Books with author Melissa Williams

The first book in the Turtle Town Series, The Inner Puka, is about Snap Shell, a box-shell turtle from Texas, who must find his place among a society of surfing sea turtles along California’s southern coast. Snap Shell, the box shell turtle we all loved from the Iggy the Iguana series, has waited his whole life to follow his dream of becoming a real surfer. When his father is transferred to California, Snap gets the chance to embrace the much sought after waves of the West Coast. He faces many challenges, due to his physical differences from the other sea turtles. Good thing he brought his trusty blue flippers! On Snap's journey of becoming the only surfing box shell on the beach, he discovers long hidden secrets that will have the power to either destroy him or truly help him find the inner puka of his soul.

New School New Rules is the first book in the Iggy the Iguana Chapter Book Series, which focuses on themes of diversity, friendship and overcoming difficult situations in elementary school. Iggy, the main character, is a role model to kids as he navigates through moving to a new school, making friends and dealing with the school bully. The story allows young readers to relate to different types of characters, while being entertained by the story's fun loving animal humor. The story addresses many useful teaching moments in the 2nd-5th grade classroom.

The Green Room is the second book in the Turtle Town Series about Snap Shell, the town's brand new Champion Box Shell surfing turtle. Snap feels the pressure to pursue his role as a professional surf kid when he’s approached to not only to surf as a national contestant in Hawaii's Sunset Beach Junior Pros, but also offered sponsorship by the largest surf brand in the nation, Rip Shell. As Snap and his crew awaits Mother Ocean's North Shore winter swell in Oahu, they waist no time exploring and catch a few Island Hoppers, Humpback Whales, to get from island to island. Each island marking a significant moment in Snap's journey of self-discovery. From the paradise rainbows of Maui to the fire and lava of the big island of Hawaii and wetlands of Kauai, Snap meets significant honus and other creatures that force him to realize these islands are nothing like the mainland. Before long he faces the major conflict of the islands' spirit, good versus evil. Snap is now forced into a new competition from within, understanding the concept of balance and ultimately, Aloha.

New School New Rules is the first book in the Iggy the Iguana Chapter Book Series, which focuses on themes of diversity, friendship and overcoming difficult situations in elementary school. Iggy, the main character, is a role model to kids as he navigates through moving to a new school, making friends and dealing with the school bully. The story allows young readers to relate to different types of characters, while being entertained by the story's fun loving animal humor. The story addresses many useful teaching moments in the 2nd-5th grade classroom.

Summer League is the second book in the Iggy the Iguana Chapter Book Series, which focuses on themes of diversity, friendship and overcoming difficult situations on and off the field. Iggy and his All-Star baseball team have the chance to make it all the way to the district tournament until Iggy takes a risk that may end his whole baseball career. Iggy learns there is more to baseball than just winning the game. Friendships, old and new, will become more valuable than ever during his summer break.

Over fifty young authors and illustrators, grades 3 through 12, come together in this short story and poetry compilation made possible by the READ3Zero Literacy Organization. Explore the world of imagination through the eyes of our talented artists as their works represent the creativity of life, inspired by their love for literacy. To find out how you can be involved in the next short story project, please visit READ3Zero.org for details.

Africa, 1888. Trying to forget the past that took her best friend and her mother away, Sonnet Gray busies herself with helping to build a hospital, while at the same time taking care of a precocious child. Together with Israel Rhode, the one man she can trust, their safe haven is discovered by an old enemy who needs Sonnet to get back to where he came from.London, 1931. Bedlam Asylum has never been a safe place, and Rose Gray isn’t getting any better. Consumed with rage and insanity, Rose isn’t the only Gray who has learned to control her ability to travel through time.From the dark alleys of Jack the Ripper to the Spice Islands of Zanzibar, Sonnet and Rose make their way through the eras. One is controlled by love, the other by revenge, but only one of them will be strong enough to end their story. The other will simply remain lost.

Rose Gray is a troubled young woman who’s always been alone. When she’s finally reunited with her long lost sister Sonnet, her mental fragility pushes her to the point of murder.Sonnet has all but given up on her now. Unlike others of the Lost, Rose has the ability to manipulate her powers and can travel through time at will, deciding which eras she wants to travel to. Unfortunately, the traveling has taken a toll on her mind and body. For a perfectly sane girl, power of this nature could be a gift. For Rose however, it’s not only a danger to her, but also to anyone who’s had the misfortune of meeting her.Lizzie is an orphaned nurse resigned to a life of changing bedpans and fluffing pillows at Bedlam, the world’s most notorious insane asylum. Finding an old diary proves a welcome distraction from a medical world that doesn’t take nurses all that seriously. As Lizzie falls into the world of the diary’s author, Rose Gray, she finds herself swept into an ever deepening mystery.Although the diary in Bedlam Hospital may be old, Rose is not, and it appears as though she never really left. Will Lizzie’s curiosity lead to her becoming yet another of Rose’s victims?

iWRITE inspires kids to WRITE their own stories and provides publishing and leadership opportunities to our youth. Since reading and writing go hand in hand, iWRITE encourages readers to use their imagination and communicate through the written word. Join "i" The Guy, the kids' writing representative, and encourage kids to write for fun, thereby strengthening our youths' desire to learn and create. Learn more at iWRITE.org.

Iggy the Iguana, inspired by the author's love of a childhood pet, will touch the hearts of all readers. Kids relate well to the animal characters in this book, as Iggy and his new friends go through their school year together and experience many of the same things kids experience in fourth grade, today. Iggy learns how to adapt to the changes in his life and opens his eyes to realize that change can be pretty good. Each character in this story has a unique and even humorous personality of their own, making, Melissa M. Williams', Iggy the Iguana, a fun book for all types of kids to read.