Books published by publisher Harry Douglas Press

Long ago in a kingdom nestled deep in the ancient Fuchun Mountains, an old king knew his days on earth were soon to be complete. The king possessed but one worry. He must choose the next leader of his beloved land. How would the king decide? Whom would he choose? Flowers provide the surprise ending to this timeless tale. Asian folktale, retold for ages 5 to 10. Readers' Guide questions included for family and classroom discussions.

Picture book. Language Arts. The English language contains unusual--sometimes weird and comical--words to identify groups of objects, animals, and people. Oftentimes, these words evoke strange and wondrous images. This book focuses on the endless variety of collective nouns that describe clusters of birds. The reader will feel the poetry that comes alive in the ordinary movements of birds, see the exquisite patterns of their bones and feathers, and the remarkable beauty of their flight. A great addition to any classroom or coffee table.

The bear was close enough to smell. My breath caught in my chest as the dark figure plunged through the brush, grunting and drooling, its thick legs running quickly toward Stanley..."Back away slow, out of his sight, then run like the devil outta here." In 1938 in the small farming community of Friendsville, Maryland fourteen-year-old Henry Murphy and his brothers fight for their lives. Mysterious and courageous, Dr. Rufus Steele proves to be a powerful ally, and strong bonds develop among them. But larger questions remain. Who is Rufus Steele? Why did he come to Friendsville? How long does he plan to stay? This introduction to the Rufus Steele adventure series promises to excite the middle grades historical fiction collection. Content is written for middle grades to adult readers. First book in the three-book series.

A mysterious stranger from the past has come back to haunt Dr. Rufus Steele. In 1940, Dr. Rufus Steele loves his life in Friendsville, Maryland. This small farming community, with its tight-knit group of friends and neighbors has become a safe haven for the doctor with a troubled past. Dr. Rufus Steele spends his days taking care of the citizens of Friendsville, and often joins his neighbors in their efforts to save young Jim Murphy and his friends from their boyhood antics. But a dark stranger has come to town, hiding in the shadows. Evil has arrived in Friendsville, and Dr. Rufus Steele must finally face his past head on. But, he is not alone. His friends and neighbors will join together and help him put the past to rest for good. Second book in the Rufus Steele adventure series. Content is written for middle grades to adult readers. "...the author's descriptions are particularly well written, and readers will have no trouble immersing their imaginations in the lushness of her words." ---ForeWord Clarion Review October 2010

A hungry little cowpoke and his faithful dog sit at the table, decked out and ready for a scrumptious dinner. The little cowpoke dreams of tomatoes and potatoes, snails and lobster tails, blueberries and cherries. Trays of food go rushing by, but no one pays the little cowpoke any mind and nothing appears on his plate. Terribly hungry and increasingly frustrated, he's finally had enough. Does the hungry little cowpoke ever get his dinner? And why must he wait so long? Picture book. Large illustrations and labels assist children in learning and recognizing food names. Rhyming words and phrases. Great for toddlers and pre-schoolers, too.

The latest book in the Rufus Steele Adventure Series. The year is 1943 and the Allies are fighting their way through German-occupied Italy. As boms fall and bullets fly, Captain Rufus Steele, MD, is a surgeon working to save lives on the front lines. Steele has faced down danger before in his life, but when his young friend PFC Henry Murphy goes missing in enemy territory, Steele must risk everything to come to his rescue. But will it be too late? Will Steele be forced to fight after he swore he'd never take up arms again? Will the two men survive to see their beloved Friendsville once more? Co-authored by a veteran of the Italian campaign, World War II comes to life in vivid detail in this third book in the Rufus Steele Adventure Series. Popular with middle grade to adult readers. Third book in a series.

A powerful novel about life, death, and reaching beyond memories to find healing. "The Secretary of the Air Force has asked me to express his deep regret that your husband, Major Walter Pritchard, was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 7. He and several of his men were involved in a firefight in a small village near Kandahar. Major Pritchard was killed by enemy fire. The Secretary extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family in your tragic loss." With those words, 15-year-old Leah Pritchard's world would never be the same. As she and her family start the process of saying good-bye to their husband and father, 12 boxes are delivered. These boxes, filled with the belongings of the man she knew as father, slowly start to introduce Leah to the Walter Pritchard known to the world. A beautifully written tale of love and family, Small Black Boxes follows Leah as she watches each item weave a tale of her father's life. The reader is transported with Leah as she follows the path of Walter's memories until the last box, when Leah must continue on alone. "Turner's style carries an alluring simplicity...An often painful yet forthright tale of loss and healing in a time of war." --Kirkus Discoveries, October 2010

A delightful bedtime read aloud. Exquisite watercolor illustrations. Ages PreK to 6. Benjamin Barley dearly loves his buttons. He loves the cherry red buttons on his checkered flannel shirt. He loves the bright blue buttons on his long denim overalls. Most of all, Benjamin Barley loves the big brass button with the small soldier on top that sits right in the middle of his little brown jacket. One day, Benjamin Barley's favorite button goes missing. Where, oh where, is Benjamin Barley's button?

The latest in the Rufus Steele Adventure Series...The year is 1943 and the Allies are fighting their way through German-occupied Italy. As bombs fall and bullets fly, Captain Rufus Steele, MD, is a surgeon working to save lives on the front lines. Steele has faced down danger before in his life, but when his young friend PFC Henry Murphy goes missing in enemy territory, Steele must risk everything to come to his rescue. But will it be too late? Will Steele be forced to fight after he swore he'd never take up arms again? Will the two men survive to see their beloved Friendsville once more? Co-authored by a veteran of the Italian campaign, World War II comes to life in vivid detail in this third book in the Rufus Steele Adventure Series. Middle grade to adult readers.

A mysterious stranger from the past has come back to haunt Dr. Rufus Steele. In 1940, Dr. Steele loves his life in Friendsville, MD. This small farming community has become a safe haven for the doctor with a troubled past. He spends his days taking care of Friendsville's citizens, but a dark stranger has come to town, hiding in the shadows. Evil has arrived in Friendsville, and Dr. Steele must finally face his past head on. But, he is not alone. His new friends join together to help him put the past to rest for good.

A powerful novel about life, death, and reaching beyond memories to find healing: 'The Secretary of the Air Force has asked me to express his deep regret that your husband, Major Walter Pritchard, was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 7. He and several of his men were involved in a firefight in a small village near Kandahar. Major Pritchard was killed by enemy fire. The Secretary extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family in your tragic loss.' With those words, 15-year-old Leah Pritchard's world would never be the same. As she and her family start the process of saying good-bye to their husband and father, twelve boxes are delivered. These boxes, filled with the belongings of the man she knew as father, slowly start to introduce Leah to the Walter Pritchard known to the world. A beautifully written tale of love and family, Small Black Boxes follows Leah as she watches each item weave a tale of her father's life. The reader is transported with Leah as she follows the path of Walter's memories until the last box, when Leah must continue on alone.