Books with author Kenny John

Emily Anne and her friends are getting ready to return to school after the Christmas vacation. Christmas is over, the Christmas play is history and Merry Robinson is now taking care of her new baby, Noellele, who was born on Christmas Day. However, the return to school is delayed by a huge blizzard which not only closes the city down, filling the streets with piles of snow, but causes the electricity to go out on the coldest day, plunging the city into darkness and cold. Emily Anne’s family and church pull together to rescue many people from the dangerous cold, giving them a place for shelter and heat. Emily Anne’s dad and some church men drag wood stoves through the driving snow to provide for heat. Emily Anne is disappointed that the restart of school is delayed, but her brother, Scotty, is loving huge snow piles to sled on. For Emily Anne, this is an example of people being willing to help others in need, even at danger to themselves. Read “The Longest Winter” to see what happens in a huge life storm to Emily Anne and her family. Read on!

In Puppet Mania!, a master of the art brings kids thirteen original projects they can make on their own, primarily using everyday household materials. Many of the projects the author includes here are for puppets he himself designed and created as a kid. There's Sock Puppy, Banana Buddy, Running Rabbit and a gaggle of other endearing creatures. Aside from explicit directions, Kennedy provides construction tips and troubleshooting advice. Puppet Mania! is more than just a project book: It also gives kids the know-how they need to turn their creations into characters--lip synching, body movements, eye contact and movement, and, most important, imagination. To that end, Kennedy kick-starts readers' creativity with a character worksheet that has room to enter the character's name, favorite phrase, hobbies, and physical characteristics. With directions for customizing their puppets and tips for maneuvering them believably, kids will want to get started in no time!

Emily Anne experiences a summer mountain camping trip with her family. While at camp, she discovers that her favorite cousin is dealing poorly with life after his mother and brother were killed in an automobile accident. He is acting out his sorrow by railing against his father, which saddens Emily Anne and causes her to wonder what she can do to help him.

Those on Orphan Station were hardened officers, working to ensure the safe and efficient transition of passengers traveling from Earth to the new colony in the Eta Cassiopeia star system. They certainly weren’t prepared for the arrival of Selene Sotana. When her father died, the military men of Orphan Station became Selene’s family, the corridors of the station her playground. There, Selene could be princess or cosmonaut, destined for greatness as she found new ways to save the universe from space pirates and aliens. Selene’s life was perfect until the day the captain called on her to save a real ship. Could she be the hero of her dreams? More importantly, could she keep her secrets from the passengers she saved?