Books with author Robyn Gioia

When most Americans think of the first Thanksgiving, they think of the Pilgrims and the Indians in New England in 1621. But 56 years before they celebrated, Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez arrived on the coast of Florida and founded the first North American city, St. Augustine. On September 8, 1565, the Spanish and the native Timucua celebrated with a feast of Thanksgiving. The Spanish most likely offered cocido, a rich stew made with pork, and the Timucua may have brought wild turkey, venison, or even alligator, along with corn, beans, and squash. Learn about our real first Thanksgiving. Learn about Spain and Florida in the 1560s. And make your own cocido from a recipe provided in this important and groundbreaking book.

When most Americans think of the first Thanksgiving, they think of the Pilgrims and the Indians in New England in 1621. But fifty-six years before the Pilgrims celebrated, Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez arrived on the coast of Florida and founded the first North American city, St. Augustine.On September 8, 1565, the Spanish and the native Timucua celebrated with a feast of Thanksgiving. The Spanish most likely offered cocido, a rich stew made with pork, garbanzo beans, and onions. Perhaps the Timucua provided wild turkey or venison, or even alligator or tortoise, along with corn, beans, and squash.Learn about our real first Thanksgiving. Learn about Spain and Florida in the 1560s. And make your own cocido from a recipe provided in this important and groundbreaking book.

When most Americans think of the first Thanksgiving, they think of the Pilgrims and the Indians in New England in 1621. But fifty-six years before the Pilgrims celebrated, Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez arrived on the coast of Florida and founded the first North American city, St. Augustine.On September 8, 1565, the Spanish and the native Timucua celebrated with a feast of Thanksgiving. The Spanish most likely offered cocido, a rich stew made with pork, garbanzo beans, and onions. Perhaps the Timucua provided wild turkey or venison, or even alligator or tortoise, along with corn, beans, and squash.Learn about our real first Thanksgiving. Learn about Spain and Florida in the 1560s. And make your own cocido from a recipe provided in this important and groundbreaking book.

What is it like to be 13, trapped inside a fort, and surrounded by a superior enemy? Pedro has been told he is too young to fight. But he has skill and a unique knowledge of the land on his side. When the English attack the Castillo de San Marcos fort in the Spanish stronghold of St. Augustine in 1702, he and his friend Miguel are thrown into an adventure of a lifetime. Woods crawling with the enemy, a naval blockade, an escaped pirate with detailed knowledge of the fort, and critically low ammunition are just a few of the challenges ahead. They realize they must sneak behind enemy lines to help or the town will certainly perish.

Eighth-grade sleuth, Campbell Olson, wanted to be class president. What she got was a dead rat, a clue, and a ghost from the past. Things aren’t the same when your best friend dies in a car accident. But when your best friend, Temple, comes back as a ghost to help you solve a case, life definitely becomes better. You’ll love him. He’s a funny, opinionated, cool nerd who doesn’t quite have the hang of being a ghost. When I, Campbell (Bell) Olson, decided to run for eighth-grade president, I didn’t expect my opponent to be Will Tuffy, the most obnoxious boy at school. I especially didn’t expect the race to start with a dead rat on my doorstep! That was the easy part. From there, things got worse and my case went from being a mystery, to a dangerous trail of clues. This is my tale of the ghost, the rat, and me. Bell Olson

Eighth-grade sleuth, Campbell Olson, wanted to be class president. What she got was a dead rat, a clue, and a ghost from the past. Things aren’t the same when your best friend dies in a car accident. But when your best friend, Temple, comes back as a ghost to help you solve a case, life definitely becomes better. You’ll love him. He’s a funny, opinionated, cool nerd who doesn’t quite have the hang of being a ghost. When I, Campbell (Bell) Olson, decided to run for eighth-grade president, I didn’t expect my opponent to be Will Tuffy, the most obnoxious boy at school. I especially didn’t expect the race to start with a dead rat on my doorstep! That was the easy part. From there, things got worse and my case went from being a mystery, to a dangerous trail of clues. This is my tale of the ghost, the rat, and me. Bell Olson

What is it like to be 13, trapped inside a fort, and surrounded by a superior enemy? Pedro has been told he is too young to fight. But he has skill and a unique knowledge of the land on his side. When the English attack the Castillo de San Marcos fort in the Spanish stronghold of St. Augustine in 1702, he and his friend Miguel are thrown into an adventure of a lifetime. Woods crawling with the enemy, a naval blockade, an escaped pirate with detailed knowledge of the fort, and critically low ammunition are just a few of the challenges ahead. They realize they must sneak behind enemy lines to help or the town will certainly perish.

Eighth-grade sleuth, Campbell Olson, wanted to be class president. What she got was a dead rat, a clue, and a ghost from the past. Things aren’t the same when your best friend dies in a car accident. But when your best friend, Temple, comes back as a ghost to help you solve a case, life definitely becomes better. You’ll love him. He’s a funny, opinionated, cool nerd who doesn’t quite have the hang of being a ghost. When I, Campbell (Bell) Olson, decided to run for eighth-grade president, I didn’t expect my opponent to be Will Tuffy, the most obnoxious boy at school. I especially didn’t expect the race to start with a dead rat on my doorstep! That was the easy part. From there, things got worse and my case went from being a mystery, to a dangerous trail of clues. This is my tale of the ghost, the rat, and me. Bell Olson

The pictorial resource book Americas REAL First Thanksgiving was written for upper elementary to middle school students to highlight St. Augustine's important place in history. This teacher's guide can be used for simple to very challenging lessons. A Reader's Theater brings the event to life while students reenact the events leading up to and including the first Thanksgiving meal. Suggestions for a banquet are included. Favorites such as vocabulary study, writing prompts, coloring pages, word searches, crossword puzzles, and creative thinking skill lessons are also included.

Things aren’t the same when your best friend dies in a car accident. But when your best friend, Temple, comes back as a ghost to help you solve a case, life definitely becomes better. You’ll love him. He’s a funny, opinionated, cool nerd who doesn’t quite have the hang of being a ghost. When I, Campbell (Bell) Olson, decided to run for eighth-grade president, I didn’t expect my opponent to be Will Tuffy, the most obnoxious boy at school. I especially didn’t expect the race to start with a dead rat on my doorstep! That was the easy part. From there, things got worse and my case went from being a mystery, to a dangerous trail of clues. This is my tale of the ghost, the rat, and me. Bell Olson

Bullying is a scourge that scars the very fiber of our children and can affect them adversely for the rest of their lives. Sadly, the mental anguish experienced by youths is so extreme that in many cases it amounts to torture and can sometimes have fatal consequences. In the end, no one deserves to have their childhood stolen from them. Education is the key. Children need to receive a consistent positive message from parents, educators, and any other meaningful influence. The Bully Barn is a story about a barn mouse named Marty who is bullied incessantly by numerous animals on a farm. This book teaches children and their parents about the various types of bullying, coping skills, and the important role of bystanders (part of the solution or part of the problem). The Bully Barn delivers that message in a manner children can both understand and relate to in an entertaining fashion. In doing so children will not only understand bullying behavior but will also have the courage to affect change while increasing awareness for victims, bystanders, and even the bullies themselves. The most important message is the negative effect of bystanders and the fact that any one "person" can indeed make a difference. It is not your typical children's book as it was developed to assist parents and educators in teaching children about bullying. It also contains numerous discussion questions that will assist with comprehension and invoke thought. Additional information relating bullying is also included. It is truly an entertaining and educational story/resource for both children and adults alike.