Bindi Wildlife Adventures - Trouble at the Zoo - Book 1

Come on an adventure with Bindi (the crocodile hunter’s daughter) with her new series of books. Bindi Wildlife Adventures Trouble at the Zoo takes your young middle-grade reader on a fun journey...

...Bindi’s birthday is here and what better way to celebrate then with an undersea theme party at the zoo? Bindi, her mom Terri, brother Robert and friend Rosie are all dressed up in costumes and ready to begin the celebrations. But when Robert encounters a young fellow with a frown on his face and an alternative motivate, will Bindi’s quick thinking save an Eastern Water Dragon from being nabbed?

Find out in Bindi Wildlife Adventures Trouble at the Zoo. In addition to being a great, adventurous story, Bindi also gives fun facts about each animal featured in the book. A portion of all proceeds of Bindi’s books go to the Australia Zoo Conservative Projects.

For more information please visit Source Books

About Bindi:

Born to wildlife conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin, she was just 3 years old when she made her television debut on The Crocodile Hunter. In 2007, Bindi launched her clothing line, Bindi Wear International, and her very own TV show, Bindi: The Jungle Girl, which won an Emmy in 2008 and was nominated again in 2009. She’s won two Nickelodeon awards, and just made her first full-length feature film debut in Free Willy 4 with Beau Bridges, which was released in March 2010.

Brave Young Knight - A Review

What makes a winner?  The fastest?  Strongest?  Smartest?  Or is it someone with integrity?

Brave Young Knight by Karen Kingsbury is a wonderful tale of how one boy chooses God's principals over cheating.  But will it be enough to win the title of Prince?

The illustrations done by Gabrielle Grimard are bright, bold and enchanting and will scoop them up and carry them along for the whole journey.  This book is a must have - your kids will want to hear this story over and over again!

This picture book is suitable for the 4-7 year old crowd and will be available April 2011.  Check out Brave Young Knight at Zonderkidz

You read my review, now take a look at the video montage.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jack & Machu's Rescue

by Tabitha Grace Smith

When I was two years old my mother says I would bounce up and down in my stroller saying, “mine” whenever I saw a cat. I apparently had a love that started early. My first cat, originally named Snowball, I got shortly after and I had cats in my life forever. Well, forever until I hit college. Unfortunately dorm rooms are no place for a feline companion. Even after I graduated in 2003, I couldn’t get a cat because I moved into an apartment with two other girls. Finally, in 2005, I moved into my own place.

Amid all of the packing, cleaning and repainting, I knew the huge task was not making sure my mail was forwarded or finding bubble wrap for my kitchen items. The huge task was to find a furry roommate. Thankfully at work I had met a fellow cat lover, who introduced me to a rescue needing a home. A year before a couple had rescued a feral cat on the streets of Chicago. She was, of course, pregnant. They took care of her and her kittens for awhile and found homes for every one of his brothers and sisters, but Machu was the hold out.

I visited Machu and instantly fell in love. He’s a gorgeous black cat with a crazy personality. He “talks”. A lot. He’ll spend most of the day walking around meow-ing at people if they’ll listen. His favorite places in my new apartment were where he could get height advantage. Not really loving the name Machu Pitchu, I renamed him Myboyfriend. Mostly because it was fun calling people and telling them “I’m moving in with Myboyfriend.”

Shortly after settling in, Myboyfriend was joined by probably one of the best cats I’ve ever known Tigger. Tigger was a 16lb butterball of a gray tabby that my sister had adopted from an animal shelter in Iowa. Tigger was a cuddle cat. Which, at 16lbs, sometimes came as a huge surprise (literally)! Many times I woke up being smothered by him as he attempted to sleep on my face. Tigger especially loved sleeping in my jeans when I took them off and they lay on the floor in a perfect circle. There was no one who met Tigger who didn’t fall in love with him instantly.

When Tigger passed away last year it was hard to imagine anyone taking his place. Myboyfriend, who had grown attached to Tigger, wandered the apartment looking for him and crying for him. I knew we both needed a new friend, so our first stop was the local animal shelter.

Picking someone to replace Tigger was hard. The interaction level you have in a shelter is not the same as in someone’s home. You have to really see an animal’s personality and, locked up in a tiny cage, it’s hard to see that. It took two visits for me to finally find the right cat. I had, for a while, believed in adopting older cats. Older cats wouldn’t have as many families willing to give them a home. I was hesitant when the cat I fell in love with was a kitten. Sadly, in this shelter, there were more kittens than cats, so finally I agreed to take a small, gray tabby home. I named him Jack.

I’m a huge TV fan girl and a running gag in our house has been how a lot of heroes in TV series are named Jack (Jack Bauer from 24, Jack Sheppard from Lost, Sheriff Jack Carter from Eureka, Captain Jack Harkness from Torchwood, etc.). So the tiny kitten got a hero’s name.

I couldn’t imagine not giving one of the cats in the shelter a home. Adopting my pets rather than buying them has brought me so much joy and laughter. Myboyfriend, Tigger and Jack were all well loved internet celebrities in their own right as they appeared on my podcasts and on YouTube. They had a small cult following who loved them almost as much as I did.

Shortly after adopting Jack I noticed something extremely funny. Jack had a love/hate relationship with water. He’d often sit on my bathtub and try to get as close as possible to the water without actually getting wet. He’d paw at the bubbles, he’d watch the faucet, but any water on him and he’d freak out. That funny behavior lead to me writing my first book, a children’s book called, “Jack the Kitten is Very Brave!” Since I adore children, cats and pirates, I put them all in my book! Jack, who is also named for Captain Jack Sparrow, is a pirate in his own mind, but a pirate who is scared of the water! Since Myboyfriend is a rather confusing name for kids to understand I switched his name back to Machu.

I’m so glad to be able to be a housekeeper to these wonderful boys (as I say, you never really own a cat, they own you) and thanks Sandie for letting me share my story! Every morning I wake up to headbutts and nose kisses and every night I get a chorus of adorable meows before bed. I’m one very blessed cat lover.


Tabitha Grace Smith is a podcaster, blogger and writer. You can find out more about Machu and Jack at http://machuandjack.com/ or buy “Jack the Kitten is Very Brave” on Amazon: http://ht.ly/3mvmV.

Stop back tomorrow for my review of Jack the Kitten is Very Brave.

The Careless Frog

We all get a little careless sometimes and in our wake we may do more damage then we even know.

The Careless Frog by Dana L.Perri, part of the Think...Then Jump Series, takes your little one on a journey as Rana the frog causes havoc throughout the forest.  From crushing a red flower to blaming Ferret Brown Bernie, Rana's careless behaviour causes an upheaval.  However, Lulu the bird soon points out Rana's misdeed.  Will Rana learn a valuable lesson?  Can he undo his mistakes?  Find out in, The Careless Frog.

This book is written in rhyme and demonstrates that what we do does matter.  Your children will see that being careless has it's consequences.  The big, bold illustrations by Juan Carlos Casas, fill the pages with colour and simplicity - your child will love it!

Check out The Careless Frog and Dana's other books at; http://www.thinkthenjump.com/

Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden

With a thick blanket of snow covering the ground, the adorable chipmunks of my own backyard are fast asleep in their cozy warm burrows.

I have a couple of chipmunks that visit my doorstep several times a day in the summer to collect a peanut or two, so when I read, Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden by Kathy M. Miller I was filled with happiness.

This book takes you on a journey as Chippy Chipmunk goes about his day, visiting friends, searching for food and dodging danger.  The beautiful photographs fit perfectly with the simple story and magnificently capture moments in Chippy's day that most people would never otherwise see - 86 photos in total!

I absolutely loved this book.  It's sweet and fun and sharing this with a child is sure to bring a smile to their faces.

Check out Chippy Chipmunk on the web at; http://www.chippychipmunk.com/

Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden is available at Atlas Books and Gold Crest Distributing.  Also available at bookstores, libraries, nature stores and online.

Christmas Delicious

Christmas is fast approaching, but it's not too late to grab a copy of Christmas Delicious.  This wonderful tale of two mice and their Christmas plans is sure to delight and is a gentle reminder of the true spirit of the holiday.

Raisin and Rice are two lucky mice that live in Zanzibar's Deli where food is at an abundance.  As the day approaches the two mice are busy preparing a Christmas feast, but they soon learn that the holiday is missing something. 

They have plenty of cakes, cookies, and pie - they even have a tree.  So what could it be?

Find out in Christmas Delicious by Lyn Loates.  This book is a wonderful tale of caring and sharing.  Written in rhyme kids are sure to want to hear it time and time again.  The bright, bold illustrations by Mark Jones only adds to the feel and enjoyment of this tale of two mice.

Check out Christmas Delicious at Blue Apple Books; http://www.blueapplebooks.com/
or on Amazon

Adorable Book Helps Charity

Author, Blair Hahn's teenage daughter visited a nail salon and saw the fun dads and daughters were having getting pedicures together.  She convinced her dad to join her, and My Purple Toes was born.

How will the family react to Dad's purple toes?  Mom rolls her eyes, sister giggles, brother is embarrassed and Gus, the family dog just barks.

My Purple Toes is a cute board book written for children one to five.  Your little ones will love being involved in the counting, searching (look for the purple-toed frog on each page) as well as sharing many giggles as Dad goes through all the seasons with purple toes.

The illustrations by Tate Nation are simple yet engaging and will keep those pages turning.

Along with being a sweet read, a portion of all the sales of My Purple Toes will go to benefit children in the United States and around the world through Soles 4 Souls.  This non-profit organization collects and distributes shoes at no cost to people in need.  Check out their web site at; http://www.soles4souls.org/

For more information on My Purple Toes check out their web site at; http://www.mypurpletoes.com/

Kimbering Abbott Hill - Author Interview

Where will Kimberly's traveling boots go next? Read my interview with author of, The Adventures of the Traveling Boots;

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a "Louisiana Girl" who is excited to have fulfilled my dream of writing a children's book which I plan to develop into a series. I'm currently working on book number two. I live in Mandeville with my husband and two boys. I am actively involved with my childrens' schools spending many hours at each volunteering for many things. I am also busy visiting schools around my area sharing my book with the students during Author Day's, Literacy Events and other school functions.

Have you always been a writer? When did you know this is what you wanted to do?
I graduated from Louisiana State University and received my Master's degree from the University of South Alabama. I worked in health care until about 5 years ago. I did not study writing in school but have always enjoyed writing, especially making things rhyme. After my children were born, we spent alot of time at the library and book stores reading books. I realized the need for educational books. Reading is great but if you could get the benefit of learning something while reading, that is even better! During that time, I told myself that I wanted to write an educational children's book!

How long from idea to print did the process take?

I started the process in March 2009 and received the books on November 3rd, 2009. To me, this was very fast!

Where did the idea of travelling boots come from?

When I decided to move forward with writing a book, during dinner one evening, my family and I were brainstorming ideas. I wanted to write about something you have not already read about... nothing about animals or children or things children do. My oldest son (he was 10) threw out the idea of Boots. I said "what do the Boots do" and he replied, "we like to travel so the Boots can travel"... and that is how The Adventures of the Traveling Boots came to be! He loves the fact that it was his idea! I always share this when reading at schools so children can see what a great influence they can be even at a young age.

What do you hope your young readers will take from this story?

I hope readers will remember a few things about each place "The Boots" visit. I hope it inspires them to want to learn more about these places and be excited about learning history. The story was written in a whimsical way in hopes that it helps the children retain more and just want to read the story over and over. I also hope that they realize that young people can achieve great things if they just work hard and try their best just like my young illustrator did.

You have a very young illustrator for this book - Madeline Noton age 12. How were you paired together?

I knew that I wanted a child to illustrate the book for me to bring the educational content down to a childs perspective. A good friend of mine has a daughter who has been in the Talented Arts program at school ,and I had seen some of her work and was impressed. I first talked to my friend to see if they would be interested in me talking to their daughter, Maddie, about being the illustrator. Once I received their blessing, I shared my idea with Maddie. My original thought was that since I knew it would be a big undertaking for someone so young, I would have her do the bigger parts and have other children come back with the smaller details. However, Maddie said to me that if her name was going to be on the book, she wanted the work to be all hers so that it would be done the way she would want it to be done. I was so impressed that a 12 year old would think that way so I asked her if she would illustrate the entire book and she said yes. I am so proud of her and the amazing job she did!

You have a web site as well - tell us a bit about this?

My website is http://www.thetravelingboots.com/. It has been really fun to have. I have an activities page for kids where they can play different games. I have coloring sheets for younger children. I have an Ideas for Teachers page which many teachers have taken advantage of as well as a picture page where I love posting pictures of children reading my book and pictures with the children I visit at schools. I also have pictures of educational activities many schools have done surrounding my book. My favorite part of the website is the poll that children can vote and tell me where they want to see "The Boots" go to next. All of these ideas have come from children. They can even see what is winning by clicking the review results button. And of course, you can order my book from the website too!

Anything else you'd like to add?

It has just been an amazing journey since I decided to write the book. I really enjoy bring "The Boots" (I actually have a pair of Boots that I painted to look like the characters in the book) to the schools and interacting with the students. That has been my favorite part. My book has been featured in a few Louisiana magazines and I was voted Best Local Author 2009 by Sophisciated Woman Magazine. I feel very blessed that I have been able to accomplish a life goal of mine! Besides my website, my book can be purchased through Amazon.com

Thanks Kim :)

What's Happening at the Cafe?

Where does that missing sock from the dryer end up?

The Adventures of Footenbarn co-creator, Shahrook Oomer, is waiting at Imagination-Cafe to answer all your kids burning questions about his hilarious character, Footenbarn (he's a sock). And if they haven't already, sign them up for Klub Krumbs - it's FREE and easy and allows them full access to all the Cafe's fun spots.

Come on! It's Saturday and what could be more enjoyable than touring around the cafe with your kids; play some games, take a quiz or read some fun-tastic new articles like 'The Care and Feeding of Your Pet Dragon' (Doggy Bag) and 'Just Tri It' (Sports).

Check us out...you won't be sorry.

Imagination-Cafe at; http://imagination-cafe.com/ and remember to leave a question for Shahrook :)