterpillar by Andy Gutman                                
The Very Loving Caterpillar by Sean Browne, illustrated by Doan Trang                
Pop Lullaby by Andy Gutman                                     
Why Can’t Uncle Come Home? A story for children struggling with the wrongful conviction of a loved one by Christiane Joy Allison, illustrated by Liz Shine

Best Illustrations

1st Place (tie): Gifts of Spirit 2: Animals and Their Natural Gifts by Kimberly Heil
1st Place (tie): Lily Pond by Shelley Daniels Lekven
2nd Place (tie): Ellie the Wienerdog: It’s Hard to Swim by K.J. Hales, illustrated by Serene Wyatt
2nd Place (tie): Bubby’s Puddle Pond: A Tortuga’s Tale of the Desert by Carol Hageman, illustrated by Nathaniel Jensen
Honorable Mention:
Los pajaritos by Yolanda Borras, illustrated by David Hicock                       
Sonya Dor: Child Extraordinaire & Dreamer Galore by Saul Stoogenke, illustrated by Yoga D.C. Ariesta and Saul Stoogenke                               
Bart’s Escape out the Gate by Lisa Reinicke, illustrated by Analise Black                              
Howl of the Lambergoon by Anthony Spaeth, illustrated by Marta Stawska                        
Pop Lullaby by Andy Gutman     
Bill and the Little Red Plane by Jonathan Walker                
Miles and Jax by Kimber Iverson, illustrated by Jill Pearson                       
Sammy’s Flame by Sam Ashkenas, illustrated by Dorene Uhrich                             
A Very Squeaky Mystery by Laura Angelina & Randy Williamson                                 
Grandpa! Grandpa! What Will I See? by William P. Bahlke, illustrated by Lothar Speer  
Why Can’t Uncle Come Home? A story for children struggling with the wrongful conviction of a loved one by Christiane Joy Allison, illustrated by Liz Shine               
Red Boots: Landis and his Magical Birthday! by Adam Wacker, illustrated by Aaron Boyd Miles and Jax: Master Planners by Kimber Iverson, illustrated by Jill Pearson                    
Charlie the Caterpillar by Andy Gutman                                
Cowboy Cody by Becky Wigemyr, illustrated by Dane Larocque

Best Interior Design

1st Place: Sonya Dor: Child Extraordinaire & Dreamer Galore by Saul Stoogenke, illustrated by Yoga D.C. Ariesta and Saul Stoogenke
2nd Place: The Twin Dolphin’s Adventure: Meet Dusk and Dawn by V.A. Boeholt

 Book Series

1st Place (tie): Other Life Lessons series by Meaghan Hadwyn and Niki Snjaric                  
1st Place (tie): If You Were Me and Lived in... A Child’s Introduction to Cultures Around the World series by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga
2nd Place: If You Were Me and Lived in... An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time series by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova
Honorable Mention:
Junior Lifeguards series by Elizabeth Doyle Carey                                           
The Legend of Dragonfly Pond series by Alene Adele Roy                                           
Talking Tales series by Erica Graham                                      
The Centaur Chronicles series by M.J. Evans                                       
The Engirlneers series by Shannon DeVivo and Heather DeVivo-Winz

Book Trailer

1st Place: Daisy, Bold & Beautiful by Ellie Collins
2nd Place: The We Belong Bunch: Pookie J.’s School Day by Dr. Samuel and Angela Johnson, illustrated by Fanny Liem
Honorable Mention:
Lily Pond by Shelley Daniels Lekven

Bookmark

 1st Place: Martina Ballerina by Imelda Sobiloff, illustrated by David Pfendler
 

 Chapter Books

1st Place (tie): Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg, illustrated by Valierie Sokolova
1st Place (tie): Oh Susannah: It’s in the Bag by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova
2nd Place: The Tooth Collector Fairies: Batina’s Best First Day by Denise Ditto, illustrated by Gabhor Utomo
Honorable Mention:
Seaper Powers: In Search of Bleu Jay’s Treasure by Kim Cameron, illustrated by Rebekah Phillips
Seaper Powers: The Mystery of the Blue Pearls by Kim Cameron, illustrated by Rebekah Phillips
The Ghosts of Stony Manor by Roberta Hoffer, illustrated by Madison Gaines                   
Gross Heroes: The Snot Free Zone by D. W. Dawson                                         
Nerdi Bunny and the Busy Bee Bully Bear Business by Aisha Toombs, illustrated by Michael Morris                         
Hare ‘n’ There by Jenny Morris, illustrated by Sarah Hardy                          
The Tooth Collector Fairies: Home from Decay Valley by Denise Ditto, illustrated by Gabhor Utomo                                         
Seaper Powers: The Riddle by Kim Cameron, illustrated by Rebekah Phillips                     
Seaper Powers: The Rescue by Kim Cameron, illustrated by Rebekah Phillips

Charity/Making a Difference

1st Place (tie): Dynomike: Love Bug by Frankie B. Rabbit
1st Place (tie): The Lost Celt by A.E. Conran
1st Place (tie): When a Child Cries by Cassie Lee, illustrated by Reginald Byers
1st Place (tie): Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire by Dr. Artika Tyner and Jacklyn Milton
2nd Place: Sesame Street: Celebrate You! Celebrate Me! by Leslie Kimmelman
Honorable Mention:
Chuck’s Journey Home by Anne E. Soares, illustrated by Randy Jennings                              
The THING on Mount Spring by Jenny Morris, illustrated by Sara Hayat                 
The Bubble in Me by Dr. J. Alvarez                                           
The Very Loving Caterpillar by Sean Browne, illustrated by Doan Trang

Children’s Nonfiction

1st Place: Super Rooster and Wonder Cat by Alma Hammond, illustrated by Hugh Keiser
2nd Place: Buckets, Dippers, and Lids: Secrets to Your Happiness by Carol McCloud, illustrated by Glenn Zimmer
Honorable Mention:
Sammy the Seahorse by Martha Driscoll & Ann Driscoll, Ed.D, illustrated by Susan Andra Lion   
I’ve Got Dibs! A Donor Sibling Story by Amy Dorfman, illustrated by Darren Goldman

Cultural Diversity

1st Place: A Recipe for Home by Ghenwa Yehia, illustrated by Inna Ogando          
2nd Place: My Brown Skin by Thomishia Booker, illustrated by Jessica Gibson
Honorable Mention:
The We Belong Bunch: Pookie J.’s School Day by Dr. Samuel and Angela Johnson, illustrated by Fanny Liem
The Shapeless Shape by Victor Saad & David Kelley, illustrated by Edu Vea                         
Pola’s Flower by Diana Lynne Nadeau, illustrated by Lobsang Gyatso                     
Super Rooster and Wonder Cat by Alma Hammond, illustrated by Hugh Keiser                 
Freedom for Me: A Chinese Yankee by Stacie Haas                                           
Bonjour! Let’s Learn French by Judy Martialay                                   
Fenella and the Enchanted Forest by K.M. Ryant Hutzel, illustrated by Denis Proulx

Educational

1st Place: Ellie Rae Discovers Eight Ways to be SMART: A book about Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences by Mary R. Massey, Ed.D., illustrated by April Bensch
2nd Place: Little Katie Goes to the Moon by Carmela Dutra
Honorable Mention:
Talking Tales: Catch that Chinchilla by Erica Graham                                       
So You Want to Learn: Juggling by Matthew Wall            

Family Matters

1st Place: A Recipe for Home by Ghenwa Yehia, illustrated by Inna Ogando
2nd Place: The Tiny Mouse by Nakita Foreman, illustrated by Mary Ann Clawson
Honorable Mention:
I’ve Got Dibs! A Donor Sibling Story by Amy Dorfman, illustrated by Darren Goldman     
Daddy’s Family Tree by Kenneth Braswell, illustrated by Merve Terzi                    
Stuck in Bed: The pregnancy bed rest picture book for kids ... and moms by Jennifer Degl & Angela Davids, illustrated by Jennifer Lynn Becker                    
A Family Just Like Mine by Barbara-Anne Puren                                
Why Mommy Works by Meaghan Hadwyn and Niki Snjaric                   
Bobby Birthday by Larissa Juliano, illustrated by Joshua Allen                   
Why Can’t Uncle Come Home?: A story for children struggling with the wrongful conviction of a loved one by Christiane Joy Allison, illustrated by Liz Shine

Fiction: Collection of Short Stories

1st Place: Winter Wonder: A Collection of Stories for Children & Young Adults by C.M Huddleston, Katherine Ladny Mitchell, D.G. Driver, M.J. Evans, Joyce McPherson, Catherine McCarran, Meg Trotter, Cassandra Davis, Rebecca Hammond Yager
2nd Place: The Tortoise Tales by Sally Scott Guynn             

Food Related

1st Place: What’s On Your Plate? by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Christiane Engel
2nd Place (tie): A Recipe for Home by Ghenwa Yehia, illustrated by Inna Ogando
2nd Place (tie): Maddy & Cole (Vol. 1): The Food Truck Grand Prix by Richie Frieman

General

1st Place: The Shapeless Shape by Victor Saad & David Kelley
2nd Place: Mason’s Messy Room by Chris McClean
Honorable Mention:
Aimee and Divine Inspiration: On a Journey by Diane Bourgeois

Graphic Novel

1st Place: The Hidden Loch by Marlaine Maddux White, illustrated by Claude St. Aubin
2nd Place: Audrey’s Magic Nine: The Pencil and the Fuzzy, Book One by Michelle Wright, illustrated by Courtney Huddleston

Green Books/Environmental

1st Place: The Natural Storyteller by Georgiana Keable, illustrated by Shirin Adl
2nd Place: The Mystical Magical Abracadabracal Daniel McDougal McDouglas McFly by Sheryl Davis, illustrated by Eric Summers
Honorable Mention:
Sweet T and the Turtle Team by Cat Michaels, illustrated by Irene Jahns                               
I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes by Sally Stone                                    
Magic Moon: Bears Ears by Shirley Moulton, M.S.

Growing Pains

1st Place: The Shapeless Shape by Victor Saad & David Kelley

Health

1st Place: Mindful Me: Mindfulness and Meditation for Kids by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Stacy Peterson
2nd Place: Jayla Spreads Loving Kindness by Antonia Aviles, illustrated by Lovyaa Garg
Honorable Mention:
Planet Scrabbage and the Vegerons by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Philip Wills          
The Kool Kids & The Land Of The Giants by James Tate, illustrated by Jay Reed  

Historical Fiction

1st Place: A Family for Leona by Beverly Stowe McClure
2nd Place: Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg, illustrated by Valierie Sokolova  
Honorable Mention:
Freedom for Me: A Chinese Yankee by Stacie Haas                                           
Wanted: Bronco Charlie Rides the Pony Express by Alexandra Parsons, illustrated by Beatrice Favereau

Holiday

1st Place: Catching The Christmas Spirit by Bob Outman, illustrated by Dave Franks
2nd Place (tie): Dancing Dreidels by Alva Sachs, illustrated by Patricia Krebs
2nd Place (tie): The Very Best Christmas Tree EVER! by Mark Edgar Stephens
Honorable Mention:
George by Roxy Morgan, illustrated by Laura Winslow                  
Spivey’s Web by Sandra Warren, illustrated by Susan Fitzgerald                               
Felice the Christmas Fairy by Irene Mathias, illustrated by Anja Uhren

Humor

1st Place: Cinderella’s Other Shoe by Philippa Rae, illustrated by Tevin Hansen

LGBT

1st Place: Xander’s Story by Alejandro and Christopher Garcia-Halenar

Media Kit

 1st Place: Martina Ballerina by Imelda Sobiloff, illustrated by David Pfendler

 Middle Grade Fiction

1st Place: The Lost Celt by A.E. Conran    
2nd Place (tie): The Centaur Chronicles: The Stone of Integrity by M.J. Evans         
2nd Place (tie): The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid                       
Honorable Mention:
Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend by Cheryl Carpinello, illustrated by Zyad Kadri
Gross Heroes: The Snot Free Zone by D. W. Dawson                                         
The Longest Halloween: Gabbie Del Toro and the Mystery of the Warlock’s Urn by Frank Wood
Danny and the DreamWeaver by Mark Poe                                        
Castle in Danger by Karen Rita Rautenberg, illustrated by Valierie Sokolova                      
The Villains of Splazat by Jesse Arrington III                                       
The Tortoise Tales by Sally Scott Guynn                 

Mystery

 Honorable Mention: Some Dude Fell Overboard by Grant Fieldgrove

 Outdoor Recreation

1st Place: Cowboy Cody by Becky Wigemyr, illustrated by Dane Larocque

Picture Books 5 & Younger

1st Place (tie): Half-Cat by DJ Corchin, illustrated by Tyler Hawx
1st Place (tie): How to Move an Elephant by AJA               
1st Place (tie): Never Have I Ever Seen by MaryKate Cohane, illustrated by Bonnie Wiegand
1st Place (tie): The Hugsmiler’s Hugs: A Story About Learning Values by Jessica L. Simons
2nd Place: Pop Lullaby by Andy Gutman
Honorable Mention:
5,4,3,2,1 Ka-Boom! by Sarah Stevenson, illustrated by Ozzy Esha                             
Cassie Pup Takes the Cake?? by Sheri Poe-Pape                                               
Los pajaritos by Yolanda Borras, illustrated by David Hicock                       
Cowboy Cody by Becky Wigemyr, illustrated by Dane Larocque                               
Every Month I Love You More by Ashley West                                   
Grandpa! Grandpa! What Will I See? by William P. Bahlke, illustrated by Lothar Speer
I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes by Sally Stone                                    
Little Mouse’s Sweet Treat by Shana Hollowell, illustrated by Jennifer Finch                      
Brayden’s Magical Carousel Horse by Anita A. Caruso, illustrated by Randy Jennings     
Brayden’s Magical Forest by Anita A. Caruso , illustrated by Randy Jennings                      
More Than A Princess by Shaista Pabla, illustrated by Drew Maunula                     
Sir Walter Farluba by Donna LeBlanc, illustrated by Anton Servetnik                      
Brayden’s Magical Jungle by Anita A. Caruso, illustrated by Randy Jennings                       
Bronson Has A Toothache by Cynthia Ng                                             
Peggy Pelican Goes Fishing by Janet Givens                                        
Why Can’t Uncle Come Home?: A story for children struggling with the wrongful conviction of a loved one by Christiane Joy Allison, illustrated by Liz Shine                
The Twin Dolphin’s Adventure: Meet Dusk and Dawn by V.A. Boeholt                                    
A Very Squeaky Mystery by Laura Angelina & Randy Williamson                                              
Things Can Grow Between Your Toes! by Laurie L. Bolanos                                          
Sonya Dor: Child Extraordinaire & Dreamer Galore by Saul Stoogenke, illustrated by Yoga D.C. Ariesta and Saul Stoogenke               
Growing Up Tobey: The First Year by Caroline Barthen, illustrated by Blueberry Illustrations Bart’s Escape out the Gate by Lisa Reinicke, illustrated by Analise Black                               
Martina Ballerina by Imelda Sobiloff, illustrated by David Pfendler                        
Gillie Can Share by Sarah-Leigh Wills                                      
Charlie the Caterpillar by Andy Gutman                                
Ellie the Wienerdog: It’s Hard to be Good by K.J. Hales, illustrated by      Serene Wyatt
Talking Tales: Puppy’s Bubble by Erica Graham                                  
Sammy’s Flame by Sam Ashkenas, illustrated by Dorene Uhrich                              
I Don’t Like Vegetables! by Mrs C, illustrated by Crosland Jennings                         
Oogie’s Rainy Day Adventure by Michael Weinbergrer, illustrated by Steve Bonham     

Picture Books 6 & Older

1st Place (tie): Dancing Dreidels by Alva Sachs, illustrated by Patricia Krebs
1st Place (tie): Ellie the Wienerdog: It’s Hard to Swim by K.J. Hales, illustrated by Serene Wyatt
1st Place (tie): Grandpa! Grandpa! What Will I See? by William P. Bahlke, illustrated by Lothar Speer
1st Place (tie): I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes by Sally Stone
1st Place (tie): Lily Pond by Shelley Daniels Lekven
1st Place (tie): Martina Ballerina by Imelda Sobiloff, illustrated by David Pfendler
1st Place (tie): Red Boots: Landis and his Magical Birthday! by Adam Wacker, illustrated by Aaron Boyd
1st Place (tie): Sammy the Seahorse by Martha Driscoll & Ann Driscoll, Ed.D, illustrated by Susan Andra Lion
1st Place (tie): Sonya Dor: Child Extraordinaire & Dreamer Galore by Saul Stoogenke, illustrated by Yoga D.C. Ariesta and Saul Stoogenke
1st Place (tie): The Blue Footies by Joan Dee Wilson
1st Place (tie): The Hugsmiler’s Hugs: A Story About Learning Values by Jessica L. Simons
2nd Place (tie): A Tale About Ears by Joshua August, illustrated by Jonas Scott
2nd Place (tie): The Krayon Kids by Karen Márquez Morales, illustrated by Caitlyn Notaro
Honorable Mention:
Bubby’s Puddle Pond: A Tortuga’s Tale of the Desert by Carol Hageman, illustrated by Nathaniel Jensen
Gifts of Spirit 2: Animals and Their Natural Gifts by Kimberly Heil                                             
The Smiley Face Blatoon Lady by Nefari Ydarb, illustrated by Araceli Casas                          
Big Fish Dreams by Lori Fisher Peelen, illustrated by Consie Powell                       
The Wish by Tara McCarton, illustrated by Allison Lagueux                         
Lester, The Scared Little Leaf by Nina Gardner, illustrated by Chad Thompson                    
Sammy the Station Wagon by Tal Nuriel, illustrated by Aidar Zeineshev                             
The Mystical Magical Abracadabracal Daniel McDougal McDouglas McFly by Sheryl Davis, illustrated by Eric Summers
Up and Down Twins by Susan Manzke, illustrated by Rachel Manzke                     
A Recipe for Home by Ghenwa Yehia, illustrated by Inna Ogando                             
Wings and Feet by Lisa Reinicke, illustrated by  Scot McDonald                 
Planet Scrabbage and the Vegerons by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Philip Wills
Miles and Jax: Master Planners by Kimber Iverson, illustrated by Jill Pearson                    
The Most Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starborough by Michelle Path, illustrated by Hanna Purkiss  
Crazy Crab by Mark C. Evans, illustrated by Steve Page                 
Noname The Feral Cat! by Cynthia O’Brien, illustrated by Anne Berry                   
Why Can’t Uncle Come Home?: A story for children struggling with the wrongful conviction of a loved one by Christiane Joy Allison, illustrated by Liz Shine                
Eli’s Magic Moment by Kevin Poplawski, illustrated by Michael Rausch                
Odonata: The Flying Jewel of Maiden Grass Pond by Barbara Gervais Ciancimino, illustrated by Steve McGinnis                               
Veva and the Beaver by Carlos F. Tarrac                                               
Bill and the Little Red Plane by Jonathan Walker                
Xalien the Purple Alien: Xalien Goes to the Zoo by Michelle Path, illustrated by Charlotte Roberts            
The Power of Me by Gibson Maximillian Sabalos, illustrated by Lisa J. Michaels                
An Underwater Adventure - "Your Name" and the Dolphin by Saskia Resuens and illustrated by Katrien Van Schuylenbergh               
Cody the Pony Goes to Pony Club by Michelle Path         
Miles and Jax by Kimber Iverson, illustrated by Jill Pearson                       
Dragonfly Surprise by Theresa A. O’Kane, illustrated by Tamara R. Sayre                              
Adelita  by Dorothy F. Potash                                     
Buckets, Dippers, and Lids: Secrets to Your Happiness by Carol McCloud, illustrated by Glenn Zimmer    
The Twin Dolphin’s Adventure: Meet Dusk and Dawn by V.A. Boeholt                                    
Pharaoh’s Arrow by George Neeb                                          
Clondike and Mudo’s Adventure by M.C. Armbruster                                     
The THING on Mount Spring by Jenny Morris, illustrated by Sara Hayat                 
The Moon and Star by Peggy Sullivan                                   
The One and Only Owen by Nicole Evans Haumesser                                     
Hare ‘n’ There by Jenny Morris, illustrated by Sarah Hardy                          
How Christmas Got its Colors by Jim Melko, illustrated by Sammi Davis                
A Dozen Differences by Kirsten Elaine, illustrated by Gabriela Alayón                    
Nanny in the Nursery by L.M. Azpiazu                                   
New Jack Rabbit City: A Colorful Children’s Story by Gail Galvan & Mike Evanouski

Poetry

1st Place: Shimmer, Songs of Night by Raven Howell      
2nd Place: American Days by Georgina Schroeder             

School Issues

1st Place (tie): Bury the Bully by Stefanie Noonan
1st Place (tie): Kindness is Key by Alexis Bloomer
1st Place (tie): Sophie Washington: The Snitch by Tonya Duncan Ellis
1st Place (tie): The Shapeless Shape by Victor Saad & David Kelley
2nd Place: Adriann Takes a Stand by Melondy Roberson, illustrated by Roszella Roberson-Offord
Honorable Mention:
Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova
The Thumb Book of Kindness by Tevin Hansen and Nichole Hansen                                        
Buckets, Dippers, and Lids: Secrets to Your Happiness by Carol McCloud, illustrated by Glenn Zimmer    
Magic Moon: A New Beginning by Shirley Moulton, M.S.                                             
The Big Cheese Festival by S. Jackson & A. Raymond, illustrated by Mary Schmidt             
Wings and Feet by Lisa Reinicke, illustrated by  Scot McDonald                 
Bobby Birthday by Larissa Juliano, illustrated by Joshua Allen   
The CrimeFighters: The Heroes Stop a Bully by Chris McClean                                     
Odonata: The Flying Jewel of Maiden Grass Pond by Barbara Gervais Ciancimino, illustrated by Steve McGinnis

Science Fiction/Fantasy

1st Place: The Keeper of Fire by Davina Marie Liberty
2nd Place (tie): The Aeonians by J.E. Klimov
2nd Place (tie): The Great & the Small by A.T. Balsara
Honorable Mention:
The Uncontrolled by Zachary Astrowsky                                               
The Adventures of Biker Frog and Lady White Bear Volume Three: The Hermit by C. Kindler

Special Needs/Disability Awareness

1st Place: Sesame Street: Celebrate You! Celebrate Me! by Leslie Kimmelman    
2nd Place: Dragonfly Surprise by Theresa A. O’Kane, illustrated by Tamara R. Sayre
Honorable Mention:
The A in Autism Stands For Awesome by Lindsay James, illustrated by Jamie Wolenter
A Very Tubie Christmas by Meikele Lee, illustrated by Rebecca Robertson          
Arianna’s Magic Boots by Karen Gasperini, illustrated by Deanna McRae                            
Arianna’s Magic Boots VOL 2: Underwater Sea Adventure by Karen A. Gasperini, illustrated by Deanna McRae                 
Sophie and the Magical Wheelchair by Kari Kadrmas

Spiritual/Religious

1st Place (tie): The Kool Kids & The Land Of The Giants by James Tate, illustrated by Jay Reed
1st Place (tie): Bob’s Spiritfly by Laura Kristi Cronin, illustrated by Dominic Glover
2nd Place: Sometimes Someone Dies by Meaghan Hadwyn and Niki Snjaric
Honorable Mention:
Dear Diary: My Brother Died Today by Suzanne Gene Courtney                                
Noname The Feral Cat! by Cynthia O’Brien, illustrated by Anne Berry                   
An Angel from Above / Un angel desde arriba by Dr. Ma. Alma Gonzalez Perez, illustrated by Patricia Gonzalez
Stella’s Story: Dealing With Sibling Loss by Amanda Seefeld Markle, illustrated by Christopher Bowman                              
The Tiny Mouse by Nakita Foreman, illustrated by Mary Ann Clawson                   
Judah’s Promise by Irene Maslowski                                     
After ‘While, Crocodile by Jack Runion, illustrated by Emmalee Ellison                  
Pola’s Flower by Diana Lynne Nadeau, illustrated by Lobsang Gyatso                     
When a Child Cries by Cassie Lee, illustrated by Reginald Byers

Sports

1st Place: Skating Forward: Olympic Memories, Olympic Spirit by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz
2nd Place: Junior Lifeguards by Elizabeth Doyle Carey     
Honorable Mention:
Lionel Messi: A Soccer Star Who Cares by Kimberly Gatto

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)

1st Place: Geometry is Fun for Me by Vicky Owyang Chan, illustrated by Crystal Ferguson
2nd Place: Little Katie Goes to the Moon by Carmela Dutra            
Honorable Mention:
The Engirlneers Protect the Ground Water by Shannon DeVivo and Heather DeVivo-Winz My Mummy is a Scientist by Kerrine Bryan & Jason Bryan, illustrated by Marissa Peguinho         

Unpublished Manuscript

1st Place: Drifty; Broken to Beautiful. A (Mostly) True Story by Dave Ives, illustrated by John Loyer
2nd Place: The Tale of Tyriii by Bianca Staines
Honorable Mention:
Brutal Hackage: A Young Adult Thriller by Jane Frances Ruby

Young Adult Fiction

1st Place: A Drop of Blue by Isa Briarwood
2nd Place: The Great & the Small by A.T. Balsara
Honorable Mention:
The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid                                     
IF by Mike and Renee Winterbauer

Young Adult Nonfiction

1st Place: Skating Forward: Olympic Memories, Olympic Spirit by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz

Youth Author Fiction

1st Place: The Power of Me by Gibson Maximillian Sabalos, illustrated by Lisa J. Michaels

* E-Book Award Winners *

Arts/Music

1st Place: Mr. Hoopeyloops and His Amazing Glass by Andi Cann, illustrated by Fabrice Bertolettp

Best Illustrations

1st Place: Theseus by Simon Spence        

Chapter Books

1st Place: Sweet T and the Turtle Team by Cat Michaels, illustrated by Irene Jahns                
2nd Place: The Girl by Leeah V, illustrated by Sammy Jay
 

Charity/Making a Difference

1st Place: From Riches to Rags by Jaclyn Howell
 

Children’s Nonfiction

1st Place: If You Were Me an Lived In... Cuba: A Child’s Introduction to Cultures Around the World by Carole P. Roman    

Cultural Diversity

1st Place: Alabama Oh by Andi Cann, illustrated by Micaela Stefano                       
2nd Place: If You Were Me and Lived in...the Ancient Mali Empire: An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova

Family Matters

1st Place: Selah’s Painted Dream by Susan Count Hastings, illustrated by Elena Shved     2nd Place: Can A Princess be A Firefighter? by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova     
Honorable Mention:
Someone You Love Has Cancer: A Child’s Guide to Understanding by Robin Martin, illustrated by Kalpa Joshi     
The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Short Stories by Fiza Pathan
 

Green Books/Environmental

1st Place: Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans by Janet Balletta, illustrated by Alyssa Figueroa & Alexander C. Appello
2nd Place: The Futurevators by S. Thomas, illustrated by G. Thomas
Honorable Mention:
Nuclear! (The Rosemary Series Book 1) by Alan French                                  
The Plastic Pollution Adventure by Monty J. McClaine, illustrated by Abira Das                  
Wide as the Wind by Edward Stanton

Growing Pains

1st Place: Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life by Carole P. Roman

Health

1st Place: Special Food for Sam by Dr. Nicole Audet, illustrated by Mylène Villeneuve   
2nd Place: Felix Is Curious About His Body by Dr. Nicole Audet, illustrated by Mylène Villeneuve

Humor

1st Place: Dragon Breath by Dixie Phillips and Jacob Gibson, illustrated by K.C. Snider

LGBT

2nd Place: The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Short Stories by Fiza Pathan                 

Middle Grade Fiction

1st Place (tie): Jake, Lucid Dreamer by David J. Naiman
1st Place (tie): Special Food for Sam by Dr. Nicole Audet, illustrated by Mylène Villeneuve  
2nd Place (tie): Felix Is Curious About His Body by Dr. Nicole Audet, illustrated by Mylène Villeneuve
2nd Place (tie): Daisy, Bold & Beautiful by Ellie Collins
Honorable Mention:
Hedda Stein-Sun’s UnRemembered Islands by Anthony Nordvik-Nash

Picture Books 5 & Younger

1st Place (tie): Mother’s Day with Snowman Paul by Yossi Lapid, illustrated by Joanna Pasek
1st Place (tie): Rocket-Bye by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova
2nd Place: Cub’s Wish by Angie Flores, illustrated by Yidan Yuan
Honorable Mention:
Snuggle, Sniggle, and Sometimes, Snickle by Stephen Spivey, illustrated by Adam Hembrough
 

Picture Books 6 & Older

1st Place: Theseus by Simon Spence
2nd Place: A Flag for the Flying Dragon: A Captain No Beard Story by Carole P. Roman
Honorable Mention:
Sarah’s Shadow by Nick Jones, illustrated by Si Clark

School Issues

1st Place: Daisy, Bold & Beautiful by Ellie Collins
2nd Place: From Riches to Rags by Jaclyn Howell

           
Science Fiction/Fantasy

1st Place: Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster           

Special Needs/Disability Awareness

1st Place: My Special Mind by Laura and Trey Day

Spiritual/Religious

1st Place: From Riches to Rags by Jaclyn Howell

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)

Honorable Mention: The Beedog by Addie Broussard, illustrated by Joyeeta Neogi

Young Adult Fiction

1st Place: My Crunchy Life by Mia Kerick
2nd Place: Adele and the Giant King by Izzy Beisiegel
Honorable Mention:
Owl Eyes: A Fairy Tale by Molly Lazer                                     
Lucid World by Denise Lammi   

For more information or to enter a book in one of our contests, visit dragonflybookawards.com.

Sponsored by Story Monsters LLC

Clash of the Pronouns: Colossal Battles in a Book of Dinosaur Riddles

by Noelle Sterne, Ph.D.

Writing a children’s book of riddles about dinosaurs may not seem an obvious arena for a clash over sexism. But during the final manuscript editing of my Tyrannosaurus Wrecks: A Book of Dinosaur Riddles (HarperCollins), with shock and frustration, I fought the battle of the dinosaur pronouns.

Nouns were natural for most of the 146 riddles—mother or father scenes, fairy tale characters. For the 35 riddles requiring a pronoun, in the earliest drafts I used the masculine form. But my (female) editor and I agreed that in the final version the feminine should get equal representation. A simple matter, we thought. We couldn’t have been more immensely wrong! Our painful conversation lasted a good hour. Despite women’s great strides, I saw how subtly sexual stereotypes still influence our language. 

Tyrannosaurus Wrecks is a just-for-fun children’s book. The riddles are punny, groany, and giggly, with no hidden agendas for gender-biased propaganda. Yet my editor and I were besieged by plaguing pronoun questions: What would support or offend various viewpoints? What would truly express our own convictions? What would aid or damage sales? And how much should a book mainly for entertainment defer to issues of social change?

Priorities kept changing and sometimes bashed head-on. The hostilities, and final truces, fell into three main camps:

1. Entrenched Male Stereotypes—Almost impenetrable stereotypical male occupations or activities forced us to keep the male pronoun.
2. Damaging Female Stereotypes—When the female pronoun would fortify stereotypes, we capitulated to the male.
3. Breaking Through the Stereotypes—We stormed the pronominal bastions with either pronoun, neutralizing stereotypes of both genders and illustrating positive role or behavior changes.

Entrenched Male Stereotypes
The Entrenched Male Stereotypes glared out at me, and one of the most glaring was cowboys. Only two cowgirls spring to mind—Annie Oakley and Dale Evans, and they weren’t exactly typical ranchhands. The male had this area tightly roped off:

Why was the Pentaceratops a good cattle rancher?
Because he had a lot of longhorns.

To bring us current, there’s the executive. This one really hurt, especially since so many women today are successful (and with their own Dino’s Club cards). But there were no women CEOS in the Fortune 500 companies at the time the book was published. In the latest update in 2017, only 6.4% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies were women. So, despite a few eminent exceptions, most women climbing to the glass ceiling succeed only in windexing it. Again the male pronoun was firmly wedged: 

Where does the dinosaur company president sit?
At his Tyrannosaurus desk.

Damaging Female Stereotypes
The second pronoun problem involved the largest number of riddles. Damaging Female Stereotypes kept surfacing in an insidious array of common, apparently harmless situations. We felt forced to keep the male pronoun to blunt female stereotypes of foolishness, ineptitude, or weakness. For example, that women are bad drivers:

Why is a dinosaur dangerous at the wheel of a car?
He’s a back-feet driver.

The clincher, though, for the male in several riddles was that little word “weight.” We women wrestle incessantly with the “right” body image that dominates our culture and wastes our energies. The male pronoun had to be used with blatant excess pounds: 

Why did the dinosaur go on a diet?
He weighed too much for his scales.

But the most damaging female stereotype was the ancient stamp of woman as sex object, which insinuated itself into many riddles. In protest against antediluvian sexism, we kept the male pronoun.

Why did the Stegosaurus go to the car repair shop?
So they could fix his broken tail spike.

What instrument does a dinosaur fossil play?
His trom-bone.

We kept the male pronoun because a bawdily graphic picture surfaces with her broken tail spike, which could attract a little too much attention. And what about that instrument? If she were playing, could she be accused of barely disguised piccolo envy?

Breaking Through the Stereotypes
I’m very glad to say, though, that with several riddles we really could break through the stereotypes. Some riddles reversed women’s traditional roles and others enlarged the possibilities for either sex in previously exclusive domains. In one riddle, we countered woman as the perpetual sole food supplier:

What did the dinosaur say as he lugged home the groceries?
“Oh, my aching Brachio-saurus!”

Woman’s driving cruised with no sexist implications and the added bonus that she can, and does, pay her own way:

What does a dinosaur pay when she drives over a bridge?
A reptoll.

At least one occupation broke through entrenched activities for both men and women. With children’s piano teachers stereotypically female, the male pronoun here was especially gratifying.

    What did the dinosaur piano teacher tell his students?
    “Be sure and practice your scales.”

The final two examples also gladdened my heart. In the first, woman is more than a body:

    What did the dinosaur say when she bought a new book?
    “I can really sink my teeth into this.”

A lifelong reader and writer, I could identify. And my blood surged at her biting intelligence. In the other riddle, a traditional role is reversed as a fine female speaks her mind:

    What does the dinosaur say to her sweetheart on Valentine’s Day?
    “I’m mud about you!”

So, this is the saga of my dinosaur pronoun battle. Maybe it reopened some old wounds and left a few scars, but after the mud settled, the women held their own. Yet, I await the day when our language finally fashions a third set of pronouns that serves both sexes with equal rightness. On that day, with a book of dinosaur riddles or any other subject, male and female pronouns will provoke no fighting words (especially pronouns), even from the most fossilized among us.

Noelle Sterne, Ph.D. is a published author, editor, and writing coach. Visit her at www.trustyourlifenow.com.

Author Spotlight: Alva Sachs

Alva Sachs says her days in the classroom were the real beginnings for becoming the children’s author she is today. She uses her teaching experience of 16 years and her love of writing for kids to create stories that engage, empower, and excite young readers.
 

Where did you grow up? 
I hail from the windy city of Chicago, Illinois, but moved around a few times to various parts of the city. I miss my favorite Chicago food that I get as soon as I visit.

Did you read a lot as a child? 
Well, at that time I was really into Archie Comics. I couldn’t decide whom I liked better, so I chose Veronica. 

What were some of your favorite authors and books?  
John Grisham, Nora Ephron, Sophie Kinsella, Mitch Albom, Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Lawyer comes to mind. I had to write a couplet for eighth-grade graduation, and I remember to this day: “A Perry Mason, I would like to be, to defend my client’s liberty!” Pretty classy … don’t you think?

Tell us about some of the jobs you’ve had before you became a writer. 
Golly gee, how much room do I have? Of course, almost all girls my age babysat for sure. For the price of .50 an hour, (actually started a manuscript about this) the going rate, and then I graduated to a mother’s helper of twins, which I loved and made $12 for the week and gave the money to my mom for groceries. In high school, at 15 I got a great job working for a small department store in the credit department. This was way before computers, and everything was done by hand or phone. After a short time, I was promoted to assistant to the women’s buyer and also got jobs for my girlfriends in high school, and we had so much fun being together. In college, at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana Illinois, I worked at Carson Pirie Scott and Company department store, then over the summers back in Chicago I was sent on location for temporary placements. Had to work for the summers, as my parents were divorced. My best job ever was working at a music/bar/restaurant with live bands in my junior and senior years of college. It was fun to serve the students, dance, and yes, clean the place up at 1 a.m.! Needless to say, all of these experiences were an amazing benefit to me as I grew into who I was. Too long, right? Well, I am a writer!

How did you get started writing?  
My school district where I taught was instituting a writing seminar for any teachers interested from K-12. I jumped at the chance! It sounded so wonderful and I hoped it would help me with my students. Well, it was AMAZING! I also mentored staff in my school, incorporated it into our school day with my kids, and we all had to write in the seminar as well. Like my students, initially I stared at the blank page. Somehow out of that came Circus Fever. My first story was written and sat in a folder until 10 years ago. 

Why do you write books? 
Good question. It is certainly not for the money. Reading to my 4th and 5th graders every day. It was a very special part of our day together. Teaching and the wonderful experiences I had with my kids, I guess from being in the classroom, and how they would inspire me with their writing left an imprint on my heart. It was incredible to see their growth in writing once we began our writing process in the classroom. Their excitement turned into their own “published” books with book covers, illustrations, and the whole enchilada. What an inspiration. But I didn’t start writing again until my own children were in college.

What do you like best about writing? 
Writing takes me to a place in time where I feel like a kid again. Thinking, experiencing, and seeing the world through those eyes. It connects me to moments I had with my own children and their friends that were so special, you didn’t want them to end. 

What do you find the most challenging about writing? 
Once I start the story, I am pretty good to go, but then I want to be sure to develop it in a way where the content, characters, and storyline does arc while maintaining the integrity of where I want the reader to go and experience. Keeping in mind, these readers are various ages. They get bored easily and they come with a wealth of experience these days. You want it to be a page-turner, a story they can connect to, and feel part of it all by the end. Pretty challenging, huh?

What makes a good story? 
That is hard to define. So many ways to do a good story, and of course, I feel all my stories are good, but it is good in my humble opinion. Let’s say if a child reads the story at 5, revisits it at 7 or 10 and still feels connected, relates to it on a new level, and can relate to it again and again. I think that is what keeps those incredible classics around by those authors who had that recipe back in the day.

Where do you get your inspiration? 
Life all around me. My children, who are very close in age and how they played with each other, their interaction, their pure sense of imagination, their friends, their honesty, their sensitivity and love. My family inspires me every day. 

Tell us about your latest book. 
Dancing Dreidels. My desire to write a Judaic book from growing up Jewish. My illustrator, Patricia Krebs is Jewish as well and from Argentina. It was special for both of us, but I wanted to write a fun story that all children could relate to. It’s about four dreidels who are best friends, and they all spin or dance better than all of the other dreidels in the house. That is, except for Sheila. The story goes on in a very subtle way to illustrate for children that there are times in our lives when we are growing up and we may face difficult situations. We have to look inside ourselves and sometimes with the help of our family and friends, we can succeed. 

What’s next for you?
Aye, matey, don’t ya think it’s time for the best pirate story, ever? Been writing this one for several years, as I usually dream my stories before I write them down. So, this adventure has been literally driving me crazy. I see it so vividly in my mind with the illustrations because Patricia and I have worked so long together. This story also lives in my memory from a time when my three children were young. 

Is there anything we didn’t ask that you’d like people to know about you and/or your books? 
The one thing my illustrator and I really work on together is creating movement, rhythm, and connection to each page in the story. Keeping the reader actively engaged as well as the person reading to them. It’s like a symphony that cannot be separated; every part is integral to the entire story. It makes a whole child experience, and increases their love to read, to be read to, and understand that reading is key to succeeding in life, regardless of the path you choose. 

For more information about Alva Sachs and her books, visit www.alvasachs.com.

Enter the Story Monsters Coloring Contest

 

Attention Arizona Kids!

It’s a monster of a contest!

Sponsored by Story Monsters Ink, Payson Public Library, and Payson Book Festival

Grab your crayons and download your coloring sheet or pick up at the Payson Public Library and return to the library in person or by mail to:

Payson Public Library
Attention: Story Monsters Coloring Contest
328 N McLane Rd.
Payson, AZ 85541

Prizes will be awarded in four age groups: 5 & under; 6-10, 11-14; 15-18

Winner to be announced at the Payson Public Library on July 18.

Prizes will be awarded by Story Monsters LLC at the Payson Book Festival on July 21, 2018 at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino.

Deadline is July 17!
Happy Coloring!

For more information, contact Linda F. Radke at 480-940-8182 or email info@storymonsters.com

Author Spotlight: Mark Stevens

Bestselling author Mark Stevens loves to tell stories. Ever since his Golden Retriever "Sky" was a puppy, Mark would put him to bed every night by reading a story to him. Now he has written a very special book about his very special dog to bring smiles to little readers all over the world.

Where did you grow up? 
On the streets of New York. And literally on the mean, lower middle-class streets. 
 
Did you read a lot as a child? 
Voraciously for an interesting reason. Somehow, I was attracted to the famous men of the Old West – Kit Carson, Daniel Boone, General Custer – and read all of their biographies. It was as if I was transporting myself to a time and place I never lived in but somehow knew. 
 
What were some of your favorite authors and books? 
The book that had the biggest impact on my life to this day, is Hemmingway’s A Moveable Feast. He was right. “If you are lucky enough to live in Paris as a young man, it will stay with you the rest of your life because Paris is truly a moveable feast.”
 
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I came from a broken family, wildly dysfunctional, violent, and nearly psychotic, and the last thing I had was the ability to plan what I wanted to do with my life. Except to survive. 
 
Tell us about some of the jobs you’ve had before you became a writer. 
On the surface, every job you could have – porter in a children’s hospital, bus boy, magazine subscription sales in the inner city – but paradoxically, they proved to be the greatest training ground and the most rewarding experiences a person who goes to prep school at Harvard could only dream of. 
 
How did you get started writing? 
I was always a storyteller. And the stories turned somehow to plays. And I became the Neil Simon of my elementary school, writing the now world-acclaimed “The Case of Safety Sam and the Rocking Chair.” I was a playwright first and then I took on the school newspaper. But my proudest coup was getting published in Poetry Magazine: The Lobby of the St. Agnes Hotel. 
 
Why do you write books? 
To continue the storytelling tradition and equally important, to educate myself. 
 
What do you like best about writing? 
The experience of discovery. What I mean by that is I don’t write with a plan or an outline and I am always amazed at what materializes before my eyes. This is particularly true for my first novel Evidence of Love. Each time I sat down to write (which I only do on my iPhone), I didn’t think I was creating characters’ tales, I believed I was joining them in action. Like they had lives of their own. And of course, my beloved dog Sky is the son who stayed home, who hikes with me every morning, who gives his life to my happiness, who I thank God for every day. So who wouldn’t want to write about such a beautiful creature who has magical powers? 
 
What do you find the most challenging about writing? 
Nothing. 
 
What do you think makes a good story? 
One that opens your eyes and your mind to something that you never knew, absorbed, experienced, or understood before. 
 
Where do you get your inspiration? 
The eternally mystifying, gorgeous, perplexing and exhilarating interaction between men and women. 
 
Tell us about your latest book.
I hike every single morning with my Golden Retriever, Sky, in rain, sleet, snow and sun. And I talk to him as if he’s a wonderful human being. Which, in part, I think he is. One morning on one of our hikes, a woman approached us, embraced Sky and said almost as if to the heavens, “You don’t have a mean bone in your body.” That day, I wrote a story about my boy, printed it and forgot about it. About a year later, my wife Carol found what I had written, as Sky’s loving mother, recognized it for the book it could be, arranged a photo shoot for Sky, and the rest is history. 

Sky’s Amazing Dream is the story about a real Golden Retriever named Sky. He has a phantasmagorical dream: he can turn rocks into gold, he takes poor and sick children to happy times in a hot air balloon and he makes amusement parks appear. Sky goes to Hollywood to make movies, but only if they are free for children, including the popcorn! Word travels fast and the president of the United States visits Sky and names him “King Sky!” But Sky starts to get homesick for the big white house and his mommy and daddy so the president gives him a ride home on Air Force One. 
 
What’s next for you? 
I don’t plan. 
 
Is there anything we didn’t ask that you’d like people to know about you and/or your books? 
How I’ve managed to stay so devastatingly handsome. I wrote 25 books which have been translated into many languages around the world including the bestseller, Your Marketing Sucks, I am also the sole biographer of Carl Icahn, King Icahn: The Biography of a Renegade Capitalist and I also became a successful entrepreneur who built and sold a successful marketing firm.

For more information about Mark Stevens and his books, visit www.skysamazingdream.com

Author Spotlight: Susan Count

Susan Count writes at an antique secretary desk which belonged to the same grandmother who introduced her to horse books as a child. Today, she shares her love of horses through the pages of her award-winning Dream Horse Adventures series. 

Where did you grow up? 
I’m proud to say I am the daughter of a career Army officer. We moved every nine months except for one assignment in Hawaii. Transferring schools in the middle of terms meant being constantly disoriented and translated to only having superficial friendships of convenience. But the lifestyle galvanized me with tremendous strength and confidence to take on unknown challenges. I think the experience gives depth to my stories.

Did you read a lot as a child? 
My father was twice deployed to a war zone and left us with my mother’s parents in Falls Village, Connecticut. His mother, Charlotte Dann Count worked as a librarian in the same town. She recognized in me a love for horses and supplied me with the classic horse books. It wasn’t that I loved to read as much as I wanted to experience a life with a horse and the only way that could happen was in a book. 

What were some of your favorite authors and books? 
Anything horse. Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, Misty. And Saturday morning television fed my equine addiction with Fury, Flicka, The Lone Ranger, and Roy Rogers. Back in the day, all heroes rode horses.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I knew at an early age that my gifting was in composition. While I had a natural aptitude for vocabulary, punctuation skills evaded mastery. I used what literary skills I had in my everyday life, but had no career aspirations. When my children were born, I was completely, exclusively devoted to their well-being and education.

Tell us about some of the jobs you’ve had before you became a writer.
My first job was at a finance company where I learned that it is imperative to be responsible with credit. I loved being a secretary and organizing a work environment. Later, I earned an Associates Degree in applied science and worked as an x-ray technician. I never felt that it suited me and didn’t return to work after I was blessed with children. 

How did you get started writing? 
I’m always surprised to hear myself say, “I’m an author,” because I wrote a book by accident. In fact, if anyone had told me to write a book, I would have scoffed at the notion. Now there are three novels in the Dream Horse Adventures series. I started writing in a season of grief. Some days I wrote 100 words and others 800. The pain of my loss lifted and was replaced with sweet joy. I realized I was finally doing what I was born to do. I loved writing and I loved the story that seemed to magically flower on the page. It took me only three months to write my first book – Selah’s Sweet Dream. Then it took nearly two years to take it chapter by chapter to a critique group to shape it into an award-winning novel.

Why do you write books? 
I write because God has blessed me with gifts and abilities that He expects me to use for His glory. In the process, He gives me a great joy, a sense of a job well done, and a certainty that I have pleased my heavenly Father.

The real Selah and her painted dream.

What do you like best about writing? 
Three things: First, my heart is completely blessed to get to read my stories to my grandchildren. Second, it’s a sweet satisfaction when a child runs to my book table and expresses delight in discovering a new horse book. Third, I’m greatly humbled and appreciative when readers take the time to leave a review on Amazon to tell me how much they loved the book. All these things give me great joy and bring a smile that cannot be suppressed. They encourage me to write on.

What do you find the most challenging about writing? 
Meeting the expectations of people and conforming to the rules of publication. I was told by traditional publishing houses the market for horse books was saturated. 

What makes a good story? 
Experiencing the struggles of life through a character and seeing how the struggles change them. The relationship between Selah, her horse, and her grandfather is special, tender, and endearing. It is my calling to write wholesome books that take readers on a wild ride.

Where do you get your inspiration? 
The beauty of old age is the wealth of life experiences that enable me to layer nuance into a story so that it connects with readers of all ages. My grandchildren and my equine treasures keep the stories real. Horses have a strangle hold on my heart. I’m not sure if I was born with a love of horses or if I fell in love at first sight. I can’t imagine my life without my pasture ornaments and I hope to be able to ride them on the forest trails all the days of my life.

Tell me about your latest book. 
My new release is Selah’s Painted Dream. It was a great delight to write and I’m excited to share it with you. I stalked the artist, who lives in Moscow, to obtain the rights to the cover. Thirteen-year-old Selah’s life is about as perfect as it gets. She has horse friends at school, and on weekends, she rides her black mare on Grandpa’s farm. Training the horse to do upper-level liberty work is what makes her heart beat. But one word can ruin a perfect life—moving. A move would separate her from her horse, so she plots to get her name on the farm mailbox instead. She’s sure she could persuade Grandpa—except he’s overly distracted by a sheep-loving neighbor. Determined not to let Grandpa's new sweetheart take her place in his heart, Selah puts her hope in a painted dream horse from Grandpa’s past. When she snugs up the girth and buckles on her spurs, Selah rides to win.

What’s next for you? 
While I have another horse adventure book in the back of my mind, it has not made it to paper yet. My grandboys are clamoring for stories about them and have given me some hilarious moments to paint into their adventure story. The Firefly Warriors is in the process of being submitted to traditional publishing. Saddle up and ride along! 

For more information about Susan Count and her books, visit www.susancount.com.
 

Author Spotlight: Shanalee Sharboneau

When Shanalee Sharboneau's son was born, he had severe reflux. She spent countless hours of the day and night rocking him and humming nursery tunes to calm him. None of them worked, until she began to hum a melody which later became an illustrated book series about the everlasting love between a parent and child.

Where did you grow up? 
My childhood was spent in Texas, out in the country of Round Rock.

Did you read a lot as a child?
Of course I did read, yet not as much as the child you saw on the playground with a book in their hand. It was imagining mythical creatures and lands that I loved doing the most as a child. Books added to my ability to create and invent.    

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An archaeologist, studying Egyptian ruins and dinosaur bones. You will see these influences in my books.  

What are some of your favorite books/authors?
Anything SciFi. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo 

Tell me about some of the jobs you had before you became a writer. 
Surprisingly, it was never my intention of becoming a writer. I obtained a degree in Mathematics/Statistics from the University of Houston and went into the medical device field. I made it all the way to vice president of Physician Sales and Services.

How did you get started writing? 
My son, Braydon, was very sick with severe reflux when he was born. My husband and I almost lost him twice. In my desperation to keep Braydon calm and alive, I started singing to him. What was created was a song that expressed all of the things I would do with him if he promised to fight his reflux and live. The words in my picture books are the actual song I sang to him in my darkest hours.    

Why do you write books? 
When the first book came out, My Mama Loves Me: I'm Her Little Boy, I never would have foreseen the impact of the book. Many moms receiving the book for the first time would start to tear when they would get to page 3 or 4.  It was such a surprise to me and still touches my heart when I see this happen.  

What do you like best about writing? 
When moms and dads write to me explaining their child will not put down the book for months. I had one mom ask me to "not take this the wrong way," but she hides the book from her daughter on a nightly basis. Somehow, the daughter finds the book and asks her mom to read it to her one more time. It just doesn't get any better than that.  

What do you find the most challenging about writing? 
In the books, for me it was critical to capture the relationship between a parent and child. For example, in the first book, My Mama Loves Me: I'm Her Little Boy, since it was about my son and I, working with the illustrator Israel Dilean to capture the beauty in our relationship was fun. When I was asked to do the second book, My Mama Loves Me: I'm Her Little Girl, it was a challenge because I did not have a daughter. For this, I asked friends who had daughters and referred to my own mother multiple times. When I went onto the Dad books, this was one interview after another starting with my father. And studying fathers and their daughters or sons out in public.  

What makes a good story? 
Krakens, Loch Ness monsters, exotic animals and mythical fairies ... of course! Truly, what makes a good story is one that touches people, whether it be by words or pictures.  

Where do you get your inspiration?
In the beautiful relationships between a parent and a child. It's amazing to watch and this is where I capture moments for my next books. Many parents and grandparents never know why I'm staring at them when at the coffee shop, or restaurant, or in church.  

Tell me about your latest book. 
Coming out on Father's Day this year, is My Daddy Loves Me: I'm His Little Boy. It was really enjoyable producing this book. It is made of the journeys that my husband, Perry, and our son, Braydon would like to take in the future. They both had strong influences over the book.  

What’s next for you? 
My illustrator and I are working on the Grandparents series. When working on the scenes, I do start laughing at times. Grandparents are an influential part of a child's life. I have so many great memories of my own grandparents, and my son is just as attached to his grandparents. We call his grandma the love of his life and his grandpa his partner in crime. I believe most grandmas are the inspiration of our lives and grandpas are best to get in trouble with when your parents aren't looking. Hopefully these great relationships show themselves in the next books.   
  
Is there anything we didn’t ask that you’d like people to know about you and/or your books? 
Life is such an adventure, made to be lived. Learning about the world and other cultures is the definition of true happiness and awareness. My wish would be that this is felt by every child and parent reading my books, and inspires them to go see what is outside their front door.  

For more information about Shanalee Sharboneau and her books, visit myfamilylovesme.org.
 

Announcing our Newest Story Monsters Approved Books

 

Kid-tested, Story Monster Approved! 
Congratulations to our newest approved authors!

Picture Books (Ages 3-8)

Eden and Her Happy
Tracy Schlepphorst

One day Eden wakes up and thinks her Happy is gone. Her emotions take over as she searches in all of the wrong places for her Happy. You will never guess where she finally finds it!

Oogie's Rainy Day Adventure
Michael Weinbergrer, Steve Bonham

Children's Picture/Story Book about a little bear that doesn't give up on achieving his goals.

Greenbeard the Pirate Pig
A.T. Balsara

Sail into adventure with Greenbeard the guinea pig pirate as Snug Rumkin, Greenbeard's ratty first mate, tries to teach him how to be a "proper" pirate!

Tummy Turner    
Kimberly Puckett, Izabela Ciesinska

By the end of the book the reader has not only enjoyed getting to know an adorable monster, but also learns the secret behind the monster.

Growing Up Tobey: The First Year
Caroline Barthen, Blueberry Illustrations

In this short story, Tobey shares with his readers some of his greatest adventures that happened in his first year of life.

First Chapter Books (Ages 6–10)

Charlie Sparrow and the Secret of Flight
D.F. Anderson, Daniel McCloskey    

Charlie Sparrow has no idea he can fly. It's no wonder—in Tree City, none of the birds do. When Charlie seeks out the secret behind his feathers, Doctor Nightingale claims he has a dangerous childhood disease, the cure for which is feather plucking...

Charlie Sparrow and the Book of Flight    
D.F. Anderson, Daniel McCloskey    

Charlie Sparrow is the only bird in Tree City who can fly, but Mayor Peck insists he's faking it. When Charlie learns of a book proving the truth about flight, he leaves Tree City to find it, facing a sharp-beaked thug and a den of mythical bird-eating creatures with claws and whiskers.

Tween Novels (Ages 10-14)

The Maker    
D.F. Anderson

When a mysterious drawing binder appears on thirteen-year-old Nate Smith’s windowsill, he starts having visions—and drawing them. Strange creatures come for his work, launching him on a space adventure to learn the alien art of making.

School Life

Henry and His Manners    
Tracy Schlepphorst, Charlie Martin

Henry learns the importance of manners when he wakes up one morning without them. Follow Henry as he goes through his day and watch his manners try to catch him.

Green Living/Environmental Issues

The Engirlneers Protect the Ground Water
Shannon DeVivo and Heather DeVivo-Winz    

During a long morning of sledding, Chloe's younger brother encounters a gasoline spill near the school. Chloe enlists Gillian and Elan to evaluate the spill and help clean it up before it endangers their friends and neighbors. Can the engirlneers combine their different skills to clean up the spill before it's too late?

Spirituality/Religion

Eden and Her Joy    
Tracy Schlepphorst, Charlie Martin

Follow Eden through the untimely loss of her dad. Watch her emotions and the emotions of those she loves. Experience the return of her happy as she realizes that the love of her dad is a forever love.

LuLu Faces Fear    
Gail Trauco, Mahfuja Selim

This magical children’s story can be read as a simple tale of a beautiful young unicorn in an enchanted wood. She has a rainbow-colored horn like a freshly made ice cream cone and a soft white coat. When she loses her precious mama, she has to find a way to overcome her fears.

LuLu's Denial    
Gail Trauco, Mahfuja Selim

This charming book for youngsters can be read on two levels. It is a simple story about a young unicorn who has lost her mama and is trying to find her. On another level, this book can be used as a tool to help children who have been affected by the loss of a loved one.

Education/Reference

Sixty-Minute Shakespeare Series
Cass Foster

To make the works of Shakespeare accessible to all ages and levels of education, Cass Foster combines his experience as a professor emeritus of theatre, fight choreographer, and stage director to provide the Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series. Foster’s renditions of the timeless tales are not adaptations, but rather judiciously condensed versions of the Bard's classics.

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Author Spotlight: Tara McCarton

Today's author spotlight is Tara McCarton, who has written a heartwarming book about kindness and inclusion, inspired by her daughter's Christmas wish that one day, her sister would be able to speak to her.

Where did you grow up?
Brooklyn, NY

Did you read a lot as a child?
I did, and even today, once I get into a book, I could stay up all night reading it.

What were some of your favorite authors and books?
When I was younger, I loved all the Nancy Drew mystery books and now my favorite author is Nelson DeMille, and Plum Island is my favorite book.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was good in math, so I went into finance, but everyone always told me I should write a book. Sometimes things in your life take you down a different path and you do what you were meant to do and find a different passion.

Tell us about some of the jobs you’ve had before you became a writer.
I was a lifeguard in high school and college then went into finance and worked at some of the biggest investment banks in the world. I also became an ongoing service coordinator for the Early Intervention program here in NY.

How did you get started writing?
I was inspired by my 3-year-old’s Christmas wish for her nonverbal sister to talk. I thought it was the sweetest wish and inspired me to write a book about having a disability but from a child's point of view in a lighthearted way.

Why do you write books?
I want to inspire children to be kind and include others that may be different than they are, and to know you can do anything you put your mind to, just like the illustrator of my book, who has autism.

What do you like best about writing?
Sending a positive message into the world and seeing the reactions of the kids when they read my book. It sparks a conversation that they may not have started before.

What do you find the most challenging about writing?
Finding the time to organize all my ideas in my head and getting them out on paper.

What makes a good story?
A good story is something that inspires you and teaches a message.

Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration for this book is from my daughters. Having a daughter with special needs teaches you to slow down and appreciate all the little things around you. When I watch my daughters interact, and seeing how typical kids act around Audrey inspired me to teach the world about finding the “ability” in disability.

Tell us about your latest book.
My book, The Wish, is a sweet story about two fairies—one who speaks and one who doesn't. The younger fairy's wish is for her friend to talk. It teaches love and kindness and to slow down and appreciate the differences in all of us.

What’s next for you?
I hope to write a second book. I already have some suggestions from my nephews and classes I have spoken to. I would love for this book to be in schools around the world and read to children at night.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about you and your books?
Yes, my illustrator has Autism. She is from the church we go to and when I attended her birthday party, I saw pictures of fairies on her wall. I asked her if she drew them and she did. I thought they reflected the ideas in my head perfectly of what the fairies would look like in my book. I wanted to give her a chance, too and show that even if you have a disability, you can do anything you set your mind to. When I read in schools, the children are fascinated that the pictures look like they are drawn with markers and they said they knew they could make a book, too! It is so great to see these kids drawing pictures and making books in the classroom. That is what inspires me as well!

For more information on Tara McCarton and her book, visit www.audreymccarton.com.

New Author Enjoys the Challenge of Large Group School Visit

by Carol Hageman

I am a first-time author of a children’s book entitled Bubby’s Puddle Pond: A Tortuga’s Tale of the Desert. My book has been in publication for less than a year and I have had several book signings and school visits, but recently, I was invited by a school to read my book and do a presentation on the artwork before 800 students in grades K-3.  

The academic coach wanted the students to become more aware of the arts. I accepted the challenge, but after I hung up the phone, I realized what I had just agreed to. Up until now, my presentations were typically in the range of 50 students. However, I reminded myself of the years of experience I had acquired as a volunteer in my daughter’s elementary school and library. I thoroughly enjoyed working with children, tutoring them in reading, and being involved with the Art Masterpiece Program. That’s when I realized, I could take on a project of this size, too.

Just a month earlier, I had the opportunity to purchase all of the artwork from the book. It included pencil and ink sketches, a small draft of the book and all of the watercolors. I thought the children might be interested in learning how a book is produced. I would tie that in with the art that made the book special.

When I arrived at the school, I was led to the auditorium to set up. I was told there would be two sessions. The kindergarten and first-graders would be together for a slightly simplified version of the presentation, followed by the second- and third-graders for a more advanced version. I prepared the tables by laying out the pencil sketches, ink sketches, and the watercolors in succession, as they appeared in the book.

After introducing myself, I asked the students how many of them liked to draw, how many liked to read, how many liked to write. After all the little hands went down, I told them there are many new authors and artists in the audience. I told them art comes in many different forms from paintings to sculptors to crafts and drawings. Just like in my book. All of the artwork was done in watercolors.

I shared a story of my experience years ago, when I volunteered in the classroom helping children produce their own book. The students would hand-write their story and I would type them and make a cover out of construction paper. The students would then illustrate the pages and cover. After everyone completed their book, they would read it to the class.

I then proceeded to explain what it took to produce my own book. I started with the front cover, the copyright page, the dedication page, content of the story, fact pages, glossary, curriculum page, and the creative team pages. Finally, the back cover. I explained how many professionals are involved in the production process. Starting with the author, followed by the illustrator, editor, graphic designer, curriculum writer, proofreaders, project manager, production staff, and printers.

The academic coach had scanned the book in order to project it on a large screen as I read it to the students. After the story was finished, pre-selected students came up on stage to ask a question, using the microphone before the student assembly. I answered their questions, and followed up by encouraging them to follow their dreams. If they enjoy reading, writing, and drawing, someday they might be an author, or work on a professional team to produce a book.

Finally, the children were invited to walk by the table to view the artwork. I was so pleased with their responses of enthusiasm! They shared with me who their favorite character was in the story, had positive comments about the watercolors, and thanked me for visiting their school. Needless to say, I left feeling very gratified. I felt very comfortable before 800 children and would love the opportunity to do it again.

Story Monsters Ink June Book Reviews

Check out our newest book reviews!

Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact
by Jennifer Swanson (National Geographic Kids) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This is a fascinating book for those with hungry minds. It’s filled with amazing facts and fun experiments, along with the cool realization that exploring the heights of outer space and the depths of the dark blue sea have a lot in common. The photography heightens the interest level and encourages learning.

Lindie Lou Adventure Series
by Jeanne Bender, Kate Willows (Pina Publishing) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This cute series follows a sweet little puppy named Lindie Lou through her adventures. Starting out in the happy home where she was born, we see the puppies grow and get ready for their new forever homes. Each book is a new adventure, whether it’s a door left open, a fast ride in a truck, or flying high on an airplane, and each includes valuable lessons Lindie Lou must learn. This adorable puppy will have children eager to follow her in each new setting. Great introduction for young readers into chapter books and the concept of a series.

A Werewolf Named Oliver James
by Nicholas John Frith (Alison Green Books) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This is a cute story of self-actualization and belonging. No matter what perceptions or rejections may come from the outside, home is a place of understanding. When Oliver suddenly comes into the fullness of his identity as a werewolf, it is met with startling reactions from those around him. As he heads home wondering how he will ever explain his abrupt transformation, he arrives to find no explanation is needed. Home is a place of acceptance and inclusion.

I Am the Rain
by John Paterson (Dawn Publications) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Captivating! From the onset, its words compel. An unseen force pushing you forward with an irresistible effect. A voice leading deeper into its identity, until you feel a living connection in its cycle. What a great way to enjoy science, and learn the amazing cycle of water!

Eraser
by Anna Kang, Christopher Weyant (Two Lions) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This is truly a delightfully creative way to learn respect, and a clever way to find the importance of each individual to the corporate whole. School supplies each provide a unique quality to a task, and Eraser begins to doubt her contribution. Everyone can add to the project, but her job is only to remove things. This cute story reminds us that everyone has value, whether it’s completing a school project, or rounding out the joys of family life.

The Big Umbrella
by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates (S&S/Paula Wiseman Books) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Rainy days bring warm and snuggly thoughts. And what better way to describe an umbrella. It waits quietly at the door until it’s needed, then opens wide and gathers you in. This sweet depiction of kindness falls upon us as gently as the rain.

Marigold & Daisy
by Andrea Zuill (Sterling Children’s Books) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Sibling rivalry goes back to the second child ever born in time. We can never exhaust its content. There is a story to tell in the voice of every second, and third, and fourth, and so on and so on. Every family will store such tales upon its bookshelves. Zuill’s adorable graphics will enliven the reading experience of every non-firstborn. Simple and delightful!

Rosie the Tarantula: A True Adventure in Chicago’s Field Museum
by Katie Macnamara, Peggy Macnamara (Northwestern University Press) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago was founded in 1893, and is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. Along with millions of artifacts and preserved specimens, it also houses many live creatures as well. Rosie is numbered among these live creatures. In 2011, Rosie snuck off the third floor where she lived, and took a fascinating tour of the museum. Her discoveries lasted a year, and upon her return, inspired this story. Its soft, almost poetic flow, narrates her amazing adventure.

A Home For Leo
by Vin Vogel (Two Lions) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Leo finds himself caught between two really different worlds, and two loving families. Loving both, Leo also feels a bit lonely in both. Is there a remedy, a true joy for all? Today, in a world of diversity, many find themselves in such a place—multiple cultures, diverse languages, extended families. We love it all, but sometimes it can press on our emotions. Sometimes, we may find ourselves wondering where we truly belong. There are many helpful ways to find our own personal wholeness in such diversified settings, and Leo finds his.

Friends Stick Together
by Hannah E. Harrison (Dial Books) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
The artwork alone makes this a truly enjoyable reading experience, but the storyline’s added depth of heart, and practical wisdom makes the purchase well worth the money. I think we all have run across those larger-than-life folks who press hard on the annoyance button, and at the same time, our world would truly be off kilter without them.

Sticks ‘n Stones ‘n Dinosaur Bones
by Ted Enik, G.F. Newland (Schiffer) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
This is truly history made fun. The whimsical rhyme turns man’s folly to laughable learning. Greed and misguided ambition are sneaky culprits that can disrupt the best of times. Competition between Edward Drinker Cope of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and O. Charles Marsh of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale stirred quite a Bone War! Each paleontologist used less than ethical means to outdo the other, yet brought to the public the wonder of dinosaurs. The illustrations by G.F. Newland complement the great text so wonderfully, that it is a most entertaining lesson in (pre)historical events!

Visiting You
by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg, Andrea Edmonds (EK Books) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Though there is a sweet sadness that flows lightly through this book, it brings us to a gentle reality that we all share heartache and loss. Though we may all look different, come from many different places, and seem less than engaging, once we dare to reach, to touch and be touched, a common thread can tie such sweet bonds. This is a sweet reminder to not judge harshly. To take a moment and engage that troublesome person. We might find they are carrying a burden we understand quite well, and sharing it may lighten both our loads.

Sky’s Amazing Dream
by Mark Stevens, Carol Stevens (CreateSpace) Reviewer: Darleen Wohlfeil
Who says imagination is only for kids? Sky, a beautiful Golden Retriever, has some pretty big dreams of his own. Mark Stevens is a bestselling author and the very proud daddy to Sky, and he enjoys sharing his wonderful adventures. Though Sky’s dreams lead him to great success, he finds being home with those he loves best, and helping others, is the greatest adventure of all.

Neema’s Reason to Smile
by Patricia Newman, Mehrdokht Amini (Lightswitch Learning) Reviewer: Sherry L. Hoffman
Brightly-colored illustrations by Mehrdokht Amini beautifully highlight the poignant story found within Neema’s Reason to Smile. While following the pages of this Kenyan tale, readers will transcend to young Neema’s journey through her life and witness her desire to attend a local school near her village. Saving each coin earned through peddling fruit, young Neema defines the perfect example of hard work and determination. Everyone should own a dream basket like Neema, and thanks to the useful appendix included with this empowering tale, teachers, parents, and students alike can follow the directions to create their own. Equipped with Depth of Knowledge questions, a handy glossary, and real-life dreams of Kenyan students, Patricia Newman inspires readers to dream and reach goals while emphasizing the necessity of education as a key to unlocking a world of opportunities.

Albert’s Tree
by Jenni Desmond (Walker Books Ltd) Reviewer: Sherry L. Hoffman
Albert’s Tree is a soft, fuzzy tale that young readers will be sure to love. Spring awakens Albert the bear from his slumber, making him want to seek out his favorite tree. As he settles into his favorite comfortable spot on the branches, a surprise startles the huggable, lovable bear. Continuing through the playful story are adorable forest animals helping to solve the mystery in question. Illustrations mesh perfectly to add both humor and sweetness to the tale. Easily destined to be a new favorite, readers will learn how the beauty of friendship can evolve in the most surprising ways.

Hazel and Twig: The Birthday Fortune
by Brenna Burns Yu (Candlewick) Reviewer: Sherry L. Hoffman
Hazel and Twig: The Birthday Fortune is a delightful tale which incorporates Korean words and delicately illustrated characters to introduce first birthday customs for the Korean culture. Family bonds between young siblings play an important role in birthday preparations for young Twig. Along with reading for the pure enjoyment of taking in a beautiful story, this book serves as a helpful tool in discussing family and cultural traditions. Author and illustrator Brenna Burns Yu has many reasons to celebrate; this delightful birthday tale is both beautifully written and illustrated and will surely leave a lasting impact on readers.

What’s on Your Plate? Exploring the World of Food
by Whitney Stewart, Christiane Engel (Sterling Children’s Books) Reviewer: Larissa Juliano
A picture, geography, and cookbook all in one, I love everything about it. Starting with the sneak peek pictures of the world map and children enjoying dishes all across the seven continents, we are then transported to special countries, including Morocco, Brazil, Italy, Spain and more. Each page gives the reader a synopsis of the food and general culture of that country. The recipes look delicious and easy to prepare. I’m sure that after reading this beautiful book, parents and children will quickly travel to the kitchen.

Better Together: A Book of Family
by Barbara Joosse, Anneke Lisberg, Jared Schorr (Abrams Appleseed) Reviewer: Larissa Juliano
Family and friends fulfill our lives in so many ways and this sweet story celebrates these special
relationships between animals. Better Together appeals to kinesthetic animal lovers who will appreciate the sturdy open-the-flap pages that, when peeled back, reveal the family coming together in various scenarios (feeling lonely, scared, hungry). I like the inclusion of animals that are not your typical animal characters in books—zebras, meerkats, bats, and crows. A nice discussion for some older readers as to why the author included those families, and also a fun extension project would be to research other animals that have a tight family bond! The focus throughout this colorful and lovely illustrated story was clearly how much we are all better when we’re together.

This Zoo is Not for You
by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow) Reviewer: Larissa Juliano
This sentimental story (sprinkled with some silly) starts off with a little platypus approaching the zoo gates, only to be shunned by some snooty flamingoes, entitled chameleons, dismissive pandas, and rude elephants. It’s hard not to feel sad for the platypus, but the author keeps the rhyming text fresh and readers will quickly catch on to the repetitive phrase “this zoo is not for you.” Fortunately, the animals quickly realize how rude they were and then discover an envelope the platypus left behind! Forgiveness and fun are at the heart of the story along with the powerful message … kindness matters more than anything and everyone deserves a chance at friendship.

Remy Sneakers and the Lost Treasure
by Kevin Sherry (Scholastic) Reviewer: Olivia Amiri, age 11
Remy Sneakers and the Lost Treasure is a fast-paced, fun cartoon book. Remy’s house gets broken into and his grandma’s journal gets stolen. That was his most important family heirloom, the journal of the Raccoon family. Remy and his critter crew set out to find the thief. Will they find the journal? Read the book to find out!

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door
by Andres Miedoso, Victor Rivas (Little Simon) Reviewer: Olivia Amiri, age 11
This is an entertaining, adventurous book series. If you’re a kid or an adult, you can relate to this book because everyone has a friend who’s afraid of everything. The big difference is that the other friend, Desmond Cole, is a fearless 8-year-old who patrol’s Kersville for ghosts, monsters, and spirits. And Andres Miedoso, his new best friend is determined to go everywhere with Desmond, but he’s afraid of everything. By the way, Andres Miedoso is also the author of this book series. You might want to read up on him to see if he actually is afraid of everything!

Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School
by Julie Falatko, Colin Jack (Scholastic) Reviewer: Diana Perry
Sassy and Waldo are happy dogs who belong to their young master, Stewart, but when Stewart leaves for school, they fear that he may be heading to danger. Sassy climbs onto Waldo’s shoulders as they disguise themselves as a human by wearing a trench coat, then sneak into the school where they pass as the new kid. They’ve practiced speaking “human” and everyone but Stewart believes they are. It is up to Stewart to convince his beloved pets that he is safe and happy in school. I found the illustrations most comedic and entertaining. Younger readers will just love the escapades of these two loyal pooches. A fun read for any child.

The Disappearing Spoon
by Sam Kean (Back Bay Books) Reviewer: Diana Perry
This science-based book makes learning about the Periodic Table actually fun. The author takes the huge task of learning about elements and what’s not an element and breaks it all down into manageable, understandable bits. A complete lesson, he informs readers on how the Greeks named the elements and includes the Periodic Table of Elements, an exciting glossary, and a helpful Index. This book was fun to read and I believe it will present this subject in a way that readers will enjoy learning. I also see it igniting the spark of science in future chemists, physicists, and other scientists.

My Year in the Middle
by Lila Quintero Weaver (Candlewick) Reviewer: Diana Perry
In a racially-polarized sixth-grade classroom in 1970 Alabama, Lu’s talent for running track makes her a new best friend—and tests her mettle as she navigates the school’s social cliques. Some say blacks and whites shouldn’t mix and others say we’re all the same race: human. Having just moved from Argentina, Lu feels stuck in the middle and wishes to remain invisible but she realizes she must make her stand. Teenage life is hard enough as it is, but Lu has more than most in this coming of age story. Kids will relate to her and root for her.

Rock Collecting for Kids: An Introduction to Geology
by Dan R. Lynch (Adventure Publications) Reviewer: Diana Perry
Being an avid rock collector myself, I can attest that Mr. Lynch knows his subject matter. This book includes great examples of rocks and minerals, complete instructions to teach young collectors what to take, how to be safe, where to look, and even how rocks and minerals are formed. A really fun read and a great guidebook for children to use when rock collecting. The glossary includes all kinds of terminology that will leave any reader feeling like a junior geologist.

Love, Penelope
by Joanne Rocklin, Lucy Knisley (Harry N. Abrams) Reviewer: Diana Perry
This is the most charming example of a perfect big sister—Penelope. The book is filled with heartwarming daily letters from Penelope to her unborn sibling. She shares the trials and tribulations of being a fifth-grader and asks little questions about her sibling’s development, which leads to big questions about the world around her (like if and when her moms are ever going to get married “for real”). I was touched and found myself smiling through each page. The perfect book for any child who either is or will soon be a big brother or sister.

The Boy Who Went Magic
by A. P. Winter (Chicken House) Reviewer: Diana Perry
The mages of Ferenor were outlawed and destroyed by the royal family centuries ago for performing incredible feats and powering wondrous machines with their magic, and the world is a much duller place. Bert is a young boy who’s lived in an orphanage longer than he can remember, with no friends and a most ordinary life. He’s told that magic is just a myth. But then a chain of strange and inexplicable mishaps causes Bert’s life to spiral out of control. This book is indeed a magical adventure with many mysteries. Young readers will be caught up in all the action and suspense of this page-turner.

Front Desk
by Kelly Yang (Arthur A. Levine Books) Reviewer: Diana Perry
Ten-year-old Mia Tang lives in the motel where her parents work. They clean the rooms and she works the front desk. The owner is a horrible man who cheats them constantly. Mia makes a new friend, Lupe, and through their daily lives, they reveal to young readers how America can be the best and the worst place for a poor immigrant to be. Mia comes up with an idea that will not only help immigrants understand English phrases, but pulls many together in a plan to get them all out of poverty. A must-read.

To submit your book for review, email cristy@storymonsters.com for submission guidelines.

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Remembering Mister Rogers

by Melissa Fales

photos courtesy of The Fred Rogers Company

Fifty years ago, children scattered in living rooms across America were first invited to visit Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Beginning in 1968, Fred Rogers became an on-screen friend to countless young people who were drawn in and put at ease by his calm demeanor, melodious voice, and his assertion that he liked them, just the way they were.

Ironically, as Rogers often shared, it was his dislike for the medium of TV that led him to create the beloved show. He once told CNN’s Jeff Greenfield, “I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there’s some way of using this fabulous instrument to nurture those who would watch and listen.”

Born in 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Rogers grew up singing and playing the piano at the knee of his maternal grandfather, Fred McFeely. He attended Rollins College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition in 1951 and meeting the woman who would later become his wife, concert pianist Joanne Byrd.

Rogers got his start in television working for NBC right out of college, parlaying his significant musical ability into jobs on shows such as The Voice of Firestone, The Lucky Strike Hit Parade, and The Kate Smith Hour. He also dabbled in work for several children’s shows, but his aversion to the merchandising so closely tied into children’s programming led him elsewhere.

In 1954, Rogers began working as a puppeteer on The Children’s Corner, a Pittsburgh Public Television show, where he found relief from the consumerism of commercial TV. During the several years he spent with the show, he introduced some of his most beloved puppet characters: King Friday XII, Henrietta Pussycat, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, and Daniel Striped Tiger.

Rogers also spent time in Canada, working on a short-lived children’s program called Misterogers where some of his most recognizable backdrops and props originated, including the trolley, the huge tree, and the majestic castle belonging to his highness, King Friday XII. Rogers later acquired the rights to that show and returned to Pittsburgh where he created Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It first aired nationwide in 1968 through National Educational Television, a precursor to Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

In 1969, the impactful testimony Rogers gave in front of the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications in support of funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was hailed as a game-changer. In his soft-spoken manner, Rogers deftly made the case that children’s programming on public television addressed a need in society and served as an antithesis to the troubling messages that so commonly infiltrated television programming. He also sang one of his songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Instead of the cuts that were planned, Congress went on to appropriate $22 million, more than double the previous years’ funding for public broadcasting, and Committee Chairman Senator John Pastore famously told Rogers that he’d earned those millions.

Those funds also helped the PBS hit show Sesame Street become the blockbuster it was. Sonia Manzano, who portrayed Maria on Sesame Street for 44 years, appreciated how Rogers’ show complemented hers. “Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood were the perfect combination of children’s programming in the early 1970s, with Sesame Street’s emphasis on cognitive skills and Mister Rogers’ emphasis on social, emotional interaction,” she says.

Each episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood opens the same way, with Rogers returning home singing, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” before changing into his trademark sneakers and cardigan sweater. Episodes typically feature interactions with various “neighbors” and make-believe adventures with puppets, interspersed with Rogers’ musical compositions. The concept behind the show relies largely on his soothing presence, unhurried pace, and ability to connect with children.

During most episodes, Rogers takes his viewers on a field trip, introducing children to the types of places one might find in a neighborhood. One such field trip was to author/illustrator Eric Carle’s studio. “It was an honor to work with him and appear on his TV show,” says Carle. “We read my book From Head to Toe together and painted tissue papers. It was an absolute pleasure to visit and paint papers together, both of us in our white smock jackets. The way he spoke to children was so calm and kind and respectful. I will always remember Fred with great fondness and admiration. We are so fortunate for all that he gave to the world.”

The best part about Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is that Rogers was simply being himself on screen. “One of the greatest gifts you can give anybody is the gift of your honest self,” Rogers once said. “I also believe that kids can spot a phony a mile away.” That’s how he lived his life and how he filmed his television program. “Fred Rogers was authentic,” says Manzano. “That’s why all the satirized versions of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood that we all enjoyed, couldn’t touch or diminish him.”

Many children, like author Kate DiCamillo, found refuge in Rogers’ placidity. DiCamillo, who was often ill as a child, still remembers how he made her feel every time she watched an episode. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital when I was really young, and I remember the nurses letting me sit on a green, vinyl-covered couch in the hospital lounge (this was before hospital rooms had TVs) so that I could watch Mister Rogers,” she says. “I remember feeling lousy. I remember that the vinyl of the couch was cold against my legs. And I remember being worried that I would do something wrong and get sent back to my room and miss the show. And then Mister Rogers came on, and nothing mattered. I didn’t feel sick. I didn’t feel cold. I wasn’t worried. Mr. Rogers made me feel safe.”

Over the course of its three decades on air, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood won four Emmy awards. Rogers earned a Lifetime Achievement Award, 40 honorary degrees, and induction into the Television Hall of Fame. Less than a year before Rogers passed away in 2003, President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

When it comes to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, however, it’s not about awards or accolades. Rogers never sought those out. Instead, it’s about how he made people feel and continues to make people feel today. And one thing everyone in the neighborhood can agree on is that “It’s such a good feeling, a very good feeling.” •

For more information about Fred Rogers and his legacy, visit fredrogers.org.

Find more stories like this in the June issue of Story Monsters Ink! The literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents!

One to Read: Wé McDonald

by Melissa Fales

photo by Kimeth McClellan

In 2016, an unforgettable 17-year-old singer took NBC’s The Voice by storm, unleashing her powerful sound and sharing her poignant journey from childhood bullying victim to rising star and anti-bullying advocate. In an effort to bring her inspiring story to more young people, Wé McDonald has recently released a children’s book. In The Little Girl with the Big Voice, McDonald writes about enduring and ultimately overcoming the vicious taunting she suffered. “My book touches on bullying, but it ends with me on stage, being triumphant and realizing that I don’t have to change who I am for people to like me,” says McDonald. “I think that’s a very important message for kids today. It’s something more kids need to hear.”

Growing up in Harlem surrounded by her family of talented musicians, McDonald thought being able to sing was a universal trait. She didn’t realize she had a special gift until she was 12 years old. “I liked to sing, but I didn’t know I was good at it,” she says. “I thought everyone could sing until I found out that being tone deaf was a thing.”

McDonald’s naturally high-pitched speaking voice, a stark contrast from the deep singing voice her fans enjoy, combined with her need to wear thick eyeglasses, made her a target for bullies in her school. At home, she sought comfort from her family and especially from music. “I’d turn on the radio and write in my Barbie diary,” says McDonald. “Listening to music always made me feel better.”

Being bullied drove McDonald to want to sing even more. “Singing was the best way I knew how to express myself,” she says. “I thought I couldn’t be the only person feeling like this.” And since music had always soothed her when she was feeling down, McDonald decided to pursue a career in music where she could use its ability to heal to help others. “I wanted to give that same comfort to others,” she says. “I wanted to give reassurance to anyone who was struggling that things were going to be alright.”

When McDonald was in eighth grade, she started taking vocal lessons through an afterschool program at Harlem School of the Arts. “At first I was horrified,” says McDonald. “I figured it would be a new place and new people to make fun of me. But it ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me.” As she grew, so did her voice, her polish, and her professionalism. She went on to perform at major venues including the renowned Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. She is currently studying jazz vocals at William Patterson University.

McDonald will be releasing an EP soon. The lyrics to her recently-released new single, “Head Up High,” are featured on the back of The Little Girl with the Big Voice. She says she enjoyed her turn at being an author, but she plans to release more music before she writes another book. “I don’t approach singing and writing in the same way, but I do approach both of those things with the same heart and passion,” she says.

Viewers of The Voice witnessed that heart and passion throughout McDonald’s appearance on the show. It all started when her father surprised her with a ticket to the Philadelphia auditions. There, McDonald and her father were hauled into a huge center with a few thousand other people. “It was really early in the morning, too, but the mood was electric,” she recalls. One of the most memorable points in the process was waiting to hear if McDonald made it to the blind audition round. “We were in our hotel room and we got a call that they were having a meeting and they wanted us there,” she says, adding that she went into a full-blown instant panic. “I thought that we were late for something, that we didn’t look at the schedule correctly, or that we had messed up,” says McDonald. When she arrived at the meeting, there were only a few other contestants there. When the announcement came that they’d made it to the blind auditions, McDonald was floored. “It was so surreal,” she says. “It was an unbelievable feeling.”

During her blind audition, McDonald belted out a rendition of “Feeling Good” that compelled all four judges to turn their chairs around, indicating an interest in having her on their team. Honestly, I only remember some of it,” McDonald says. “It was so overwhelming.” Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, and Blake Shelton had all turned around when McDonald closed her eyes briefly during the tune. “When I opened my eyes, Adam (Levine) had turned around,” says McDonald. “I couldn’t help it. I freaked out a little. I had a moment.”

McDonald, who ultimately placed third overall, chose to work with Keys as her mentor, but says she gleaned valuable advice from all four of the show’s star coaches. “When you have musicians like this sharing what they’ve learned throughout their experience in life with you and helping you, it’s priceless,” says McDonald. “With my book, I feel like it’s my turn to share what I’ve learned from my experiences. I hope I can help others who were in my situation.”

In The Little Girl with the Big Voice, McDonald offers a very personal look into her own transformation. “This book is really about my journey,” she says. “It shows how I used to try to change who I was just to make people like me, but it ends with happiness. When kids read it, I want them to take away that confidence is beautiful in people no matter what they look like. You can have a small beginning, but if you work hard, you can end up on top. You have the right to fight for that.” •

Read more stories like this in the June issue of Story Monsters Ink! The literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents.

ESPN Host Mike Greenberg Pens a Loveable Tale about a Furry MVP

by Melissa Fales

Popular ESPN television personality Mike Greenberg is not only a trusted sports authority, a member of the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and a New York Times bestselling author, he’s also a passionate opponent of cancer. He and his wife, Stacy Steponate Greenberg recently co-wrote a children’s book, MVP: Most Valuable Puppy (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster), and they are donating all of their proceeds from it to help fight pediatric cancer.

“Everything we ever make from this book will go towards cancer research, until there is a cure,” says Greenberg. “It’s very gratifying for us to be able to do something that can make a difference in this world.”

Greenberg’s inspiration to raise money for cancer research traces back to 2009 when Stacy’s friend, Heidi Armitage, was diagnosed with breast cancer. “It had spread to her bones by the time it was discovered and she died that same year,” he says. “She was dealt cards you don’t come back from and that was just the most unjust thing I had ever seen.”

Wild emotions raced through Greenberg’s head during Armitage’s memorial service. “She was outdoorsy, she didn’t smoke, she was a healthy eater,” he says. “I remember staring at the backs of her children’s heads—they were both under 10 years old at the time—and I was sad, but more than sad. I was angry. It wasn’t fair. I was livid because this was such an injustice.”

Greenberg transformed his anger into action and in 2013, he and Stacy created Heidi’s Angels, a foundation to raise money for cancer research. That same year, Greenberg released his debut novel, All You Could Ask For, about women trying to keep their everyday lives and friendships intact while battling cancer. He’s donated all of his proceeds from the novel to Heidi’s Angels to fund anti-cancer efforts.

Greenberg, who has been with ESPN since 1996, is most well-known for Mike and Mike, the long-running show with Mike Golic, and now the new morning show, Get Up. However, Greenberg says he’s always wanted to be a writer, something he traces back to his childhood spent browsing through the bookstore his parents owned and operated. “I got into broadcasting as a way to pay the bills while trying to write the great American novel,” he says. His first book, Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot: The Life and Times of a Sportscaster Dad was released in 2006 and became a New York Times bestseller. His novel My Father’s Wives was released in 2015.

Most recently, says Greenberg, thanks to the photos he and Stacy have posted on social media, he’s gained clout not for his broadcasting or his writing, but for his dog, Phoebe, an Australian Labradoodle with a pink tail (it was originally dyed pink when Heidi passed away as a subtle tribute to her battle with breast cancer). “We had been thinking about a new project to raise more money for Heidi’s Angels,” says Greenberg. “It was Stacy who came up with the idea to create a kids’ book, starring Phoebe.”

MVP: Most Valuable Puppy is a charming tale about a girl and her dog. “It’s about a little girl who likes sports and learns how to play from her dog,” Greenberg says. “There are a lot of sports books about little boys, but this one is different. And we don’t make a big deal of the fact that it’s about a girl. She’s just a girl out there playing with the other kids and having a blast.” There’s nothing morose about the story. “This isn’t a book about cancer,” Greenberg says. “In fact, there’s no mention of cancer in the book. It’s a classic children’s story. You can read it to a 2- or 3-year-old and an older child might be able to read it themselves. It has a nice message for kids to take away.”

Greenberg says illustrator Bonnie Pang’s depiction of Phoebe is spot-on. “She brought our dog to life,” he says. “She did a sensational job not only of creating a dog that looks just like Phoebe, but conveying her when she’s animated. There’s almost a magical quality in how she jumps off the page.” Greenberg, unabashedly smitten with Phoebe, unapologetically calls her “the world’s cutest dog” and says kids who read the book will grow to adore her, too.

Interestingly, Greenberg’s experiences with Phoebe are his first as a dog owner. “I never had a dog growing up,” says Greenberg. “In fact, I was afraid of dogs my whole life.” His fear stems back to an incident when he was just 6 years old and visiting a friend’s house. “We were wrestling as little boys do, but his little dog thought I was attacking him,” recalls Greenberg. “He came racing over and bit me. That was it. I was terrified of dogs ever since.”

Years later, Greenberg found himself at odds with his wife and kids, all of whom wanted a dog. “I was the lone holdout,” he says. “That experience as a 6-yearold really stuck with me.” Finally, he was talked into it. “You know, I never understood why people loved dogs so much,” he says. “But now I have Phoebe.”

Earlier this year, ESPN legend Dick Vitale asked Greenberg to be an honoree at his V Foundation for Cancer Research Gala in May, recognizing Greenberg for his work with Heidi’s Angels. “I was extremely moved and touched by it,” says Greenberg. With MVP: Most Valuable Puppy set to be released just days before the gala, the Greenbergs decided to acknowledge Vitale’s personal crusade to combat pediatric cancer by donating their proceeds from the book to fund pediatric cancer research. “Stacy and I talked about it, and thought it was appropriate, especially since it’s a children’s book,” says Greenberg. “We knew that Heidi would have loved the idea.” •

Find more stories like this in the June issue of Story Monsters Ink! The literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents.

One to Watch: Siena Agudong

by Melissa Fales

photo by Travis Hayes

Nickelodeon’s new show, Star Falls, features Siena Agudong as Sophia Miller, a teen with a seemingly endless arsenal of ploys aimed at setting her single mother up with one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors. When movie star Craig Brooks lands in her small town for a filming project with his three children in tow, Sophia takes advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play matchmaker for her mom.

Agudong, 13, admits there are some similarities between her and the character she portrays. “She is a huge schemer, and although I have fun with pranks, I am not as mischievous as
Sophia,” she says.

Born in Hawaii, Agudong was acting by the time she was 7 years old. “I grew up watching my older sister, Sydney, do a lot of theatre,” she says. “I was so inspired. I started doing theatre as well and fell in love with everything about acting.” The first time Agudong took the stage was in Willy Wonka and her first role was portraying an Oompa Loompa. “I was so excited when I found out that I was the Oompa Loompa that got to say, in a very deep voice, ‘Doopa Dee Doo,’” she says.

Agudong transitioned from the theatre into TV by playing Lulu Parker on the ABC drama, Killer Women. She went on to become a regular guest star on Nickelodeon’s popular Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn. She also appeared as Tiffany on TV Land’s Teachers, winning a 2017 Young Entertainer Award for “Best Guest Starring Young Actress 12 and Under” for her performance.

According to Agudong, these acting jobs were a valuable learning experience. “They were so incredibly fun,” she says. “I got so close to the casts I worked with and I appreciate being able to grow as an actor from those projects.”

Now, Agudong has the lead role in Star Falls. “Sophia comes up with a lot of sneaky and persuasive ways to get Craig Brooks and his three children, Diamond, Phoenix and Bo, to stay at her house,” she says. There’s a little bit of culture shock and a lot of laughs. “Sophia and Diamond try everything they can to set up their totally different parents,” says Agudong. “There are a lot of crazy challenges that arise when the two completely different families try to live under one roof.”

When she’s not acting, Agudong likes playing with her dogs and spending time with her family. “Or you can find me on the soccer field playing my heart out,” she says. All that soccer playing paid off with Agudong landing a role in the upcoming Warner Brothers movie Alex & Me alongside Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member Alex Morgan. In Alex & Me, Agudong plays Reagan Wills, a big Alex Morgan fan. “Reagan is a passionate soccer player who dreams about being on a certain team but when she doesn’t make the cut, she is devastated,” says Agudong.

When Reagan accidentally bumps her head, her life-size Alex Morgan poster magically comes alive and becomes a friend, trainer, and coach to Reagan. “From that point on, everything changes for Reagan because she now has U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan to help her,” she says.

Agudong says she enjoys every aspect of acting. “I love the adrenaline of going to set and not knowing what to expect,” she says. I also absolutely love adopting another person’s life for a day and experiencing many events that I may not actually encounter in my own life.”

For Agudong, one of the hardest parts about being an actress is trying to fit everything into her very busy schedule. “It’s very challenging to juggle full-time school and a full-time filming schedule but it is so worth it to me in the end.” When things get tough, Agudong turns to her role models for inspiration. Her biggest inspiration is her sister Sydney, but she also looks up to Selena Gomez and Liza Koshy. “I admire how hard Selena Gomez works to achieve her dreams and her honesty and humbleness,” she says. “Liza is so incredibly confident, silly, and not hesitant to be herself. I adore that so much. She is so pure.”

Agudong says she’s aware that girls will be looking to her for guidance on how to act and what to do. “I really want to be a role model for others,” says Agudong. “I know how significant it is to have one. It’s very important for me to be a positive example for girls my age.” As far as future plans, Agudong envisions herself continuing with acting. “I have every intention of pursing my acting career when I’m an adult,” she says. “This is what I want to do and I truly enjoy every second of this amazing journey and feel so blessed and grateful.” •

Find more stories like this in the June issue of Story Monsters Ink! The literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents!

Astronaut Clayton Anderson Launches Little Readers on an A to Z Mission

by Melissa Fales

photo courtesy of NASA

As Nebraska’s first and only astronaut, Clayton Anderson holds the sole privilege of representing the Cornhusker State in space. Being selected by NASA in 1998 was a lifelong dream come true for Anderson, as evidenced by the faded newspaper clipping he has of a photo taken of him at the Ashland Summer Carnival in the mid-1960s.

In it, he’s 6 years old and dressed for the children’s parade in a handmade astronaut costume, complete with a helmet made out of a hat box and a lot of aluminum foil. “My mother always said that when I was a little boy, I often told her I was going to become an astronaut one day,” he says. Since retiring from space travel, Anderson has been busy writing books, including his first, The Ordinary Spaceman: From Boyhood Dreams to Astronaut, released in 2015, and his first children’s book, A is for Astronaut: Blasting Through the Alphabet, released in March.

Writing a book for kids wasn’t even on Anderson’s radar until a friend who manages a bookstore told him about the numerous titles in the Sleeping Bear Press Alphabet series. “They don’t have a space one yet,” she hinted. The result is an A to Z journey filled with space words, a poem for each letter, and fascinating facts about NASA. “I wrote down the alphabet and picked a word for each letter,” he says. “I had multiple choices for a few of them. I finished the poems in less than a week. I thought that was the really fun part.”

Anderson praised the book’s illustrations by Scott Brundage. “They’re very visually impactful,” he says. Anderson also wrote the sidebar information on each page which gives children a deeper glimpse into what it’s like to be an astronaut. “It’s a book that can really grow with the kids,” he says. “Small children might only be able to read the letters on their own. As they get older, they’ll be able to read the poems. And as their reading skills improve, they’ll be able to learn something about space.”

Anderson hopes A is for Astronaut will spur a curiosity about space among his young readers, similar to the way he was indelibly affected on Christmas Eve 1968 by watching the Apollo 8 mission orbit the moon on TV. “Listening to the communication between ground control and that command module 239,000 miles into space was incredible,” he says. “I remember that tension and that drama and that excitement when they re-established contact after a long period of static. That was a huge Wow! for me. That really planted a seed in my head.”

Of the 30 years Anderson spent with NASA beginning in 1983, the first 15 were as an aerospace engineer. For the last two years before he was selected as an astronaut, he was the manager of the Emergency Operations Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston. “I knew little to nothing about managing emergencies, but NASA had taught me a lot about planning, training, and flying,” he says. “I was able to take the plan, train, and execute methodology from space flight and apply it to emergency response.”

Anderson was fortunate in that although he was completely prepared, he never had to deal with a real emergency. “We simulated a ton of them, just like we do in space flight,” he says. “We simulate all the time so when the time comes, you’re ready.”

Spending 167 days in space took guts, determination, and especially perseverance, since Anderson submitted 15 applications to NASA before he was finally accepted as an astronaut. “That’s supposedly a record,” says Anderson. “Applying to become an astronaut is easy. Getting selected is hard. I just didn’t give up.”

The application, according to Anderson, is tedious, involving hours of work. “Once it’s done, it’s relatively simple to update it every year,” he says. So he did … again and again. After the 13th try, Anderson was called in for an interview. “At that point the flame was lit,” he says. It still took two more tries, but Anderson knew he was getting closer to his goal.

In all, Anderson had the opportunity to experience six space walks, spend five months on the International Space Station, and fly on two space shuttles: Atlantis and Discovery. In 2013, he retired from NASA and embarked on a writing career. In June, Anderson’s third book will be released. It’s a Question of Space: An Ordinary Astronaut’s Answers to Sometimes Extraordinary Questions is a collection of the often thoughtful and sometimes inane inquiries Anderson has received about space over the years.

The most perennial topic, according to Anderson, is food. “The food in space is pretty good, actually,” he shares. “I got to eat both Russian food and American food. The Russian food was preferable. I definitely did not starve.”

Anderson says he hopes It’s a Question of Space will encourage young adults to consider space exploration and other STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) fields when they think about their career choices. “It’s important that we get kids excited about STEAM,” he says. “It’s really important to the future of America that our children are focused on these kinds of disciplines. These are the people who are going to be the problem-solvers of the future.”

Looking ahead, Anderson says he plans to continue his schedule of speaking engagements and to keep writing. “My mantra is: I write to inspire, to entertain, and to educate,” he says. “I can’t get in front of audiences everywhere, but if people choose to look at my books, that gives me an additional avenue and a different way to inspire them.”

Read more stories like this in the June issue of Story Monsters Ink! The literary resource for teachers, librarians, and parents!

Debbie Wideroe Inspires Eco-Awareness with Children’s Book Series

by Melissa Fales

Once, Debbie Wideroe awoke from an especially vivid dream and jotted down “The Adventures of Camellia N.” on the notepad she keeps next to her bed. It didn’t mean much to her at the time, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that those words had significance. “I couldn’t get rid of it,” says Wideroe. “Then, literally, one day it took over and I instantly knew what I wanted to do.” That’s how Wideroe’s popular The Adventures of Camellia N. series came to be.

Published by Notable Kids Publishing, she’s already released the first two books of a planned set of nine, drafted with the hope that reading about Camellia’s magical experiences all over the globe will help children develop a deeper appreciation for our planet.

Growing up, Wideroe was strongly influenced by her father, a fervent believer in sustainability before the term became widely used. “I grew up with the idea of reuse, recycle, repurpose,” she says. “I developed an innate sensibility of taking care of the earth without even thinking about it.” Wideroe started writing at age six and never stopped, compiling journals and poetry in addition to magazine columns and stories.

Her eco-conscious upbringing and way with words set the stage for her future as a children’s author of environmentally-themed books. However, children’s literature wasn’t the first step in her career. Instead, Wideroe did stints in children’s television, marketing, and teaching. “While I was at Harvard University for graduate school, I was lucky enough to study under Dr. Gerry Lesser, one of the creators of Sesame Street,” she says. She went on to be in charge of marketing for Warner Brothers’ Baby Looney Tunes and other animated properties. And although she didn’t set out to become a teacher, she’s taught advertising and marketing at Pepperdine University for nearly 20 years. “It just kind of happened,” she says.

All of these experiences combined to make Wideroe uniquely qualified to write The Adventures of Camellia N. series. In the books, little Camellia N. visits faraway places around the globe each night in her dreams, meeting different animals along the way. Wideroe says over the course of the nine books, Camellia will visit all seven continents as well as deep space and the deep sea. “I like the idea of introducing children to the magnificence of the earth at a young age,” she says. “I think the younger they are when you capture their interest, the better the chance that they are going to internalize those feelings of wonder and awe and want to care for the earth when they are older.”

Foremost in Wideroe’s mind when she writes Camellia’s adventures is an admonition from Lesser about keeping children’s books educationally accurate. “I always think about that,” she says. When she’s researching a new location for Camellia to visit, she consults with wildlife professionals for the latest information about the region and its creatures. “I go to the experts for this,” she says. “I’m not a scientist. They tell me which animals are endangered, some critically so, and I weave them into the stories. I try to highlight the coolest things about all of the creatures and show how incredible they are. If kids find these animals amazing, perhaps they’ll want to take care of them.”

The first two books in Wideroe’s series are The Arctic (the first-place winner of a Royal Dragonfly Book Award in the Green/Environmental category) and Under the Sea. The third book in the series, detailing Camellia’s trip to the Amazon rainforest, is due out this fall. “In 2020, when the Olympics happen in Asia, will be a perfect time to launch the book,” Wideroe says.

One thing that truly sets Wideroe and The Adventures of Camellia N. apart is the way her vision extends beyond her books and into other avenues where she can make a difference. “I see it as a book series, but it’s also a platform for change,” she says. For example, she started Camellia Kids Care, a global pen pal program that began with a match-up between a school in San Francisco and one in Norway. Her latest set of pen pals live in Calabasas, California and Zambia. “I want these kids to start to understand how interconnected Earth’s creatures and cultures are,” she says. “We’re already seeing that happen with the pen pal program. While they’re learning about a different culture, I hope they’re also learning that at the end of the day, we’re all the same. I hope they’re becoming global ambassadors. This is the next generation. These are the ones who are going to have the power to make big changes.”

Another one of Wideroe’s efforts is Camellia Cares, a partnership with Children’s Scholarship Fund that will allow her to teach low-income parents about fostering communication with their children. “Although this initiative is not tied to the environment, it is tied to literacy, which is another one of my passions,” says Wideroe. “I am a teacher, after all.”

Wideroe says her drive to complete the series has been buoyed by the many supporters of her books and her larger message, including people like Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., and former Energy Secretary. “I’m fortunate and grateful to have influential people supporting and cheering for me,” she says. However, Wideroe says nothing is quite as rewarding as going into schools with her books and visiting with students. “You really feel it at that level,” she says. “When your book is sitting on the shelf, you don’t feel it as much. But when you’re watching little children reading it, you can see you’re making a dent. That’s when you know you’re touching people’s lives.” •

Check out more stories like this in the June issue of Story Monsters Ink!