Books with author Susan Burton

Mr. and Mrs. Bird are so excited! Their eggs are finally hatching. They will soon meet their four beautiful baby birds and listen to them sing their lovely songs. But when the littlest bird refuses to sing or even leave his nest, he’s met with mixed reactions. Mr. Bird loses his patience with his tiny baby, while Mrs. Bird remains understanding and endlessly patient. When a surprise visitor makes an appearance the baby bird surprises everyone.

Sophie lives in the silly little town of Fadoodle Falls. Everyone in Fadoodle Falls is incredibly happy about every aspect of their lives. Everything, except for the fact that it never snows! Until one day...Sophie can't wait to finally go out to enjoy the snow. Unfortunately, Sophie is soon disappointed because the adults have decided that no one should ruin the first snow in Fadoodle Falls. See what happens when a group of silly adults try to decide what to do next.

*Please be aware that this book deals with serious social issues. It includes some strong language and mature situations. ABOUT EMOTIONAL PARAMEDICS: August Gallagher is a sweet and intelligent Brooklyn girl just trying to find her place in the world during the turbulent 1960s. Unfortunately, her mother, Alis, doesn't make things easy for her. Bad choices, poor parenting and abusive men create chaos at every turn. Yet, through it all, August reluctantly remains a devoted daughter and continues to be Alis's emotional paramedic. Along the way, August finds friendship, romance and makes a few dangerous enemies. When Alis hits rock bottom, August is forced to come to terms with the fact that it's finally time to cut the dysfunctional cord to save herself from Alis's emotional grasp.INTERVIEW WITH SUSAN BARTON:How much “real life” is in Emotional Paramedics?August Gallagher and I have a few things in common. We both grew up in Brooklyn and we both loved our grandmothers dearly. We both also came across a lot of colorful characters during our teen years. I’ve used several of my own life experiences as inspiration for some of the plot details, but no characters are real.There are many social issues at play in Emotional Paramedics. Were you trying to take a stand or make a statement by incorporating them into your book?I’d be lying if I said that tackling things like homosexuality, child abuse, war and racism was not a conscious decision on my part. I definitely have views on those subjects, and since I’m human, these things most definitely made their way into my writing. I do know I’ve approached these topics subtly and my hope is that readers will make their own decisions from there. What do you say to anyone who thinks some of the dialogue and plot are a little “rough”?There’s no denying that this story is for mature teens and adults. It was important to me that the dialogue was real and that the situations were believable. That meant using mature language and having some of my characters behaving in a downright disgusting manner at times. However, I’m confident that the language and mature situations are never, ever gratuitous – they serve a very real purpose in this book.What would that “very real purpose” be?I wanted to write a story of hope. I wanted to let any other Augusts our there know that things will get better. As you read Emotional Paramedics, you’ll see there is a common thread that ties many of the characters together: While you may have been dealt a crappy hand in life, that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. It also doesn’t mean that it gives you the right to be crappy to other people because of your own unfortunate circumstances. We all have the ability to change things and, once we’ve reached adulthood, we are all responsible for our own behavior.

Do you know how to get a job? How to make a budget so you keep your money from said job? Do you even know what a credit report is, and why it's so important? If you were like me when I first graduated from high school (or college, for that matter), then the answer is probably "Heck nah." Don't worry, you are not alone. So, why don't you know this stuff? It's probably because high school seems to think it's more important to know the periodic table over basic financial skills. Yeah, right. That's where this book comes in to save your poor lost soul. It teaches you the basics you need to know in order to be considered a financially responsible "adult." You'll thank me later.

Gobby is a happy little ghost. He makes friends with everyone. Everyone except Globby! Globby is the meanest ghost in Ghost Town, but Gobby has an awesome idea to get Globby to stop being so mean. Will it work? This book is a wonderful jumping off point for parents, grandparents, educators and others to discuss what it means to be a friend. The "Little Ghost Who Could..." is a book with a positive message for children. One that can be shared with small children or read by early readers. There are several thought-provoking questions to discuss at the end of the book, so there is additional value even after the book is read.

Do you know how to get a job? How to make a budget so you keep your money from said job? Do you even know what a credit report is, and why it's so important? If you were like me when I first graduated from high school (or college, for that matter), then the answer is probably "Heck nah." Don't worry, you are not alone. So, why don't you know this stuff? It's probably because high school seems to think it's more important to know the periodic table over basic financial skills. Yeah, right. That's where this book comes in to save your poor lost soul. It teaches you the basics you need to know in order to be considered a financially responsible "adult." You'll thank me later.

August Gallagher is a sweet and intelligent Brooklyn girl just trying to find her place in the world during the turbulent 1960s. Unfortunately, her mother Alis doesn't make things easy for her. Bad choices, poor parenting and abusive men create chaos at every turn. Yet, through it all, August reluctantly remains a devoted daughter and continues to be Alis's emotional paramedic. Along the way, August finds friendship, romance and makes a few dangerous enemies. When Alis hits rock bottom, August is forced to come to terms with the fact that it's finally time to cut the dysfunctional cord to save herself from Alis's emotional grasp.