Books published by publisher Strategic Book Publishing Aug - 2013

Elvis, a maneless African lion, tells the story of his life performing in a big cat show. Kept caged when not performing, Elvis and the other big cats are about to leave their cages to now roam a natural enclosure they will call home. "When I shot a documentary at Keepers of the Wild for a television network, I could see with my own eyes how safe and loved the animals are. But what I couldn't know, until I read the book, was how the animals themselves see the world through their own eyes. If you want a glimpse of the lives of animals from their point of view rather than ours, you can't do better than My Sanctuary: A Place I Call Home." - Greg Dobbs, speaker, author, veteran television journalist "As a person who for 30 years has tried to educate the general public in different ways as to the suffering of wild animals used in circuses and shows, I have always said we need to reach the children. I believe this book will leave a lasting impression on them as masterfully told through the eyes of the animals themselves. I hope schools across the country and in fact the world will have this book available in their libraries." - Linda Faso, animal advocate "A charming and enlightening book that holds the key to the door of how we can better understand our treasured animals. Doreen's done a great job and its ambition clearly comes from the heart." - Nicky (Taylor) Waltham, series producer, producer/director Formerly a registered nurse, Doreen Ingram of Pensacola, Florida, now does school presentations to share information about endangered wildlife, conservation, the great apes, and big cats. For more information visit http://www.mysanctuarybooks.com . Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/DoreenIngram

Synopsis:A seven-year-old girl records the sudden death of her beloved older brother by writing her personal feelings in her diary. In her own innocent way, she tells about being able to see him when no one else can. She embraces this ability and is not afraid. Throughout this tender book, the little girl relates her experiences in feeling her brother’s nearness, even when she cannot see him anymore. In her own trusting way, she knows that everything will be all right, and through her honest feelings, she is able to help her parents cope with their loss. She also learns about angels and knows that her brother is safe. Dear Diary: My Brother Died Today is the third in a trilogy about the circle of life. The story enables children to perceive the life in heaven that awaits them. Although fictional, the story’s events could actually happen. About the Author:Suzanne Gene Courtney wrote this children’s story to fulfill a need. Even though children are innately trusting, they sometimes worry when a loved one dies. “Since my son’s passing in 1997, our family has received numerous messages from Christian mediums to help us gain knowledge about life on the other side. We continually receive great peace and clarity from our glimpses into Heaven, and through the guidance of our angels, we are leading positive, happy lives.” She lives in Monroe, Michigan.Publisher’s website:http://sbpra.com/SuzanneGeneCourtney

Synopsis:The Three Little Pigs go green in the updated children’s book The Three Little Green Pigs, LLC: A Recycling Pig Tale. The descendants of the original Three Little Pigs are now in the construction business, building green homes out of recyclable materials. A contest pits the pigs against one another and the winner will be able to build his home throughout the town. Using different recyclable materials, the winning pig must satisfy the city inspector (a descendant of the Big Bad Wolf!). The story ends with the wolf purchasing an ecological home that has several modern changes, and the winning pig hiring his two cousins. This is one home that no one can huff and puff and blow the house down! About the Author:Richard Oldenburg is an avid storyteller and volunteers monthly to read to children at libraries and schools in Bear Valley Springs, California. He promotes the “art of imagination” through his storytelling. One evening while discussing old folk and fairy tales with his wife, a thought was planted. Could an old fairytale be brought up to date? The result is this book, now dedicated to his wife of 28 years. A graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a BA and MA in education, the author enjoyed 32 years of teaching and working with staffs throughout California. He now enjoys retirement, his grandchildren, and working with veteran organizations as a bugler.Publisher’s website:http://sbpra.com/RichardOldenburg

Synopsis:Kylie Gets a Cochlear Implant is the heartwarming story of a little girl who loses her hearing and is heartbroken about the things she believes she can no longer do. Kylie loves to dance, but fears that without hearing the music, she won’t be able to feel the beat or the rhythm. She is very sad until she hears about a way to overcome her hearing loss. See what happens when Kylie undergoes a cochlear implant, which is a surgically implanted device that can help her hear sound and music. In fact, cochlear implants can be so successful that they are often called bionic ears! Written by a teacher who works with deaf children, this story shows insight into what these brave children face. About the Author:Marilyn C. Rose finished her Ph.D. at the same time she was writing this book. A graduate of Hunter College and the NYU Graduate School of Education, she is a public school teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing in New York City. She grew up in the Bronx and now lives with her husband, Marc, in Bayside, New York. “I have three grown wonderful sons and my family is the light of my life!” This is her first book. Publisher’s website: http://sbpra.com/MarilynCRose

Synopsis: Love is the breathing heart that keeps a family together. The Star of Westorchid shines down on the beautiful northern orchard of Westorchid as it admires the young squirrel born there during a hailstorm.Gem comes into the world in Westorchid during a fierce spring storm. His parents know their only child will be very special, because when he was born, they spotted a three-pointed star on his forehead. Looking up at the Star of Westorchid shining down on them like a precious jewel, his parents name him GEM. The little squirrel grows up to be playful and mischievous, hiding his acorns where no one else can find them. Little does he know that one of his hidden acorns takes root in a secluded area, growing larger than any other tree in the orchard.Surrounded by the love of his parents, the protection of an oak tree, and the guidance of a star, Gem faces a terrible winter storm, where he discovers the greatest gift of all . . . LOVE.About the Author:Christine Conrad Cazes lives with her husband and wire fox terrier in Thornwood, Westchester County, New York. A teacher for more than 20 years, she continues to instruct elementary school children in reading and writing for the Mount Pleasant Central School District. The author enjoys family gatherings and activities, and loves traveling during holiday breaks to the Caribbean and Europe. Gem’s Gift is her second children’s book, continuing her Westorchid series. Punkin, her first children's book, won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the category of Children’s Interest.

Synopsis:Nancy Clarke’s dynamic series for young readers concludes in the final book, Stormy Hill’s Destiny. Ann and Vicki are preparing for their upcoming weddings.Ann, the daughter of Michael and Jessica Collins who own the horse farm Stormy Hill, has at last realized that her future lies with Ted, her best friend, who grew up with her at Stormy Hill and has been her biggest supporter. Together they happily conquer each obstacle as their wedding draws near.But for Ann’s best friend Vicki, it’s not that simple. Her parents strongly oppose her choice, and she fears they will try somehow to stop her wedding. Meanwhile, Ted looks forward to taking Gamelan after the next two jewels of the Triple Crown for Fillies. If she were to accomplish this feat, they could become the first father-daughter Triple Crown winners. This thought alone leaves Ted overwhelmed, much as he wants to make this dream come true and fulfill her destiny.About the Author:Nancy Clarke is a retired elementary school teacher who lives in historic central Virginia with her two horses, her champion show dogs, and her cats, chickens, and goats. She has been riding most of her life and has been crafting the Stormy Hill series in her mind since she was a girl. She has finally reached the final chapter of the seven-book series.

Synopsis:Have you ever seen a “work of art” worth millions, which looks like something your child just brought home from school?The dual perspective of “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder” and just a little bit of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is evident in this clever artwork story of a child who paints a fingerpaint print in class and then loses it in the wind on the way home.Illustrated from the point of view of a child, whose identity is left to the imagination of the reader since all of the illustrations are what the child sees, the fingerpaint print is interpreted by official “judges” as well as by bystanders. Should people be influenced by what others see, or use their own self-esteem to make their own judgments? This is the sixth rhyming children’s book by this award-winning author, whose other bestselling books include Manner-Man, Gimme-Jimmy, The Magic Word, Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, and Santa’s Birthday Gift. Publisher’s website: http://sbpra.com/SherrillSCannonAbout the Author:Former teacher Sherrill S. Cannon has won eighteen awards for her five previous rhyming books, and is also the author of seven published and internationally performed plays for elementary school children. She has been called “a modern day Dr. Seuss.” – GTMA Review

Synopsis:Within our solar system, the balance of Nature has been critically disturbed. Warmongering alien forces are exploiting fertile planets to fuel their military resources. As a consequence, Earth is experiencing unprecedented high tides and strange weather anomalies. Crops are failing and the smaller animals are dying. Susan Grey and her friends, the guardians of Earth’s magical Heart Stone, are called upon to intervene. They are contacted by Celestial Witch Zelda; she sends them a hand written letter via Robbie, her adopted son, who has supernatural abilities. Together with the valiant Elvin clans of Earth, they must make perilous journeys into the ravaged planet of Tane in an attempt to restore the balance on Earth and in the solar system. About the Author:Raynor Woods has enjoyed writing for over fifteen years. She grew up in North Yorkshire, England but has also lived in Beirut, Kuwait, Jordan, and the United States. Raynor draws upon her experiences living in different cultures as inspiration for her writings. She believes that we should all strive to achieve ecological harmony on our planet and share the Earth’s resources equally.

Synopsis:A three-story house nestled in the hills outside of Portland, Maine, is the setting for House of Lies. The novel tells of a young woman coming out of her shell and standing up for what she believes in. Myra Webb is just such a person. But her story goes further than that.When Myra goes to work for Ned Granger, a famous industrialist, she gets caught up in intrigue and the supernatural. She also solves the mystery of a room on the third floor of the Grainger house.From the moment Myra asks the hesitant taxi driver to take her to the house for her job interview, she begins to have misgivings.“My goodness,” Myra said as she settled in the back seat. “You act as if the place werehaunted.”(About the Author)Margaret Blythe grew up in Lyerly, Georgia, a small town in the western part of the state. She now lives with her husband of 32 years in Fort Payne, Alabama.

Synopsis:Caves for the Uninitiated is the story of a group of young people, who after exploring a cave for the first time, become fascinated with the world of caves and caving. Inspired and awed by the beauty and splendor of this mysterious underground realm, this group of young fledgling cavers goes on to spend several days with a pair of veteran caving experts. The seasoned experts share their own knowledge of caves; cave conservation and caving as a sport with the young people. At the end of this brief period of instruction, several of the boys and girls decide to take up caving themselves. While it is delivered as a charming work of fiction, Caves for the Uninitiated also contains valuable, real-world information about caves and cave sciences. It was based upon the actual experiences of Author Brian D. Kharpran Daly, who has been exploring caves in his native Meghalaya for over 20 years, and knows this underground world intimately.About the Author:Brian D. Kharpran Daly was born in Shillong, the capitol of Meghalaya, a small Indian state. A former economic investigator and CEO of the Shillong Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd., he retired in 2012. As a founding member of the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association, he has been exploring caves since 1992. In 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award by the Government of India for his work in discovering and documenting the caves of Meghalaya. Publisher’s website: http://sbpra.com/BrianDKharpranDaly