Books

Whispers book cover

Whispers

Have you ever overheard whispers about yourself? Imagine if you had learned to depend on your ears and could hear even better than the average person. To begin her series about extraordinary preteens overcoming a variety of challenges, the author shares what it was like coming of age as a totally blind student in West Texas.

For Amber, there almost seems to be a contest at her middle school as to who can be the meanest to her. She has to endure humiliation in the school cafeteria, in choir class, at a school dance, at the mall, and even at a family gathering. And always, there are the relentless whispers.

At long last, after meeting other blind kids and then setting a new and better academic course for herself, Amber—who has renamed herself Cheyenne—finds her way to a much happier environment, one in which she can grow and thrive.

Story Monster approved! Winner of the Pinnacle Achievement and Book Excellence awards! Finalist in the American Book Fest and Wishing Shelf awards!

 Best Book AwardStory Monsters Approved Winner

Hardcover: ISBN-10 1088049141 Buy this book here.

Discussion Questions and Activities for Whispers

The Colors of Darkness

 

Have you ever imagined a world without sight? The author will paint a vivid picture through poetry of what that world is like for her.

 

There will be activities to challenge you along the way and many things to learn about the amazing spectrum of abilities that people possess.



Paperback: ISBN-13 979-8549507210


Buy this book here.

The Colors of Darkness Book Cover
Ode to Dad Book Cover

Ode to Dad

 

This charming book was written in honor of loving dads everywhere. It consists of five parts:

  1. The book begins with how to say Dad in 18 languages. Then there are eight poems to Dad.
  2. The 17 recipes provide instructions for things as simple as hot cocoa to multiple suggestions for burgers and make–your–own pizzas. There are vegetarian, keto, and vegan options as well.
  3. The Fun Projects section offers 10 clever ideas for making inexpensive things as diverse as a natural mosquito trap, a bird house, and tin foil boats.
  4. The Coupons section provides eight coupons that a child can cut out and give to Dad. Offerings include a bear hug, a back rub, a drawing, a chore done without complaining, and more.
  5. The Personalized Pages at the end are for each child in the family to fill out. The heartwarming headings include such wording as “My favorite thing about Dad is…” and “If I could give Dad anything in the world, I would give him…” There is even a space provided for each child’s handprint. These pages could be copied and given to the children again a year or two later, to see how their answers might vary with increased maturity.

 

This wonderfully original collection is sure to delight loving parents and children alike, providing them with a multitude of fun indoor and outdoor activities.

 

Hardcover: ISBN-13 979-8438550969

Paperback: ISBN-13 979-8435003994

Buy this book here.

Ode to Mom

 

Mothers, you are the foundation upon which our society is built.

Enjoy poems about moms, healthy recipes for picky eaters that can be adapted to almost any diet, and some fun projects that you can do alone or with your kids. 

 

Hardcover coming soon! 

Paperback: ISBN-13 979-8749924688


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Ode to Mom Book Cover
Stranded Book Cover

Stranded

Whales and dolphins are falling ill all throughout the Atlantic Ocean!

Cherish and her family of Pilot Whales have been fleeing as far from other animals as possible, but some of them have begun to show symptoms.

When danger closes in from all around them, will the Dolphin Riders make it in time to save the day?

Gold Award Recipient of the 2021 Mom’s Choice Awards.

Moms Choice Award

 

Hardcover: ISBN-10 108795262X 

Paperback: ISBN-13 978-1087952628

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Discussion Questions and Activities for Stranded

People Safari

Take a journey to spy upon the peculiarities of the world of people through the eyes of animals.

With a fresh perspective on human behavior, as seen by a deer family and their raccoon guide, this book will get you thinking like an animal scientist and have you laughing as well.

Not only are these musings fun, but they just might bring us closer to the natural world and deepen our respect for it, making us better stewards of our environment in the future.

Hardcover: ISBN-10 978-1088151235 

Paperback: ISBN-13 979-8373669849

Buy this book here.


Discussion Questions and Activities for People Safari

People Safari Book Cover
Mommy Sing Me a Lullyby Book Cover

Mommy, Sing Me a Lullyby! (SIC)

Lull your little one into blissful slumber with a book that encourages them to always dream big and reach for the stars.

This rhyming picture book features children, all around the world, dreaming of what they might like to be when they grow up.

All dreams, big and small, are worth reaching toward … because anything is possible!

Hardcover: ISBN-13 978-1-0879-1884-6

Paperback: ISBN-13 979-8424975905

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Discussion Questions and Activities for Mommy, Sing Me a Lullyby

Invisible Me

 

Family is everything, but when my baby sister was diagnosed with Cancer, I felt alone, scared, invisible.

I want to share my story.

A book for all the warrior children and the siblings who feel lost and confused on the sidelines.

Stay strong! You are not alone. You are not invisible.

 

Hardcover: ISBN-10 1792370113 

Paperback: ISBN-13 978-1792370113

 

Buy this book here.

 

Invisible Me Book Cover
Discussion Questions and Activities for Whispers

1. What do you think Cheyenne’s strengths were? What do you think were her weaknesses?
2. What are a few of your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
3. Which characteristics make people interesting to you? Why?
4. Think about your first day at a new school. How did you feel?
5. Which things are unique about you? Has anyone ever made fun of these traits? If so, how did it make you feel?

Activities You Could Try with Your Student/s:
Place students in pairs (you could pair with your child in a homeschool setting.) Have each person write down all of the things that they like about their partner. It could be things as simple as pretty hair to how they help other people, or anything in between. Then, have each person write down all of the things that they don’t like about themselves on the other side of the paper. Have them exchange the pages with their partners and see if some of the things that make them the most insecure just might be the things that others admire in them. Imagine a world where everyone was exactly the same. Each person would look exactly the same, speak exactly the same, act exactly the same, and live in exactly the same types of houses. What kinds of feelings occur when you think of such a place. How boring might it be if nothing was ever different or stood out at all?
Use this to begin a discussion with your family, class, or homeschool group. It just might help to put the differences of people in a whole new light.

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Discussion Questions and Activities for Stranded

1. Are whales and dolphins fish that can breathe underwater, or do they need to come to the surface to breathe? In which ways are whales and dolphins like people? In which ways are they different?
2. What was making the Pilot Whales so sick? Have you ever heard about similar illnesses that humans can get? How do these illnesses spread between people, and what can we do to protect ourselves from them?
3. What did the whales call people in this story, and why were they afraid of them? Even though we know there are people who hurt animals, think about the ways in wich we also try to help them.
4. What does it mean for a marine mammal to become stranded? Why do you think this happens sometimes?
5. If you could be any Dolphin Rider in this story, who would you be, and why? Which dolphin would you choose for your noble steed, and why?

Some Activities You Could Try with Your Student/s:
It’s easy to forget that animals can get sick just like people. Research different illnesses that our favorite animals can contract. You could have your student select an animal and research specific ways that this species can become sick. How does it effect individuals as well as populations of that specific animal? Can the diseases or infections spread to other species? Are there any ways that people help? There are groups of people all around the world that rescue stranded marine mammals. Find out about the ones closest to you. What kinds of things do they do to help? Find out what you should do if you discover a stranded animal. Even if you don’t live close to the ocean, you could encounter one on vacation and be a part of saving a precious life.

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Discussion Questions and Activities for People Safari

1. How do you think Fawn was feeling when she saw all of the children get onto the school bus? What were her parents thinking?
2. What do you think was Fawn’s favorite part of taking a safari to watch people? What do you think was her least favorite part?
3. Which human activities do you think would be the most interesting for animals to watch? Which activities would be the most confusing?
4. Have you ever caught an animal staring at you while you were doing something? What were you doing, and what did you imagine they may have been thinking?
5. What is your favorite animal. How do you imagine it would think of the place where you live?

Activities You Could Try with Your Student/s:
Brainstorm some interesting things that people do, and have each child choose an animal. Have the child write down what that animal might imagine the purpose for each activity might be. Some ideas to get you started are concerts, sports games, driving, camping, kayaking, parasailing … the sky is the limit. Let your imaginations run wild. Talk about animals that you have seen in the wild, in wildlife preserves, or at zoos. Were they ever doing anything that made you wonder? Talk about these things and what their purposes may have been.

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Discussion Questions and Activities for Mommy, Sing Me a Lullyby

Although this book is written as a goodnight story, it could be great before nap time in a preschool or daycare. You can always do activities later in the day.

1. What do the grownups in your life do for work?

2. What might you like to be when you grow up?

3. The children in this book were dreaming of what they might like to be when they grow up. Which dream was your favorite, and why?

Activities You Could Try with Your Student/s:

Have each child decide on a career that interests them. Help them think of all the things that person might do for their job. Let them stand up in front of the class and pretend to be that type of worker. You could gather a variety of props and dress-up materials to spark their creativity. Have each child talk about someone they know that has an interesting job and let them tell you about what they might do every day. Talk together about what a normal day in that profession might be like. This would be a fun discussion for a class, a family, or a homeschool group setting.

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