Books with author Michael Black

Mia Takes an Educational Journey into the World of Food A magical journey filled with fun and intrigue. "Mommy, What do Unicorns eat?" tells the story of Mia, a unicorn who is curious by nature and eager to learn just what her ideal diet looks like. She is a friendly unicorn, and throughout the story, she meets many other animals who are just as friendly as she is, including an elephant, a squirrel, a dolphin, a cow, a parrot, a rabbit, and a caterpillar. Each of the animals she meets has some wisdom and advice to share, each recommending their favorite food as the best food there is. They also explain the benefits of each food, from strength to speed to tail fluffiness. As a parent, you know you need to explain to your child how important each food type is, but this topic is a big one, and you want to make it easy on yourself – or at least easier than it seems on the surface. "Mommy, What do Unicorns eat?" is a fun and simple way to introduce your child to a healthy, wholesome, rounded diet, the animals explaining in detail why they like each food and what each food does for them. Join Mia as she gallivants, makes friends, and learns about food!

In the race to save a failing public high school, one principal finds that making the numbers is only the beginning Being principal of Reagan High in Austin, Texas, was no dream assignment. Test scores were low, dropout rates were high, and poverty was endemic. But when Anabel Garza took the job, she started something no one expected. Racing against a deadline just to make the numbers, she set out to rebuild the kind of school that once unified neighborhoods across America. By her side, a basketball coach showed kids they could be winners, a young science teacher showed them they could learn, and a community rallied around a treasured institution. In this powerful rejoinder to the prevailing winds of education policy, Michael Brick takes readers inside the high-pressure world of a school on the brink. Paying overdue tribute to a vital American tradition—the great American high school—Saving the School exposes the flaws of a broken system but also tells an inspiring story of faith, hope, and perseverance.

What if bicycles had lives like ours? They went to work, fell in (and out) of love, had a role within society; carried expectations, hopes and fears. Together humans and bicycles have existed side by side and yet we are ignorant of each other. That is, until now…until this book. These bicycles are so much more than two wheels and a pair of handlebars. Discover the hidden truth: the secret lives of bicycles.Reviews:"The book would make a great gift for elementary children and their parents will enjoy it as well.""I thought it was funny, cute, and refreshing! This would make a great gift for kids, tweens, young adults, and even adults who are ready to read something truly unique."

In Book One of the Stormrider series, The Littlest Stormrider, eight-year-old Davibo Nayuda survived his sister’s attempt to kill him by becoming the Littlest Stormrider. He discovered that he could learn Mage-craft when most modern Stormriders couldn’t, and that allowed him to activate the powerful keystone at Windswept Warren so that not only was he protected but so was his Magnetic Elemental, Spikefist.But now, in Book Two, Windswept Warren, the eight-year-old Storm-Master of Windswept must find a way to restore the ancient warren and build up the Elemental Corps before the rebel Stormriders or the Lightning Guild decide to strike again. But with only Shivram, the oldest Mage alive and the only other person besides Davibo who is both a Stormrider and a Mage, Davibo’s options are pretty slim. He had no money, no water and no recruits. That is, until a clan of nomads seeks shelter from a sandstorm and our eight-year-old hero decides to take matters into his young, inexperienced hands.Book Two of the Stormrider series by Michael Blackthorne introduces many of the problems that our littlest Stormrider must solve over the next several installments, if the Elemental Corps is even to survive. But will Davibo save the Elemental Corps or make it into something none of them will even want to be part of? Whatever the eventual outcome, Windswept Warren sets the stage for events that will rock the Stormriders through the choices that Davibo makes. Davibo may be the littlest Stormrider, but hopefully, his heart is big enough for the challenge when even his trusted Master Mage Shivram turns on him.

Power up with robots Standroid and Dandroid in this playful board book about sharing! Standroid’s battery is full and Dandroid’s charging is complete. The two robots are fueled-up and ready to play! Standroid grabs a toy car. Dandroid wants to play with it, too. But Dandroid does NOT want to share. Error! Sharing does not compute! Will the two robots figure out how to override the command and play together?

Power up with robots Standroid and Dandroid in this playful board book! When two robots make one giant mess, will they figure out how to clean it up?Standroid’s battery is full and Dandroid’s charging is complete. The two robots are fueled up and ready to play! How do robots play? They crash! crash! crash! And they squish! squish! squish! And they end up making a very big mess! Error! Will the two robots figure out how to clean it all up?

A construction bunny learns a creative lesson in sharing and friendship when he meets the biggest carrot of his life.LaRue was very handy. His toolbox had everything and industrious bunny could ever need. Everything, that is, except carrots. But then LaRue stumbles onto a special seed. With proper tending, this seed quickly grows into an ENORMOUS CARROT! What's a bunny to do with so much carrot? In a stroke of construction genius (and generosity), LaRue has the answer. This clever story celebrates just what it means to be a friend. Christy Ottaviano Books

Eleven-year-old Edmond Spencer has been forced to live in a run-down warehouse along the Thames River after accidentally blowing up part of the Thystlewicke School for Vampires, but the Vampire Council has decided not to protect him. Can Bidion, an angry shadow-immortal keep Edmond safe from the vampires and other jealous immortals who want him dead? And how will the attacks on his new home affect his plan to get Hoshi Nakagawa back on the Bloodlust team? Even if Edmond lives, others will die!