Embedded Files
by Ann D. Baus
Rex is a city dog who lives at the local animal shelter, The Den. When the Folsom twins, Henry and Harriet, convince their reluctant father to adopt him as their farm watchdog, Rex can’t believe his good fortune! He finally has a family…not to mention new animal friends!
But there’s a problem. Rex keeps finding himself in sticky situations as he adjusts to rural life. From dealing with the ornery goats to facing a grouchy skunk to uncovering suspicious goings-on, Rex has a huge challenge. Just how can he protect the Folsom farm while making sure he never winds up at The Den again?
With its laughable characters and page-turning plot, Watchdog Rex is a fun, light-hearted story reminding us that kindness, especially when combined with loyalty, wins every time.
Rex is ecstatic! He will be going to 4-H dog obedience school as Henry and Harriet's "project"! Not only will he be spending his summer with his twins, but he'll get to compete in the Topah County Fair Dog Show!
Then, he discovers old Man McGruder’s new dog, Ginger, will also be going to 4-H dog obedience school. Rex isn’t too worried until the beautiful and well-mannered Ginger captures the affections of his twins. Suddenly, Rex knows he must do everything he can to win back his favorite-pet status, but he has a problem…just how can he do that when a skinny, Mexican Street Dog and a pesky little raccoon keep complicating everything?
With the addition of interesting characters and fun dialog, Show Dog Rex not only continues the light-hearted story of Watchdog Rex but includes the theme of jealousy and the power kindness has over it.
More than anything, Flor Macias wants to be a curandera like her grandma, Abuelita, and heal people with plants and other natural products. So when Abuelita gives Flor a squeaky old pushcart for her twelfth birthday, Flor is sure her gift can only mean one thing…she’ll be helping Abuelita at her new curandera stall in the marketplace.
But Flor soon discovers Abuelita has other plans for her and her little pushcart. Before Abuelita will allow Flor to be her assistant, Flor must first master the art of selling bananas in the marketplace! Although discouraged, Flor soon warms up to the idea, that is until two sketchy customers arrive at her little pushcart demanding money. Then, Flor really has problems. How will she ever be able to convince Abuelita that she has what it takes to help with the family business?
Funny, suspenseful and delightfully heartwarming, Curandera Girl is a middle-grade fiction story about making choices and doing the right thing even when the right thing isn’t always pleasant.
COMING SOON!
BOP SOCK
It's 1974, and school's almost out for the summer. Eleven year-old Katie Wilkins is elated, that is, until she learns she'll be going to a babysitter while her parents work on their Kansas farm. Her mom tells her that it's Jenna, Katie's four year-old sister, who needs the babysitting. Katie's only going along to help, especially since the babysitter, Mrs. Schwindt, is a seventy-something year-old, Volga-German farm woman with a broken arm, but Katie isn't convinced. Not only is Mrs. Schwindt's husband old and creepy, Katie knows that if the kids at school get wind of her summer plans, she'll be the laughing stock of the entire sixth grade.
Katie momentarily forgets her problems when her dad brings home an orphaned heifer calf with chocolate drop eyes and soft, caramel-brown ears. The animal is so docile, Katie names her Angel. Her dad then tells her she can have the calf if she enters her in the Woodberry County Fair 4-H Bucket Calf Show. Katie accepts the offer.
At school, Katie's nightmare comes true. Her classmates discover she's going to a babysitter, but no one makes fun of her except Marcy Lewis, spoiled rich girl and three-time Bucket Calf Show Grand Champion. Katie doesn't care until Marcy strikes an even deeper chord, calling her precious Angel a "sale barn special". That's when Katie decides she must do everything possible short of cheating to dethrone Marcy and her purebred Angus calf.
From the first day at Mrs. Schwindt's farm house, Katie respects the elderly woman for her gentle ways and vast knowledge. Soon, Mrs. Schwindt has Katie planting a garden, gathering eggs, pitting cherries and preparing German foods. She even insists Mr. Schwindt help Katie train Angel for the Bucket Calf Show. It doesn't take long for Katie to realize that the old man loves animals as much as she does, and a new friendship is formed.
But that rudimentary bond is broken when Katie discovers Mr. Schwindt doesn't always tell his wife the truth concerning his whereabouts. Now, Katie finds herself in yet another dilemma. Does she tell Mrs. Schwindt? And even more than that, can she even trust the old man?
Bop Sock is a tender, realistic, middle-grade fiction novel touching on the themes of friendship, acceptance and forgiveness as an immigrant couple and an orphaned calf help Katie look past appearances and preconceived ideas to experience new things.
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