Blog Archives
SOS Champion Captain
There isn’t much Nora can’t do–and do well. She’s her school’s captain, and if there is a prize offered or medal to be won, she has claimed it for her own. So when she and her classmates find out about the newest competition to build a model pirate ship, she just knows this will be another easy win for her. However, Nora soon learns this is to be a group project, something she is not comfortable with, as she is not the one in control of everything. So will this be the one competition Nora actually can’t win? Or will she be able to pull it together for the sake of her group members?
SOS Champion Captain, by children’s author Cameron Stelzer, is one in a series of the School of Scallywags books. Nora, champion of virtually everything, is the main character and is in for a difficult lesson on how to treat others. She is used to being recognized as the best in all she does, and when things don’t go her way, and she loses her temper, the group project suffers. Nora must learn about acceptance, tolerance, and unity in order for her group to be able to finish building the pirate ship. This is a common issue for many children, they feel their worth is tied to their achievements. Learning teamwork is hard and this entertaining book teaches kids the value of working together.
My third graders are going to love this book–our class theme is pirates, and Nora and her crew fit right in! I love that Nora and the other characters struggle with some of the same issues as my students–the strong love of hot chips and the stress of group projects. Stelzer’s characters are undoubtedly relatable for young readers, and the fantasy setting of the School of Scallywags is sure to draw readers in from the first pages.
SOS Champion Captain is a captivating children’s book for those kids in the second to fifth-grade reading levels. Nora and the other members of the School of Scallywags will delight readers with their relatable feelings and life lessons. This book will make a great addition to both school and classroom libraries.
Pages: 98 | ISBN : 0645133132
The Most Purrfect Home Of All
A little one-eyed stray cat without a name is happy living in a rusty old truck in a meadow far away from people. Until one winter’s day he returns to find his home being towed away. So, the cat sets off to find a new home before he succumbs to the cold, but he struggles to find one. Either another animal lives there, or it is too scary. Then caught in a blizzard he stumbles across a cottage and takes refuge on the porch. The following day footsteps scare him away. Hungry that night, he returns to the cottage to find a bowl of food waiting for him. Could this be the purrfect home he has been searching for?
The Most Purrfect Home Of All, written by Susanne Rea and illustrated by Maria Andrieieva, is a heart-warming picture book based on the life of a real cat who wants to find a forever home. The homeless cat shows courage as he seeks out a new home. He is determined to never give up, and in the process, learns to trust humans again. The man in the story shows compassion for a stray animal even when the animal is hesitant to trust again.
The artwork complements this sentimental story, with the color pallet of the changing seasons matching the cat’s mood – bright, cheerful colors when he is happy, and darker monotone colors when he is struggling. This children’s book is entertaining and captivating for young readers. It is a story of hope and compassion. This beautifully written book is even better because a portion of the proceeds goes to supporting homeless and abused animals in Hungary.
The Most Purrfect Home Of All is a heartfelt picture book that will capture the hearts of children and animal lovers. The cat’s adventure to find the perfect home is one that will draw in young readers and teach them the lessons of courage, compassion, determination, and the importance of trusting others.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B09QV4NZW4
The Star Of This Book Uses A Wheelchair
Medieval Mashup follows a boy who is struggling with accepting himself and wants to fit in with the cool kids. What was the inspiration for your book?
The inspiration behind this and all my stories is my late son, Leigh. He was born with a physical disability and struggled many times to keep up with his peers from a very early age. The difficult situations Leigh, the character, encounters in these stories are loosley based around Leigh’s child-hood.
Leigh struggles with wanting to be cool and still be himself. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s personality?
Of course, the “real” Leigh, my son. He had a beautiful, shy caring nature and a little cheekiness about him which often surfaced when he was feeling confident. Unfortuantely, his lack of confidence with body image and mobility was always a major concern for him.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was important to highlight some of the issues that children with limited mobility face which other children and adult, may or may not have considered.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Book 3 in Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures is currently in production and will again highlight another issue children with special needs may encounter.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Leigh’s Wheelie Adventure series continues with Medieval Mashup (Book 2).
A special book focusing on the challenges children with different needs face on a daily basis.
Leigh just wants to look brave and strong…
Leigh, Tara, and Cosmo are making costumes for the school’s Medieval Fair. But Leigh is afraid of looking silly and keeps snapping at his friends. Will Leigh overcome his fear of not looking cool and make up with his friends?
Based on the true story of Leigh who was born with a severe physical disability.
A beautifully illustrated story of courage, friendship, and fun.
QR Code on back cover to watch the full video and read along
Cool Kids
Michael is excited to start the year at his new school. He is going into 4th grade with two of his best friends. Together they all dream of playing football at this new school like they did last year. Michael makes several new friends in the first few weeks of school, and they all get along great. One day, Michael sees some boys playing football, and they will not let him join in. He is not one of the ‘cool kids.’ Disappointed, Michael decides to find a way to get into the cool kid’s group. Unfortunately, he learns that he must be mean and become a bully to be part of this group. Michael starts seeing himself as a monster and questions if being cool is worth it.
Cool Kids by Arlene Freeman takes a serious topic of bullying and presents it in a way that older elementary grade kids can understand and relate to. As a parent, I have witnessed bullying from this age group multiple times, and I think addressing it at this age level is vital for teaching just how harmful it can be to others. Kids will be able to relate to Michael and his desire to fit in and join others that are doing the activities he wants to do. I am impressed with how the author shows readers the ugly side of bullying. Being a bully makes you feel ugly inside, even when you look like the cool kid on the outside.
The artwork by Amelina Jones brings the story to life with detailed emotions for the characters and a style that fits between whimsy watercolors and graphic novel imagery. Children will enjoy the bright colors and realistic representations of a day in school. For younger kids who can’t read all the words yet, the images do a fantastic job of telling the story independently.
The theme of friendship and acceptance is just as strong as bullying in this children’s book. Michael is not the only kid to learn the real meaning of ‘cool kids,’ and seeing that people can change is helpful for this age group. It is a good reminder that sometimes we all make bad choices and that we can fix things by apologizing and making good choices after.
Cool Kids is a feel-good children’s book for elementary-level kids. Dealing with topics that kids struggle with at this age and presented in an approachable and relevant manner, this makes an excellent book for classrooms and caregivers to discuss the issues of bullying, kindness, and friendship.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B09L5LKSST
Wilbur The Tractor Series
Wilbur’s New Home: A Surprise for Wilbur follows a tractor that is going to a new home where he can rest more, but finding the right owner is a challenge. What was the inspiration for your story?
We name all of our vehicles, even our lawn tractors so when we purchased an older Wheel Horse Tractor, we named him Wilbur. I thought he was so cute and children would love reading a story about a little red tractor named Wilbur. One of my favorite features about our tractor is his big square headlights that look like eyes. This is the second book in the Wilbur the Tractor series.
The art in this book is fantastic, showcasing the work of two talented illustrators. What was the art collaboration process like working with two illustrators?
It was fun working with two different illustrators and it was a new experience for us because my sister, Holly Humphrys-Bajaj, had illustrated all of our books until we were planning the story about Wilbur getting a new home. As it happened, Holly was very busy with various projects and wasn’t able to draw all of the illustrations. These amazing artists are so creative. They helped to make Wilbur’s second story shine. We’ve received many compliments on their work and how the illustrations drew readers into the book. It was the first book illustrated by Wanda L. Urabazo and she enjoyed creating some of the illustrations for our second Wilbur the Tractor tale.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Wilbur’s new Home shows children that changes are part of life, and positive things may happen as a result. Many children fear disruptions in their lives like moving away from their friends, or attending a new school because they are uncertain of what may happen. Children may also be shy about making new friends, like Wilbur is in the book. Wilbur’s new Home also highlights the importance of friendship because Jim, Wilbur’s owner, has promised to find him a home where the little tractor is treasured and appreciated. I believe that children will relate to Wilbur’s story and I hope it helps them cope with their situation.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Holly and I are working on a new book about twin ponies named Cocoa and Cream. They have similar personalities and they share some characteristics. For example, both have wild manes and big, hooves called platter feet. The ponies discuss how fortunate they are to have those sizeable feet because it’s unlikely their feet will feel uncomfortable. This will be a chapter book and my estimate is that it will be published in about a year.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads | Website
“A sweet story about Wilbur the cutest tractor, who faces an unknown future with patience and hope. This story features Wilbur’s adorable friend Hattie, who supports him along the journey into his new home.”~Hollie Anne Marsh, children’s author
In this second book in the Wilbur the Tractor series, Wilbur learns the value of friendship and patience. He hopes you enjoy his new adventure.
Our Wild Family Adventures
The Adventures of Super Obi: Nothing to Fear follows a little boy afraid of the dark and monsters and how he overcomes this fear. What was the inspiration for your story?
Super Obi is modeled after my first-born son, Obinna Okonkwo. I am Haitian-American, and Obi’s father is Nigerian. I also have two other children with loads of personalities. My son and all our wild family adventures are the inspiration for this book. Obinna carried his yellow blankie with him as a young child for comfort and courage. When tied around his neck as a cape, Obi’s blankie gives him the strength and courage to conquer his fears and anxieties. He also had a hard time going to bed some nights when he was younger. I have written this book for all types of families, like mine, looking for stories that are not only entertaining but portray multicultural families and focus on morals based on biblical teaching.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Mariana Hnatenko?
Thank you so much! It was important to me that the book illustrations be as expressive and entertaining as possible, given the book’s theme. When sending over my manuscript to Mariana, I paginated my manuscript so that she understood exactly how my characters were feeling and what I wanted to be portrayed on each page of the book. I wanted the illustrations to show the story as much as the text does equally. Once I approved each page or spread, Mariana would move on to the next. She would often get the illustrations right with very little additional feedback from me. It was a joy working with her!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As a mom of 3, I know what stories my children love best. They like to be in suspense, use their imagination, and be inspired. These are all concepts I included in this first book of the series, “The Adventures of Super Obi.” The book theme, “Nothing to Fear,” is meant to assure children that sometimes their imagination may get the best of them, and life can get scary. But no matter the circumstance, they can be brave and overcome their fears by tapping into their superpower. I believe that ALL children are super in their way; we need to remind them of this.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am working on introducing books number 2 and 3 in this Super Obi series. The Activity & Coloring book accompanying “Nothing to Fear” is about 80% done, and book #3 is already written and edited. Both books are pending the safety and availability of my illustrator, who currently resides in Ukraine. Because of Russia’s invasion, my illustrator and her team have been busy dealing with their personal lives. Although I would like to have the series complete this year, I have no timelines as I wait and pray for this war to be over and that lives and families as spared.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website
This beautifully illustrated book is the first of my novel picture book series, The Adventures of Super Obi, which was written to take the fear out of bedtime and other life situations.
Book #1, Nothing to Fear, focuses on the following themes:Family relationships
Love for one another
Courage
Bravery
Faith
Trust in God
Biblical Teaching
… and so much more!
Snuggle up with your child and make bedtime a cherished opportunity to learn about God’s truth and love. God bless you and sleep tight!
Parents and Teachers: visit www.superobibooks.com for free printable activities.
Literary Titan Book Awards May 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Gold Award Winners
Poems for the End of the Age by Hanz Peter Zell
Silver Award Winners
Bible, God and Free Will by Vasile Ghiuta
On a Fallen Wave by Benjamin Anderson
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
James’ Ragtag Adventure in Questworld
James’ Ragtag Adventure in Questworld follows a group of five pals who find themselves stuck in a magical realm. They awaken the Goblin Queen and her army of goblins during an adventure gone wrong! Now they’ll need to find backup to battle her wicked majesty. Along the journey, they’ll come across fascinating and mystical creatures. Some good, some bad… Are they going to be able to defeat the queen? What is the origin of this mysterious land, and how did they get there? This adventure will have you on the edge of your seat. Follow James and his group of friends as they navigate the exciting world of Questland!
This adventurous book will have readers hooked from the very first sentence. One of the highlights of this story is the solid character development. This novel has a prototypical group of friends. M. Doyle has included the sassy one, the strong one, the brainy one, the shy one, and the leader. These familiar character types and themes will appeal to middle-grade readers as they can relate to the characters’ personalities and feel comfortable with the storyline.
M. Doyle has done an excellent job with pacing in this novel. There are pauses throughout, and it gives readers the feeling that they are sitting alongside the gang, resting and getting to know them better. The moments of rest come as a welcome break from the captivating and suspenseful action that the characters encounter in Questland. It seems like they discover new creatures and monsters at every corner and are constantly in danger.
James’s Ragtag Adventures in Questworld: Return of the Goblin Queen is a thrilling fantasy adventure novel for middle-grade children. This exciting novel takes place in a video game and is a great way to introduce reluctant readers to the fantasy genre and help them become avid readers.
Pages: 103 | ASIN : B093Z64K41
LITERARY TITAN 