Books with author Mary Ellen Cook

The exciting third book in this charming series of historical novels for children, Danny and Life on Bluff Point: Lost in the Dark sees the adventures continue for ten-year-old Danny in 1890s rural upstate New York. It's the winter of 1895 in Bluff Point, New York, and though chores and school continue, Danny manages to make time for fun. He and his family enjoy all that living in the country has to offer-ice skating, fishing, sledding, and even a winter party with friends and neighbors. Pa and Uncle Henry race their spirited teams and sleighs along the Ridge Road, and Danny is given his own small iceboat, one to be shared with Cousin Jay. One day while out on the iceboat, Danny fails to pay attention to where he is and how far out onto the lake he's gone. He spends a chilly, windless night alone on the ice of Keuka Lake. Cold and frightened, Danny chooses the wrong direction in the moonless night and walks further away from home. Can Danny find his way back before the winter wind turns even colder? Filled with wonderful, vivid details of late nineteenth century rural life, Danny and Life on Bluff Point: Lost in the Dark captures the innocence and warmth of days gone by.

Ten-year-old Danny Lee doesn't share his sisters' excitement when their schoolteacher comes to live with them in January of 1895. Danny knows each family needs to take a turn housing their teacher, Miss Spaulding. But she's one more person in the house treating him like a child and telling him what to do. Of course this means more work for Danny, who already has many chores helping Ma and Pa on their farm in New York. Danny soon realizes that Miss Spaulding is a good houseguest, and he enjoys his conversations with her. But he also yearns for some male company and is excited when he gets to take his horse on a day trip with his older cousin, Jay. The trip becomes scary when the boys are caught at the beginning of a fierce blizzard that lasts for days.

When Tanner Dog meets the cat next door, they decide to go to explore the park. Mr. Vlad the cat knows that not all dogs and cats get along, and at first he’s careful with his new friend. When Tanner Dog asks Mr. Vlad if he wants to go back to the park, Mr. Vlad says he needs to check his work schedule. That’s when Tanner Dog learns that Mr. Vlad is a professor of knowledge who spends most of his time reading books from the library. Tanner Dog tells Mr. Vlad that he’s a private investigator, and that the two of them should team up to investigate mysteries. “You can do the research from your library books. Then together we can understand things we are curious about!” he says. Mr. Vlad agrees, and the first mystery they investigate is, “What is a best friend? “ The question leads to a series of adventures that ends with a startling answer that will change their lives forever.

When a puppy goes to the pet store so he can find a special family to take him home, he’s understandably nervous. But then he sees all the other puppies, kittens, fish, and birds playing. He’s happy to join everyone. When he wakes up from a nap, he looks out the pet store window and sees a beautiful little girl staring at him. Next to her is a man with a friendly face who calls the little girl KC. Is this going to be his new family, the puppy wonders. When the puppy arrives at his new home, he begins to investigate and meets everyone in his new family. There’s even a little boy that’s just his size to play with. The pup does some more investigating and his new mom tells him his name is Tanner Dog. “You are a good boy Tanner Dog. We love you, ” she tells him. Tanner Dog—the private investigator—doesn’t know it yet, but there will be plenty more mysteries to explore, and in the future, he’ll have some help from the professor cat next door, Mr. Vlad.

Ten-year-old Danny yearns for responsibility and a chance to prove his skills. He desperately wants to pitch in and ease the difficulties that pioneer life presents to his family as they manage their large fruit and livestock farm in 1894. Life on the farm is hard, though, and Danny, with his unusually small stature, struggles to gain strength to help his father and the hired hands. After all, there are difficult chores to tackle: chopping and hauling wood, caring for the workhorses, slopping the pigs, and hunting food. With sheer determination, Danny takes on everything his father allows, working hard to help ensure his family's well-being. What Danny comes to realize, though, is that it's not a person's size that counts. When he confronts a rogue cougar, runaway horses, and a classroom bully, Danny must use his wits, sensibilities, and instincts to prevail. Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder will find Danny's adventures particularly satisfying. Come along with Danny as he learns about both the harsh realities and simple pleasures of rural life in New York.