Books published by publisher Star America

Jarvis, a current resident of New York City, holds a bachelor's degree in psychology. She has been a case manager for human resources since 1979. In 1992, she was awarded a writing degree from the Institute of Children's Literature. Ms. Jarvis has won numerous awards for poetry, including the Editor's Choice award. Her publishing background also includes short fiction for young children. She is happily married to Ernst Rosemond.

The farmer's lovable pet dogs and the other animals living on a farm pass their time playing the game of tag. The farm has a six-foot fence surrounding it, protecting the farm animals from larger wild animals living in the near-by black forest. One day a large hungry coyote jumps over the fence into the barnyard, and it is up to the farmer's pet dogs, Omni and Baby, and the other animals to send the coyote back over the fence with the help of an unsuspecting friend.

"Biddy Mason, born into slavery, walked two thousand miles to get to California. She won her freedom in a Los Angeles courtroom in 1856G" even though the law did not allow people of color to speak in open court. A skilled nurse and midwife, she saved her money and helped anyone who was in need. She also bought property and became a wealthy woman. In 1872 she founded the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. And because the public school was not open to blacks, she provided the money to start the city's first school for African-Americans. Using a narrative style, the author tells the compelling story of this valiant woman. Biddy Mason was a true pioneer of the Old West and a worthy role model for young readers."

Decades before the Yankees arrived in the Bronx, baseball had already developed into the national pastime. It was no longer a boy’s game, but a competitive amateur sport played by local residents made up of young men from all walks of life out for a day’s exercise. By the 1850s baseball had become a genuine enterprise, governed by constitutions, by-laws and officers appointed by each competing fraternity of clubs. The Bronx, in those early years, was part of Westchester County with many separate villages and towns. Morrisania was one such village founded in 1855. In that very same year, a baseball team was formed. They called themselves the Union of Morrisania. Their story is part of this narrative, and how they, along with other teams in the Bronx, played a major role in the development and spread of the game. How they helped the sport gain respectability and prominence. And through their struggles laid the successful foundation for clubs that followed, clubs like the Yankees.

This book is a look at multi-cultural adoption from a child=s viewpoint. I am the adoptive mother of a beautiful black five-year-old girl. The idea for this book came from an actual conversation that we had when she started to recognize that our skin colors were not the same. Although adoption is very fulfilling for each member of the family, the difference in cultural characteristics and the questions that go along with being different do arise in the young mind of the child. However, this book shows that even though there are differences on the outside, on the inside we are all the same. I feel that this book is fun and realistic and easily understood at any age.

Ms. Ladybug and Mr. Honeybee: A Love Story at the End of Time tells the story of a ladybug and a honeybee who find each other after losing their entire families to the poisonous fogs the humans are spraying. The unlikely duo pursues a safe haven from the poisonous fog and are aided by lightning bugs, a mysterious dragonfly, and even cockroaches along the adventure of a lifetime. They encounter doubting ticks, denying termites, and a slug desperately resigned to his fate along their way, but they never give up in their seemingly hopeless quest.

The Nathan Chronicles is a tragic tale of the death of kings. Christopher, a modern day Hispanic boy, finds himself in a strange and dangerous world, a world of children fighting a terrifying enemy: the Melak. Christopher is befriended by the ruling prince, Mikhail, who makes him his captain. Mikhail is killed by his half-mad younger brother who is jealous of Christopher's closeness to the prince. As a result of the assassination Christopher is crowned king and marries Mikhail's sister, Mariam. In a costly batter the Melak are destroyed; but Christopher loses his cherished friends and begins a slow descent into madness.

This book is about the successful escape of a Slovenian from the Communist regime of President Tito. He managed to get his medical education in Italy and then complete a residency in orthopedic surgery in the USA. His ordeal is graphically portrayed as his native countrymen fought their way out of the country. His escape entailed dealing with adverse forces of Yugoslavia, Germany and England.

"James A. Freeman masterfully weaves a simple but resonating tale in Lady and Sierra's Storage Shed Summer. The title is an apt one for this work, as you get the distinct sense that this seemingly straightforward and simple tale of dogs, squirrels rabbits, a little girl, her father and their shared backyard is a fable that open us to deep emotions and truths. The work pivots on Freeman's use of character limning and crisp and playful language to propel the story forward. Freeman delights in harmony of easily understood language, blending together a humorous wit with a lyrical pulse that audiences from the ages of two to one hundred and two can easily relate to. The effect on the reader is often one of delight and positivity. Freeman's economy and purity of language is paramount here, as his fable is meant to be brief but vivid and impactful. In this picture book, there is no room for wasted words, and, thankfully, Freeman does not waste words. The stunning sketches of Massachusetts baker and illustrator Anna Gaul help Freeman's animals, people and his literal home-place come further alive, and they add full-color depth and a fourth dimension of richness. The author skillfully draws each character, be they human, canine or rabbit, in the small amount of text space that he allows for each page. With Freeman's full descriptions and evocative wordplay, the reader feels as if she or he can channel the minds of the backyard animals as they interact in both conflict and in concert. Therein lies the genius in this warm story. Readers will fully relate to the animals and to the human characters who inhabit this epochal house and yard. They may never have been left in this particular house, yard or shed, but the emotions experienced by all of the characters are real and ever-present. Freeman's charming work of everyday life is reminiscent of Thornton Wilder's classic play "Our Town," made even more accessible by the skillfully drawn visuals of Anna Gaul, the talented daughter of a Physician Father and a musical Mother. Both author and artist focus on everyday animal characters (and the two humans) that readers can easily relate to and commiserate with. It is this easy bond that readers will develop with Freeman's characters that will insure that this uplifting picture book will leave a lasting impression on personalities of all ages."

"Pete-O Burrito and the Lucky Stripes is a heartwarming story of a young boy's first time playing baseball at age 5. Pete-O has a love for the game passed down from his family and it is finally his turn to play. Follow along with the young Pete-O as the story takes you through his excitement, disappointment and then excitement again. This is a great message of encouragement, hope and family values. Laugh with Pete-O as he tries to understand the adults in his life, cry with him as he goes through moments of uncertainty and rejoice with him when he realizes what he can do on his own!"