Books published by publisher Xlibris, Corp.

Children often don't understand why other children look, act, walk, and talk different. However, children are very curious and are more apt to ask why that other child is different from them. The answer is that those children, if given a chance, are more like them. They want what every other child wants-to be liked, to fit in, and to have fun. Matt, Michael, and Jimmy live in the neighborhood where a little girl moves in across the street. Her family moved there because the little girl called Amy is developmentally disabled and needs a better educational program. The boys know she is new in the neighborhood. They know she goes to a different school, and they know she has a disability. However, they still choose to ignore her. One day, Amy sees the boys playing outside. She walks across the street, sits down on the grass, and stays there until she gets their attention. With Amy's help, the boys learn something they would have never expected.

Tom, the Listening Tree is a book about a yellow maple tree that stood at the back of the patio at Serenity. Serenity is a tea house-restaurant in Zionsville, Indiana. It is in an old house that has been home to a variety of families since it was built in the 1860's. This house is the second-oldest home in Zionsville. The tea house has been in operation for more than ten years. A windstorm took the yellow maple down in October 2018. The owner of the restaurant said someone should write a book about the tree and what it has heard and seen throughout its long life. I accepted that challenge, along with my two granddaughters who have done the artwork. There were three huge unusual trees on the property that we believe surrounded the house at the time it was built. These are the yellow maple, a Norwegian weeping spruce, and a hackberry tree. The hackberry is nick-named "the GOD tree" because the letters GOD are seen in the root structure. Now we honor and remember the yellow maple in Tom, the Listening Tree.

This is a story poem about a make-believe animal family that feels like they need to wear pants but can't seem to get it to work for them. (Pants falling down is always funny). It is a made-up story, so it seemed appropriate to use a made-up animal. I took the cutest parts of two cute animals which are real, then put them together to make a cute make-believe animal. It is not too farfetched because a Koala Bear is not a bear, they are both marsupials. Who knows, some day it could happen. I took part of the names of those animals, (Koala Bear and Wallaroo) and made the name Kallaboo. If a Kallaboo were a real animal, I think they would get along well with humans because we would adore them. I think we would patiently help them with their pants problem. I am looking forward to writing more Kallaboo stories.

The story centers on kindness and how it is more important than material wealth. It shows that kindness knows no limits, has no boundaries, and is not tarnished by the bad or mean actions of those who need it most but perhaps deserve it least. The book also serves to explain the aging process and the onset of dementia, while emphasizing the importance of a caring community.

My Friend the Policeman is forty-three page illustrated rhyming children's paperback aimed at K to seventh graders. This colorful book shows the many commonalities with the police, their families, and the families of the people they protect and serve. This book will give children and parents a better understanding of police officers and encourage children and parents to serve as ambassadors in helping change the negative perceptions many people may have of the police and the profession.

Johnny - Catching Fire centers around a young man who is the subject of constant bullying at school. One day he prays that God will give him the strength of Samson, a character in the bible who is given supernatural strength by God. To his surprise God answers his prayers and he must decide whether he will use his power for good or to get even with those who bullied him. At the same time his life long friend, who is also the victim of bullying, also finds he has gained new power after visiting a site online about spells and enchantments. The book centers around good and evil and how good ultimately always triumphs.