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The Friendship Bench

Whitney Dineen

2017 Finalist
76 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2017 Finalist
When Ella's BFF, Bella, moves to a new town, she's left behind with nobody to play with at recess and has to eat lunch by herself. Her teacher, Mrs. Fancy, jumps into action and facilitates the building of a Friendship Bench which becomes a destination spot for children needing a friend. The artwork for this book was provided by the children of Fir Grove and Oak Grove Elementary Schools in Albany, Oregon. Proceeds from the book will be used to perpetrate acts of kindness.

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Tovi the Penguin Goes on a Treasure Hunt in Paris

Janina Rossiter

2017 Honorable Mention
32 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2017 Honorable Mention
Tovi and his friends are visiting the beautiful city of Paris.
All of a sudden Tovi falls deeply in love with someone on a poster. He wants to meet her!
But he doesn't know where to find her. Luckily his friends help him by leading him on a treasure hunt.
What an adventure! Will Tovi find his treasure? Let’s find out ....

Tovi books are designed in a simple animated way to give young readers the impression of watching a short film where Tovi and his friends play out their adventures.

The books are aimed at children aged 2-6 (picturebooks), who hopefully will join Tovi in his mini-adventures, and learn something about life and the world around them. As the lovable characters in these books share a whole range of experiences, they learn about sharing, about helping each other, and most important, they learn the value of friendship.

You'll be surprised what an exciting time little penguins can have!

Tovi the Penguin is a children's book series.
Also available to buy on Amazon:
Tovi the Penguin - goes camping (Volume 1),
Tovi the Penguin - goes away for Christmas (Volume 2),
Tovi the Penguin - goes to London (Volume 3)
Tovi the Penguin - goes into space (Volume 4)
Tovi the Penguin - goes to the seaside (Volume 5)
and
Tovi the Penguin - goes trick-or-treating (Volume 6)

www.tovithepenguin.com
or visit Tovi's facebook site
www.facebook.com/ToviThePenguin/

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The Adventures of Gracie & MonkeyBear

Book 1: Summer
C. S. O'Kelly

2017 Bronze Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2017 Bronze Medal
Kirkus Best Books of 2016 (Book 1: Summer) & 2017 (Book 2: Winter), the Gracie & MonkeyBear series celebrates imagination, kindness, and helping those in need! 
 
From dinosaur excavations to deep-sea rescues, author C.S. O'Kelly and illustrator, Jordy Farrell take us on an adventure for the ages! With beautiful, and often amusing, illustrations, which make us turn the book sideways every now and again, these are stories that grown-ups and kids will enjoy experiencing over and over. A wonderful gift for all occasions. The Adventures of Gracie & MonkeyBear series is unique in every sense of the word and the message of compassion, friendship and empowerment will be enjoyed for generations. Purchase your copy today.

Kirkus starred review & listed to Best Books of 2016 
Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner 2017
B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree 2017
Moonbeam Children's Book Award 2017

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The Three Little Horses and the Big Bully Donkey

A Horse Valley Adventure (Book 1)
Liana-Melissa Allen

2017 Silver Medal
36 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2017 Silver Medal
FIVE STARS READERS' FAVORITE® and a MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS® Silver Medalist Winner honoring Excellence! 
(Spanish Version: "Los Tres Caballitos y el Burro Bravo". Get both English and Spanish versions for ESL learning when reading together.)
 
A children's picture book based on the classic fairy tale "The Three Little Pigs", with the themes of bullying, friendship, sibling rivalry, and self-reliance.
"This book is full of beautiful illustrations and is part of the Horse Valley Adventure series. Liana-Melissa Allen has taken a children's fable and turned it into this wonderful tale that children will enjoy as they learn about bullying, independence and sharing." --A Five Stars Readers' Favorite® partial review  
 
The tale features three young horse brothers who lose their house to a fire and are left alone and thrust into the reality of having to depend on themselves and each other against a bully donkey who wanders the forest wrecking homes and bullying the other animals.  This warmhearted tale promotes strong values and has a fun premise.  Children and young readers will be entranced as the characters come to life through Liana Allen's vibrant illustrations.  A great read aloud story!

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Donkey's Kite

A Horse Valley Adventure (Book 2)
Liana-Melissa Allen

2017 Gold Medal
40 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2017 Gold Medal
Donkey's Kite is a FIVE STARS READERS' FAVORITE® and a MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS® Silver Winner children's picture book about perseverance, teamwork, helping others, bullying, and friendship filled with colorful storytelling illustrations by the author! 
"An excellent fable...laced with humor, charm, and a bit of the Golden Rule. The second volume in a fresh horse fantasy series, tells the entertaining story of three horse brothers and their friend Donkey who are excitedly creating homemade kites for kite flying day at Horse Meadow Park. Cheery, expressive horse and donkey figures in color who learn more about being good friends together and looking out for each other." --MBR: Children's Bookwatch 

"This is another fun adventure in Horse Valley. Children will learn the true value of friendship and not giving up. There were more wonderful illustrations that kept me lingering, looking for all the hidden gems secreted on each page. With such fun, colorful characters and lessons to be learned, children will delight in this new adventure and be begging for more." 

"This book has bright, colorful illustrations that children are sure to enjoy. The dialogue is lively and fast moving; it would be a fun read aloud for preschool children." 

In the enchanted land of Horse Valley, it's a perfect day to go kite flying! Horse brothers Jack, Max, Lax, and their friend Donkey decide to get creative by putting together their own homemade kites. However, Donkey's kite doesn't turn out very good. No matter how hard he tries to get it to fly, it just keeps tumbling to the ground. How will poor Donkey get his kite to fly? Well, a friendly goose named Gusty is delighted to help him out. In this Horse Valley Adventure, Donkey learns not to give up when all seems hopeless. 

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The Adventures of Flapjack

Saying Goodbye
Dan Cohen

2016 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Children - Picture Book

2016 Finalist

The Adventures of Flapjack - Saying Goodbye - is the third in The Adventures of Flapjack series. The first two books followed the intrepid Australian Shepherd as he encountered the same types of issues that children face, such as adaptation, bullying and self esteem. These books engaged readers with a whimsical quality and a touch of humor. This story addresses loss and sets a more serious tone. How will the fun-loving and unflappable Flapjack react to a life-altering trauma? Those who are familiar with Flapjack might have a good idea.

Author

With a passion for dogs and children, Dan embarked on a second career writing children's stories about a very special Australian Shepherd. He has worked as a state park ranger and patrol dog handler, environmental administrator, attorney and legal manager, and has enjoyed writing stories, poems and songs since he was a boy. When his family adopted an Aussie named Flapjack, Dan felt that this cunning canine had a story to tell. So, Dan merely took dictation from Flapjack, and a series of stories, The Adventures of Flapjack, was born. Each story is a narrative poem wherein Flapjack faces issues similar to those faced routinely by children. Dan's love of writing is exceeded only by his love for his wife Kim, his two children and two grandchildren. Dan, Kim and Flapjack reside in northern California. Dan and Flapjack can be reached at bruscribe@yahoo.com. Feel free to follow them on their website at http: //www.theadventuresofflapjack.com; Facebook at https: //facebook.

com/theadventuresofflapjack and Twitter at Flapjack@aussiebytes.

Illustrator

Lisa Norman is a California-based illustrator, designer, printmaker, and educator. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Fine Arts. She has shared her love of art and education teaching in Japan and the United States and aspires to continue teaching children using her artwork and her youthful approach to life. Illustrating children's books has been one of her many dreams (come true). When she is not drawing, coloring, or doodling, she enjoys spending time with her husband Tyler and their dogs Pancho and Roxy. For more of her artwork please visit www.rawrink.com.

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Tabitha Fink On A Mission To Mars

Rick Felty

2016 Honorable Mention
40 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2016 Honorable Mention
* Feathered Quill Book Award First Place 2017
* Beverly Hills Book Award Finalist 2016
* Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner 2016
* Pacific Book Award Finalist 2016


5-Star Review - “This is a great inspirational and fun story for young readers. Rick Felty’s colorfully illustrated picture book story, Tabitha Fink On a Mission to Mars, is a clever teaching tool to help young readers overcome or at least try to manage their fear of things that are new and different. By using a cute cat as the brave explorer, the story, with its rhyming verse and humorous innuendos, allows young readers to feel good and brave like Tabitha Fink.”
– Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

“Hang onto your hats…er…spaceships (!) because Tabitha Fink, the amazing one-eyed cat, is at it again, and this time she’s heading to Mars! Quill says: Another winner from author Rick Felty. I hope he plans to send Tabitha Fink on many more adventures because I can’t wait to see where she goes next!”
– Ellen Feld for Feathered Quill

Tabitha Fink is a special cat, a cat with one eye who loves to explore. In this her second book, Tabitha goes on an exciting adventure in space to the planet Mars where she learns how rewarding it can be to try something new. She also meets some new friends along the way and helps them to overcome their fear of things that are different. With cute drawings and wonderful rhymes, Tabitha Fink On a Mission to Mars is a great book for early readers and children of all ages.

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A Cat Named Mouse

Patti Tingen

2016 Bronze Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2016 Bronze Medal
2016 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards Bronze Medal
2016 Purple Dragonfly Awards Honorable Mention 
A Cat Named Mouse is an amusing tale of teasing and mixed-up names. With help from his quirky new friend Cheese, Mouse overcomes his nemesis, the nasty dog next door. Acceptance and friendship win out in the end!

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Oliver and Jumpy

Oliver and Jumpy, the Cat Series, Book 6
Werner Stejskal

2016 Gold Medal
50 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2016 Gold Medal

Bedtime stories for kids featuring a cat and a kangaroo.


Oliver is an elegant tuxedo cat, who is full of himself. As a matter of fact he says: “I love myself!”, quite often. Naughty, isn’t he? But his best friend Jumpy, a kangaroo lady, is aware that he has a soft heart and will always want to help others. The great thing is Jumpy’s pouch, which Oliver loves to ride in! He calls her his kangaroo taxi! These little bedtime stories with their lovely illustrations are great for small kids. A parent can read the text and tell the child in his own words. These animal stories have sufficient text to keep early readers happy and provide some educational value. Love you all! Meow!
Story 16: Who am I? - Oliver loses his memory.
Story 17: Up the Tree - Have you ever been up a real tall tree?
Story 18: Moon Crystal – Everybody is traveling to the moon.

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She Yelled. I Screamed...She Pulled My Hair!

An Unfairy Tale
Tracy Leshay

2015 Bronze Medal
48 Pages
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Children - Picture Book

2015 Bronze Medal
PACIFIC BOOK AWARD WINNER - BEST PICTURE BOOK
GLOBAL EBOOK AWARDS WINNER - BEST ILLUSTRATION IN CHILDREN'S FICTION (SILVER)
NEW APPLE AWARD - BEST PICTURE BOOK
READERS' FAVORITE - BEST CHILDREN PICTURE/POP UP (BRONZE)
KIRKUS REVIEWS INDIE PICK
CHILDREN'S LITERARY CLASSICS SEAL OF APPROVAL

Big sister Phoebe is determined to get along with her little sisterAudrey. It's a mean hot summer though; temperatures and tempers arerunning high. Until these two can magically share, "She Yelled. IScreamed...She Pulled my Hair!" As Phoebe tells this taking turns taleof woe, the story transcends the realm of sisters, girls and siblings;everyone finds themselves in a gimme-mine moment. Everyone experiencessharing issues. Thankfully, Phoebe & Audrey allow us to laugh attheirs. As the seasons change, only time will tell if these girls canchange as well in this beautiful book about the magic of sharing.

Author/Photographer, Tracy Leshay, made a series of photos of herdaughter's hair which then inspired this modern day fairy tale. Theresult is a learning to share tool that doesn't feel like one. Told inrhyme, it has a sing-song quality, and the 35mm black and white pictures further create a unique art book experience. This photographicallyillustrated fairy tale is enjoyable to eyes of all ages, but especiallyfor those ages 3-8.