Books with author Jan McCarthy

This popular method starts young children on their musical journey by teaching basic principals of guitar playing. It begins with the parts of the guitar, how to comfortably hold the instrument, right- and left-hand positioning and tuning. Easy step-by-step playing examples are used to teach chords, picking, strumming patterns and single note melodies. It uses plain language that makes it easy to understand major and minor chords, rhythm and timing. Have fun playing complete song rhythms with full band backing tracks that give children the feel and excitement of playing with other musicians. This program developed by renowned guitar instructor John McCarthy includes a follow along DVD. The DVD illustrates playing examples through close-up views of each hand, player's perspective views and a video chord chart that shows how to play the most popular chords and what they should sound like. There is even a section that will teach kids to change strings and care for their guitar!

DO YOU HAVE what it takes to be an astronaut? Meghan McCarthy blasts readers off to astronaut school in her new, young, nonfiction picture book. Take a ride on the “Vomit Comet” and learn how it feels to be weightless. Have your measurements taken—100 to be exact—for your very own space suit. Meghan McCarthy has created the perfect book to share with children who want to be astronauts when they grow up.From the Hardcover edition.

DO YOU HAVE what it takes to be an astronaut? Meghan McCarthy blasts readers off to astronaut school in her new, young, nonfiction picture book. Take a ride on the “Vomit Comet” and learn how it feels to be weightless. Have your measurements taken—100 to be exact—for your very own space suit. Meghan McCarthy has created the perfect book to share with children who want to be astronauts when they grow up.

It was an ordinary night in October of 1938 until a news bulletin interrupted the dance music on CBS radio–aliens were invading the United States! Meghan McCarthy’s hilarious Aliens Are Coming! tells the true story of the Halloween radio prank that duped much of the country into believing that Martians had invaded. The book uses excerpts from the actual War of the Worlds radio broadcast and includes information about the importance of radios in the 1930s (before the time of televisions and computers) as well as facts about Orson Welles and H. G. Wells, author of the novel on which the broadcast was based.From the Hardcover edition.

Every day Patty visits her big red bus and sometimes she lets her little sister come along. Off they go on exciting adventures to the tops of the highest mountains, to the busiest of cities, to the big-top circus, and even to the moon! Patty has a big imagination, but little does she know that her little sister has an even bigger imagination.Young adventurers will delight in this charming book featuring two irresistible sisters.From the Hardcover edition.

Most people know the story of Balto, the world famous dog who led his dogsled team through a blizzard to deliver a lifesaving serum to the stricken people of Nome, Alaska, in 1925. Balto shot to instant stardom—a company named dog food after him, a famous sculptor erected a statue of him that stands in Central Park to this day, and the dog even starred in his own Hollywood movie. But what happened to Balto after the hoopla died down? With a lively, informative text and humorous, vibrant illustrations, Meghan McCarthy captures the extraordinary life of Balto beyond his days as a celebrity.