Books with author First Last

"It's just a silly string, this wet old thing." Or was it? Follow a little boy as he leaves the house with nothing in tow but his imagination. He finds a wet, old string in a big puddle and spends the day dreaming of ways to take it on extraordinary adventures. Rhyming, repetition and bold, colorful graphics stimulate children to entertain themselves through creative thinking. Includes free educational "string" activities. First of a series.

Dear Listener, Let me tell you a tale of a world with three suns...of a gleaming pearl palace...and the elf-princess, Imagia, who dreams of playing with friends, like any other child. But she can t be like other kids she s a princess. Imagia s time is filled with the lessons that will allow her to rule one day. She isn t allowed to leave the palace, where her only contact is with grownups. So, she is left to imagine what it might be like if she could be like other elf kids. That imagination is the princess s best gift (although she is also rather fond of a certain bag of magic pearls). Imagia s imagination is very strong, and she uses it to understand the world around her. She really does try to be good, and she respects her parents. But, when yet another birthday comes along, and she is again stuck inside the palace, Imagia is frustrated. She gives in to temptation when she stumbles upon a way to sneak out of the palace and meet some friends. Imagia does find friends in the forest, but finds scary stuff too. She learns that both friendship and danger can come in strange forms, as her seemingly innocent excursion takes unexpected twists and turns. The princess journeys to the Green Towers along with her new friend, Flutterwalk. Together, they must outwit the evil witch-queen, Baddora, and her winged pet. During her adventures, Imagia makes many discoveries the most important being the true power of imagination. Come inside and grab a comfy chair while I tell you the story. Would you care to join me for a sweet potato? Signed, M.T., Mapmaker and Storyteller

This easy-to-read picture book contains actual photographs of children playing music, moving to a beat and enjoying music alone or with parents or peers. The rhyming text, using the simplest vocabulary, says how everyone can play music. It emphasizes that no special training is needed to shake a rattle, dance to a beat, or even to form your own "band." The book is meant to inspire little ones (and their parents) to make music alone or together. Research proves that parents and teachers can enrich their toddlers' lives in many ways by encouraging and playing music with them. Human communication skills are helped by exposure to music at an early age even before birth! Neurologically and anthropologically, infants and young children need music as a way to rhythmically organize sounds, and further as a means to express emotions and messages. Music educators and researchers also assert that every human being is born with a degree of musical potential. However, unless this potential is addressed early, through formal or informal environmental stimulation, a child's musical potential will decrease and finally disappear. Music is the gift of a lifetime and offers an avenue of creative expression for children, individually and together. This book advocates and enhances a love of music.

A bright, whimsical book for children and parents to encourage them to care for their teeth. Using delightful images of baby and adult animals "doing things" with their healthy teeth, this rhyming picture book offers children and parents the basics of good dental hygiene. It stresses the need for a regular teeth-cleaning routine, promotes flossing, and suggests an approved method of brushing. It also points to nutritional problems that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Unhealthy diets and snacks loaded with sugars have always been the greatest offenders in promoting tooth decay. Now, we learn that giving children fruit juice in their bottles at night or allowing them to fall asleep with formula in their mouths is a serious threat to teeth and gums. This book informs readers of these important points. This book takes a proactive approach to dental care, making it fun, involving parents, advocating frequent dental visits and the use of a fresh, effective toothbrush. While dental health for children has always been an important health priority, now more than ever this issue needs to be addressed as the growing stress of our lives leads many parents to neglect this routine for themselves and their children, and the fast-food diet which is quickly becoming the norm, does little to encourage the strength and health of teeth and gums. Ongoing research about the health of adult teeth is more convincing than ever that strong teeth, which last a lifetime, are a result of good oral hygiene from infancy on. Hohm Press is happy to join in the campaign for parent education and child motivation in good dental care.