Mascot Blog

Slide! is the laugh-out-loud true story of the greatest collapse in baseball history, told from the perspective of a boy who lived it. The Philadelphia Phillies’ bid for the pennant in 1964 was an almost flawless run. With twelve games to play, the team’s lead seemed insurmountable. For 11-year-old Carl Wolfson, it was the happiest summer of his young life. Then the unthinkable happened. With each late-season loss, Phillies fans were thrown into despair, and Carl’s crumbling dream of a World Series forced him to take refuge in comedy. Luckily, it was all around him. His bickering parents (who put up Chinese symbols for “peace” and “happiness” and argued for years about which was which), his grandmother (who was so stubbornly Republican that she refused to carry a Roosevelt dime), and his mouthy great aunt (whose protest letters to the Phillies front office became local legend) created plenty of opportunity for distraction. This coming-of-age tale unfolds with the backdrop of President Kennedy’s assassination, the stormy Goldwater-Johnson campaign, the civil rights struggles of the early 1960s, and the (hilariously hyperbolic) height of Communist paranoia, creating a nuanced picture of what life was like during that tumultuous time of national and international change. A universal story of hope and heart and a finely crafted homage to childhood, family, and our national pastime, Slide! is essential reading for Phillies fanatics and fans of any team. Thomas: The Journey By Beverly Brumback The journey of life is full of many twists and turns, and you’re never quite ready for someone to enter unexpectedly, especially someone who has been dead for over a hundred years! When a spirit named Thomas came into Beth and Michael Duncan’s life, they had no idea how he would change their world forever. Based on true events, this thrilling and thought-provoking tale explores the difficulty of patience in the face of the unknown.

Being an engineering student can be tough, and sometimes you can lose sight of what it actually means to be an engineer. But a road trip to Dayton, Ohio, to visit the home of the Wright Brothers might be exactly what two freshman engineering students need to unravel the true nature of engineering—plus gain the skills they need to build a Baja car to win the intercollegiate race!

Follow along on the story of a lifetime as these students delve into the origins of modern engineering and discover the skills they need to succeed in both school and in life.

Read closely as Cotton unravels her story and introduces you to Jan, Rustle and Abs: the valley’s youngsters. They experience some of Mother Nature’s finest moments and challenges while being simultaneously fascinated by their mobile communication devices. Meet dad as he shares his historical account of the happenings surrounding Seven Springs Lake, the life- giving body of water for Cotton’s panoramic valley. Discover Nik as he weaves his thread of mystery for Cotton and the valley. Was he real? You’ll be drawn to wonder, along with Cotton, as she recalls the details of Nik’s long ago, impact-filled visit. Angie’s Rescue: Pigs CAN Fly! By Barbara Thumann-Calderaro

Christmas-themed Children’s Books

Young brothers Idu (Ee-doo) and Adu (Aa-doo) can’t wait for dinner! They’re having guests over, and their Mamma has already made a feast that has their mouths watering. Now all Mamma has left to make are the Galub Jamun… But Idu and Adu don’t know what that is! From their first taste of the sweet treat, they can’t seem to get enough of the syrup-soaked dough, but Mamma has only made so many. Will the Galub Jamun even make it to their guests’ plates?

This humorous and fun story includes a simple recipe to make your own Galub Jamun, and easy to follow lessons so you can make sure to count them along the way!

Misha the little bear is feeling sad this fall holiday season! Because he has food allergies, he can’t enjoy all the treats that his classmates are eating. Can his class figure out a way to let Misha have a fun and safe holiday? Perfect for parents confronting the allergy question, Bittersweet Holidays offers information and resources to help make any child’s holiday fun, inclusive, and–most importantly–safe.

Say Goodbye to Mr. Moon Debbie Gordon Mr. Moon loves to smile! He smiles at everyone he sees. But when nobody smiles back at him, he decides to take a vacation! What will happen to the people of the town without a moon smiling down on them? Will they learn how powerful a simple smile can be? Odonata: The Flying Jewel of Maiden Grass Pond By Barbara Gervais Ciancimino Perched on a cattail plant, Odonata watches the other dragonflies dart around in a fun game of tag. But every time Odonata tries to join them, they ignore him. Why won’t they let him play? To make matters worse, a humongous Blue Hawker dragonfly named Drago has been going out of his way to be cruel to Odonata. Living on Maiden Grass Pond has not been going very well for Odonata, until one rainy afternoon when everything changes…

Wherever adventure awaits, Adventurous Alex and Relentless Russell are close by! Today they’re touring the Dominican Republic. Follow along with them and tour a sugar cane plantation, try some cocoa, go on a monster jeep ride, and meet a real live snake man! Pick up a book and start traveling with these brothers today!

What does it mean to love? Jesus taught the world what it means to love and be loved, and, through 15 Days of Love, continues to teach readers of all age just how powerful love is.

From birth, every child is blessed—a little angel. Follow along in this heartwarming story of love and devotion as you discover just how special each and every child truly is.

Join the fierce and respectful Royal in showing her passion and love for life through the empowering stories of her everyday adventures. The Super Smart Girl Book features the first two stories in the incredible hit series seeking to enlighten and inspire young girls everywhere.

When Sam’s parents decide to leave their safe but boring lives in Charcoal City behind, each day becomes a new adventure. Filled with quirky guests and magical mishaps, running an Inn at the Edge of the World is anything but boring!

Shriners Hospitals for Children—Greenville specializes in the expert

pediatric orthopaedic care of over 85 physically-challenging conditions,

and exists to improve the lives of all patients, regardless of a family’s

ability to pay. Cut It Out! was inspired by the #CutTheBull campaign, a

nationwide awareness effort by Shriners Hospitals for Children to bring

further attention to the bullying epidemic, particularly for children with physical differences who are twice as likely to be bullied.

Cut It Out! tells the stories of nine brave Greenville Shriners Hospital patients through the children’s own perspectives. Students from two local schools in Greenville, South Carolina created the illustrations, resulting in a delightfully collaborative and colorful book.

Cut It Out! serves to educate young children by heightening their mindfulness about the power of our words and the hurtfulness of bullying. Through simple storytelling and vibrant visuals, the purpose of this book is to promote compassion and understanding at an early age.

This story is different from “normal,” it’s said, A boy born as a fox, raised a turtle instead! It’s so hard when you’re small to tell left from right, So imagine, I ask, our little kit’s plight. Will he be brave? Only time can tell If our poor little fox will come out of his shell…

When Reed is left homeless and alone in an animal shelter, it’s up to a special volunteer, who takes an interest in the lost and lonely little dog, to help him discover his purpose. Follow along in this heartwarming story of love, rescue, and hope as Reed finds out that everyone is valuable in their own unique way, and everyone deserves a second chance.

by Laura Irelan

For over 70 years, the United States Air Force has been serving the military and civilians alike. If you’ve ever wondered what lies in the wild blue yonder, or said the word “ZULU”, this book is for you to follow along and learn even more about this exciting branch of the military.