Books with author Melissa Condon

The Monsters Under My Bed tells the story of a boy who lets his thoughts create surprising creatures at bedtime. This short story is relatable to many young children who lets their imaginations run wild when the lights go out. This is a great story to read to young children or have them look at the pages and see the fun colors with visually textured pictures.

Penelope's Poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it. Penelope likes to sew, but she soon realizes that mending the hole is more complicated than she first thought. Penelope struggles with the challenges and frustrations, but, with a little help from her mama, she finally―and creatively―repairs Poppy's pants.Poppy's Pants is about perseverance and problem-solving. Through Penelope's example youngsters discover the satisfaction of finding solutions on their own, even if the solution is not the way other people might solve it. Sometimes the best solutions come from being creative―using your head and your hands. A postscript written by the author's father, Pat Conroy, best-selling author of The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and the author.

Aboard a scientific drilling vessel taking core samples from an ancient impact crater, student intern Kevin Guzman has one of his prescient feelings just before an earthquake sends a tsunami radiating out from under the ship. Now a strange woman has requested his help in saving the world. She’d like him to believe that millions of years ago an asteroid struck the earth and converted it into an enormous communication satellite for the denizens of some distant galaxy. But the messages haven’t been coming through, so the Gossamer Sphere is about to “tune” itself-and destroy the planet’s crust in its efforts.Kevin is skeptical, but given the odd things that have been happening to him lately, intrigued. All Caitlin O’Connor has to do is demonstrate her shapeshifting abilities, however, and he’s a believer. Caitlin introduces him to Lizbeth, the magician’s daughter with nimble pickpocket’s fingers, and Zach, whose weapon of choice is sarcasm, but whose martial arts training is more effective. The teens aren’t pleased to discover they’re descended from shapeshifters themselves, and Caitlin isn’t exactly endearing herself to them. After centuries of watching those she’s loved grow old and die, she’s put up an enigmatic front, but she needs their help finding the Gossamer Crown-the only thing that can stop the destruction. Crafted from the alien biometal that gives the sphere its power, the crown either kills whoever touches it, or changes them forever.

Hardly anyone knows Kevin, Lizbeth and Zach saved the world from the devastation of the Cataclysm, but their lives haven’t been the same since. Two of them were forever transformed by the Gossamer Sphere – no longer average teens with ordinary concerns, now they are initiates into the mystical race known throughout history as “the folk.” Led by Caitlin O’Connor, the last of the druidess nobles, they discover that even the ability to become whoever they wish doesn’t guarantee their safety. For centuries, their kind have been forced into hiding by zealous members of an organization dedicated to eradicating the folk. But now that Kevin has uncovered the origins of the Gossamer Sphere, he and the others must come forth to protect the people of earth from a new threat arriving from the triskele galaxies, faster than the speed of light…

A Gossamer Sphere Novel.Like many refugees who fled their homes during the Cataclysm, Tainie Strauss is starting over. No friends, no money, new school--a tough combination for any sixteen-year-old, much less an awkward, unattractive girl whose mother believes in fairies. Tainie is pragmatic about her life until she starts imagining she can read people’s minds. The day her face temporarily changes shape seemingly of its own volition, she can only conclude she’s gone crazy. But her mother has a different theory: during a ceremony to stop the Cataclysm, Tainie was exposed to a secret catalyst that can turn an ordinary descendant of the Folk into a shapeshifter. For the first time in her miserable life, Tainie can be someone else--anyone else. Soon her beautiful alter-ego Tory is attracting the attention of one of the best-looking boys in school. But Tainie barely has time to enjoy her newfound ability before covert agents bent on obtaining the knowledge of how to create an army of shapeshifters threaten her whole world.

Penelope's poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it up. Penelope likes to sew . . . but this is a big job. Penelope struggles, but with a little help from her mama, she gets the job done.Doll-maker Melissa Conroy makes her picture-book debut with a friendly and off-beat cast of doll characters, featured in artwork layered with photographs and illustrations. This charming story is followed by a postscript from Melissa's father, the writer Pat Conroy, which gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and author.

Penelope's Poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it. Penelope likes to sew, but she soon realizes that mending the hole is more complicated than she first thought. Penelope struggles with the challenges and frustrations, but, with a little help from her mama, she finally—and creatively—repairs Poppy’s pants.Poppy’s Pants is about perseverance and problem-solving. Through Penelope’s example youngsters discover the satisfaction of finding solutions on their own, even if the solution is not the way other people might solve it. Sometimes the best solutions come from being creative—using your head and your hands.A postscript written by the author’s father, Pat Conroy, best-selling author of The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and the author.

Has your family ever had to move?Wouldn't it be nice to know about some of the places you could visit before you get there?Four military kids are making the trip ahead of you. Follow Ben and his siblings on their adventures around the world and learn about new places you may one day visit.Ben and his best friend Leo are making a list of all the things they want to do over the summer. But the delivery of a mysterious package and some unexpected news leaves Ben playing detective and feeling in over his head. Will his detective skills lead him to the real owner? What will he do when the news seems to derail all the plans he and Leo have made?

Penelope's poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it up. Penelope likes to sew . . . but this is a big job. Penelope struggles, but with a little help from her mama, she gets the job done.Doll-maker Melissa Conroy makes her picture-book debut with a friendly and off-beat cast of doll characters, featured in artwork layered with photographs and illustrations. This charming story is followed by a postscript from Melissa's father, the writer Pat Conroy, which gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and author.

Rusty’s Grandma Margo is a writer. She and Rusty even write stories together. But when Rusty discovers that Margo sometimes suffers from writer’s block, he worries. What can he do to help her? This unique story tackles an issue that not only affects grown-ups. Kids, too, suffer from writer’s block and are often overwhelmed in their attempts to express themselves.