"The Catcher Dream" was born as a poem and remains so in this newly minted Book Five of Kelly Anne Manuel's Childhood Classics. In this story the Child is invited on a journey where self empowerment is modeled through an interaction between the narrator and a fictionalized character known as the Catcher Dream. This is a story where the narrator models strength and courage once an uncomfortable matter is identified through self assessment.
"The Catcher Dream” offers a standing invitation to the Child. The Child will learn that they are individuals in charge of safeguarding their physical and emotional space. It is an example of how imperative it is to process the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that uncomfortable matters provoke.
The simple words take on new meaning as the illustrations pair perfectly with their presentation. The Child will observe illustrations that are in alignment with the serious tone of the story. It is important that the art match the conflict presented and resolved by the narrator. The narrator shows the Child that once a boundary was encroached upon, speaking up in a firm manner provided a solution.
Children learn how to handle conflict by observation. It is important for their literature to address a balanced yet firm approach to conflict resolution. The author intends this book to be a launch pad for discussions about personal space, respect, and boundaries. These are all areas that deserve to be explored frequently as the Child ages.
It is in Early Childhood that futures are being constructed. "The Catcher Dream" is a tool in a Caregiver's toolbox to assist with that healthy formation. The idea that self empowerment is formed during these early years is embraced by the author. The Children who read this book will be rewarded with a valuable lesson that facing fears results in the positive trait of resilience.
Life is lonely in Queen Victoria's London, especially for a talking vole. Chains may be the equal of any human detective, but there's one case he can't solve: where he came from and why he can speak.
Luckily, he has the help of Eldridge, the retired investigator he lives with. Their latest job-a shipload of missing fish destined for experimentation-might provide some needed answers. But when Eldridge is kidnapped, Chains is left without sanctuary at a time he badly needs friends. Especially with profiteers, scientists, and pirates from London's mad scientific underbelly after his hide.
The more clues Chains unearths, the more certain he is that finding Eldridge will also unlock the mystery of how Chains originally came to be, and might even offer him a place to truly belong. But someone he thought he could trust doesn't want that to happen. A talking vole may offer a significant breakthrough, but a silenced one is preferred.
Does your child ever sit by themselves—alone and seemingly friendless?
In I Used to Be Shy, meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games. With Carla’s encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends.
The bonus song "Little Brown Pony" includes the lyrics and music notations as does "I Used to Be Shy."
Amy O'Hanlon's excellent Sister Butterfly illustrations show Carla approaching a favorite corner of her garden where she feels safe and happy. Her vigilant brother knows that Carla can create beautiful fantasies as she twirls around and round to music only she can hear, engaged in quiet conversation with the small creatures such as butterflies and her favorite flowers.
Mike Mirabella's children's book entitled Sister Butterfly, is a beautifully illustrated children's book based on a song from his 1998 CD entitled, Special People.
Mike wrote Sister Butterfly song years ago for his daughter, Carla, when she was three years old. The theme of Sister Butterfly centers on Mike's abiding love for his daughter with Down syndrome and for self-discovery and the transformation of the hearts that surround her.
Mike wrote in the song; "My sister is a butterfly who never learned to fly, ...”. Carla still wasn't walking or talking and Mike thought at the time, she would have little chance of accomplishing much of anything in her life. "How wrong I was; her life was a parade of accomplishments!” - Papa Mike.
La Sinfonía de Ocho Historias Cortas de Daniel A. Novak es una colección alegre y llena de imaginación pa’ niños, ¡y ahora está disponible en inglés y en español! Estas historias únicas invitan a gente de todas las edades a un mundo donde la creatividad, el valor, la bondad y la curiosidad son los protagonistas. Perfecta pa’ familias bilingües, salones de clase o cualquiera que quiera sentir la magia de los cuentos en dos idiomas, esta colección en audio celebra el poder de la imaginación. Dale al play, relájate y déjate llevar. ¡Esta es una sinfonía que vas a querer escuchar una y otra vez!
The Symphony of Eight Short Stories by Daniel A. Novak is a joyful, imaginative collection of children's tales and is now available in both English and Spanish! These unique stories invite listeners of all ages into a world with creativity, courage, kindness, and curiosity at the center. Perfect for bilingual families, classrooms, or anyone looking to experience the magic of storytelling across languages, this audio collection celebrates the power of imagination. So press play, sit back, and enjoy the ride. This is one symphony you’ll want to hear again and again!
Join Princess Claudia on an unforgettable adventure as she learns the vital role clouds play in the world. Guided by her wise owl, Iris, and a bumbling wizard named Fumbledore, a nearly blind Claudia discovers that sometimes the things we take for granted are the most important of all.
The Day the Clouds Went Away is a beautifully illustrated whimsical fairytale that shares the importance of clouds in our lives, even on rainy days.
Set in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city of St. Louis, Jayrin Foster grapples with the absence of his father, while Kamree Covington copes with her own struggles as her father serves time in prison. Aceson Denner, residing in a more affluent neighborhood, faces a different challenge – his father's emotional detachment. As these teenagers navigate the turbulent waters of adolescence, the void left by their fathers becomes an insurmountable hurdle. Jayrin's entanglement with a local drug dealer jeopardizes his academic pursuits, places his life at risk, and strains his longstanding friendship with Kamree. Kamree, in pursuit of an ideal and perfect world, confronts her own imperfections through self-reflection. Meanwhile, Aceson's explosive temper and social awkwardness lead to isolation in his school. Through the authentic voices of these compelling characters, the harsh reality of socio-economic challenges confronting today's youth unfolds. As they grapple with loneliness, poverty, drugs, and violence, and develop racial awareness, their separate journeys unexpectedly intertwine. The resulting tapestry weaves a narrative of tragedy, awakening, and the potential for redemption.
In Jaxon and Kevin’s Black History Trip Downtown, the second book in this educational book series, Jaxon
shares his magical adventure with his cousin Kevin.
They venture into town to meet Black inventors and scientists who are responsible for many of the things
we encounter every day.
Ella’s thrilled about her new part but quickly realizes she's only filling in and won’t be performing on stage.
This advanced Dance-It-Out! ballet story is ideal for dance students or kids aged 6-9 who have enjoyed other books in the series. Kids are invited to join Ashton and Ballerina Konora practicing steps such as pliés, tendus, rond de jambes, petit battements, and sautés.
Dance along with Eka and Ballerina Konora in this interactive adventure story. Eka’s family creates a garden, but Eka worries animals may destroy all their hard work. When playful elephants visit, will Eka find a way to save the vegetables and flowers?
"The Catcher Dream" was born as a poem and remains so in this newly minted Book Five of Kelly Anne Manuel's Childhood Classics. In this story the Child is invited on a journey where self empowerment is modeled through an interaction between the narrator and a fictionalized character known as the Catcher Dream. This is a story where the narrator models strength and courage once an uncomfortable matter is identified through self assessment. "The Catcher Dream” offers a standing invitation to the Child. The Child will learn that they are individuals in charge of safeguarding their physical and emotional space. It is an example of how imperative it is to process the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that uncomfortable matters provoke. The simple words take on new meaning as the illustrations pair perfectly with their presentation. The Child will observe illustrations that are in alignment with the serious tone of the story. It is important that the art match the conflict presented and resolved by the narrator. The narrator shows the Child that once a boundary was encroached upon, speaking up in a firm manner provided a solution. Children learn how to handle conflict by observation. It is important for their literature to address a balanced yet firm approach to conflict resolution. The author intends this book to be a launch pad for discussions about personal space, respect, and boundaries. These are all areas that deserve to be explored frequently as the Child ages. It is in Early Childhood that futures are being constructed. "The Catcher Dream" is a tool in a Caregiver's toolbox to assist with that healthy formation. The idea that self empowerment is formed during these early years is embraced by the author. The Children who read this book will be rewarded with a valuable lesson that facing fears results in the positive trait of resilience.
Life is lonely in Queen Victoria's London, especially for a talking vole. Chains may be the equal of any human detective, but there's one case he can't solve: where he came from and why he can speak. Luckily, he has the help of Eldridge, the retired investigator he lives with. Their latest job-a shipload of missing fish destined for experimentation-might provide some needed answers. But when Eldridge is kidnapped, Chains is left without sanctuary at a time he badly needs friends. Especially with profiteers, scientists, and pirates from London's mad scientific underbelly after his hide. The more clues Chains unearths, the more certain he is that finding Eldridge will also unlock the mystery of how Chains originally came to be, and might even offer him a place to truly belong. But someone he thought he could trust doesn't want that to happen. A talking vole may offer a significant breakthrough, but a silenced one is preferred.
Does your child ever sit by themselves—alone and seemingly friendless? In I Used to Be Shy, meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games. With Carla’s encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends. The bonus song "Little Brown Pony" includes the lyrics and music notations as does "I Used to Be Shy."
Amy O'Hanlon's excellent Sister Butterfly illustrations show Carla approaching a favorite corner of her garden where she feels safe and happy. Her vigilant brother knows that Carla can create beautiful fantasies as she twirls around and round to music only she can hear, engaged in quiet conversation with the small creatures such as butterflies and her favorite flowers. Mike Mirabella's children's book entitled Sister Butterfly, is a beautifully illustrated children's book based on a song from his 1998 CD entitled, Special People. Mike wrote Sister Butterfly song years ago for his daughter, Carla, when she was three years old. The theme of Sister Butterfly centers on Mike's abiding love for his daughter with Down syndrome and for self-discovery and the transformation of the hearts that surround her. Mike wrote in the song; "My sister is a butterfly who never learned to fly, ...”. Carla still wasn't walking or talking and Mike thought at the time, she would have little chance of accomplishing much of anything in her life. "How wrong I was; her life was a parade of accomplishments!” - Papa Mike.
La Sinfonía de Ocho Historias Cortas de Daniel A. Novak es una colección alegre y llena de imaginación pa’ niños, ¡y ahora está disponible en inglés y en español! Estas historias únicas invitan a gente de todas las edades a un mundo donde la creatividad, el valor, la bondad y la curiosidad son los protagonistas. Perfecta pa’ familias bilingües, salones de clase o cualquiera que quiera sentir la magia de los cuentos en dos idiomas, esta colección en audio celebra el poder de la imaginación. Dale al play, relájate y déjate llevar. ¡Esta es una sinfonía que vas a querer escuchar una y otra vez!
The Symphony of Eight Short Stories by Daniel A. Novak is a joyful, imaginative collection of children's tales and is now available in both English and Spanish! These unique stories invite listeners of all ages into a world with creativity, courage, kindness, and curiosity at the center. Perfect for bilingual families, classrooms, or anyone looking to experience the magic of storytelling across languages, this audio collection celebrates the power of imagination. So press play, sit back, and enjoy the ride. This is one symphony you’ll want to hear again and again!
Join Princess Claudia on an unforgettable adventure as she learns the vital role clouds play in the world. Guided by her wise owl, Iris, and a bumbling wizard named Fumbledore, a nearly blind Claudia discovers that sometimes the things we take for granted are the most important of all. The Day the Clouds Went Away is a beautifully illustrated whimsical fairytale that shares the importance of clouds in our lives, even on rainy days.
Set in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city of St. Louis, Jayrin Foster grapples with the absence of his father, while Kamree Covington copes with her own struggles as her father serves time in prison. Aceson Denner, residing in a more affluent neighborhood, faces a different challenge – his father's emotional detachment. As these teenagers navigate the turbulent waters of adolescence, the void left by their fathers becomes an insurmountable hurdle. Jayrin's entanglement with a local drug dealer jeopardizes his academic pursuits, places his life at risk, and strains his longstanding friendship with Kamree. Kamree, in pursuit of an ideal and perfect world, confronts her own imperfections through self-reflection. Meanwhile, Aceson's explosive temper and social awkwardness lead to isolation in his school. Through the authentic voices of these compelling characters, the harsh reality of socio-economic challenges confronting today's youth unfolds. As they grapple with loneliness, poverty, drugs, and violence, and develop racial awareness, their separate journeys unexpectedly intertwine. The resulting tapestry weaves a narrative of tragedy, awakening, and the potential for redemption.
In Jaxon and Kevin’s Black History Trip Downtown, the second book in this educational book series, Jaxon shares his magical adventure with his cousin Kevin. They venture into town to meet Black inventors and scientists who are responsible for many of the things we encounter every day.
Ella’s thrilled about her new part but quickly realizes she's only filling in and won’t be performing on stage. This advanced Dance-It-Out! ballet story is ideal for dance students or kids aged 6-9 who have enjoyed other books in the series. Kids are invited to join Ashton and Ballerina Konora practicing steps such as pliés, tendus, rond de jambes, petit battements, and sautés.
Dance along with Eka and Ballerina Konora in this interactive adventure story. Eka’s family creates a garden, but Eka worries animals may destroy all their hard work. When playful elephants visit, will Eka find a way to save the vegetables and flowers?
