Books with author Karen Donnelly

"Bonding with Friends: H2O" is a rhyming chemistry story about the water molecule which will entertain children and parents alike with colorful illustrations, cute characters, and everyday references that all readers can relate to. Written by an experienced Chemical Engineer and mother, "Bonding with Friends" strikes the right balance between education and entertainment that will inspire your child to enjoy science and become interested in STEM topics from an early age. This poetic picture book will appeal to a baby or toddler, but the subject is complex enough to give an elementary school reader a practical understanding of how the water molecule is formed with examples they can grasp through visual learning. Children will enjoy reading "Bonding with Friends" over and over again!

After meeting sparkly Stella Starkeeper and completing six tasks, Cassie is now a Lucky Star, someone who can grant wishes to those who deserve them, but now the world of the stars needs her help. The Winter Star has stopped shining and Cassie must spread Christmas cheer to make it glow brightly again. She uses her magic to make it snow, and soon all the children in Astral-on-Sea are having a great time building snowmen and sledging! But then the Christmas Fair is cancelled as the roads are blocked. All Cassie's friends are upset - everyone has worked so hard to make this year's fair extra special. And then there's a puppy who's lost in the snow . . . Cassie must save the puppy and rescue the Christmas Fair! Having magical powers is fun, as long as Cassie learns to be careful what she wishes for.

For centuries, people suffering from certain symptoms were branded as "lepers" and became societal outcasts. Eventually, a man named Hansen was able to discover a treatment, and what became known as Hansen's disease was all but wiped out. This book charts the history of the disease, describes the stigma attached to leprosy, explains the science involved in finding a cure, and covers the World Health Organization's attempts to rid the entire world of the disease.

The beginning of Ride Across California was growing closer and closer, looming like the mountains she knew she’d have to climb. Kailyn had long ago decided she was going to journal her adventures, but she had no idea the collection of stories were ever going to leave her house! Many of her tales from the 2018 RAC capture the wit, humor, and general goofing around of an eleven-year-old, but her stories are also filled with surprising insights and life lessons that she hopes the reader will take to heart. She includes mile counts, meals, temperatures/conditions, fun things they did along the way, and her personal thoughts and experiences, all so you know exactly what you’re in for from an honest recount.“Before you commit to something as significant and challenging as the RAC, read and consider my story. Just because I thought a hill was challenging doesn’t mean you will, or that you’ll run into the same extreme heat and winds I did. If you’re already signed up, that’s amazing and good luck! If you aren’t, what are you waiting around for? See you in the prologue!” –KailynThe Ride Across California monumentally impacted Kailyn’s life, with all the literal and figurative highs and lows of such a challenge, and she is certain it will impact yours as well. As she says, what are you waiting for? Let’s ride!

Not all gifts are blessings…Sixteen-summer-old Mirana Pinal is one of the few to have ever possessed all three magical powers of the Aspects. She has terrifying visions, however, that if she wields her powers, her homeland of Kinderra will be destroyed—through her. Desperate to keep her dark fate from unfolding, she tells no one about her destructive destiny but her beloved Teague Beltran, a young apprentice herbsman born without powers.When Mirana receives alarming premonitions of an enemy attack on Kinderra, she is forced to reveal to her people that she is a Trine to warn them of the impending assault. As the Kinderrans fight to hold armies of a cunning and ruthless enemy warlord at bay, Mirana must decide if using her powers will aid her people—or will bring them more peril.