June 2023 New Releases
(Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2023)
Summertime is here! As June begins, Mascot Books is excited to welcome many titles to our catalog. Check out the new releases below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!Subplot
The latest book from our distinguished Subplot Books fiction imprint is Into the Gorge: When the perilous journeys of a beautiful Austrian woman and a wayward Australian commando collide, the two discover escaping a war is only half the battle . . . they still have to find their way home. The explosive events that follow will determine whether physical chasms can ever separate true love.
Mascot Books
Our latest Mascot Books titles both explore complicated stories from across the cosmos, from two unique perspectives. Read the descriptions at the links below and select which one will be the next summer read you can’t put down.
Mascot Kids
June’s new picture books cover a wide variety of exciting topics, including important messages for people of all ages, fun voyages, adorable animals adventures, and lessons about real-world concerns, appropriate for little ones. Choose your favorite below to get your summer off to the right start! 
June 2022 New Releases
(Posted on Tuesday, June 7, 2022)
Often, our new releases find a serendipitous harmony. This month, many of our latest books revolve around introspection and reflection. Whether it is parents teaching their children about loss and sharing nostalgia for the past, or adults meditating on life or financial concerns—with so much going on in the world, everyone needs to step back and look inward once in a while. Take a moment now to explore our June releases.
As always, please leave us comments or reviews of this month’s books; we love to hear from readers, and our authors do too!
Amplify Publishing
Women Wise: The Essential Guide to Financial and Lifestyle Decisions as We Age by Eleanor Blayney and Marjorie L. Fox is our latest Amplify release. This project is the culmination of a collaboration between financial experts Blayney and Fox, our Amplify team, and our CEO Naren Aryal. Finances can be challenging, especially as we age, but Fox and Blayney have created the essential guide to women’s financial decisions. As they say, “when it comes to retirement advice, one size does not fit all.”
Subplot
We are excited to release The Art of Traveling Strangers by Zoe Disigny in paperback this month. This way, wherever your summer travels take you, you can bring this popular fiction story—filled with art and historical places—along with you. 
Mascot Books
From Mascot Books, five exciting titles will be released this month. These diverse books explore themes of introspection and finding the motivation to move forward—whether the challenge is running with cerebral palsy, living with chronic illness, grappling with history, finding compassion in the world, exploring your own skills, or stretching yourself at work. 
Mascot Kids
In addition to the usual plethora of adorable animals, this month’s children’s books also dive deep: from learning about the stock market and dealing with death, to overcoming fears and literally jumping into the pool this summer. This collection has something for everyone, with colorful adventures in Orange S’more-ange, confidence building in Chloe Cha Chas in London, and nostalgic baseball cards in My Shoebox. 
Featured Upcoming: The Indian Dance Show by Radhika Sen
(Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2022)
Releasing May 3, Radhika Sen’s first children’s book, The Indian Dance Show, will transport you to the vibrant world of Indian dance. The book features more than a dozen dance styles for you to learn and enjoy through step-by-step rhyming recitals.
Sen is a lifelong lover of art. Her childhood in Arizona was filled with dance and music lessons of all kinds. After graduating from the Arathi School of Dance in high school, she continued performing various types of Indian dance as a student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
In preparation for the book’s release, we’re pleased to share further insight into Sen’s inspiration and the process of writing and publishing her first children’s book.
1. What was the inspiration behind writing The Indian Dance Show?
When I was a little girl, I absolutely loved Indian dance. I learned a classical style of Indian dance called Bharatanatyam starting from the age of four and have been passionate about dancing ever since.
Growing up in the U.S., there were never any children’s books about this activity I loved so much. I always wished there was a book for me that was similar to the many delightful books I saw about ballet and tap dance.
A few years ago, I revisited this thought and I realized that there were still few, if any, children’s books about Indian dance. I thought to myself, Why not create something different that a curious child could enjoy? I really wanted to create a book that showcased the beautiful and diverse world of Indian dance that most children might not otherwise be exposed to.
I believe that it’s invaluable for all people, especially children, to enjoy world cultures. By being exposed to different art, music, languages, foods, traditions, and beliefs, young children gain a broader understanding of and appreciation for people who are different from themselves. There is so much beauty in diversity; if I have a chance to share that beauty, then why not?
From my own experience, I feel lucky and thankful to have grown up as an Indian American. I was exposed from day one to both cultures, and I feel that the teachings of both have positively and profoundly impacted how I see the world and find joy in life.
It was important to me to find an illustrator for The Indian Dance Show that could bring to life the color, excitement, movement, and intricate details associated with each dance style described in the story. I truly could not have found a more incredible illustrator than Ekaterina Illina! I met Ekaterina through Upwork, where I searched through many illustrators’ portfolios. Ekaterina’s stunning illustrations stood out immediately. You can imagine how thrilled I was to hear that she loved Indian dance too!
We worked together very closely over the course of a year on every spread of the book and I gave detailed context to the Indian cultural elements that appear throughout. Ekaterina’s illustrations turned out absolutely gorgeous.
I hope young readers can appreciate how fun and beautiful Indian dance is! I also hope this book will pique people’s interest in learning more about India and South Asia in general. Maybe it will even inspire them to attend a real dance show.
5. What is next for you? Any more books we should be on the lookout for?
I had so much fun creating this book and I would love to work on more in the future. Cultural stories are especially interesting to me and it would be amazing to write more books that introduce children to our amazing world.
Pre-order your copy of The Indian Dance Show and follow Radhika Sen on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Featured Author: Najma Khorrami
(Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2022)
As we continue to deal with the pandemic’s effects, adapt to returning to in-person work and social events, and cope with the general stress of the world, self-care is at the forefront of many people’s minds. Author and public health professional Najma Khorrami understands and has written two books about self-care and gratitude to address these issues.
Khorrami founded her own social media app-based company, Gratitude Circle, in 2017 to redefine a small part of social media as a positive and empowering space. Now, in her book, A Spoonful of Gratitude: Tips to Reduce Stress and Enjoy Life to the Fullest, Khorrami collects sixty-eight articles she has published revealing why gratitude is foundational to personal growth.
Whether you’re already an expert in gratitude or a novice looking to acquire a new skill, A Spoonful of Gratitude provides a wealth of research-based evidence and straightforward advice to help reduce stress, build confidence, and improve your mental and physical health. Containing more than just a spoonful of insight into life’s most valuable lessons, this book will strengthen you from the core outward and provides the tools readers need to thrive and enjoy life to the fullest.
Khorrami is not only focused on self-care and gratitude for adults, however. She has also written a children’s book, Self-Care With Ted and Friends, to help young readers learn self-care techniques at an early age. A healthy lifestyle can begin at any stage, and starting early helps to engrain the habits for life.
Many have experienced some level of trauma over the past few years, making Khorrami’s books highly recommended. They will help readers move forward in 2022 in a healthy and grateful way. You can purchase your own signed copies of Khorrami’s books at Barnes and Noble in Manassas, VA this Sunday, April 24th from 12pm to 4pm. Take this chance to speak with her about what gratitude is all about!
Purchase A Spoonful of Gratitude and Self-Care With Ted and Friends and follow Najma Khorrami on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.
April 2022 New Releases
(Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2022)
This April, we have four incredible nonfiction titles debuting across two of our imprints: Amplify Publishing and Mascot Books. All of them are great reads to inspire you, feed you, and teach you. Plus, we have six wonderful Children’s books from Mascot Kids. We hope they catch your eye and look forward to hearing your reviews!New Books from Amplify Publishing
Amplify Publishing, our flagship imprint, is dedicated to excellence in business, politics, and big ideas. This month’s new releases include Expansive Impact by Sarah Young, a book that aims to empower readers to lead in everyday situations, The Golfer’s Wife by Janet Thompson, which details Janet’s personal story of being married to a pro-golfer as well as the stories of seven other wives of golfers, and finally The Business of Timeshares by W.H. Campbell, which illuminates the world of timeshares for the non-real estate readers as well as exposes the problems in the industry.
Additionally, Steve Cadigan’s book, Workquake, is being released in paperback after its successful debut in hardback in 2021.
New Books from Mascot Books
Mascot Books publishes everything from fiction to nonfiction, and each month features a different mix of genres and titles. This month, we are excited to share our latest cookbook, written by Heather Antonelli. Filled with beautiful photos and delicious recipes, this book is sure to send you into your kitchen and have you planning a dinner party!
New Books from Mascot Kids
Mascot Books started by publishing Children’s books, which are still a large part of our work through our imprint, Mascot Kids! We always have a wide variety of stories to share and this month is no different with bunnies for Easter, lots of sports, and even Rosie going on an adventure in Paris.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day with Laddy O’Luck
(Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2022)
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, it is only appropriate that we give our readers a peek inside the story of Laddy O’Luck. Written by Mac Kennedy, Laddy O’Luck a is picture book that imagines the history of Laddy, one of the first leprechauns in all of Ireland. Laddy is in charge of sharing the luck of the leprechauns with the whole world. His story provides a message of hope: if you are down on your luck, Laddy will be there for you. You just have to look for him! Below is the start of his whimsical story.
Laddy O’Luck was one of the first ever leprechauns
in all of Ireland. He was given the job of sharing the
leprechauns’ luck with the rest of the world.
He traveled from land to sea,
leaving luck everywhere he went for people to find.
You see, luck is not something to stumble
upon, no, no . . .
Ol’ Laddy leaves his luck only in places it is meant
to be found.
He knows when each of us will need a hint of luck,
and if we look hard enough, it will be there.”
If Laddy O’Luck is right up your alley, you can buy the full book in our bookstore. Also, keep an eye out for The Adventures of Humfrey the Hummingbird, a tale about friendship and leprechauns being released on May 3rd!
Children’s Book Featured Title – Snoodles, Kidoodles, Poodles, and Lots and Lots of Noodles
(Posted on Friday, March 11, 2022)
We are excited to feature the soon to be released Snoodles, Kidoodles, Poodles, and Lots and Lots of Noodles this month. Written by Mascot alum and Mom’s Choice Award Winner Steven Joseph, Snoodles is a feel-good story for children age 5-10 that tastes and smells so good they will undoubtedly want more.
Joseph’s newest tale invites readers of all ages to enter a world where imagination is king. In this fantastical realm, crankiness reigns and cars run on sauerkraut. But then comes a new invention: the SnoodleMobile, the brainchild of Herbie Snoodleman. Now cars are powered by noodles, and the delicious aroma produced fills everyone with happiness. Only one person does not appreciate the success of Mr. Snoodleman’s invention: Sour Croodleman, the brains behind the once-popular KrautMobile. When Croodleman decides to seek revenge on his business rival, the unexpected happens. After all, when cars run on noodles, anything is possible!
Children’s author Steven Joseph is a first-generation American, veteran attorney, marathon runner, prolific speaker, father, and modern humorist. He is a true New Yorker and the son of a Holocaust survivor, which directly shapes his written work and social advocacy. Steven is also the author of the Mom’s Choice Award-winning The Last Surviving Dinosaur: The TyrantoCrankaTsuris and A Grownup Guide to Effective Crankiness: The CrankaTsuris Method. His work leans on the concepts of crankiness and survival—which were ever-present in his childhood—and the practice of acknowledgment, which he has learned through his zen practice
You don’t want to miss this one. Stephen’s latest work is delightful, warm, and full of important lessons.
Preorder your copy today!
March Children’s Book Releases
(Posted on Friday, March 4, 2022)
This March, we’re excited to highlight our new children’s books separately from our adult titles. From stories about a colorful collection of much-loved socks, to the pandemic through the eyes of a teacher, to spotlighting women in STEM and real estate agents, our March list of titles has a book for every reader.
We hope you enjoy this wonderful selection of children’s books and you can find them all in our bookstore.
Trixie Bixby and Her 66 Pairs of Socks
By Angela Delf
Trixie is an energetic girl who loves her fun and colorful sock collection! But is 66 pairs of socks too many? Follow along as Trixie discovers a new way to use her socks to help others. A story for all ages, this book about the intentionality behind minimalism will be enjoyed by your whole family.
Teacher, Tell Me What You See
By Kristin Spenser
This is a unique school year! Students gather online, which has taken the place of in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow along as each student describes their “virtual classroom,” shares new experiences with the class, and shows us how they adapted to their “new normal.” A fun story about resilience, this book encourages everyone to look around and answer the question—what do you see?
Draw Paint Tell
By Caren Sacks
In the pages of this interactive book, you can see a child’s artwork as he grows from a toddler to a young boy. His art styles change as he ages, too! From scribbled lines and shapes to the people and places around him, Reed loves to tell stories about his art pieces to everyone he can find! Children can join along and interact with the book as they are encouraged to talk about and make their art. With real artworks from actual children scattered throughout the book, Draw Paint Tell is likely to prompt many fun hours of creation and long-term benefits for all children.
Introducing Kam the Extraordinaire
By Holli North
Take a trip inside the mind of a special little boy on a quest to find his true identity. After tons of questions, and with the help of his loving Nana, you will be surprised when you learn what he discovers. Climb on in and let’s start our extraordinary adventure!
Baby’s First Real Estate Book
By Andrew Dorazio
Baby’s First Real Estate Book is an exciting ABC guide to real estate terms for children who may want to be a realtor one day! Share the ABCs of important real estate terms and definitions with your kids and prepare them for the crazy ride that real estate brings! Fortune favors the courageous!
You and Me in the Trees
By Amoris Walker
For both the young and the young at heart, You and Me in the Trees is a delightful storybook that reminds us to protect Mother Earth and all her wonderful creatures.
Nittany Lion Celebrates the 4th of July
By Denise Kaminsky
Nittany Lion tailgates with friends before celebrating with 4th of July fireworks.
Elephant Tales
By Shanthi Radhakrishnan
Our Planet Earth is home to all the creatures that walk and fly, swim and crawl, and stand still. Each one is unique, indispensable, and beautiful. Elephant Tales provides young readers with the valuable lesson that Planet Earth can sustain everyone’s need, but not anyone’s greed.
A Family for Riley
By Tammy Knudtson
Every puppy dreams of finding their very own family—one they can love and be loved by. Riley and his brothers spend their days eating, playing, and sleeping on the farm where they were born. Riley is happy, but when his brother’s begin to leave the farm to go live in their forever homes with new families, Riley worries he will not find a family of his own.
Families come in all different shapes, colors, and sizes, but they all share one special ingredient: LOVE. A Family for Riley is a story about enduring love and new beginnings.
Barbara the Bunny and the International Lovie Network
By Jennifer LavelleBarbara the Bunny is a Lovie, not just a toy.
She doesn’t need Lovie friends, because she has her special Boy.
But Boy leaves Barbara behind when he goes away,
and only other Lovies can help save the day.
Barbara calls on the International Lovie Network, the ILN.
Keep reading to discover how her journey will end!
Laddy O’Luck
By Mac Kennedy
Laddy O’Luck was among the first leprechauns in all of Ireland, and was assigned to share the luck of the leprechauns with the rest of the world. Laddy’s story provides a message of hope: if you are down on your luck, you can always count on Laddy to be there. You just have to look for him.
Women in STEM: Against All Odds
By Annika Nikhar
Women in STEM: Against All Odds features profiles of brilliant women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from around the world. Spanning from the early 1800s to the twenty-first century, all of the women in this book overcame many obstacles to become trailblazers in their fields. Two centuries ago, most women couldn’t get a comprehensive education, let alone enter the science fields. Today they hold some of the world’s most prestigious prizes, including the Fields Medal, the Nobel Prize, and more. They have come a long way! This book highlights some of the world’s underrepresented female scientists and their lasting impacts. From pure mathematics to phytochemistry to meteorology, learn about the various STEM fields and hurdles that these women faced in gaining their success.
February Featured Title: Esperanza y Pecas: Huyendo hacia un bosque mejor
(Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2022)
This month’s featured title is Bill Kiley’s Esperanza y Pecas: huyendo hacia un bosque mejor! The Spanish translation of Hope and Freckles: Fleeing to a Better Forest, this book is about a mother deer and her little boy’s search for a better and safe home. When they arrive at a new forest, they face unexpected challenges that will force them apart. Kiley hopes this story will teach readers about the millions of people who face the same difficulties as refugees.
We spoke with him about why he decided to write a Spanish version, how his experiences as a police chief impacted the story, why we should have an open dialogue with children about serious global issues, and more!
1. Esperanza y Pecas: huyendo hacia un bosque mejor (Hope and Freckles: Fleeing to a Better Forest) addresses the plight of refugees and asylum seekers. What motivated you to want to write a children’s book about this topic?
The refugee and asylum seeker crisis at the southern border of the U.S. is what first brought my attention to the plight of people who were fleeing war, danger, violent criminals, starvation, political imprisonment, etc. As I began to learn more about this global challenge, I was astounded to learn that there are more than 26 million refugees around the world. Yet, when I would talk with friends and colleagues about refugees, it very quickly would become a politically polarized discussion. While I would talk about the need to assist families or individuals, many would say “that’s not our problem.” I began to think about how I might get folks to understand the plight of the refugee and develop compassion and empathy for them. That led me to write a children’s book that might result in parents, grandparents, or other adults reading the book with their little ones to perhaps see another side of this issue.
2. As a retired Deputy Police Chief and adjunct professor of Criminal Justice, how did your experiences impact your ability to tell this story?
As a Criminal Justice graduate student, I read and explored the causes of crime and its impact upon society. History has demonstrated that often the refugee becomes the target of criminals, an “easy mark.” Wave after wave of refugee-immigrants in New York City and other major cities were preyed upon as they struggled in a new land. Many times, those who targeted the newcomers were people of the same national ancestry.
In my thirty years in law enforcement, I learned that the history of immigrants being targeted was still ongoing. Many refugees have a deep fear and distrust of uniformed authorities, often fleeing from such individuals in their home countries. Therefore, there is a natural tendency to avoid contact with the police. Criminals know of the immigrant’s fear and use that awareness as they victimize the newcomers.
3. Hope and Freckles was published in the summer of 2020. What made you want to publish a Spanish version a year and a half later?
When Hope and Freckles was first published, a colleague from Germany purchased several books and shared them with her friends. She wrote me that people loved the book and suggested that it be reprinted in different languages, but especially in Spanish. Over the past year and a half, many people from the Hispanic/Latinx communities have suggested that the book be printed in Spanish. The new Spanish version is the result of those conversations.
As I prepare to publish the second book in the Hope and Freckles series, I have decided that the future books will be bilingual, i.e., the narrative will be printed in both English and Spanish. This approach may be useful for those whose native language is Spanish, but it may also be useful to those who are learning Spanish.
4. What would you like children to learn from your book? Why do you think it’s important for children to have open discussions about serious global issues?
My hope is that the story of this mother and her little one may bring about an understanding of what refugees face as they flee from their homes, not knowing what will happen to them. They often don’t know where they will wind up if they survive their journey. And once we understand why there are refugees and asylum seekers, having compassion and empathy for them is the next objective of the book.
The decision to include both vocabulary words, as well as triggering questions that might be used by educators and/or parents, has been very well received. I would also like to note that the most challenging aspect of writing the first book, written for 7 to 10-year-old readers, was how to address the plight of refugees without traumatizing the reader. How, for instance, would I address parents being sent back to their country of origin while their children remain behind? The concern over possible trauma is the reason that I chose to use anthropomorphic figures rather than humans to tell the story.
5. Can we expect any more books from you? If so, what will they address?
The manuscript for the second book in the series has been completed, edited, and translated in Spanish. My plan is to write a total of four books about the experiences of Hope and Freckles. Book two, Hope and Freckles: Life in a New Forest, addresses the issues of assimilation and acculturation in a new land. What kinds of things do newcomers face? Do they totally assimilate to the culture and ways of their new country? Do they hold onto any of the culture, traditions, foods, etc. of their former homeland? One of the characters you will meet in the next book is “Nana” a lovely, older, white-tailed deer who becomes a guide and mentor for Hope helping her to adjust to her new surroundings.
February Book Releases
(Posted on Tuesday, February 1, 2022)
This February, we’re bringing you children’s books about ocean pollution, memoirs about humorous travels, the first titles from Subplot, and more!
Our new imprint of Mascot Books, Subplot Publishing is an independent hybrid publisher focusing on compelling and literary works of fiction. We publish titles with strong voices, intriguing plots, and dynamic characters in the adult fiction setting. All of our titles are hand-picked for this imprint during the submissions process based on theme, marketability, and overall tone.Explore our new titles below to stock up on your reads this winter!
Children’s Books
Evelyn’s Wild Imagination
By Elizabeth Gephardt
Hi there! My name is Evelyn. What’s your name?
It’s very nice to meet you! Are you as curious as I am to know what this book is about . . . hmmm? Maybe it’s about . . .
Gorillas?
Or, Halloween?
. . . nah.
Maybe it’s about cats or dogs, both big and small, or maybe it’s about going somewhere, like to Disney, Hershey, or Niagara Falls! We will have to wait and see, but in case I forgot to mention this—thank you for choosing me!
First, I want to get to know you. Tell me what you like the most about school. Is it your teachers? Classes? Lunch? RECESS? Who are your friends? For this story (are you ready?) . . . you get to be . . . MY FRIEND FOR THE DAY!
Come take a journey with me and see what a WILD day in school is like and what BIG ideas are in store. This isn’t just any sort of school day. What do I mean, you ask? Let’s check it out, explore, and so . . . much . . . MORE!
For the Love of Laxmi
By Bijal Shah
You know how your mom tells you to oil your hair, or you’ll go bald? Or no one is going to marry you because you can’t find the blouse she put away? This is a compilation of those everyday moments. Oh, and. . .hi! I’m Laxmi. You’ll get to know me soon.
Gordo Goo
By Ruth Neikirk
What is MAGIC POTION #2?
Well, that is the key for Gordo Goo!
Turn the pages to find out.
You will be the wiser, no doubt!
A portion of proceeds will be donated to the William R. Neikirk Scholarship Fund in the College of Communication and Information.
Guapo’s Giant Heart: The True Story of the Calf Who Kept Growing
By Janet Zappala and Wendy Perkins
Guapo’s Giant Heart is based on the true, heartwarming story of a baby calf with no place to live until a kind human adopts him and gives him a loving home. With a safe place to rest his head and plenty of food and love, Guapo keeps growing . . . and growing and growing!
Although Guapo is a sweet, friendly cow, not everyone is kind to him at first. While the animal friends who’ve known him since he was a baby calf love him, those who meet him later in life aren’t so sure—they find Guapo’s larger-than-life presence intimidating.
Towering over everyone he meets, can this gentle giant teach the other animals that being different is a good thing?
Esperanza y Pecas: huyendo hacia un bosque mejor
By Bill Kiley
Esperanza, una cierva de cola blanca, y su cervatillo moteado, Pecas, se enfrentan al hambre y al peligro en su bosque. Esperanza decide que deben abandonar su hogar e ir en busca de un lugar mejor donde estén a salvo. Cuando llegan a un nuevo bosque, Esperanza y Pecas se enfrentan a retos inesperados que les obligarán a separarse. ¿Podrán volver a estar juntos algún día?
Después de leer la historia de Esperanza y Pecas, sigue explorando las historias de personas de todo el mundo que tienen que abandonar sus hogares para escapar del peligro o del hambre. Deja que la historia de Esperanza y Pecas te enseñe sobre los millones de personas que se enfrentan a las mismas dificultades que esta madre cierva y su pequeño hijo enfrentan como refugiados.
How the Bay Was Saved
By Steve Gray
What can one little dolphin do to stop humans from littering and save the Chesapeake Bay? Join Donnie Dolphin on this exciting adventure as he formulates a plan with the help of a very wise seagull and his friends. Together, can they teach humans that polluting the bay is wrong?
I Can’t Wait till You Know
By Trey Little
What could be more inspiring than seeing the world once again through the eyes of a child? As parents, we can’t wait until our kids get to have some of the same experiences that we did growing up, especially when we can share them together. These pages follow a father and daughter on a journey through nature, using their senses to enjoy the sounds, smells, and sights of the beauty around them. There is anticipation for something new at every turn that will bring fresh joy to both the parent and the child as they make discoveries hand in hand.
If Puppies Had Backpacks
By Lyn Willy
If puppies had backpacks. . .what would they do? This charming board book is the perfect bedtime read for you and your little one.
Imperfectphil Is a Friend
By Sue Steinhardt
Hi! My name is Phil Basher, and I love life!
If you’re ever feeling down or starting to wonder what this journey is all about, read my stories. I promise to bring you all the happiness and joy I can pack into my giant puppy body. I won’t let you down because I’m perfect…I’m Perfect…imperfect. I’ll tell you more about this later.
Imperfect. Just. Like. You.
In book three which you are holding in your hands, you will learn what it means to be a friend.
Karis & Brook Stories: Lakeside Friends: A Story About Cancer
By A. B. Namy
Brook doesn’t know why his friend Joel can’t spend time with him at the lake, like they usually do. When he learns that the reason is Joel’s cancer diagnosis, he has even more questions. Thanks to some ants and his quick-thinking Mom, Brook comes to understand the situation in his own way, and he even comes up with a creative way to spend some lake time with Joel.
Using real-life analogies to explain complex circumstances, the Karis & Brook series seeks to assist adults in structuring conversations with children. By utilizing the principles of Encounter, Educate, and Encourage, these books facilitate memorable and lasting conversations that go beyond the pages of the story, while recognizing and inspiring others.
Nora’s Hockey Dream
By Ryan Minkoff
Nora has never attended or even played in a hockey game. When her parents take her to the Women’s Professional Hockey League Championship between the Booming Thunder and the hometown Wicked Waves, Nora discovers a newfound passion. However, chasing after her big hockey dream might be harder than she thinks.
Nora’s Hockey Dream is endorsed by Team Canada Captain and Hockey Night in Canada‘s Cassie Campbell-Pascall, USA Olympic Gold Medalist Hannah Brandt, and Minnesota Whitecaps Captain Winny Brodt-Brown. Minkoff’s passion for giving back to the game of hockey inspired him to pen his first children’s book.
Olive and the Valentine’s Spell
By Helen Millman
Olive is a sweet elementary school boy who is afraid to go to school on Valentine’s Day. . .because he thinks he’ll have to get married! Olive’s mom joins in his fight to defeat the “princess of love,” but along the way he learns an even bigger lesson, discovering the true meaning of love.
Olive and the Valentine’s Spell is an inspiring children’s book for all ages that shines a humorous light on Valentine’s Day and overcoming your fears.
Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever
By Julie Thiessen
Meet Reese and Addie—two girls, one great friendship.
It’s summer break! Reese is on her way to vacation at Camp Lake Shore with her family. When Reese meets a new friend, Addie, the two immediately connect and form a lasting friendship. Swimming, boating, laughing, and soaking up the sun are just a few highlights of their summer vacation. The girls become best friends. When their vacation comes to an end, Reese realizes she may never see Addie again. Determined to stay in touch forever, can Reese and Addie find a way to continue their friendship and share their adventures?
Recess Magic
By Bonny Spence Dieterich
We are kind every day and in every way.
On Greyson’s first day at a new school, his excitement turns to embarrassment when a classmate asks about his disability. At first, Greyson wants to hide. Then, he learns that sometimes, it takes courage to speak up. With his help, Greyson’s class learns that it’s important to understand new perspectives. And with kindness, empathy, and a little magic, a special friendship begins.
Self-Care with Ted and Friends
By Najma Khorrami
Ted and his friends invite you to join them on their journey of self-care! Watch Ted fly his kite, share lessons, and so much more. Self-care starts with this book!
Simply Samrina: Marvelously Mixed
By Shamim Rupani
Hi, I’m Samrina, and I’m proud to be a mixed kid—a child of two unique cultures and traditions. Even though other people make fun of me for being different, I know these differences make me, me. I’m proud to be marvelously mixed. Come meet my family!
Starr’s Wonderful Discovery
By Trey Jeffries
Starr is a loving, talented panda who finds happiness in her uniqueness. She shares her uniqueness every day with her family and friends in the forest. One special morning, she ventures out of her valley and discovers a lonely panda named Shine, who is sad and lonely because he has not yet learned to embrace his uniqueness. Can Starr help Shine find happiness in himself?
The Magical Path Leading to the Glass Bottom Boat
By Candice Zafran
Meet Prince Blake and Princess Brooklyn, a brother-sister pair who love going on adventures together. In this first installment of The Adventures of the Glass Bottom Boat series, join the siblings on a magical journey to their destination. Along the way, you’ll meet talking animals, discover hidden waterfalls, and walk through every color of the rainbow. Hurry now, the glass bottom boat is waiting!
The Truth about the Tooth
By Mistie Psaledas
Do you ever wonder what children all over the world do with their lost teeth? Or what tooth fairies actually look like?
In this delightful, educational book, tooth fairies reveal their secrets and share what happens to children’s lost teeth around the world. The Truth about the Tooth is a story about the diversity, creativity, and imagination of different tooth fairy legends—one from which the entire family can take inspiration.
Cookbooks
J.C. in the Kitchen
By John Contratti
Growing up, cooking and eating were ways to gather people together. With this cookbook, I hope to bring people back to the kitchen and the dining table to become close again. During hard times, we can find comfort in family and good food, and that is what I want to inspire in everyone who opens these pages.
Fiction
Get Me Out of Here! Reflections of PD the Put-Upon Pug
By PD the Pug
More cookies than a Mrs. Fields’ warehouse, his own house constructed under the stairwell, too many toys to fit in his four beds, a veritable Life of Riley for dogs…yet PD the Pug is convinced that his life is a Ruff one, a life of penury, destitution, and want. He longs to be “OUT,” convinced that Out There is where happiness lies, where he can chase every squirrel, forage for more food than his pug belly can hold, and play until he passes out. But…does PD really have a lousy existence with Mommy? Or does he live the life of a Prince and is too silly and spoiled to know how good he has it? More important: Does PD find a way to escape Mommy and see what life on the outside truly is all about? Find out! Order Get Me Out Of Here! Reflections Of PD The Put-Upon Pug today!
Nonfiction
Along For the Ride: Living My Fantasies as a Flight Attendant’s Husband
By C. J. Nicholas
From Europe to the Caribbean and back to the U.S.A., C. J. and Alejandra take you on their true and funny adventures of traveling the globe on standby and making the most out of their exploits. From traveling with severe food poisoning to their honeymoon destination, to listing their return flight plans in a marijuana bar in Amsterdam, to having an audience with the Pope in Italy—these are their stories.
How to Suck at Business Without Really Trying
By Marah Archer
As the World’s “Best” Boss puts it: I’ve never shied away from giving great advice— especially when free food or money is involved. Money is my lover, and boy, is she into bondage. I’ll show you how to master money’s rules to foreplay for navigating the business world. I’ll take you on a trip that teaches you all there is to know about starting a world-class business and to rubbing elbows (or even more) with the world’s elite.
Listen, I have an MBA from a top university (an American one, of course), no debt, millions in the bank, and an animation studio start-up that I can proudly say does a lot of stuff that I don’t quite understand. And that’s a good thing, because it keeps me focused on my money.
I’ll teach you how to run a business my way. A few of the things I’ll cover are:
• Human Resources
• Strategy
• Marketing & Business Development
• Leadership
• Tech & Big Data
I promise to give you a peek at my abundant life so that it drives you to be just as successful as I am. If you’re already a millionaire, you should pick up this book to validate what you already know to be true.
Legacy Culture
By Ronald Monack
Legacy Culture helps coaches establish their personal ethical values and bring themselves and their athletes in line with these goals. For any coach who desires to impact their athletes beyond the game they teach, this is their guide.
The Forbidden Fruit: A True Story of Sex, Drugs, and the Afterlife
By Tina Scott
My story is full of secrets. A twisted novel of my life’s journey—a failed marriage, death, sex, a touch of insanity, and an insatiable desire to believe there is a god. There are no more skeletons in my closet.
The Forbidden Fruit is a raw memoir told in an honest and resonating tone. It is the story of facing fears and finding ways to hurl through the unknown.
Young Adult
Dr. Ford Freud: Skeletons Are Not Scary
By J. A. Ford
“So many questions. So many skeletons.”
Jered Barstow is only eight years old, but he’s burdened by serious concerns. Why does he suspect he’s being raised by people who aren’t his real parents? His family now seems preoccupied with skeletons. Paper Skeletons. Candy skeletons. Why so many skeletons? Skeletons are scary, right?
Subplot
A Tangled Affair
By Anne C. Scardino
Clair Bondi makes the painful decision to divorce the only man she ever loved—Vince Bondi, her husband of twenty-five years. But Clair never gets the chance to tell Vince she is leaving him, because he is found fatally shot in his Porsche one night when driving home from his weekly tennis game. Haunted by his death, Clair is determined to help the Philadelphia police find the killer. Vince’s secret life, including an account in Turks and Caicos, forces Clair to realize that he wasn’t the man she thought he was. No longer the “good wife,” Clair’s strength and resilience take her from her darkest moment to a life unimagined—one with true love and purpose.
Sainted in Error
By Glenda Winders
What do you wear when you testify against your best friend as she goes on trial for murder?
As Maggie Patterson runs her hand over the clothes in her closet and muses about the prosaic details of preparing for a shockingly personal murder trial, she is catapulted into the memories that led her to this moment. Piece by piece, she assembles the fragments of her past to make sense of a violent crime, the echoes of which ripple through her recollections.
Maggie and Cynthia meet as college freshmen and are seemingly destined to be best friends for life. As the years pass, however, Maggie’s marriage and career lift her to success and wealth while Cynthia’s jealousy and untreated mental illness cause their relationship to disintegrate. As the stories of the two women’s lives unfold, Cynthia’s paranoia and anger sour every relationship she has and turn even the people who have loved her most against her, ultimately bubbling over into an event that Maggie never sees coming.
Not a murder mystery in the usual sense, and spanning time and space, Sainted in Error delves into the tenacity of friendship and the damage that the stigma still attached to mental illness can do.
The Art of Traveling Strangers
By Zoe Disigny
It’s the 1980s, and art historian Claire Markham reels from a series of heartbreaking losses. Desperate to escape her shattered reality, she becomes an art guide in Europe for quirky stranger Viv Chancey and embarks on a life-changing journey through the art-filled cities of Milan, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Siena, Rome, and Paris.
Once abroad, Claire tries to hide her woes by focusing on Viv’s art education, but Viv—who is not who she seems—has a different learning experience in mind. Frustrated and wanting to reimagine her life, Claire embraces the idea of reality as illusion and finds herself slipping into the tales of art and history.
When threatened with one more crushing loss, Claire must learn from the spirit of her eccentric companion and the lessons from the art they encounter to take charge of her life or lose the most precious thing in it.
The Art of Traveling Strangers is a journey of self-discovery and personal empowerment inspired by the great art masterpieces of Italy and France. It’s a tale of female bonding and the amazing powers of perception. After all, reality, like art, is just an illusion.