Books with author Jessica Wallace

Daisy and the Dirty Dozen is the true, heartwarming, and fun story of a female mallard duck and her 12 ducklings that take up residence in a suburban family’s swimming pool.The Wallace family take the 13 ducks “under their wing” and are able to watch a mother duck care for her ducklings right from their kitchen window.The ducks also provide the Wallace family with the opportunity to learn more about wildlife and how to enjoy sharing their yard with a family of ducks.See the real-life Daisy and the Dirty Dozen at www.daisyandthedirtydozen.comAdvance Praise for Daisy and the Dirty Dozen:Nature makes its way into the suburbs and a local family learns more about their fellow inhabitants in this charming story of a duck family who made an unlikely home in a family pool. In a town surrounded by small ponds, a river and two lakes, the lifecycle of our migrant mallards is often scarcely understood. This family learned about the habits of a nesting mother duck, the growth and adaptation of her brood, the value of accepting a change in everyday routines, and alterations in backyard maintenance to allow the duck family to thrive.Barbara Leary, Executive Committee Chair (Sierra Club, Sacramento Group)Daisy and the Dirty Dozen is a very engaging story that children can relate to. I love the warmth that the Wallace family shows toward each other and towards their new duck family. The writing and illustrations allow you to share the experience. I really enjoyed this story, and I think others will, too.Jean Ferrario, Second Grade Teacher

“Jessica Walliser lets readers in on the secrets to a garden that buzzes with activity. Her profiles, on the insects that fight pests and the best plants for attracting them, offer clear, practical tips.” —Martha Stewart Living Say goodbye to common pests like spider mites, aphids, and leafhoppers just by planting a beautiful garden full of the right flowers and herbs! In Attracting Beneficial Bugs, organic gardening expert Jessica Walliser provides an accessible guide to selecting, placing, and caring for plants that will invite beneficial insects into your garden to do the dirty work of pest control for you. You’ll learn which plants lure in pest-eating predators and how to design a beautiful garden that provides for these beneficial bugs throughout the year.

“Jessica Walliser lets readers in on the secrets to a garden that buzzes with activity. Her profiles, on the insects that fight pests and the best plants for attracting them, offer clear, practical tips.” —Martha Stewart Living Say goodbye to common pests like spider mites, aphids, and leafhoppers just by planting a beautiful garden full of the right flowers and herbs! In Attracting Beneficial Bugs, organic gardening expert Jessica Walliser provides an accessible guide to selecting, placing, and caring for plants that will invite beneficial insects into your garden to do the dirty work of pest control for you. You’ll learn which plants lure in pest-eating predators and how to design a beautiful garden that provides for these beneficial bugs throughout the year.

Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything together. Whether it's riding a bike, playing in the tree house, having a tea party or all of the above, every day holds something fun to do together. One sunny day, Errol finds that Thomas the Teddy is sad, and Errol can't figure out why. Then Thomas the Teddy finally tells Errol what Teddy has been afraid to say: 'In my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl teddy, not a boy teddy. I wish my name was Tilly.' And Errol says, 'I don't care if you're a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend.' A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.

Daisy and the Dirty Dozen is the heartwarming and fun story of a female mallard duck and her 12 ducklings that take up residence in a suburban family’s swimming pool.The Wallace family take the 13 ducks “under their wing” and are able to watch a mother duck care for her ducklings right from their kitchen window.The ducks also provide the Wallace family with the opportunity to learn more about wildlife and how to enjoy sharing their yard with a family of ducks.You can see the real-life Daisy and the Dirty Dozen at www.daisyandthedirtydozen.com

Daisy and the Dirty Dozen is the heartwarming and fun story of a female mallard duck and her 12 ducklings that take up residence in a suburban family’s swimming pool.The Wallace family take the 13 ducks “under their wing” and are able to watch a mother duck care for her ducklings right from their kitchen window.The ducks also provide the Wallace family with the opportunity to learn more about wildlife and how to enjoy sharing their yard with a family of ducks.

This is the amazing story of who Ebony Magazine dubbed “A Dynamic Duo" and who Black Entertainment Television (BET) named one of the Most Inspirational Stories of 2013—the mother and son who exceeded everyone's expectations and carved their own path to success as the first mother and child to earn their doctorates together, from the same school on the same day. Born to an imprisoned teenager, Vickie lived a good life with her adoptive mother who loved her unconditionally, but whose staunch traditional beliefs about not talking to children about certain realities of life left Vickie vulnerable to boys who knew what to do with a child in a woman's body. Years before she could drive, drink, or vote, Vickie was raising a son and trying to figure out how to break the curse of incarceration and secure a future for her family. Instead of limiting herself to low expectations and becoming a statistic, she became Dr. Vickie McBride. As a small child, Maurice knew that Vickie was his mother, technically. Grandma was really mama, and Vickie was his best friend. Some of his fondest memories are of his childhood before Vickie left home, but some of his worst are of his life with Vickie, miles away from his mama. In Vickie's home, punishment for infractions, both real and imagined, was swift. Eventually, Maurice dropped out of high school, spent time in jail, and had a successful music career. However, the need for a good education grew as his career as a rapper faded. Despite the negative labels, he fought against his past mistakes and became more than anyone had imagined. He became Dr. Maurice McBride. Drs. Vickie and Maurice McBride came from "nowhere" and are "now here," sharing their story of an unbreakable bond and incredible forgiveness that will motivate and inspire people of all ages for years to come.