Books published by publisher The American Publishing Company

Easy-to-read text and colorful illustrations and photos teach readers about Yurok history, traditions, and modern life. This book describes society and family structure, hunting, fishing, and gathering methods, and ceremonies and rituals. Readers will learn about Yurok homes, clothing, and crafts such as basketry. A traditional myth is included, as is a description of famous Yurok leader Lucy Thompson. Wars, weapons, and contact with Europeans are discussed. Topics including European influence, the formation of reservations, and federal recognition are also addressed. In addition, modern Yurok culture and still-celebrated traditions are described. Yurok homelands are illustrated with a detailed map of the United States. Bold glossary terms and an index accompany engaging text. This book is written and illustrated by Native Americans, providing authentic perspectives of the Yurok.

Since a deadly virus and the violence that followed wiped out his parents and most of his community, Finn has lived alone on the rugged coast with only his dog Rowdy for company.He has stayed alive for two winters—hunting and fishing and trading food, and keeping out of sight of the Wilders, an armed and dangerous gang that controls the north, led by a ruthless man named Ramage.But Finn’s isolation is shattered when a girl runs onto the beach. Rose is a Siley—an asylum seeker—and she has escaped from Ramage, who had enslaved her and her younger sister, Kas. Rose is desperate, sick, and needs Finn’s help. Kas is still missing somewhere out in the bush.And Ramage wants the girls back—at any cost.Finn, Rose and Kas try their hardest to look after each other in the harsh post-apocalyptic world. They suffer setbacks, difficulties brought on by adults but also sometimes as a consequence of their own poor decisions. They’re kids—they make mistakes. They stuff up but they find a way through. There are no superheroes, no magical powers to help them out of life-threatening situations.A novel about honor, friendship and love, and a gripping realist teen survival narrative.Mark Smith runs outdoor education programs for young adults. His writing has won a number of awards. The Road to Winter is his first book. He lives in coastal Victoria, Australia.

Written by C. Austin Lee and illustrated by Quinn Feeney Lee, this story illustrates that life is not always fair. We are all born with different God-given skills, gifts and talents. We don't always get the skills and talents we wish we had, but the secret to life is discovering what our gifts are and learning how to use them to help ourselves and those around us. The Little Lion Declan is frustrated that he can't dunk a basketball like Joey the giraffe but comes to realize that he has many other talents that he can grow and develop to help him throughout his life.A Discussion Guide and Activity Section are included with the story to assist you in reinforcing the book's lesson.

When Azuki, the girl who turns into a Toki, and her brother, the Sparrow-Boy Shota, finally reach their home village to claim their human identities, they find chaos and war, as the brother of the man who killed their parents and still wants to capture Azuki is fighting the appointment of the new lord of the domain.  A traveling monk shelters them from battle, hiding Azuki in plain sight as a boy acolyte and Shota as her pet sparrow.  In the midst of the fight, Azuki discovers an asset even more valuable than her brilliant feathers.  This, she realizes, is the asset the foreigners seek, and this is what the rightful lord - the one who doesn’t want to kill her - can use to cement his claim!Yuta, the monk, agrees to take them to the capitol and get them in to see the properly appointed Lord Eitaro, but they must outrun the battle first.  Karasu Tengu, nasty bird-humanoids that follow battles and harass monks, spot them and realize Azuki is no ordinary acolyte – or ordinary girl.  Yuta drives them off, but Shota thinks of his friend, Renko, the Dragon Princess, while touching the Wishing Rock she gave him, and the Tengu realize that he knows a Dragon, the old enemy of the evil Tengu.  They vow they will be back with their DaiTengu master, to steal Azuki and challenge the Dragon.Taking shelter in a outcast’s village where the old and sick live outside the law, they make arrangements to travel with deep-woods colliers as far as the nearest town, and thence to the city where Lord Eitaro might be found.  Bandits attack their little group, and Shota flies off for reinforcements.  Blackie, Shota’s horse friend, stolen by the bandits, offers his help and that of Red Wind, a roan mare who claims she is fastest of them all. As they get close to the city, both Azuki and Shota realize how precarious their situation is.  They hadn’t thought beyond getting home, not completely realizing that as children, they were completely under the power of adults who could do pretty much anything with them.  That would be hard for any children, much less children who can and must turn into birds.  Shota tells the Dragon Princess that the Tengu know about her.  She will help them, she says, and will be keeping watch.  Azuki encounters a Tanuki in the wood who has a surprising message for them both.Once they reach the city, Azuki spots a new style of loom, one of the many stunning technologies the foreigners have brought.  She loves to weave, she’s good at it, and she wants that loom, so while Yuta goes to visit the Abbot at the big Temple and arrange an audience with their lord, Azuki sneaks out – and she’s caught.  Has she forfeited her opportunity to see and work the marvelous loom forever?The Abbot arranges for them to meet with Lady Satsuki, Lord Eitaro’s wife, and their daughter, Anko.  There, they can impart their news of the coal discovery, which will ensure Eitaro’s position.   There, too, the children’s fate will be decided.  How can they be themselves and follow their dreams when the world that has so much power over them doesn’t have a place for bird-children?Then there’s the DaiTengu, the humanoid form of the monster, that wants Azuki’s feathers for its wind-making fans even if she isn’t a female Tengu. Can Azuki escape once more?  Will the Dragon Princess defeat the DaiTengu?  How can Shota and Azuki survive in a human world when they aren’t entirely human?  Can they find a way to live as themselves among humans who will accept them as they are?  Will they find a way to chase their dreams and make them whole?

Easy-to-read text and colorful illustrations and photos teach readers about Kiowa history, traditions, and modern life. This book describes society and family structure, hunting and gathering methods, and ceremonies and rituals. Readers will learn about Kiowa clothing and crafts such as painted tepee covers. A traditional myth is included, as is a description of famous Kiowa leader Lone Wolf. Wars, weapons, and contact with Europeans are discussed. Topics including European influence, assimilation, land rights, the formation of reservations, and federal recognition are also addressed. In addition, modern Kiowa culture and still-celebrated traditions are described. Kiowa homelands are illustrated with a detailed map of the United States, and a step-by-step illustration of tepee construction shows readers how the Kiowa built their homes. Bold glossary terms and an index accompany engaging text. This book is written and illustrated by Native Americans, providing authentic perspectives of the Kiowa.

As our four boys grew up way too fast I began writing stories based on their real life adventures. Po-Billy is the nickname my husband gave the kids since he is of Polish decent and I am from Kentucky, land of the Hillbillies, our kids are Po-Billy's! Each story ends with a list of the Po-Billy Realism's, which consist of the real life moments that inspired each story. This first e book volume includes books 1-4. Fall titles will be offered later this summer and Christmas titles will be available the first week of November this year, 2014. Many additional titles are in production and will post when available. These titles are available in the digital format only at this time but hard cover editions are planned. To stay up to date on The Po-Billy Boys, visit www.lavernvivio.com and register your contact information.