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Charlie, Bob and Me (Harry) The Big Wet
Charlie, Bob and Me (Harry) The Big Wet is a gentle, charming story about three animal friends, Harry the koala, Bob the wombat, and Charlie the platypus, grappling with the harsh realities of drought and flooding in their native Australian bush. The tale follows the trio as they first suffer through a dry, crumbling landscape and then face the overwhelming aftermath of sudden, torrential rain. Through it all, their bond stays strong as they look out for each other, adapt to change, and find hope even in chaos.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the dynamic between the three friends. It’s light, witty, and super heartwarming. There’s this early scene where Harry gets trapped under a tree branch again, and Bob sighs, “Harry, when are you going to learn?” That mix of exasperation and care instantly hooked me. It felt real, like siblings bickering with love. The humor is never overdone, just sprinkled in, and it brings the characters to life without stealing the weight of their situation.
What surprised me was how much emotion was packed into a relatively simple story. When the rain finally comes after weeks of drought, it should feel like a relief, and it does, but it also brings fear. Charlie’s burrow is flooded. Bob’s home is swamped. Even Harry, safe up high, chooses to stick with his friends. That kind of quiet loyalty is heartwarming. And then there’s the arrival of the three women, Connie, Kathy, and Sylvia, who bring food and care. It’s such a tender moment of human kindness stepping in when nature goes full throttle.
The writing is honest, and the language is simple, but it carries weight. I also really appreciated how the book didn’t shy away from the reality of environmental issues. It’s a story for kids, sure, but it respects the intelligence of the reader. It shows the fragile balance of the ecosystem and how animals struggle and help each other.
Charlie, Bob and Me (Harry) is one of those quiet little gems that sneaks up on you. It’s full of warmth, laughs, and a subtle urgency about the natural world we all share. I’d recommend this to young readers, but it’s also for anyone who needs a reminder that friendship, kindness, and community matter, especially when the skies turn wild. If you’re an animal lover, a softie for nature, or just in need of a cozy read with a message, this book is well worth your time.
Pages: 30 | ISBN : 1838759786
Places I Had Visited
When Fred the Snake and Friends Explore USA West follows a travel-loving snake and his friends as they enjoy some of the sights on the West coast of the USA, from Hollywood California to Alaska and Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. What was the inspiration for the destinations they visit in your story?
Fred asked me which places I had visited and liked best.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Meeting the bear in Alaska. “If you meet a bear, be brave, shout out loud, and madly wave. Get together in a bunch to avoid becoming lunch.”
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
The old word “Eskimo” is no longer proper. We should refer to the different nations, like Inuit and Aleut.
What is your favorite place to visit, and does it hold any special meaning or memories for you?
San Francisco was the first US city I visited in 1971 while still living in England. I was impressed by its grandeur, pretty houses, sunshine, and hamburgers.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Famous Places and Memorials
When Fred the Snake and Friends Explore USA, Central follows an adventurous snake and his crew as they travel across the central United States. What was the inspiration for your story?
Fred and friends enjoyed visiting sights in the Eastern States and asked Jim to take them further.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Bonnie Lemaire?
Great illustrator living near Toronto, Canada. We connected via the publisher and worked together online until we started on the 4th book, about Charleston, SC, where Fred and I live. She came down to see what she would be drawing. Terrific talent. She not only draws my ideas, but enhances them, adding lots of special wrinkles. Purple hair then…
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
Introducing young kids to famous places and memorials.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Fred and his friends and the direction of the next book?
Jim says they will be off to the West Coast. Maybe Hollywood? Alaska?
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
An Interesting Learning Experience
Addison’s Canadian Caper follows a young girl during a family trip across Canada for a writing contest, who must find her cousin’s lost cat amidst the excitement and mystery of their adventure. What was one thing that got you excited to write this book?
First, I had to decide on a location for the “c” book, and then research information about that location. Reading about Canada was interesting, exciting, and informative, and I was eager to share Canada’s culture in an amusing children’s tale. The icing on the cake was to create an entire story using as many words as possible that start with the letter “c.”
How did you develop the character of Addison, and what qualities did you want to highlight through her journey?
Addison’s character has the “typical” traits of a big sister, but she excels in problem-solving, and her responsible attitude helps her keep a close eye on Albert, her little brother. Albert’s character matches his age and curiosity and leads to many of their adventures. During her journey, Addison works to achieve her goals, helps her cousin gain self-confidence, learns valuable lessons, and encounters situations that young readers easily relate to.
Can you share more about your decision to weave educational elements, like vocabulary definitions, directly into the story?
Including unfamiliar vocabulary words came about when I created a unique way of storytelling that focuses on one letter of the alphabet from beginning to end. I included some unfamiliar vocabulary words and wanted to make it easy for them to learn the definitions without struggling to search at the back of the book. To make it easy for young readers, I included brief definitions on the bottom of each page. This new format delights and empowers young readers and allows them to continue reading without timely disruption.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Addison’s Delaware Discovery is my next book in the Addison series. It is nearly ready to get reviewed, then it goes on to the illustrator. When she has finished, it will be published and become available. Working with other people and their availability makes an exact time difficult to state, but I’m hoping by the end of the year.
In Addison’s Delaware Discovery, Addison meets a young girl named Daisy, who wears dandelion-colored shoes, loves dreamsicles, and has a disability.
This story is an interesting learning experience as Addison has never met anyone with a disability and is not sure what to say or do. Addison becomes determined to help Daisy make friends, and when she discovers that Delaware was once famous for having a swamp monster, she devises a plan!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
During their visit with the Clemens’ clan, Corby’s cat disappeared with clues pointing to a Cat Burglar! Corby grew concerned, and called in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which created a big commotion. The children remained confident that with the Mounties on the job the Cat Burglar would soon be caught, or would he?
Addison books marry entertainment with education, using a unique format that both delights and empowers young readers.
Delaware Before the Railroads: A Diamond among the States
In the depths of the colonial era, the arduous task of navigating terrestrial routes to bustling trading hubs such as Philadelphia was a daunting task for merchants. A watershed moment arrived, however, with the serendipitous stranding of a European explorer on the almost forsaken Delamalva Peninsula. During this unforeseen situation, he discovered an untapped waterway destined to become an essential artery for the transportation of goods. As the waterway grew in significance, it attracted European settlers, ultimately leading to legislation and conflict. This is the riveting narrative of Delaware, traced back to an era long before the inauguration of railroads.
In Delaware Before the Railroads, Dave Tabler embarks on a journey of visually narrating the history of Delaware prior to the advent of railway transportation. It manifests as a priceless repository, providing a comprehensive and vivid depiction of the state’s past. The book meticulously delineates the transformation of the state, from indigenous settlements to the emergence of ancient European-inspired edifices, encapsulating the evolution of Delaware’s identity. Each facet of Delaware’s past, be it paintings, sculptures, replicas, monuments, age-old structures, or even the very locations that bore witness to key historical events, is explored and explicated in depth.
Dave Tabler has honed the art of meticulous research, effectively encapsulating and presenting this significant chapter of Delaware’s history. His narration strikes a fine balance between entertainment, engagement, and education. While the coordination of the images and their related descriptions might be perceived as somewhat intricate at times, the overall content remains an engrossing read.
Whether you’re an aficionado of history, a tourist seeking a detailed guidebook, an art enthusiast, or someone seeking to understand Delaware’s roots, Delaware Before the Railroads offers a wealth of insight that will leave you both enlightened and inspired.
Pages: 103 | ASIN : B0BHKQTX11
Delaware Before the Railroads
Dave Tabler writes about beautiful Delaware, getting the reader to picture the place, its people, and the changes that have been gradually happening over the years. Where did Delaware get its name? The author writes that everything began with a storm at Cape Henlopen and a Virginia navigator who had lost his way. The author superbly describes the State, making one wish they could visit. The natural resources, landmarks, vegetation, and striking landscape are some of the most stunning features in Delaware. Not forgetting about the beautiful people of Delaware, their welcoming nature, and how cordial they are.
The pictures taken by the author are simply out of this world. The author has a great eye. The images alone make this book worth reading. Every picture of a building, vegetation, people, historical site, and everything Delaware offers is skillfully taken. Every photograph of the reconstruction and historical locations is accompanied by polished notes that give more meaning to the pictures. History enthusiasts will love the arrangement of the book as the author starts with the early days of the Swedish settlers, to the U.S. independence before moving to modern times. The chronological arrangement makes reading easy and better when following the tales and images.
The richness of Delaware is covered in every page of Delaware Before the Railroads: A Diamond among the States. The anecdotes and notes are some of the best elements in Dave Tabler’s writing. How the author humanizes, every tale is remarkable. Dave Tabler’s writing gives the reader a feeling of nostalgia about Delaware, even if they are not from the State. As a reader, you will feel inspired by the moving words and fall in love with the state’s history. Delaware will have a special place in the hearts of all readers thanks to Dave Tabler’s book.
The general feeling after reading this book is contentment. Delaware Before the Railroads: A Diamond among the States is a great coffee table book filled with rich history and refined content. You can never get enough of the spectacular pictures. The captions and full context given by the author are commendable. I recommend this educational book to readers who love history, photography, and the art of preserving memories.
Pages: 100 | ASIN : B0BHKQTX11
Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion
![Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion by [Humphrey Hawksley]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51taeT6+jLL.jpg)
Humphrey Hawksley’s journalistic career, when paired with his fiction-writing expertise, make for excellent non-fiction writing. Asian Waters is a really comprehensive and digestible read, despite its extremely weighty content. Hawksley’s tone and choice of language remains simple yet informative throughout, despite becoming increasingly complex in terms of content matter. Hawksley also manages to maintain a sense of pace and excitement with his writing, as if it were a novel rather than a non-fiction guide, especially when delving into and combing through actual history, geography and social science.
Though there is a hefty scope to cover when it comes to the Asia-Pacific conflict, the South China Sea, Chinese expansion and the territory dispute associated, Asian Waters covers everything you would want to know about the topic without it feeling as if you are being overloaded with information.
You may be tempted to read it as an almanac for the specialist topic it covers, or perhaps as an academic accompaniment, but it also doubles up as a travel book and is arguably best consumed in this way. Asian Waters was fascinating in itself, just for my own interest’s sake, so I imagine that it would be particularly enlightening to consume whilst travelling the very area it covers.
The focus on political tension between the countries of the Asia-Pacific is unpacked with great skill and tastefulness, but without wavering on the hardy facts. This is where Hawksley’s experience as a BBC foreign correspondent is most prominent – his understanding of the dynamics at play remains at the forefront of his writing.
Asian Waters is not simply a retelling of the history and politics which have been at play for years, or solely the facts and information which led to the current situation. There is also vital contextualisation that allows the reader to understand where these issues sit at the time of reading, understanding how a Trumpian government impacts the conflicts, or how the relationship between Moscow and Beijing influence the rest of the world.
Asian Waters connects all the branches of knowledge and intellect to give a clear retelling of the reality, including social influence, historical action which has taken place, and the geographical layout that facilitates as much. As well as clarifying the past and contextualising the present, it focuses on the future. The book predicts how the implications of what has happened and is happening will affect what is to come for Asia.
Pages: 304 | ASIN: B07MXDFQK1
An Interesting Psychology
Igor Valec Author Interview
Damnation is a thrilling dark fantasy novel that follows King Lortar as he finds himself surrounded by enemies. What was the inspiration for the setup to this novel?
Loosely, the Warring States period of ancient China.
Asuf was an intriguing character that I enjoyed following. Your book is filled with interesting characters, who was your favorite character to write for?
Princess Alerise. She has an interesting psychology and fun dialogue. Plus I have a thing for tomgirls, villainesses, and blondes, and Alerise just so happens to tick all those boxes.
The characters inhabit a world with a rich backstory. How did you create the backstory for this world and what were some themes you wanted to capture?
From the ground up. First the geography, then the ecology, then the peoples and their cultures, then their histories.
As for themes, I wanted to show a harsh people bred by a cruel and uncaring world—but more importantly, I wanted to show how kindness, however small, can exist even in a world that punishes the kind.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The sequel to this book will most likely be available sometime in 2021.
Author Links: Website | Twitter
![Damnation: A Grimdark Fantasy Political Drama by [Valec, Igor]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41x%2Ba5mqJrL.jpg)
An Empire fallen. A kingdom beset. A family divided. When King Lortar discovers a savage cult performing heathen rites, he’s forced to battle a foe he never imagined: his own son. Surrounded by enemies, Lortar is trapped in a world of treachery and betrayal, where mercy is vice and malice is glory.
LITERARY TITAN 