One day, as Amanda sits practicing her cello, a restless wind swoops inside her instrument. From that moment on, all sorts of unusual musical things occur as the wind directs Amanda’s music-making.
But then, Amanda begins to outgrow her little cello . . .
All Tyler Evans wants is to be a hero. For himself and for his family. For his friends too – or even just his dog, Gretzky. But becoming a hero isn’t easy. Heroes don’t get nosebleeds at school, or lose a shoe when they kick a ball. They especially don’t let a class bully steal their lunch… Maybe a magic potion will help?
Told from Tyler’s endearing child’s point of view, this easy-to-read, humorous early-reader chapter book explores how Tyler gains a sense of self-worth by carrying out small heroic acts while coping with a school bully and his brother’s teasing in his single-parent household. Tyler has to do some quick and innovative thinking to manage it all. Good thing he has his dog Gretzky and a new pet…caterpillar?
The price of the book is $19.95 (CAD) ISBN: 978-1-77869-022-8 Pages: 46 (for ages 4-7) Connects with curricular outcomes for grades 1-3 Illustrated with simple yet charming line drawings Of interest to parents and teachers
Tyler Evans the Great is available in paperback from:
Gus can’t imagine anything worse than moving to another city to live with his grandfather — until he gets off to a bad start and becomes a target for the school bully. Then, while working on his family history assignment, he discovers a small box of unusual objects that mysteriously catapult him back in time. Now he has even bigger problems. But if he can survive the harrowing events of the past, maybe what he learns there can help him figure out how to deal with the bully and make new friends in the present.
192 Pages, for Middle Grade Time Travel Adventure!
Ghostly mysteries abound at Saskatchewan’s Government House, and Sam and J.J are once again tasked with solving them. (Their first adventure was in Judith’s book The Ghosts of Government House)
Things aren’t as they appear at Government House, as Sam and J.J. discover on a field trip when they find themselves discussing mushroom growth at the turn of the 20th century with George Watt, the gardener of the property. In an attempt to uncover what happened, the girls find themselves back in the present, face-to-face with the ghost of a woman who simply mouths the word “watch” to them.
Who was this mysterious woman, and what does she want them to do for her in the present time? In order to solve the mystery, Sam and J.J must navigate the extensive grounds of Government House (both past and present). And with only the faintest idea of how to return to their time, their forays into the past become dangerous. Can they figure out what the ghost wants before they’re stuck in the past for good?
188 Pages, for Middle Grade (9-12) Time Travel Adventure!
This is a new edition of Ghosts in the Garden, replacing the original one published by Coteau Books. It is available at:
J.J., Derek and Tanya have practiced hard for the Slick Wheels Contest. Will their routine win the nine-and-under category? They’re sure they have a good chance. And then, everything goes wrong! Who is the strange older boy? He’s using J.J.’s skateboard to give rides to a teddy bear! How can J.J. get his board back? Can J.J. outsmart the neighborhood bully, too?
J.J. is so upset when Mom signs him up for piano lessons! They’re Saturday morning, when all the best shows are on! His best friend Derek has to take lessons too – and hates the idea. So they start making plans. When J.J. gets a black eye at his first lesson, that means war! But there’s a new boy at school. He’s good at piano. And Derek starts playing with him, instead of J.J. How can J.J. ever make things right again?
Necile doesn’t know the baby she finds near Magic Forest, and adopts, will grow up to become Santa Claus. Indeed, he’ll spread the magic of Christmas around the world.
Magic Forest and the people world existed side-by-side. But many years ago, those in the people world couldn’t see Magic Forest. However, those in Magic Forest could see through to the other side. Necile has been helping the people world for centuries. Indeed, she built a cairn in the people world and has been sneaking through the barrier to leave food by it, especially during the winter.
One day, Necile finds a baby beside the cairn. The Great Ak has forbidden everyone in Magic Forest to interact with the people, but she takes the baby home anyway. The baby, who Necile names Claus, is allowed to stay and is raised in Magic Forest by the nymphs and elves. When Claus discovers he’s adopted, he wants to learn more about the world he came from. He especially wants to make the children happy, so starts on his lifetime mission to do just that.
This Christmas story beginner reader is based on the book, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum. It has vivid illustrations and a grade 2 reading level, to make it easy to help children increase their reading skills with parents looking for easy books. It’s also a great adoption book to share with kids.
This is Book #5 in Linda’s Magic Forest Adventures series. Available in Kindle format on
The Mystery of the Giant Kohlrabi, by Sharon Plumb. Cover and interior illustrations by Jolyn Michaelis
What People are Saying
A top-secret experiment, a Wonder-Gizmo, and a slimy villain — this book has all the ingredients! Nero must battle giant veggies with teeth and swords, broccoli-headed aliens, and a host of oddball relatives to solve this mystery. It’s the perfect recipe for family fun! All with an actual recipe for healthy chocolate treats thrown in. Who could ask for more? ~ Marie Powell, author ofLast of the Gifted
“Silly and sweet. Can’t go wrong with giant bugs!” ~ Jolyn Michaelis, Kohlrabi cover artist and illustrator (See more of her monstrous art on her portfolio.)
Clementine grabbed Nero’s arm as they tiptoed through the dark room. “Do you hear footsteps?” Nero listened. “That’s not footsteps. That’s…slurping!”
When Nero and his family go to help their relatives harvest their top-secret genetically engineered house-sized vegetables, he expects to sleep in a pumpkin house. He doesn’t expect to have to eat rutabaga pie. Isn’t a rutabaga a kind of turnip? Or to encounter vegetables with weapons, or a hidden elevator, or a creepy, crawly foe about to destroy the garden.
It’s a good thing he has his trusty Wonder-Gizmo along. It has an arrow, a claw tool with fold-out fingers, night-vision goggles, and a bug zapper. Even a coward can be brave with an awesome gadget like this. Until things go terribly wrong, and Nero has to confront his deepest fears all by himself. He will need all the courage he has, and lots more he doesn’t, to save the garden, and his family, from a slithery, slimy fate.
Ages 8-12 with STEM elements of aquifers, garden plants and pests, and themes of family, friendship lost and restored, courage and environment. Comes with Creative Writing Ideas for the classroom and a home-tested recipe for Twig’s Kohlrabi Chocolate Chip Cookies. Interior illustrations by Jolyn Michaelis.
Perfect for fans of “Bloom” (Kenneth Oppel), “Music for Tigers” (Michelle Kadarusman), “The Astounding Broccoli Boy” (Frank Cottrell Boyce) and “Beetle Boy” (M.G. Leonard).
Saskatchewan Children's Writers' Round Robin 