Books for ages 4–8 (and their parents, grandparents, and older friends)
4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Hardcover,978-1442423657, 48 pages, $17.99
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014
One thick, hot day, Arun Gandhi travels with his family to Grandfather Gandhi’s village.
Silence fills the air—but peace feels far away for young Arun. When an older boy pushes him on the soccer field, his anger fills him in a way that surely a true Gandhi could never imagine. Can Arun ever live up to the Mahatma? Will he ever make his grandfather proud?
In this remarkable personal story, Arun Gandhi, with Bethany Hegedus, weaves a stunning portrait of the extraordinary man who taught him to live his life as light. Evan Turk brings the text to breathtaking life with his unique three-dimensional collage paintings.
READ-TO-ME
David C. Hughes; illustrated by Ken Bryson
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, 2015
Paperback, 978-1940834917, 60 pages, $10.95
Also available as hardcover and ebook
10 Little Hiccups is a preschool rhyming book in both English and Spanish that teaches children to count in a most delightful way. This little book is beautifully illustrated with fluffy hiccups kids will adore, and is a fun and educational read for the whole family.
44 pages
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, 2014
Paperback, 978-1940834306, 44 pages, $10.95
Also available as hardcover and ebook
Hannah loved going to the park. She especially enjoyed going to Cherry Park, and she loved it even more when the clowns stopped by... But when the clowns stop by, so does a storm. Just when the townsfolk think the rain has washed away all their fun, something amazing happens! Join Hannah and the rest of the people in Cherry Park as the clowns frolic, entertain, and astonish them with their ability to bring fun, no matter what the weather has in store.
Artie: The First Artifical Christmas Tree
Bright Sky Press, 2016
Hardcover, 978-1942945284, 32 pages, $19.95
Artie watched the trees. When they saw children misbehave, a fine mist flowed from their branches. When touched by this mist, children stopped bickering, babies stopped crying, and parents started smiling. "What's that coming from your branches?" asked Artie. "That's Christmas Spirit…" Artie is delighted when a family selects him to be their Christmas tree. But, because he's not a real tree, he doubts he has enough Christmas Spirit to bring the children the hope, joy, love and peace they need.
Who can help Artie believe in himself? No one knows more about Christmas Spirit than Santa. That jolly old elf soon sets Artie straight. Any tree―just like any person―has an infinite amount of Christmas Spirit to share, if it comes from the heart. Artie: The First Artificial Christmas Tree shows children how important it is to share Christmas Spirit. Artie's struggle to feel worthy of the special work of the evergreens will encourage young readers facing their own obstacles and help them to understand the importance of developing their own special talents. Timeless watercolors capture the enduring magic of the Christmas season and will inspire readers to spread cheer through the holidays―and beyond. Artie's story shows that with Christmas trees, just like with people, it's what's inside that matters!"
READ-TO-ME / AGES 5–9
Jennifer Powelson
Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve (Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk series)
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, 2015
Paperback, 978-1944277093, 32 pages, $9.95
Rachel and Sammy team up for another adventure as they learn to conserve! On the last day of school, Rachel, Sammy, and their classmates take turns showcasing conservation practices they've installed around the school for their science projects. Whose project will Mrs. Doe, Doc Opossum, and Principal Bear choose to be the winner? Children will discover that everyone wins when they conserve the earth's natural resources. Join in the fun and learn all about planting trees and native plants, soil, water, and energy conservation, wildlife habitats, recycling, and more! Beautifully illustrated by Kalpart, and full of colorful photos taken by the author, Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve will teach children easy ways to use natural resources wisely at home and at school.
Jess Smart Smiley, illustrated by Sade Han
Familus, 2016
Hardcover, 978-1942934035, 32 pages, $16.95
’Twas Christmas in Texas,
and twelve elves were sent
to see who was sleeping...
away the elves went!
From the panhandle to the stockyards, from the capital to San Antonio's Alamo, these 12 Little Elves discover some of the most unique and interesting things about Texas and what it has to offer. Silly, over-the-top fun, and a bit ridiculous, 12 Little Elves Visit Texas is the perfect book for every little Texan!
Books for middle-grade readers
YOUNG READERS/FICTION
Kim Batchelor
Paperback, 978-0989729710, 188 pages, $12
Hardcover, ebook
Peter is still the boy who doesn’t grow up. Wendy is a girl who had to grow up too soon. And Wendy’s brother, Michael, has autism and a connection to The Island of Lost Children. When Peter leaves his island home, it’s to search for pick-up soccer games and mock sword fights. Wendy spends her evenings looking after her two brothers, bratty JJ as well as Michael, while her parents work nights. In the midst of several unusual events including the disappearance of a classmate, everything changes for Wendy when a peculiar fairy named Bellatresse helps Peter find the missing girl. With its quirky humor and touching moments, The Island of Lost Children is about children creating their own stories, families, and communities, all while swashbuckling, navigating mystical rivers, riding child-made roller coasters, and, of course, sailing high through the open skies.
Middle-grade reader for ages 8-12
Lora Gray
Quest Theater, Book 1: Bones in the Basement
John Hardy, 2016
Trade paperback, 978-0-9903714-4-1, 216 pages, $9.85
Pearl Quest and her twin brothers, Oscar and Bernie, have no choice but to spend afternoons with their mysterious grandfather in the old theater where he lives. All they really want is to find out what happened to their grandmother, and why no one ever talks about her disappearance. Oscar suspects she's buried in the basement but, as they discover, the theater holds more secrets than just bones!
Good for young readers who enjoyed the Magic Treehouse books.
FICTION//HORROR
David C. Hughes
Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, 2016
Paperback, 978-1944277260, $10.95
Also available as ebook
Who can pass up a scary tale or a spooky ghost story, especially right before bed on a stormy night after eating a sloppy bean burrito? From possessed bunny slippers to a house guarding an ancient secret, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales features a dozen short stories sure to raise a few goosebumps, conjure a giggle . . . and make you think twice before disobeying your mom the next time she asks you to clean the shower stall. These stories awaken the imagination and questions what we commonly refer to as reality, while entertaining and delighting the senses.
FANTASY
Andrea Rand
The Chronicles of Kibblestan: Revolution (Volume 1)
Colimar Press, 2015
Paperback, 978-0996749107, 330 pages, $11.99
When Ellis gets lost in the creepy forest behind his house, a mysterious light draws his attention. He steps into the light, bringing his anxiety-prone dachshund and followed by one very hyper mouse. Together, they find themselves trapped in the dark, ominous world of Kibblestan, a land full of bizarre canines, over-sized rats and small creatures called Petikins. It is also a land that is under attack, by grisly Snotlins who destroy everything in their path. All Ellis wants is to find a way back home, but when he meets a young Petikin who's lost his family, his offer to help sends him on a harrowing journey that will uncover many truths--truths about the Snotlins, truths about the missing family and truths that will lead Kibblestan to a revolution and force Ellis to make the most painful decision of his life.
Also from Andrea Rand
The Chronicles of Kibblestan: Canines(Volume 2)
Colimar Press, 2016
Paperback, 978-0996749114, 286 pages, $11.99
Dedicated to our military families, this second Kibblestan installment follows Kinzie, a girl whose father is deployed, as she searches for Mo, her beloved dog that’s gone missing in Kibblestan. Kinzie desperately needs help navigating the fantastical land, but the strange inhabitants keep to themselves. Why do they seem so sad and lifeless? Why does the mention of a lost dog cause such anger and fear? There are secrets in Kibblestan that only the dogs know, but Kinzie is about to uncover these secrets, one by one, revealing Mo’s whereabouts and the awful truth about the canines of Kibblestan.
“... Lucid, enchanting characters populate this diverting story.” —Kirkus Reviews
FICTION SERIES FOR GIRLS AND BOYS
Don M. Winn
Sir Kaye, The Boy Knight, Book 3: Legend of the Forest Beast
Progressive Rising Phoenix, 2016
Paperback, 978-1944277390, 178 pages, $9.95
Also available as ebook
The Knighting of Sir Kaye: A kids' adventure book about knights, chivalry and a medieval queen. Full of adventure, humor and warmth, this series is sure to please even the most reluctant reader. Mom's Choice Awards® Gold Recipient, and Silver, UK Wishing Shelf Book Awards, Silver Moonbeam Awards.
In Book 3, the beloved tutor Alchir has vanished! And a dangerous criminal with a grudge against Alchir has just escaped from prison. Kaye is determined to find the tutor and earn a fine reputation as a knight. The search leads them to a sinister manor house at the edge of a dark forest where nearby villagers live in terror of a deadly monster!
Books for young adults
Catalina Claussen
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, 2016
Paperback, 9781944277154, 228 pages, $12.95
It’s hard to miss Cascade Rose Jennings. She’s the one in cowgirl boots who up until this morning wasn’t interested in boys. But, on the eve of her sixteenth birthday something inside her knocks loose.
His name is Chadwick Dean Holbrook, a college prep school boy from Albuquerque and Cassie’s long-time “fair weather” friend. Every year, at summer’s end he disappears from her Grandpa Norm’s high desert ranch in southwestern New Mexico. This time, he promises to stay for Cassie’s birthday. Just when Cassie thinks she can count on him, Chad breaks his promise. He leaves behind an endearing, flirtatious treasure hunt. Cassie, filled with renewed hope, stifles a pang of jealousy when she discovers, her best friend, Ahzi Toadlena, is in on it. To make things worse, Cassie meets Maverick Britton, a charming misfit who threatens to steal her heart and the gold her Grandpa has kept quiet about all these years. Maverick has a dark secret that unwittingly draws Cassie and Ahzi into his perilous world. Chad, protective of his childhood friends, knows Maverick’s kind. He returns in time to rescue Ahzi and help Cassie win back the gold. In the end, Cassie realizes that her friendships, her family, and deep connection to the land mean more to her than any romance.
Catalina Claussen is a founding English teacher at Aldo Leopold Charter School in Silver City, NM. She is a graduate of Reed College, Prescott College, and Western New Mexico University and long-time resident of the Mimbres Valley. She writes poetry, short story, and YA novel. Her debut YA novel, Diamonds at Dusk, is a finalist for the 2016 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards!
HISTORICAL FICTION
Deanna K. Klingel
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, 2016
Paperback, 978-1944277161, $11.95
Also available as ebook
Chief William McIntosh, chief of the Muscogee Creek Nation (all of Georgia), was one of the wealthiest men in Georgia when he was murdered by his own people in 1825. A complex and interesting man who walked in two worlds, is still controversial today. Was he a thief and a traitor, or was he a martyr and a hero? When Inman Walkingstick sets out on his Fourteenth Summer Quest with a special walking stick and is surrounded by the mysterious fog on the Chattahoochee River, he steps back in time to meet Chief McIntosh who will change Inman's perspective on life.
Deanna K. Klingel is the author of several recognized and awarded historical fiction for middle grade and YA, as well as picture books and nonfiction. She wrote stories all her life, but didn't seek publication until her seven children were grown and gone. Deanna lives in the mountains of western North Carolina with her husband Dave and golden retriever Buddy. She travels with her books giving presentations at museums, schools, libraries, special events and bookstores. You can find her website at booksbydeanna.com. She writes a blog Mondays and Thursdays.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Amanda M. Trasher
Progressive Phoenix Rising, 2014
Paperback, 978-1940834016, 206 pages, $9.95
Also available as hardcover and ebook
Lynn Granger is about to find out how easily social media can be used as a malicious tool: a normal teen one day and ruined the next. Who knew a boy's affections would turn her life into such a nightmare? Becoming a designated 'project,' a joke in front of the whole school, turns Greenlee's life upside down. Relationships with her family and friends strained, she is forced to make mature decisions. Greenlee knows her choices will determine the future of her abusers. An emotional glimpse into the reality of cyberbullying. The Greenlee Project showcases the all-too-common anonymous and cruel betrayals of others through social media, of such magnitude that it devastates a young teen, her friends, family, and the community. Cyberbullying affects not just the victims, but everyone around them. After being the target of cyberbullying, what Greenlee does next is shocking.
Looking for the perfect gift for the writer or reader in your life? Give them peace and serenity with a retreat at The Writing Barn.
Situated on 7.5 wooded acres in Austin, Texas, The Writing Barn is surrounded by mature trees, home to birds and deer. It’s a peaceful out-of-town environment without ever leaving Austin. With floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, rows of instructional craft books, free Wi-Fi, and no television, the Writing Barn is the perfect spot for an overnight writing retreat, to host a writing class, or throw a book launch party.
The Writing Barn, operated by Bethany Hegedus author of Grandfather Gandhi, Between Us Baxters, and Truth with a Capital T, is located near Manchacha Road and Slaughter Lane in South Austin, Texas. For an exact address and to schedule a viewing appointment, please book a tour here. For further details, please see Rates & Rental Information.
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