Jeff Kinney

November 2015 VOL. 1 / ISSUE 15 

TM 

Great Reads for Growing Minds 

Jeff Kinney: 

Diary of a Bestselling Author 

Jesse Ventura 

Goes Off the Grid 

with New Book, Talk Show 

Fampoints 

Offers a Simple, 

Fun Way to Reinforce 

Positive Behavior 

Travel to Newfoundland 

and Labrador with Author 

Necie Mouland 

www.StoryMonsters.com 

$9.95 US $12.95 Canada 

The Neon 

Tiki Tribe: 

Educational Superheroes 

That Teach Children 

About Real-Life Issues 

What’s Behind 

the Bullying?

MEET THE STAFF 

PUBLISHER 

Linda F. Radke 

Linda@FiveStarPublications.com 

Editor-in-Chief 

Cristy Bertini 

Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com 

WRITER 

Melissa Fales 

DESIGN 

Jeff Yesh 

Science & Nature Editor 

Conrad J. Storad 

PROOFREADER 

Debbie Greenberg 

Webmistress 

Laurie Herring 

Advertising 

Linda F. Radke 

Info@FiveStarPublications.com 

Cristy Bertini 

Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com 

Special Contributors 

Shirin Zarqa-Lederman, Joshua Bloomfield 

Darleen Wohlfeil, Olivia Amiri 

TM 

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2 StoryMonstersInk.com | NOVEMBER 2015 | Story Monsters Ink

Story Monsters Ink 

November 

2015 

Welcome to the November issue of Story 

Monsters Ink! This is a very special issue for a very special 

month. With over 150 million copies sold worldwide since the first 

one was published in 2007, Jeff Kinney’s books are perhaps the most 

recognizable and most loved by kids today. Meet the big kid behind 

the wimpy kid in this month’s issue. Also in this issue, Jesse Ventura 

talks about his new book, American Conspiracies, an updated version 

of his 2010 title of the same name. Learn about a new tool developed 

by Roger Doumanian that allows parents to digitally track, monitor 

and reward their children’s behavior, take a trip to Newfoundland and 

Labrador with author Necie Mouland, find out how some educational 

superheroes are using books to teach children about real-life issues, 

and take a look at what’s behind bullying. We hope you all have a 

wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We are thankful for our readers! 

Tell us what you think of this issue! Email your comments 

to Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com. 

Features 

04 Jeff Kinney: 


08 Jesse Ventura Goes 

Off the Grid 


10 Fampoints 

Offers a Simple, Fun Way to 

Reinforce Positive Behavior 

14 Travel to Newfoundland 

and Labrador 

with Author Necie Mouland 

18 The Neon Tiki Tribe: 

Educational Superheroes 

That Teach Children About 

Real-Life Issues 

20 What’s Behind 

the Bullying? 

22 Conrad’s Classroom 

24 I am Thankful 

26 Monster Munchies 

28 Holiday Gift Guide 

32 Activity Page 

34 Book Reviews 

38 Juicy Jack’s Spanish Corner 

StoryMonstersInk.com | NOVEMBER 2015 | Story Monsters Ink 3

Feature Cover Story 

Jeff Kinney: 


by Melissa Fales 

Sales of the books in the Diary of a 

Wimpy Kid series have been anything 

but wimpy, with over 150 million 

copies sold worldwide since the first 

one was published in 2007. Jeff 

Kinney’s latest effort, Diary of a 

Wimpy Kid: Old School is due out 

November 3. According to Kinney, 

the adventures of the series’ 

selfish, yet undeniably likeable 

protagonist, Greg Heffley, are 

not exactly autobiographical. 

“There are definitely some 

shared references,” Kinney 

says. “I would say that Greg’s 

story is similar to mine. The 

DNA is there.The basics are 

all there, but the particulars 

have changed.” 



Kinney grew up in Fort 

Washington, Maryland, 

as part of a family that appreciated 

a good story, especially one with 

comedic elements. “We’d always 

indulge my grandmother and 

listen when she’d start one of her 

own tales,” he explains. “She’d tell 

and retell the same stories again 

and again, and we’d never say 

‘Gram, we’ve all heard that one a 

million times.’ We’d just listen.” 

Thanks to Kinney’s mother, an 

educator, his childhood home 

featured a library of awardwinning 

books for him and his 

three siblings to read. However, it 

was Kinney’s father who provided 

his favorite reading material. “He 

brought home lots and lots of 

comic books,” says Kinney. 

The comics left a lasting 

impression on him. While 

attending the University of 

Maryland where he studied 

criminal justice, Kinney started 

drawing “Igdoof,” a cartoon for 

the school’s newspaper. While 

Kinney had been a top student in 

high school, he found himself just 

getting by in college as he devoted 

more and more of his time to his 

comic strip and spent less time on 

his studies. “I had my priorities,” 

he says. 

Kinney credits his decision to 

pursue a career as a newspaper 

cartoonist to the confluence of 

his lifelong interest in his father’s 

comic book collection with the pop 

culture prominence of cartoons 

in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

“I came of age during the height 

of Bloom County and Calvin and 

Hobbes,’” Kinney explains. “I 

wanted to be a part of that.” 

After college, Kinney spent three 

years unsuccessfully trying to 

get his comic strip syndicated. 

“It was clear that I needed to 

head in a different direction,” he 

says. During this time, Kinney 

actually did keep a diary. “The 

idea behind the diary was the 

hope that it would motivate me to 

keep working on my comic strip. 

Instead, it gave me the idea for 

a new format.” In 1998, Kinney 

came up with the concept for Diary 

of a Wimpy Kid, a book peppered 

with his simple but effective 

illustrations. “I consider this to be 

long-form cartooning,” he says. 

Kinney worked on that first draft 

of Diary of a Wimpy Kid for years. 

“I was originally writing it for 

an adult audience, as more of a 

nostalgic thing,” he explains. “Then 

I brought a draft with me to the 

New York Comic Convention and 

found a publisher who liked it, 

but he envisioned it as a children’s 

book instead. The rest is history.” 

An online version of the book 

came out in 2004. Due to popular 

demand, the first print copy was 

released three years later. 

Each book takes at least six 

months to create. For Kinney, it all 

starts with the jokes. “I typically 

come up with about 350 jokes 

before I begin writing each book. 

I do all of the drawings as the last 

step, but I usually have them in my 

head all along.” 

Kinney attributes much of the 

series’ success to the inclusion 

of what he sees as universal, 

pre-adolescent experiences. For 

example, the series’ compelling 

recurring references to the moldy 

slice of cheese left behind on the 

schoolyard and the social curse 

of the “cheese touch” affixed to 

anyone who touches it. “Every 

group of kids has something like 

that,” Kinney says. “Of course it’s 

not always cheese. Maybe there 

are all orange chairs except for 

one that’s yellow. If you sit on the 

yellow chair, you’ve suddenly got 

this condition. You’re the outcast. 

You’re basically a pariah. That’s 

how kids are.” 

With two sons of his own, Will 

and Grant, Kinney says he feels 

fortunate to have a window into 

their realm. “It’s nice to be able to 

have a second look at childhood 



through my own kids. I don’t necessarily draw 

ideas directly from them, but I do take in 

inspiration from the world that they’re living in.” 

In addition to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, 

Kinney created Poptropica, a video game that 

offers a virtual world for children to play in. 

Where others might see books and video 

games as competing mediums for children’s 

attention, Kinney sees congruity. “What they 

share is storytelling,” he says. “Both a book 

and a video game are only as good as the story 

behind them.” 

Kinney is also busy with An Unlikely Story, a 

bookstore he and his wife, Julie recently opened in 

their adopted hometown of Plainville, Massachusetts. 

“A bookstore is an unusual choice, but the demand is 

suggesting that there was a really big need for it in the 

region,” he says. “We’re in a good location. We seem to 

have found that sweet spot. Now, the store feels like 

an integral part of the community. It already feels like 

it’s been a part of the town forever.” 

“I didn’t set out to write for children, 

but now I think that it’s meant to be. 

I think it’s because I like the same things 

that kids like. I like junk food. I like sports. 

I really like jokes. I’m basically just a kid 

at heart.” 

Looking ahead at future book projects, Kinney says 

he would like to branch out someday and write 

something other than the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. 

“Whatever I write, I’m guessing that it will be for kids. 

I didn’t set out to write for children, but now I think 

that it’s meant to be. I think it’s because I like the same 

things that kids like. I like junk food. I like sports. I 

really like jokes. I’m basically just a kid at heart.” 

For more information about Jeff Kinney and his 

books, visit www.wimpykid.com. • 


Book Reviews 

10th ANNIVERSARY, Revised 2nd Edition 

Offers Ways to Aid and Empower Children Towards a Restful Night’s Sleep 

A children's picture book with an important lesson--for a good night's sleep. Highly recommended! - 2014 Midwest Book Reviews 

Needing some sleepytime help? Try these books - "Guardian of Dreams," by Wendy Torrel is a beautiful book about how to get 

back to sleep after a nightmare. It also includes some pre-reading and post-reading activities you can do with your children if 

they are having trouble with nightmares. - Nicole Villalpando – Raising Austin, Austin American-Statesman 

Award Winning! 

Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and White Tulip Publishing -- Order your copy today! 

www.WhiteTulipPublishing.com 

White Tulip Publishing 

It’s the first day 

of kindergarten 

Presents 

10th ANNIVERSARY, Revised 2nd Edition 

and Offers Dee Ways to Aid is and Empower nervous! 

Children 

GUARDIAN OF DREAMS: A Bedtime Story (Rev. 2nd Ed.) 

Towards a Restful Night’s Sleep 

Things get worse when she finds out her twin sister 

isn’t even in her class! The anxiety of finding one’s own place 

in kindergarten without the comfort of having her sister 

nearby overwhelms Dee, until she realizes that she’s 

not the only one who has first day of school jitters. 

Coming December 2015—Now Available for Pre-Order 

www.donnamcdine.com 


Feature Story 

Jesse Ventura 

Goes Off the Grid 



It’s hard to pin down a definitive description of 

Jesse Ventura. During his pro-wrestling days, he 

was known as “The Body” and played the part of a 

brazen bad guy. Towards the end of his wrestling 

career, Ventura began an acting career, appearing 

in such films as Predator, The Running Man, Major 

League II and Batman & Robin. From 1999 to 2003, 

residents of Minnesota addressed him as “Governor” 

and embraced him as a political reformer. In the 

newly released second edition of his book, American 

Conspiracies, Ventura continues his outspoken 

criticism of the United States government that has 

earned him a diverse collection of additional labels 

ranging from paranoid zealot to hero, depending 

on who you ask. Even Ventura himself doesn’t have 

a conclusive answer. “Personally, I consider myself 

multi-faceted, very much like my career,” he says. 

Ventura was raised in a family with a strong duty 

to country. “Everyone in my family served in the 

military,” he says, including his mother, a nurse in 

North Africa during World War II. They talked politics 

at the dinner table, where a young Ventura listened 

incredulously as his father told him in no uncertain 

terms that everything he was being taught in school 

about the Vietnam War was a lie. “He said the reason 

the U.S. was in Vietnam was because someone was 

making big money off of the war,” Ventura recalls. “And 

lo and behold, my dad was right. He passed away in 

1991, but I like to say he gets smarter every day. My 

father, with his six bronze battle stars from World War 

II, opposed the Vietnam War way before the hippies 

ever did.” 

According to Ventura, his father was so vocal 

about what he saw as the failings of the American 

government, not 

despite his deep-seated 

patriotism, but because 

of it. “Our forefathers 

knew that in order for 

this great experiment 

we call the United 

States to succeed, the 

citizens would have 

to remain vigilant,” he 

says. “We’ve dropped 

the ball. Today, if 

you question the 

government, you’re 

considered unpatriotic. 

But really, it’s the opposite. You’re a patriot if you do 

question the government. That’s the only way it works. 

We’ve lost sight of that. We’ve become a bunch of 

lemmings.” 

Although he vehemently opposed the war, Ventura’s 

father didn’t stand in the way of both of his sons 

entering the military. Ventura joined the U.S. Navy 

right out of high school and became a “frogman,” 

completing two tours in Southeast Asia. 

Returning to American soil, he enrolled at a 

community college, earning a 4.0 GPA his first quarter. 

A natural athlete, Ventura had gridiron aspirations, 

but ended up on stage instead, including a production 

of Aristophanes’ The Birds. When he discovered the 

world of pro-wrestling, Ventura was hooked. “I loved 

how it combined my athleticism and my theatrical 

background,” he says. “I like to refer to pro-wrestling 

as ballet with violence. Yes, it’s choreographed, but so 

was everything Nureyev did.” 


Feature Story 

Jesse “The Body” Ventura became 

a World Wrestling Federation 

superstar. He still looks back fondly 

on the early days when he drove to 

each match in his 1975 Mercury 

Cougar, including one grueling 

stretch of 63 consecutive nights in 

the ring. “It was a real grassroots 

effort back then,” he says. 

After leaving the WWF in 1990, 

Ventura ran for mayor of Brooklyn 

Park, Minnesota as a Reform 

Party candidate. His success 

set the stage for his election as 

the Reform Party candidate for 

Minnesota Governor in 1998. “I’m 

dangerous because I’ve beaten 

the Democrats and Republicans, 

not once but twice,” Ventura says. 

“When I was governor, I was the 

most powerful man in America. 

I had a Democratic Senate and a 

Republican House. My last year 

in office, they teamed up against 

me. I forced the Democrats and 

Republicans to get together. Who 

else could do that?” 

In 2004, Ventura taught a popular 

class at Harvard University that 

touched on the parallels between 

pro-wrestlers and politicians. “The 

role you play as a pro-wrestler may 

be nothing like who you really are,” 

he says. “Most of our politicians 

are the same way. I was Jesse “The 

Body” Ventura in the ring and he’s 

part of me, but he doesn’t define 

who I am. I was performing. Many 

politicians are performing.” 

Similarly, Ventura says the 

mainstream news has lost the 

public’s trust and deteriorated 

into entertainment. “It’s not about 

informing people anymore,” he 

says. “It’s all about ratings, and 

they’ll package it any way they 

can to get them.” In response, 

Ventura hosts “Off the Grid,” an 

online political talk show he films 

in Mexico. He says he loves the 

“The role you play as a pro-wrestler may be nothing 

like who you really are. Most of our politicians are the 

same way. I was Jesse “The Body” Ventura in the ring 

and he’s part of me, but he doesn’t define who I am. 

I was performing. Many politicians are performing.” 

freedom he has with the program, 

free of FCC regulations and 

government intervention. “I’m in 

total control of the show,” he says. 

Ventura delves deeper into 

some of the topics he tackles 

on his talk show in American 

Conspiracies, an updated version 

of his 2010 book. “The great thing 

about the government is that it’s 

always giving me material for new 

chapters,” says Ventura. “You can 

count on the fact that it’s going to 

do something bad and try to cover 

it up.” The latest edition includes 

new revelations about 9/11, the 

Gulf oil spill, and Monsanto. “It’s 

great reading,” says Ventura. “It’s 

as mysterious as any Tom Clancy 

novel. The difference is that I’m 

writing about real people. This 

book should be in the horror 

section. It’s non-fiction horror.” 

What’s behind Ventura’s dogged 

determination to disseminate 

this information to the public? 

First and foremost, he says, is an 

unquenchable desire for the truth. 

“I despise being lied to and I feel 

like I have a government that lies 

to me constantly,” Ventura says. 

Secondly, Ventura wants people 

to pay more attention to their 

government. “The government 

takes half of the fruits of your 

labor,” he says. “Shouldn’t you 

pay attention to the people 

who take half of your pay from 

you?” Finally, Ventura feels a 

responsibility to keep tabs on the 

government because no one else is 

doing it, at least not as loudly and 

unflinchingly as he is. 

Ventura recalls an encounter he 

had as Governor of Minnesota 

during the 2000 presidential 

election between then-Governor 

George W. Bush and then-Vice 

President Al Gore. Ventura was 

visiting New York City and his car 

passed a construction site. “One 

of the construction guys stopped 

working, pointed at me, and in 

this big, baritone voice says, ‘The 

wrong governor is running for 

president.’” That moment left an 

indelible impact on Ventura. “That 

showed me that for all the trouble 

I get into, it’s all worth it. When 

everyday people beg me to keep 

doing what I’m doing, that just 

tells me that I’m right and what I’m 

doing is honorable. I’m just going 

to keep doing this. I have to. If not 

me, then who?” • 


Fampoints 

Offers a Simple, Fun Way 

to Reinforce Positive Behavior 

By Melissa Fales 

Inspired by his own experience raising a strong-willed child, 

Roger Doumanian has created a free tool that allows parents 

to digitally track, monitor and reward children’s behavior on 

a Smartphone, tablet or computer. 


Feature Story 

Doumanian got the idea for the 

program after grappling with his 

son Julian’s behavioral issues. 

“Our troubles started when he was 

three,” he says. “He was a smart 

kid, but rebellious and a little 

spoiled.” Wondering if Julian’s 

behavior might stem from some 

type of disorder, the Doumanians 

brought him to a therapist. The 

therapist found nothing wrong 

with Julian and recommended 

that the family implement a 

rewards chart, assigning stars for 

positive behavior and removing 

them in response to negative 

behavior. “The beauty of a chart is 

that it’s visual,” says Doumanian. 

“It lets kids see the consequences 

of their actions.” 

However, the chart didn’t work 

for Julian. For example, it was 

problematic if he acted up while 

the family was out. “We’d have to 

wait until we got home to remove 

a star,” says Doumanian. “The 

time that elapsed between Julian’s 

actions and when they were 

recorded on the chart made it hard 

for him to make the connection. 

Sometimes, by the time we’d get 

home, we’d forget altogether.” 

Doumanian looked for something 

digital that would be more 

portable and more manageable. 

“I couldn’t find anything that 

would do all the things we needed 

it to do,” he says. So, Doumanian, 

the CEO of tech firms Fresh 

Element and Harvester Holdings, 

spent two years developing and 

building Fampoints. The program 

launched in August to much 

acclaim and great feedback from 

parents and medical professionals. 

“Fampoints is a great tool 

for parents to help children 

understand their expectations, 

and to make sure the change in 

behavior and work to achieve goals 

and contribute to the family are 

recognized and rewarded each 

time, so that these sought after 

behaviors continue to shape the 

child’s positive participation in his 

or her environment,” says Nikki 

Miller, licensed psychotherapist. 

“It’s easy to use, either at home or 

on the fly, and offers options and 

flexibility for individual/family 

needs and preferences. It’s a win/ 

win for the whole family!” 

Fampoints is based on the idea 

behind those old-fashioned 

behavior charts comprised 

of stickers on posterboard, 

but totally revamped for 21st 

century families. 

Parents simply create a Fampoints 

account for each child and 

generate a list of actions or 

behaviors. Each item on the list 

is assigned a certain number of 

points. “It works both ways,” 

Doumanian says. “Just as a child 

earns points through positive 

behavior, they lose points through 

negative behavior.” Parents can 

easily edit the list at any time. 

Parents also create rewards and 

determine how many points each 

reward requires. “You can make 

rewards something small like a 

special snack, something bigger 

like a movie ticket, or something 

huge like a trip to Disneyland,” 

says Doumanian. Since Fampoints 

is completely customizable, 

parents call the shots. “You create 

the rewards that will motivate 

your child,” says Doumanian. “The 

only limit is your creativity.” 

Children logging into Fampoints 

can see how many points they 

have, what kind of rewards they 

can earn, and how many points 

they need to redeem each reward. 

“They aren’t able to see how 

many points their siblings have,” 

Doumanian says. 

Every request to redeem points 

for a reward requires parental 

approval. “Mom or Dad receives 

an email that their child has 

requested a reward,” explains 

Doumanian. “Parents can approve 

or deny the request, and send 

a message back to the child 

explaining why. For example, a 

parent might decline a request 

to redeem reward points for a 

movie ticket if a child has been 

misbehaving. The Fampoints 

system encourages parents and 


Feature Story 

children to talk to each other. 

“We always send the kids back to 

their parents,” says Doumanian. 

“We believe it’s very important 

to maintain that communication 

between parents and children.” 

As children progress, they can 

earn certificates upon reaching 

behavioral therapist. “The concept 

implements the use of technology 

to reward children and allow 

them to keep track of their own 

behaviors. Parents create goals 

and children follow through. It’s 

almost like a game, that’s probably 

why it works so well. Ultimately, 

fampoints is an easy tool to use, 

“At Fampoints, we’re focused on 

putting out positive solutions in 

today’s world.” 

children. Parents, and their 

creativity with this tool, are what 

really create the desired result of 

good behavior.” 

Doumanian says he knows 

Fampoints works and he hopes 

parents struggling to raise a 

difficult child will give it a try. 

“My wife and I went through 

some very hard times,” he said. 

“Julian’s doing great today and we 

can laugh about it now, but being 

in that situation is no laughing 

matter. At Fampoints, we’re 

focused on putting out positive 

solutions in today’s world.” 

special milestones and goals, such 

as going 30 days without receiving 

any negative points. Parents 

can even have the suitable-forframing 

certificates printed out. 

“It gives the child something 

they can put on their wall, 

encouraging them to be proud 

of their accomplishment,” says 

Doumanian. 

Fampoints also has the capacity 

for guest administrators. “That 

comes in handy for Grandma 

and Grandpa, or perhaps a 

behavioral therapist who can 

use the app remotely and access 

the progress of a child they’re 

working with,” says Doumanian. 

Even schools have expressed 

interest in Fampoints, seeing an 

opportunity for teachers to work 

in conjunction with parents in 

reinforcing positive behaviors. 

“When I first heard of fampoints, 

I really saw the potential of this 

project. Families are given the 

ability to reinforce their children’s 

positive behaviors through a point 

system,” says Kayane Doumanian, 

fun for children and parents, and 

most importantly, completely 

free!” 

Julian, now nine years old, is a 

Fampoints success story. He and 

his sister, seven-year-old Alexa 

are avid Fampoints users. “They 

love it,” says Doumanian. “Every 

morning they log in to see what 

we might have added for points. 

They even ask what they can do 

to earn some extra points.” He 

went on to explain that his family 

assigns points for behavior that 

goes above and beyond what is 

typically expected. “We don’t give 

them points for doing regular 

chores, like making their beds,” 

Doumanian explains. “We don’t 

want to reinforce the mentality 

that they should expect rewards 

for basic behavior.” 

Doumanian stressed that active 

parental involvement is key 

to success with Fampoints. 

“Fampoints is not a magic solution 

that creates good behavior by 

itself. Fampoints is a tool. Parents 

need to invest the time in their 

To learn more about Fampoints, 

visit www.Fampoints.com. 

You can also visit Fampoints on 

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 

Instagram, Tumblr and Snapchat. • 



Feature Story 

Travel to Newfoundland 

and Labrador with Author 

Necie Mouland 

The people who live in the picturesque Canadian 

province of Newfoundland and Labrador have a 

colorful approach to all aspects of life. Author Necie 

Mouland writes children’s books extolling this unique 

part of the world. Mouland’s books are designed 

to appeal to Newfoundland and Labrador natives 

as well as the rest of the world, those whom they 

refer to as “comefromaways.” These books reflect 

Mouland’s efforts to record the province’s ancient, 

distinctive customs before they fade away. “As the 

world modernizes, some of the traditions and old ways 

are becoming less commonplace,” Mouland explains. 

“I decided to write and illustrate children’s books to 

preserve our culture and heritage as a means to share 

it with the world.” 

Mouland grew up in the small fishing village of St. 

Bernard’s, Newfoundland. Today she lives just outside 

the capital city of St. John’s where she works as a web 

designer for the provincial government. Due to limited 

work opportunities, many natives of Newfoundland 

and Labrador have had to move to other areas over 

the years. In recognition of those who have been 

forced to leave the area, many communities on both 

the island and the mainland plan “Come Home Year” 

celebrations, offering a reunion of sorts during a week 

of festivities. “All these little towns turn into bustling 

places as people return to see friends and family,” 

Mouland says. “It’s a very special thing.” 

When St. Bernard’s celebrated its “Come Home 

Year” in 2007, Mouland designed a website for 

the event. As a way to raise money for a church in 

the community, she wrote There’s No Place Like My 

Newfoundland and Labrador Home, a children’s book 

about growing up in the province. The book was such a 

hit that Mouland even received an invitation from the 

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to talk about it on 

television. “That was a ‘pinch me’ moment for sure,” 

she says. 

That’s how it all started, 

but as Mouland puts it, 

“That was quite a few books 

ago.” She’s since followed 

up with Jack Likes Salt Fish 

and Scrunchions, Do You?, 

Bays, Bights and Tickles, 

Pop’s Rubber Boots, The Great 

Ferryland Dig and You’re 

Some Crooked. Mouland 

has also illustrated a 

Newfoundland and 

Labrador coloring book. 


Feature Story 

Mouland’s delighted that her books have ended 

up all over the world. “Many of my books leave the 

province to go to people who once lived here, such as 

grandchildren of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians 

who have moved away to ensure they learn about their 

roots, to people who have visited our beautiful home 

and fell in love with it, or people who simply have 

an interest in the province,” she explains. She added 

that Newfoundland has taken on a new, sentimental 

significance for the thousands of Americans who were 

stranded there in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 

attacks when the U.S. airspace was closed and airplane 

travelers heading for American airports had to remain 

there until airplane travel was resumed. 

Isolated by its geography, the province retains much of 

the heritage of the Irish and English who settled there. 

“There’s so much history and culture here,” Mouland 

says. “For so many years the bulk of the province’s 

population lived on the island of Newfoundland, 

untouched by the outside world. There are still places 

today where if I dropped you there, you’d think you 

were right smack in the middle of Ireland.” 

The province boasts intriguing place names such as 

“Nickey’s Nose Cove” and “Indian Tickle,” which lend 

themselves well to children’s books. “Kids get a kick 

out of the funny names,” Mouland says. While she has 

written these books for children, they’ve found favor 

with adult readers, too. “I’ve been happy to find out that 

there’s not really an age group for my books.” 

unique Christmas 

traditions. “One of the 

biggest differences is 

that Christmas lasts for 

twelve days,” she says. 

This latest book will also 

delve into the dying 

art of mummering, a 

Christmas tradition 

where a group of 

people wearing masks 

and strange costumes go from door to door. “These 

costumes are nothing you’d buy in the store,” she 

says. “There might be someone with gloves on their 

feet or all wrapped up in a pair of ugly curtains. The 

more outlandish they look, the better!” If allowed 

inside, the mummers will sing and dance as the 

residents try to guess who they are. “It was once a big 

part of the Christmas celebration, but now you see it 

less and less.” 

Mouland says she plans to continue to write about her 

beloved homeland. “With a place as rich in history as 

Newfoundland and Labrador, there are endless topics. 

I love to paint a picture of what it’s like here. I’m so 

happy to be able to share my little corner of the world 

with everyone.” 

For more information about Mouland and her books, 

visit www.overtheclothesline.com. • 

One of Mouland’s favorite topics to write about is the 

unique food served in Newfoundland and Labrador 

homes. Her books introduce treats such as “fish 

and brewis” (often served with small pieces of fried 

pork fat called “scrunchions”), “toutons,” “molasses 

buns,” and “figgy duff.” Mouland also focuses on the 

celebrations that bring families and friends together 

around a shared meal. “In a world of fast food, it’s 

important to remind people about the value of eating 

real food in the company of those we love,” says 

Mouland. 

Children especially seem to enjoy learning some of the 

Newfoundland and Labrador jargon Mouland uses in 

her books. “If you eat way too much, you say you’re 

‘stogged,’” she explains. “If you’re in a bad mood, you’re 

“crooked,” and if you’re a mischievous little rascal, 

you’re a ‘sleeveen.’ Kids love that one.” 

Soon, Mouland will be releasing A Newfoundland and 

Labrador Christmas Wish, a book about the province’s 


The 

Azurite 

encounter 

“This book was a joy to read.” 

“The Azurite Encounter… can be read and 

appreciated by teenagers and parents alike.” 

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wellresearched, 

page-turning adventure story.” 

In her award-winning debut novel, 

Jane Frances Ruby takes the young adult reader into 

the deepest chasms of the Grand Canyon, where an 

ancient pueblo culture secretly thrives. 

Find out what happens when a high school geology 

field trip goes bad, and the students encounter 

more than just the canyon’s natural forces. 

The perfect holiday gift! 

www.TheAzuriteEncounter.com 

Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com 


Burton’s Harvest Party 

by V.A. Boeholt 

The fall harvest is over, and it’s time for Farmer 

Green and his grandchildren to celebrate with a 

barn-stomping Harvest Party! The guests have 

been invited, and the band is ready to play…yep! 

But the farmer, Rod and Chelsea need some help 

making final party plans—food, decorations, 

activities. There’s so much left to do! With Aunt 

May sick in bed and Grandma Green away 

judging the State 

Quilting Contest, 

what will Farmer 

Green do? Thanks 

to Burton, Ribbon 

and their little 

farmyard friends, 

Farmer Green, his 

grandchildren, 

and their eager 

guests are in for a 

wonderful Harvest 

Party Surprise. 

When the Sun Goes Down 

A Yum & Yuk Halloween Tale 

1 st Place Winner Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 

Be the first to enjoy a new tradition of 

Halloween poetry, music and animation 

Get your copy at www.whatsupwithyuk.com 

For every book sold, 

another is given to a child who could use a hand in life. 

Join our friends for a fun birthday celebration. 

All guests are asked to dress in their very best 

pirate costume for this original, wordless picture book 

where YOU create the story. 

www.picturereadit.com 

Available at Amazon.com 

We draw it... you tell it. 


Feature Story 

The Neon Tiki Tribe: 

Educational Superheroes That Teach Children About Real-Life Issues 


The word “tiki” typically calls to mind a wooden 

carving with exaggerated facial features, as 

featured prominently in Polynesian culture. 

However, the word has an entirely different 

connotation to Greg Devlin and David Thompson, cofounders 

of the Neon Tiki Tribe, a group of brightly 

colored superheroes featured in books that help 

teach children how to make good choices. “To us, tiki 

stands for a thoughtful, intelligent, kind, individual,” 

explains Devlin. 

There are already 13 different action-filled adventures 

of Zeke, Tia, Dar and Mowah, collectively known as 

the Neon Tiki Tribe, with more on the way. The Neon 

Tiki Tribe has addressed issues such as illiteracy, 

cancer, autism, bullying, sportsmanship, body image 

and Internet safety. Mobile apps are available to 

complement each of the books. 

Devlin says he believes teaching children through 

storytelling is more effective than lecturing them. 

“People remember stories over facts,” he says. “If you 

tell a child, ‘Don’t get into a stranger’s car,’ they may 

or may not even hear that. But if you tell them a story 

about what could happen if they do get in a stranger’s 

car, that’s something they’ll remember.” 

The Neon Tiki Tribe books are designed for children 

in grades one through five. “We wanted to reach them 

before they hit middle school when they start to 

encounter the more challenging issues kids face today,” 

says Devlin. Thompson says the modern-day storylines 

address real-life issues. “Green Eggs and Ham is a funny 

story, but it doesn’t help them in the street. These 

stories do.” The books and the accompanying apps give 

parents a starting point for discussion on these topics. 

“We just want to open up the conversation,” Devlin says. 

“Parents can take it from there.” 

It was Devlin who came up with the concept of the 

Neon Tiki Tribe. At the time, he ran a tree-removal 

business and had just removed a 1,200-pound stump. 

“I carved a tiki face in it, just for fun.” On a whim, he 

added a pair of large sunglasses and put the figure on 

his lawn. “That guy drew so much attention, he almost 

caused crashes because drivers were looking at him, 

not the road,” says Devlin. The tiki’s popularity gave 

him an idea. “If someone sold the idea of Teenage 

Mutant Ninja Turtles living in the New York City 

sewers, I bet I could come up with something even 

better with neon tikis.” 

In 1992, Devlin wrote a story about thinking 

positively, called “Think Neon,” featuring four brightly 


Feature Story 

Dave Thompson 

colored Tiki characters. It was 

enthusiastically received by those 

who heard it, but Devlin lacked 

the resources to get it to print. He 

took the Neon Tiki Tribe as far as 

he could on his own. “It took me 

about a year to realize I needed an 

investor,” he explains. From his 

Florida home, Devlin ran an ad in 

USA Today seeking one. 

Devlin is clearly passionate about introducing the 

Neon Tiki Tribe to as many children as possible, and 

with good reason. He was 21 years old and serving in 

the United States Air Force on Sept. 19, 1980 when he 

narrowly survived a Titan II missile explosion in a silo. 

The explosion sent Devlin sliding 60 feet on his back. 

In addition to severe burns on his face, neck, back and 

hands, he suffered a ruptured eardrum, a shattered ankle 

and a severed Achilles tendon. Devlin’s story is featured 

in Eric Schlosser’s book Command and Control. 

Greg Devlin 

Roughly 1,000 miles away in 

Indiana, David Thompson saw the 

ad. The successful janitorial service 

contractor reached out to Devlin 

and the two began the partnership 

“We wanted to create characters that 

would actually teach children, not just 

waste their time. We wanted 

something meaningful.” 

To Devlin, it’s clear why he survived that horrific 

accident. “I believe there are two reasons God kept 

me alive,” he said. “One is for my wife and our four 

daughters who wouldn’t have been born. The second 

reason is to bring the positive message of the Neon Tiki 

Tribe to as many children as I can. I got a second chance 

on life. I want to make a difference by helping as many 

kids as possible. I know I speak for both Dave and me 

when I say that in the end, it’s all about the kids.” 

For more information about the Neon Tiki Tribe, visit 

www.neontikitribe.com or find them on Facebook. • 

that continues today. Initially, the pair envisioned the 

tikis as non-violent action heroes. “We learned that 

that’s an oxymoron,” says Devlin. “Where do you get 

the action?” The two were unable to make it work and 

the project went under. 

Devlin credits Thompson with motivating him to 

continue. “At that point, I was crushed, exhausted and 

broke,” says Devlin. “Dave was the one who said, ‘Hey, 

let’s revamp this and make it work.’ If Dave and his wife 

Jane weren’t there, this never would’ve happened.” 

Seven years ago, the pair headed back to the drawing 

board. “We decided to focus on the idea of creating 

educational superheroes,” says Thompson. “We wanted to 

create characters that would actually teach children, not 

just waste their time. We wanted something meaningful.” 

The pair has spent the last seven years building the 

content for the project. They even brought in a team 

of educators to write Common Core teaching guides 

available on the Neon Tiki Tribe website. They’re 

currently working on promoting the Neon Tiki Tribe 

books and apps to elementary schools. Additionally, 

each of the Neon Tiki Tribe books is printed in 

Dyslexie, a font designed to be easier for dyslexics to 

read. According to Devlin, people often question why 

they pay to use the special font in their books. “‘Who 

cares?’ they ask. The little boy or girl who struggles 

with dyslexia cares. If we can do it, why not do it?” 

A Special Gift for 

Story Monsters Ink Readers 

from the Neon Tiki Tribe 

3 Free Apps for 3 Days Giveaway – 

Just Download to your Favorite Device! 

Available November 1 – 3 

Strangers: The Ku Kidnapping 

(Android/Kindle - English) 

(Android/Kindle - Spanish Version) 

Desconocidos: El Secuestro Ku 

(Apple iPad/iPhone - English) 

Bullies: Playground Push-Around 

(Android/Kindle - English) 

(Android/Kindle - Spanish Version) 

Acosadores: Intimidación en el pati de recreo 

(Apple iPad/iPhone - English) 


What’s Behind the Bullying? 

by Shirin Zarqa-Lederman, BCPC, LCADC, LPC, MA, MS 

If we really think about it, calling one a bully has become “bullying,” 

the same way calling a child “four eyes” or “a pencil neck geek” (there’s 

a blast from the past) is bullying. “Bullies” are children. For one reason 

or another, that child is lacking a basic need that is not being met and is 

acting out to let someone know. Children have limited verbal skills and 

often using nonverbal communication such as hitting or poking is meant 

to invoke an adult’s attention, not their peers. 

I can hear the roars of those 

“mother bears,” who want to 

attack any child that attacks their 

own, but let me put things in 

perspective: your child exudes all 

the confidence that those “bullies” 

envy. So rather than teach our 

children to be on the defensive, 

maybe we could teach them to 

stop and recognize that their 

peer is experiencing a problem 

and they, too, need empathy and 

understanding. 

A few years ago, I was called into 

my daughter’s preschool because 

there was an “incident.” Another 

child—a child who just the day 

before was her best friend—had 

bitten my child on the arm. I 

immediately asked her teacher if 

her parents were having another 

baby, since biting is a common 

reaction to change when children 

cannot vocalize how they feel. Her 

teacher said, “Actually, her mom 

just had a baby yesterday!” 

My child, of course traumatized 

and upset, came home with me 


and on the car ride home, we discussed how her friend 

may be feeling with a new baby in their home. She had 

been through the same feelings only a few months 

before. We talked about how she felt when her sister 

was born and what she liked about it. She loved the 

idea of being a big sister. So rather than run home in 

a fury looking for a new preschool, my daughter and 

I stopped at the craft store and bought a t-shirt and 

some fabric paint and made her friend a “I’m the big 

sister shirt,” complete with stick figures of her and her 

new baby sibling. 

We tend to talk about bullies as these evil little 

monsters that creep up and destroy a child’s sense 

of safety. We relish shows like Bully Beat-Down. I’m 

not quite sure if it’s the therapist in me or simply 

the mother in me, but there seems to be little to no 

empathy for the “bully.” But in my line of work, every 

troubled child is a victim, and though they may exist, 

I’ve never met a child who woke up one morning and 

decided, “Today, I am going to be a bully.” 

“What we really need to 

arm our children with 

is empathy.” 

I am sure you’ve noticed, there is a rise in the number 

of reported bullying incidents from Pre-k through 

elementary school. In response, as expected, there 

have been hundreds of campaigns targeted at arming 

children with self-defense tactics to thwart off these 

destroyers of positive self-esteem. Empowering 

children with self-defense is imperative, and by no 

means do I want to minimize it. However, what we 

really need to arm our children with is empathy. • 


Science & Nature 

Photo by: Linda F. Radke 

The Earth 

Beneath Your Feet 

by Conrad J. Storad 

Earth is a very special place. Our little world is the 

third of eight planets that orbit a star called Sol. Earth 

is home. And it’s really the only home we know. 

But astronomers and planetary scientists have 

another name for Earth. They call Earth a “Goldilocks 

planet.” Why? Because the range of conditions that 

exist on Earth are “just right” to support all kinds of 

living things. 

Rock layers that make up the top part of the Earth’s 

crust are visible in the Grand Canyon. 

Photo by Conrad J. Storad 

The poles are the areas at the top and bottom of our 

planet. The temperatures there are usually freezing 

cold. The equator is the area that wraps around the 

middle of Earth. Rain forests grow there. It is usually 

quite hot and humid. 

Near the top of Earth’s highest mountains, the air 

is much too thin to breathe. And the pressure in the 

deepest trenches beneath the oceans would squash 

us flat. 

Despite these extremes, most of Earth’s surface boasts 

conditions that can support all kinds of living things. 

To date, even at the extremes, the only place life has 

been found is on the surface of our planet. The surface 

is the thin layer between the atmosphere and crust. 

Take a few steps outside of your home. Now look 

down at your feet. You probably are standing on grass 

or dirt. It could be concrete or blacktop. You also are 

standing on the Earth’s crust. 

Our planet’s crust is hidden from view in most 

places. It might be covered by the water in rivers or 

lakes or oceans. The crust hides beneath cities and 

streets and parking lots. Or it might be buried under 

forests or beneath fields of wheat and corn. But 

there are places where you can see the Earth’s crust. 

The Zoroaster Granite at the bottom of the Grand 

Canyon is almost 2 billion years old. This layer of rock 

is one of the oldest parts of the Earth’s crust that a 

human can actually touch. 

Photo by Conrad J. Storad 


Science & Nature 

Rocky cliffs near the seashore are part of the crust. 

So are the steep walls of deep canyons, like the Grand 

Canyon in Arizona. 

The crust is a layer of rock that covers our entire 

planet. Below your feet the crust goes down as deep as 

40 miles. Under the ocean the crust is much thinner. 

It might go down only three miles. Forty miles sounds 

kind of thick. But it depends on your point of view. 

Use your imagination. What if the entire Earth were 

the size of a basketball? At that size, the Earth’s crust 

would be a thin layer. It would be thinner than a single 

hair on your head. The tallest mountains would be 

specks almost too small to see. 

What if you could slice the planet in half and look 

inside? It might look like a giant peach with four 

different layers. Some layers would be thin. Others 

would be very thick. 

Geologists are scientists who study the parts and 

layers of the Earth. They study how the layers formed 

and how the parts of our planet work. Some geologists 

like to compare the Earth to a giant hard-boiled egg. 

The Earth’s crust would be the egg’s hard outside shell. 

With one difference. The crust is thick in some parts 

and thin in others. The crust is thickest under the 

continents. It is much thinner under the oceans. 

Below the crust is a very thick layer of rock. This layer 

is called the mantle. The mantle is more than 1,800 

miles thick. It is kind of like the springy white part 

of the giant hard-boiled egg. Deep inside Earth is 

still another layer called the core. The core is like the 

yellow yolk of the giant egg. The Earth’s core has two 

parts. The outer part is made of super-hot melted rock. 

Scientists think the outer core may be as hot as the 

surface of the sun. It is more than 1,300 miles thick. 

The inner part of the core is solid metal. Geologists 

think it is made of iron and nickel. The inner core is 

more than 1,500 miles thick. 

Of course, the Earth is much bigger than a basketball. 

And it is much more complex than a peach or an egg. 

But you get the idea. Our planet is made of different 

parts. And it’s all right beneath your feet. 

Resources to learn more 

about Earth’s crust: 

WEBSITES: 

• Geology for kids 

http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-forkids/0021-earths-crust.php 

• Easy science for kids 

http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-aboutearths-crust 

DOCUMENTARY FILMS AND BOOKS: 

• Earth Story 

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/earth-story 

• Uncovering Earth’s Crust 


• Earth’s Changing Surface 


Conrad J. Storad 

The award-winning author and editor of more than 

50 science and nature books for children and young 

adults, Conrad J. Storad expertly draws young readers 

into his imaginative and entertaining “classroom” 

to help them better understand and appreciate the 

natural world. 


I Am Thankful 

“I am thankful for my happy, 

healthy family and 

wonderful friends.” 

Alex W., age 8 

“I am thankful for the 

holidays because it brings 

families together.” 

Haley C., age 9 

“I am thankful for the people I 

love: Tom, bro’s, Mom, Dad, love.” 

Chelsie S., age 7 

“I am thankful for all the things I 

have in my life. I am thankful for 

my mommy and my daddy and my 

brother and my teacher.” 

Ava W., age 6 

“I am thankful for Daddy, Jack, 

Mimi, pancakes, princesses, candy, 

toys, monsters and Jesus.” 

Danielle R., age 3 ½ 

“I am thankful for big dinosaurs 

and Star Wars Legos.” 

Jack R., age 6 

“I am thankful for my awesome 

new school and for my great family 

and my hermit crab, Thomas.” 

Noah F., age 9 

“I am thankful for my grades.” 

Hope C., age 13 

“I am thankful for my dog Bink 

because he is beautiful and helps 

me through any hard times.” 

Joshua B., age 12 

“I am thankful for having 

good parents.” 

John E., age 10 

“I am thankful for my friends and 

family.” 

Ruth E., age 7 

“I am thankful for my puppy.” 

Meghan E., age 4 

‘I am thankful for my family and 

friends and for the roof I have over 

my head. I am also thankful for my 

glorious life.” 

Raya W., age 10 


I Am Thankful 

“ I am thankful for my dog, my cat 

and my brother.” 

Molly M., age 5 

“I am thankful for all of my family 

and my cool friends.” 

Emily., age 9 ½ 

“I am thankful for 

my mom and dad.” 

Erin M., age 8 

“I am thankful for my family 

and my dog.” 

Emma B., age 9 

“I’m thankful for having my friend 

over today. She’s a really joyful spirit 

and brings a lot of joy into my life. I 

really like to have her over because 

when I’m sad she kind a of let’s me 

go through it and then I find the joy 

in life. She let’s me be myself.” 

Olivia A., age 8 

“I am thankful for my dad.” 

Amelia T., age 3 

“I am thankful for Legos because I 

love to build creations with them 

like airports.” 

Calvin H., age 6 

“I am thankful for my Barbies 

because I love playing with them 

in the jungle.” 

Cady H., age 6 

“I am thankful for having my 

mom take care of me when I don’t 

feel well.” 

Erin E., age 9 

“I am thankful for having a caring, 

loving family.” 

Christopher E., age 10 

“I am thankful for my family” 

Keira Y., age 9 

“My sissy! 

I am thankful for my sissy! ” 

Hanna Y., age 7 


Monster Munchies 

Spiced 

Pumpkin Seeds 

Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere, but what to do with all 

the seeds? Make a delicious and healthy snack! Kids will 

love to help prepare them … and eat them! 

Ingredients 

1 ½ tablespoons margarine, melted 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon garlic salt 

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 

2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds 

Directions 

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). 

Combine the margarine, salt, garlic salt, 

Worcestershire sauce and pumpkin seeds. 

Mix thoroughly and place in shallow baking dish. 

Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. 

Recipe by Carolyn 

Photo by Jessica 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2015 Allrecipes.com 

The Slug You’ll Want to Hug! 

This energetic and fun-loving bug is 

curious, adventurous, and full of personality! 

Join him on his misadventures as he learns 

valuable life lessons in a unique setting 

with whimsical illustrations. 

Visit www.LittleLambTales.com 

for free, printable activities! 

Also available on Amazon.com 



Holiday Gift Guide 

The Gift of Sunderland 

by Jeanne Rogers 

A rift has been created in the Ayers’ lineage. Roland Ayers, Guardian of the Forest, knows 

that he must obey the voices of past Guardians and declare the next in line. When the 

announcement is made, two estranged brothers will be torn further apart, causing the 

forest to rise from its long sleep. Follow Fergal, Waylond, and the rest of our heroes as 

they trek across Sunderland to the depths of Mt. Olga where evil dwells. It’s there they 

will discover the importance of family and friendship. A glossary at the back of the book 

provides information about the endangered animal heroes within the story. Awarded 

gold medal, 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. 

Bart’s Heart 

by Dr. Cargill H. Alleyne Jr., M.D. 

Bart’s Heart, the second in our series of educational children’s books, presents facts about the 

human heart in an entertaining, colorful manner. The book consists of 16 verses in limerick 

form written by a neurosurgeon and masterfully illustrated by a seasoned professional. A 

glossary at the end of the book provides meanings and pronunciations of medical terms. 

There is also a small heart hidden in each illustration for the reader to discern. We also hope 

that it will spark children’s interest in the human body. 

Lonnie the Loon Learns to Call 

by Barbara Renner 

Have you ever heard the haunting calls of the loon on a northern Minnesota lake? Lonnie 

is a curious young loon who wants to learn how to make these calls, so his dad offers to 

teach him. Not only will the reader learn the significance of each call, the sounds can be 

heard through QR codes using a free QR Code Reader App. Fascinating facts about loons 

are found on almost every page. Readers’ Favorites states, “This is a delightful story for 

young readers that educates as well as entertains.” Lonnie the Loon Learns to Call is the third 

book in a series about Lonnie the Loon. All three books can be ordered by contacting the 

author through www.rennerwrites.com. Mention that you read this in Story Monsters 

Ink’s special holiday issue. 

Luna: Puppy Detective #2: No-Slack Jack 

by Kesmine Hickman 

Once upon a time, there was a little Shih Tzu detective named Luna who never thought 

she would ever end up in an animal shelter. But when an escapade to slice and dice Pip the 

Siamese cat goes awry, Luna finds herself trapped in the Sierra Sunrise Animal Center with 

her two sidekicks, Leia and Creeper. Worse, a slippery and dangerous apparition known 

as “The Ghost of No-Slack Jack,” terrorizes the animals each night. Desperate to solve the 

case and return home, Luna must sort through the clues before the eerie ghoul can get the 

best of the clever detective and her pals. Can Luna rise to the challenge or will the shelter 

continue to be haunted by the supernatural phantom? www.kesminehickman.com 



Buddy and His Pals: True Stories of Horses, Llamas and Cats 

by Loretta Radeschi 

Buddy and His Pals: True Stories of Horses, Llamas and Cats tells the story of Buddy and the 

friends he makes on the farm. At the end of each true story is a message about friendship. 

Among those lessons are that friends don’t have to look like us, friends are found in 

unexpected places, friends are important in our lives and they teach us patience. All the 

events are true and the pastel illustrations were created from actual photographs. The book 

was written for pre-schoolers to eight-year-olds. Signed and inscribed copies are available at 

www.Lradeschi.com. 

Posie Pixie And The Christmas Tree 

by Sarah Hill 

Posie Pixie And The Christmas Tree is the 5th installment from Sarah Hill’s enchanting 35-book 

Whimsy Wood children’s series for children ages 5 - 8. Each wonderfully descriptive book 

is written for a specific month in the calendar, so the flora and fauna within this magical 

woodland changes as you read through the series. Posie Pixie And The Christmas Tree is of course 

written for the delectable month of December! In this wondrous woodland tale of snow and ice, 

copper kettles and snowberry pies, you’ll meet Florence Fox as well as Mr. and Mrs. Dusty the 

doormice. So come and follow Posie and her best friend Wibble Woodlouse on this fabulously 

festive heartwarming adventure in Whimsy Wood this Christmas! 

The Adventures of Detective Luke: 

The Disappearing Dog Bowl 

by Wilson Hickman 

Detective Luke is a highly professional detective who just happens to be a dog! He and his 

two sons, Leo and Baron, lead lives of busting crime and enforcing justice. Nowhere in that 

routine did Luke plan on babysitting, so when his owners agree to watch an Akita named 

Bernard, Luke is anything but happy. His resentment of Bernard reaches its peak when 

mysterious thefts begin popping up all over town, including the disappearance of Luke’s dog 

bowl! Is Bernard the culprit? Or is someone else to blame? One thing’s for sure—Luke and 

his sons have another exciting mystery on their paws! www.wilsonhickman.com 

A to Z Character Education for the Classroom 

by Sherry Hoffman, B.S., M.Ed. 

A Valuable Resource For Parents and Educators! A to Z Character Education for the Classroom is 

an award-winning activity book that teaches key social skills through fun activities and poetry 

while developing positive character traits. Written by Sherry Hoffman, K-12 reading specialist 

and author of other classroom stories, this book can be used to encourage readers to be the 

best version of themselves. 2014 Mom’s Choice Award: Gold, 2014 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: 

Honorable Mention, 2014 Story Monster Approved (Grades 4 - 6), 2014 Purple Dragonfly 

Awards: Honorable Mention, Second Place. www.SherryLHoffman.com 



The Adventures of Keeno and Ernest: “The Diamond Mine” 

by Maggie van Galen 

Keeno and Ernest are the best of friends living in the jungle. Keeno, a very mischievous 

monkey, wants to give his mom a beautiful diamond from the local mine and plans to swap it 

out for the river rock he has found. Ernest explains this would be stealing, but Keeno decides 

it’s just a trade. Follow the adventure as Keeno finds himself in great danger and relies on 

Ernest to rescue him. In the end, Keeno learns two very valuable lessons about friendship and 

asking before taking. To learn more about Keeno and Ernest’s adventures and to find out how 

to have them come to your school, visit www.keenoandernest.com. 

There’s Something Wild In There 

Words by Children of Wind Dance Farm, Maryam Keeley, Samantha Stewart, Cleta Ullom, 

illustrations by Don Saint Denis 

A “seek and find” book, There’s Something Wild in There presents the exquisite illustrations of 

artist Don Saint Denis, who has created an array of lush forest scenes featuring a variety of 

creatures who seem to challenge sharp eyes to find their hiding places. Accompanied by eight 

original poems by Children from Wind Dance Farm—a rural school providing supplemental 

instruction for homeschoolers—There’s Something Wild In There provides a feast of sight and 

sound for young readers and non-readers and their parents too. Midwest Book Review calls it 

an “unforgettable read-aloud treasure.” 

The Legend of Hobbomock: The Sleeping Giant 

by Jason J. Marchi 

In this dramatic story of a young Quinnipiac brave named Blackbird, award-winning author 

Jason Marchi and painter Jesse Bonelli teamed up to capture the history of a time before 

our own. Through young Blackbird’s eyes we learn the Quinnipiac tribal legend of how the 

Sleeping Giant landform in Hamden, Connecticut came to look like a giant man sleeping 

on his back. Winner of a CT Press Club Award. A 2015 REVERE Awards finalist highly 

recommended for schools and libraries. Available at discount direct from the publisher at 

www.fahrenheitbooks.com or call 203.453.5700. 

The Growing Sweater 

by Jason J. Marchi 

Granny Quigley has knitted a very unique sweater. To her surprise, every time she washes 

and dries the purple sweater with the white lace collar, it grows ... one size larger! What can 

she possibly do with a sweater that keeps growing? Will it ever stop growing? Ashley and 

Morgan, Granny’s granddaughters, take charge of the situation in attempt to solve Granny’s 

dilemma. As the sweater grows unexpectedly for each new owner, the three travel the 

countryside looking for a home for such an unusual article of clothing. Available at discount 

from www.fahrenheitbooks.com. 



Ned’s Head 

by Dr. Cargill H. Alleyne Jr., M.D. 

Ned’s Head, the first in our series of educational children’s books, presents facts about the 

human brain in an entertaining, colorful manner. The book, which won an Honorable 

Mention at the Fall 2012 Royal Dragonfly book awards, consists of 16 limericks written by a 

neurosurgeon. They are masterfully illustrated by two seasoned professionals, one of whom 

has previously illustrated 12 Curious George books. A glossary at the end of the book provides 

meanings and pronunciations of medical terms. There is also a small head hidden in each 

illustration. We hope to spark children’s interest in the human body. 

Kandy Hamm 

by Michelle Path 

Kandy Hamm is not a normal girl. In fact she is a very strange and eccentric young lady with a 

big secret. When she wins a gazillion dollars in a raffle, she goes on a quest to put her winnings 

to good use. With her talent for craft and a love for shopping, Kandy Hamm begins to fulfil her 

secret wish. Join her as she makes her dream come true and the mystery of her true identity is 

revealed. Kandy Hamm is the latest release by children’s author Michelle Path and her 7th book 

to be published. Copies can be bought from www.rowanvalebooks.com and amazon.com. 

The Duckling’s Daring Deal 

by Regina Connors 

The Duckling’s Daring Deal, when facing danger—imagined or real, reminds us to stay 

confident on our heels, so that our courage can itself reveal. A mom’s voice planted firm in 

our mind, can keep us out of a serious bind, that sweet gentle voice loving and kind, will 

bring us back home safe and fine. Available on amazon.com. 

Poppie the One-Eyed Pug Visits the North Pole 

by Sharron Hopcus 

Poppie the one-eyed pug is back, and he finds himself in the midst of trouble yet again. 

At the airport, Poppie finds a new toy to play with but it’s actually a luggage conveyer belt! 

Eventually, Poppie’s adventures lead him to the North Pole where he meets all kinds of new 

friends. Will he make it back home safely, or will he find a new home with Santa and the 

elves? Find out in Poppie the One-Eyed Pug Visits the North Pole. 

Creatures in the Kitchen 

by Dr. William C. Schirado 

A colorful book of rhymes about the five senses—TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH, HEAR and SEE. 

The author continues his series of children’s books with his third book of rhymes for children 

and parents to read, talk about and enjoy together. Children discover their five senses in 

the fanciful farmlands and kitchens in the land of Lorem Ipsem. “Delightful, whimsical 

illustrations...written with contagious exuberance” 

Click on the book’s cover to purchase any of the above titles. 

To advertise your book in our Reading Guide, contact Cristy Bertini at Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com for rate information. 


Activity Page 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fill in the blanks with the letter that matches each 

 

picture from the box at the bottom of the page. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Puzzle 

Decode and solve the secret Thanksgiving message. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Meet Liv... 

Prepare to Launch! 

The Liv On Life Series features 

Olivia (aka Liv) and her best 

friend, Bowie, a Boxer dog. 

Liv is the go-to girl for kids 

and parents looking for advice 

on how to navigate our fastpaced, 

technological world. 

Keep on the lookout 

for upcoming titles in 

the Liv On Life Series including: 

Join the lovable Josh, who uses his brilliant 

imagination—and his mother’s laundry basket— 

to take off for the stars and sail on the high seas! 

Story Monster Approved and Purple Dragonfly Award-Winning Author 

Donna LeBlanc crafts unique worlds in which readers can play and explore, 

with the promise of many more adventures to come! 

www.sdppublishingsolutions.com 

Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com 

I Love to Read 

What’s In My Backpack? 

I Don’t Wear Jeans 

I Know What Time It Is 

Just Smile! 

You Go, I Go 

SUNday! 

Scootie and Me 

Visit www.livonlife.com for recipes, coloring pages, and more! 

Available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com 

and most major retailers. 


Monster Reviews 

The Kingdom of the Sun and Moon 

by Joshua G. Bloomfield, age 12 

This is a very positive story by Lowell H. Press about the bond between two mice brothers 

named Sommer and Nesbit. It is set in the past in Austria, taking an alternate history 

approach where not only humans but also mice have formed countries, complete with 

“cities” of sorts and a leader. It includes great morals as the two main heroes are brave 

and kind, and aren’t afraid to show their true feelings. However, the author isn’t afraid to 

put major violence and have characters die, often venturing into mature and dark topics, 

especially with the fact that death seems to be common in the area. Both heroes get close to 

dying multiple times. The plot is that the tyrant in charge of the mouse-country where the 

heroes live forces Sommer to join the mouse equivalent of the army, and Nesbit gets sent to a deadly forest with 

a high change of death for insulting the leader for taking away Sommer. They face a deadly journey each, with two 

intertwining plotlines ending with one grand ending—read to find out how it ends! 

Rating: Five stars, age range: 12+ for whole book, 8+ if some parts are skipped by parents. 

Seefus the Slug series 

by Darleen Wohlfeil 

Author and illustrator Laurel MacQuarrie brings us a series of delightfully humorous tales 

of Seefus, a little bug of a slug. Each story has a pleasant rhythm and rhyme that children 

will easily follow, as well as additional activities to help with alertness and reinforcement. 

Seefus is a lovable little slug which will keep children eager for his next adventure! In Seefus 

Learns to Obey, rules are everywhere! Seefus is faced with them morning, noon and night. 

It’s not that he is opposed to rules. Some of them make good sense and he knows they are meant for his safety, 

like never, ever, touch salt! But some rules just make no sense, and their reason to follow them is quite unclear. He 

could see no danger, and his desire for something new leads him into quite a pickle. What will become of our little 

bug slug? Will he learn his lesson? Life is full of choices, and many who made those choices before us wrote down 

their outcomes. We have come to know them as rules. Seefus Finds A Friend is a delightful tale of friendship. Seefus 

finds himself bored counting his rocks all alone. Mum is too busy with tasks at hand to join him in finding fun and 

encourages him to set out in search of a friend. In his search, Seefus discovers that friendship can be a tricky thing. 

It’s not all about him, as he delightfully supposes. No, finding and having a friend is much more. It’s also about 

learning to be a good friend as well. Seefus Goes to Sleep carries the same rhythmic form that delights in each tale, 

bringing us up close to a head-to-head struggle that frequents most homes at one time or another. Mum keeps 

her cool and outsmarts our little slug. In cleverly presenting him with his option, he willingly accepts it is best he 

remain in his own bed, and finds sleeping alone a very good choice. 



Nap-A-Roo 


Oh, there is nothing like the little board books that introduce our little ones to the joys 

of reading! Nap-A-Roo, written by Kristy Kurjan and illustrated by Tyler Parker, is true to 

its genre. Simple words that flow with ease, bright colors and animation to capture the 

attention and a rhyming rhythm that carries it through. It’s fast, fun and engaging, and will 

keep them wanting to read it ... one more time! 

Sophie’s Animal Parade 


Sophie’s Animal Parade, written by Amy Dixon, brings us face to face with pertinent issues at 

the earliest stages. First, we encounter the connection between thought and word upon our 

reality. Then gently led into the ability to think a thought through to a satisfactory end from 

the beginning. These are major concepts to be learned and embraced, and the younger we 

do so, the better it is. We watch Sophie grow in life skills as we turn each page. We look on 

as she discovers the magic of her mind, and the ability to bring forth reality from its inner desires. She then helps 

us realize thought must be full and able to fill its intended purpose. In her desire to have a tea party with friends, 

she begins to imagine her intended guest. We quickly learn all things desired may not be appropriate. Our first 

guest is an adorable polar bear, who quickly becomes uncomfortable in the warmth of Sophie’s room. With quick 

wit, she brings forth a ready solution, an igloo, and our party goer is comfortable once again. However, now he is 

unable to reach the table holding the party’s tasty morsels. Sophie decides to think of a new guest, who may be 

more suitable to her intentions, but one by one, each is presented with limitations. Trial and error, patience to try 

again, the ability to restructure and regroup, are all amazing life lessons we need to succeed, and we see their value 

in the parade of guests that lead Sophie to her perfect guest, and ultimate outcome. Illustrations by Katia Wish fill 

in with color, and yet again, reinforce the wonder of bringing concept to life. From thought to reality, Dixon and 

Wish have successfully brought us an engaging experience with the possibility of lifelong effects. 

Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook 


We all remember the outrageously funny film version of our story, Home Alone. It tickled the 

funny bone of the nation, and still holds a Number 1 slot among the greats. It’s always fun 

to watch a good movie over and over, and it’s equally fun to re-read a good story. So often we 

find things we may have missed the first time around, or a fresh mood may gravitate to new 

points of interest we never considered before. But, no matter how many times we see the film 

or read this story, one thing is always clear. What we think we want in a heated or saddened 

moment, may not be what we want at all. Kevin thought he wanted his family to disappear. He thought it would be 

great to be alone, and for a moment or two, it was! The moments stretched into hours, and the hours into days, and 

Kevin began to realize he missed his family and he really wished they would come back. Kevin also learns in his time 

alone that quick judgements may not always be accurate judgements, like fearing the old man next door, who turned 

out to be a helpful friend. Our familiar story has much to lead us from rash emotion to the benefits of a well thoughtout 

plan. 



Born To Run: The Story of Johnny 99 


Anyone who remembers that great summer sensation of driving fast with the wind 

in your hair and belting out Bruce Springsteen hits will enjoy sharing this cute story 

with their little ones. At sixteen, Wendy Parnell created just such memories that 

led her to later write music-inspired books for all ages. One of Springsteen’s most 

successful albums, Born to Run, showcased his talent for finding grandeur in the daily 

struggles of American life, and his strong musical influence flows heavily through Parnell’s book of the same 

tittle. Born To Run, the story of Johnny 99 depicts one of life’s greatest lessons. Johnny 99 feels cramped in 

his small town beginnings. He’s fast, and cool, and he wants big things. He decides it’s time to let his engine 

roar, and ventures out on his own to make his mark in the big world. When Johnny 99 returns home again, 

he is a changed car. His journey taught him many important things along the way, and humbled his great 

expectations. Johnny leaves us with the understanding that sometimes the best part of leaving ... is coming 

home! We all seem to take this journey, and we all find our priorities along the way. The direction we go, the 

desires we chase may all be different, but they all bring the hungry seekers to the same fork in the road, and 

a cozy reality that where we started wasn’t so bad after all. Matt Hall’s animation and color schemes are a 

perfect collaboration, bringing the book full circle, and leaving us with a sense of satisfaction. 

Night of The Living Worms 

by Olivia Amiri, age 8 

Night of The Living Worms by Dave Coverly teaches lessons in a fun and adventurous 

way. The cartoon style really makes you laugh. Speed Bump (the main character) was 

not born with some of what he thinks is the “good stuff” his brother, Early Bird (who 

always gets the worm) has. Speed Bump has tiny wings and a big head but he does 

have a best friend, Slingshot. Slingshot and Speed Bump go on adventures together 

in the forest and Slingshot really brightens Speed Bump’s days. This story teaches 

lessons of not comparing or judging yourself to anyone (even a family member) and 

that friendship and love really change your life for the better. 

Become a Monster Reviewer! 

Story Monsters Ink publishes book reviews written by adults and children. Authors of printed reviews receive 

a free Story Monsters T-Shirt for their first published review. Reviewers with five printed reviews get to 

choose a free book from the Little Five Star bookstore, www.LittleFiveStar.com. 

Youth reviewers will need a parent or guardian’s permission slip submitted along with their reviews. 

To obtain a permission slip or for more information, email Cristy@FiveStarPublications.com. 


An Instant Classic 

by Susan Andra Lion | $16.99 

A stunningly illustrated, beautifully 

crafted tale about trees, Mother 

Earth and her many life forms, 

and the relationship of all living 

things. An award-winning best 

seller, this is the perfect holiday 

gift for children ages 3 and above. 

A book they’ll cherish – and 

remember – for years to come. 

“Sue Lion has produced a beautifully illustrated and thought-provoking book that 

can open your eyes and hearts to the subtle yet ever present communication from 

all of life, particularly trees. It will inspire you to listen more closely 

to the natural world with all your senses.” 

~ Dr. Steven Farmer, author of Earth Magic and 

Children’s Spirit Animal Cards 

How the Trees 

Got Their Voices 

Susan Andra Lion 

Available from www.satiama.com | 719.487.0424 

Also available from amazon.com or your local independent bookstore 


Juicy Jack’s Spanish Corner 

¡Hola, 

Amigo! 

ACTIVIDADES (Activities) 

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to 

Juicy Jack’s Spanish Corner! 

¡Bienvenidos! Juicy Jack wants to play with you. 

Tell him what you like to do using the phrase below. 

Me gusta [activity]. 

Now that you know how to say what you like to do, 

here is how you ask somebody if they like certain 

activities. 

1. andar en bicicleta = to ride a bike 

2. comer helados = to eat ice cream 

3. leer = to read books 

4. jugar con amigos = to play with friends 

5. subir a los árboles = to climb trees 

6. jugar deportes = to play sports 

7. limpiar = to clean 

8. estudiar = to study 

9. nadar = to swim 

10. dibujar = to draw 

Adiós = Goodbye 

Amigo = friend 

¿Te gusta [activity]? 

Practice with Juicy Jack: 

Use this short conversation as a guide to practice 

with your friends: 

Jack: Hola amigo. ¿Te gusta comer helados? 

You: Si, me gusta comer helados. ¿Te gusta limpiar? 

Jack: No, no me gusta limpiar. Adiós amigo. 

You: Adiós Jack 

Leigh Carrasco is an educator 

and author of the wildly popular 

Juicy Jack Adventures series about 

a spunky guinea pig who travels to 

Peru with his human. 

www.juicyjackadventures.com 


Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow 

"Absolutely adorable….great story 

about tolerance for kids spiced with 

...a little dash of ‘aside’ humor 

for adults to chuckle about while 

reading a story of acceptance, forgiveness 

and friendship to their precious children." 

- Lori M., Social Worker & mother of 3 kids 

“Teachers, parents & children 

love reading this inspiring tale. 

Vibrant drawings, humor, and 

a fast paced story keep 

your interest 

from start to finish!” 

“Creative tale about a cow 

hoping to make new friends on the farm. 

She encounters discrimination and 

must overcome their prejudice and bullying.” 

(clever way to teach ages 3-10) 

The first book in the series 

‘A Sweetles Dream® by Sal Barbera 

Exciting! 

Inventive! 

A truly 

fun read!” 

Available in hardcover and ebook formats on Amazon.com and Sweetles.com 

www. SWEETLES.com 

Sweetles Press box 1749 Cave Creek AZ 85327-1749 


Teach Your Kids 

the Secrets to a Healthier, 

Brighter Brain! 

Your Awesome Brain is the newest award-winning title 

in Dr. Edwin Lee’s best-selling series 

of children books on health. 

W Traumatic brain injuries are on the rise—especially in youth football. 

Learn about the dangers and what to do to prevent them. 

W Take a trip in the “time machine” and see what happens to your body and brain 

after 10, 20 and 30 years of not following the three secrets to a healthier brain. 

W Find out why sugar is bad for your brain! 

W Learn the warning signs of a stroke, what causes it, 

and what to do when someone is experiencing one. 

A must-read for kids, parents, and educators. 

For kids ages 5 and up—and grown-ups too! 

Available on Amazon.com Oct 28, 2015 

Your Amazing Heart: Dr. Lee’s Health Secrets (Book One) is currently available on Amazon.

Jeff Kinney

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