READING IS FUNDAMENTAL LAUNCHES THIRD ANNUAL NATIONWIDE READING ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE “RALLY TO READ 100”

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6 October 2023

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s leading children’s literacy nonprofit, announced today the launch of the third annual Rally to Read 100 (RallytoRead.org)—a six-month initiative that runs from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 that is designed to inspire the joy of reading and motivate children to read, starting with a pledge to read 100 books.

Building on the success of last year’s event, in which over 800,000 books were pledged to be read, RIF will once again unite classrooms and communities across the country with a reading initiative anchored on monthly themes and supported with a diverse lineup of author read-alouds. There will also be a book collection sweepstakes, a variety of engaging reading activities for the home and school (some of which are in Spanish), plus a live virtual event hosted at a New York Barnes & Noble to celebrate Read Across America Day in March 2024. All of the free literacy resources and activities are available at RallytoRead.org.

With 67 percent of fourth graders reading below grade level, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, RIF is working to reinvigorate reading across our nation’s youth. The 2023-2024 Rally to Read 100 program kicks off with a special welcome video from Beth Lincoln, author of The SWIFTS, recipient of the 2023 Barnes & Noble Book Children’s & YA Book Award, and is supported by Inspiration Partners: Barnes & Noble, Macy’s, and Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

Each month during the six-month campaign, a featured read-aloud from exclusive publishing partner Penguin Random House and specially selected Barnes & Noble Storytime Picks will be shared from notable and diverse authors and illustrators, including Peter H. Reynolds (“All You Need Is Love and a really soft pillow”), Jason Reynolds (“There Was a Party for Langston”), Misty Copeland (“Bunheads”), and Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett (“Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective”). For elementary school classrooms and libraries, RIF is bringing back the Rally to Read book sweepstakes, giving away 10,000 diverse books in which elementary school educators have the chance to win 100 high-quality books for their school or youth-serving organization.

“Literacy is a critical element not only for our students’ educational development and success, but to our understanding of the world around us and ourselves. Through Rally to Read, we are creating fun ways for children to discover the eye-opening experiences that reading different stories from a variety of perspectives can provide,” said Reading Is Fundamental President and CEO Alicia Levi. “We were thrilled by the response that last year’s initiative garnered. And thanks to partners including Barnes & Noble, Macy’s and Nellie Mae Education Foundation, as well as impressive storytellers and advocates that are joining us this year, we are proud to continue this important effort.”

“Barnes & Noble is excited to once again partner with Reading Is Fundamental and unite forces for this year’s Rally to Read 100 campaign,” said Jackie De Leo, Chief Merchandising Officer, Barnes & Noble. “Together we share a mutual dedication to children’s literacy and developing a love of literature. We cannot wait to see the impact of this year’s initiative in classrooms across the country and young readers nationwide.”

“Throughout our 20-yearlong partnership, Macy’s and Reading Is Fundamental have been able to provide access to critical resources and books to youth in underserved communities across the nation to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and develop a love for reading,” said Sam Di Scipio, Macy’s, Inc. Senior Director, Social Impact. “Through collaborative initiatives like Rally to Read and our social purpose platform, Mission Every One, we look forward to empowering youth and creating brighter futures with bold representation for all.

RALLY TO READ 100 PROGRAM ELEMENTS:

Pledge to Read 100 Books: Participants can pledge to read 100 books over six months and receive engaging content and book recommendations to support this goal.
Book Sweepstakes: 100 randomly selected eligible educators will each win 100 specially curated diverse books donated by Barnes & Noble to enhance their school’s library and classrooms.
Monthly-Themed Events: Each month features topics ranging from community and inquiry to wellness and culture with activities for fun, engaging time spent exploring books; companion activities; and video-recorded read-alouds by noteworthy authors and illustrators, many who are sharing recently released new books.
Featured read-alouds from Penguin Random House and Barnes & Noble Storytime Picks include:

October (Community):

Ben Gundersheimer (MISTER G), Author of We’ll Make Things Better Together
Peter Cheong, Author and Illustrator of Every Night At Midnight

November (Culture)

Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Author and Illustrator of Nesting Dolls
Jason Reynolds, Author of There Was a Party for Langston

December (Changemakers)

Misty Copeland, Author of Bunheads
Angela DiTerlizzi, Author of The Magical Yet

January (Wellness)

Elizabeth Olsen & Robbie Arnett, Authors of Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective
Drew Beckmeyer, Author and Illustrator of I am a Tornado

February (Compassion)

Brad Meltzer, Author of I am Mr. Rogers, the 32nd hero in the New York Times bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series
Henry Rocket Reynolds & Peter H. Reynolds, Authors (and Illustrator) of All You Need Is Love and a really soft pillow

March (Inquiry)

Sheryl Haft, Author of Mazie’s Amazing Machines
Kobi Yamada, Author of Noticing

Complementary Reading Activities: Classroom and at-home resources are available for educators and families to use for continued reading engagement throughout the program, any time.

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY CELEBRATION EVENT:

The nationwide, online event will be simulcasted from a New York City Barnes & Noble in March 2024 with a high-profile host and guests (to be announced) and live streamed to homes and classrooms across the country.

Reading Is Fundamental is proud to recognize the generous support of its partners: Inspiration Partners include Barnes & Noble, Macy’s and Nellie Mae Education Foundation; and Promotional Partners include Children’s Book Council, Coalition for Literacy Equity, Every Child a Reader, Kiwanis International, Little Free Library, National PTA, Penguin Random House, Reading Partners, and United Through Reading.

About Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to creating a nation of lifelong readers by inspiring the joy of reading among all children, putting them on the path to becoming skilled readers. We provide free, high-quality content to engage children, educators, families, and literacy advocates in the solution to the U.S. literacy crisis—so that every child has the fundamentals for success. As the nation’s leading children’s literacy nonprofit, RIF has provided nearly 430 million books and reading resources to over 160 million children since 1966, impacting generations of children. Explore our results and learn more about partnering with us at www.RIF.org.

Let Your Favorite Flower Pick Your Next Amazing Read

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Jocie McKade

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6 October 2023

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Her Little Flowers by Shannon Morgan

This bewitchingly atmospheric modern ghost story set in the lush hills of England’s Lake District is
perfect for lovers of anemones, a flower symbolizing undying love, eternal peace, and being forsaken.
Francis Thwaite has lived in her family’s ancestral home for 55 years, and has spent that time getting to
know the ghosts that haunt the property. But when her sister returns with a story of the past that
shakes everything Francine believes it will open new perspectives not just on Francine’s own history but
on the ghosts themselves, and perhaps how some of these forsaken spirits can find their own peace, and
the undying love that lives in families across time.

The Other Mistress by Shanora Williams

Fans of the narcissus will be interested to know this flower represents unrequited love and selfishness,
the perfect choice for a novel about a husband with multiple affairs and a wife who has had enough.
Adira is a self-made millionaire who adores her husband, her life would be perfect if he felt the same
way. When she learns about his second mistress she can endure it no longer and creates a secret
identity in order to befriend his mistress and destroy their relationship. But when what she thought was
the perfect plan spirals out of her control, Adira may lose more than she ever thought possible.

Where Ivy Dares to Grow by Marielle Thompson

The dependance, endurance, and faithfulness characteristic of ivy pair interestingly with this
mesmerizing time slip debut. When Saoirse travels to the ancestral home of her fiancé, the ancient walls
of which have endured for centuries, she is isolated with his cruel family and left questioning the
decisions that landed her here. That is, until she finds herself in a much more welcoming version of
Langdon Hall when she finds herself transported back to 1818 and comes across a charming man, her
present day fiance’s ancestor. Saoirse’s journey to the past will make her rethink everything, including if
she has become too dependent on her fiancé and what future she wants for herself.

The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James

The lobelia flower is a symbol of malevolence, making it the perfect pair to this terrifying story. Set in
Rome in 1965 Silvia, an aspiring actress, is left adrift when the movie she was cast in is canceled. After
deciding to contact an Italian aunt she has never met she gets the chance to star in a horror movie that
has chosen her aunt’s grand but crumbling castello as its set. When her aunt vanishes Silvia is the only
one who is worried, but when she goes searching for answers she triggers a chain if events that
illuminates dark secrets, and a growing menace…

You Can Die by Rebecca Zanetti

The globe amaranth, symbol of immortal love is a twisted pairing for this terrifying thriller set in the
snowy Pacific Northwest, in which Laurel Snow is investigating a serial killer targeting men, and leaving
each one with a candy valentine heart stuck down their throat. These men all have sterling reputations,
but are hiding dark secrets. Laurel has her hands full investigating this case and sorting out family
problems when Huck Rivers, the Fish and Wildlife Captain aiding her in her investigation, finds himself
the next target of the killer…

Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books.

Banned Books Week:::: The Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022

By

Jocie McKade

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6 October 2023

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ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, these are most challenged, including reasons cited for censoring the books.

Sneak Peek: Three Cowboys and a Puppy by Kate Pearce

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Jocie McKade

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5 October 2023

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Three Cowboys and a Puppy by Kate Pearce

In this sweet and sexy friends-to-lovers romance from the New York Times bestselling author, it takes an adorable little rescue dog to show a hard-headed cowboy how to win over the woman he loves . . .

With a thriving cattle ranch and good friends all around, there’s not much Luke Nilsen would change about his life. But when his buddy Noah’s sister comes to visit, Luke begins to wonder if it’s time to change himself—and become the kind of man a sophisticated city woman like her would want. Maybe his female bestie, Bernie Cooper, who runs the local coffee shop, can use her womanly expertise and give him a man makeover . . .

Bernie thinks Luke is just fine the way he is—more than fine, even—aside from being blind to the fact that Bernie is perfect for him. But what’s a BFF to do? Perhaps it’s time for her to finally get over Luke and move on. Yet as Luke helps organize their small town’s Adopt a Shelter Dog auction event, one sweet little puppy seems to be on a mission to help Luke realize that the right woman has been right by his side all along . . .

Pentera’s new cybersecurity book for children “Castle Defenders: What Do Cyber Parents Do?”

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Jocie McKade

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5 October 2023

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Pentera’s new cybersecurity book for children “Castle Defenders: What Do Cyber Parents Do?“ has reached Amazon’s Best Seller list in the categories for Children’s Internet Books, Children’s Parents Books, and Children’s Jobs & Careers Reference Books. The book is dedicated to cybersecurity professionals and their families, and serves as a much needed resource for parents to explain the importance of cybersecurity to children.

In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity professionals have become the frontline workers who protect our way of life. The behind-the-scenes work they do ensures the security of our critical infrastructure as well as everyday services such as healthcare, finance, and communication.

“Castle Defenders is Pentera’s way of showing our appreciation and respect to the cybersecurity professionals community,” said Aviv Cohen, Chief Marketing Officer of Pentera. “Appreciation begins at home. We offer Castle Defenders as a resource to help cybersecurity practitioners communicate the significance of their work to their families and loved ones.”

The Castle Defenders book translates common cyber terminology into a story children can understand and characters they can relate to. The story follows young siblings Emma and Oliver as they are introduced to the world of cybersecurity, learning about the important role cybersecurity professionals play in society through the prism of a castle in need of defense. The book also provides the 10 rules for cyber safety children can easily follow.

Cyber Defenders: What Do Cyber Parents Do? Is available here. All proceeds from purchases of the book will be donated to charities supporting early cybersecurity education.

About Pentera

Pentera is the category leader for Automated Security Validation, allowing every organization to test with ease the integrity of all cybersecurity layers, unfolding true, current security exposures at any moment, at any scale. Thousands of security professionals and service providers around the world use Pentera to guide remediation and close security gaps before they are exploited. For more info, visit: pentera.io

Guest Post: Welsh Cakes and The Wolf and the Favour, by Catherine McCarthy

By

Jocie McKade

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5 October 2023

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Dear Readers,

October 2023 sees the release of my dark fantasy novel, The Wolf and the Favour. The story is set in Wales UK and features a young girl named Hannah who has Down syndrome. As a former primary school teacher I wanted to write a story from the point of view of a neurodivergent character, as sadly few books can be found that depict such a character as a hero. The Wolf and the Favour is my attempt to redress the balance in some small way.

As a Welsh author I also wanted to include aspects of my heritage in the story: Welsh folklore, ancient places, as well as references to Hannah’s favourite foods.

Hannah is estranged from her real grandparents, but a supporting character, Anwen, who lives at Mynydd Lleuad Farm (Moon Mountain Farm) becomes a surrogate grandmother to Hannah, teaching her how to bake delicious Welsh treats such as Welsh cakes and bara brith (a rich fruit loaf).

Traditionally, Welsh cakes were cooked on what we call a bake stone, over an open fire. An uncle of mine once worked in a foundry. He cast the bake stone you see in the photograph especially for my mother to cook her Welsh cakes on. It’s around sixty years old and so heavy that it takes two strong arms to lift it. I inherited the bake stone, and regard it as an irreplaceable heirloom.

I thought I’d share the recipe for Welsh cakes with you, as well as a short extract from The Wolf and the Favour for context.

P.S. The teapot you see in the photo has the word ‘cwtch’ printed on it. In Welsh, cwtch means cuddle or hug, but it can also mean a cupboard or hidey-hole.

I hope you enjoy reading this, and perhaps you might even try the recipe yourself.

P.S. If you dislike dried fruit, bake plain, and once cool split and fill with jam.

Recipe for Welsh Cakes:

Ingredients

Makes 10-12 cakes | Prep 10 minutes | Cook 4-5 minutes each side

8oz/ 220g self raising flour

2oz/ 55g caster sugar

4oz/ 110g margarine or butter

1 or 2 handfuls of sultanas

1 or 2 free-range eggs, depending on mixture

Method

1 Sieve flour into bowl, then add margarine or butter. Rub in finely together.

2 Add sugar and sultanas and mix.

3 Add 1 egg and mix. The consistency needs to be bound together, so if too dry add another egg.

4 Roll out on a floured board, to about a quarter inch thick.

5 Cut using a 2 inch (5cm approx) cutter, then cook on a greased pan, or bake stone, on a medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes each side.

6 The exact cooking time will depend on what you are cooking your Welsh cakes on, but keep a close eye – too short a period and they won’t be cooked in middle, too long and they will be dry. When touched during cooking they should feel springy, but not wet to the touch (no mixture should come out of the middle).

7 Once cooked, dust with caster sugar and enjoy.

Catherine’s latest release THE WOLF AND THE FAVOUR releases TODAY!! Here’s a peek……

Ten-year-old Hannah has Down syndrome and oodles of courage, but should she trust the beautiful tree creature who smells of Mamma’s perfume or the blue-eyed wolf who warns her not to enter the wood under any circumstance?

The Wolf and the Favour is a tale of love, trust, and courage. A tale that champions the neurodivergent voice and proves that the true power of a person’s strength lies within themselves.

Extract from The Wolf and the Favour:

Anwen’s kitchen was warm and welcoming, the way he’d imagined it would be, with a big old cooking range set into the chimney breast. A heap of Welsh cakes perched on a red and white china plate, and a matching teapot, the size of which Bleddyn had never seen before, sat beside it. If he didn’t know better, he’d have sworn he’d been transported back to the 1950’s.

“Come in, come in.” Anwen stood at the table, oven glove resting on her shoulder like an extra helping hand. “Now, do you like currants, Hannah? Because if you don’t, I’ve made a few plain ones and split them with home-made raspberry jam.”

“Ooh, yummy!” She ran her tongue around her lips. “I like currants and jam.”

More from Catherine McCarthy here: https://www.catherine-mccarthy-author.com

Scholastic Announces 2023-2024 Kid Reporters

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Jocie McKade

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4 October 2023

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Scholastic officially welcomes 28 student journalists from around the world to the award-winning Scholastic Kids Press program for the 2023-2024 academic year. Fifteen new and thirteen returning Kid Reporters, ages 10-14, will interview newsmakers and cover the topics that interest them and their peers most. Each year, these budding journalists receive invaluable real-world experience as they develop critical thinking, researching, and reporting skills.

Meet the 2023 – 2024 team of Scholastic Kid Reporters: http://www.scholastic.com/kidspress

The student journalists represent 17 U.S. states and 8 other countries: Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea. Their stories will spotlight local and international events on a range of topics, including government, entertainment, sports, and the environment. Bylines will appear in the Kid Reporters’ Notebook found on the Kids Press website and in select issues of Scholastic Magazines+, which reach more than 13 million students in U.S. classrooms.

“Scholastic Kids Press has opened doors for me to meet and interview remarkable people who are shaping our world, and it’s an incredible opportunity to learn from them,” said 11-year-old Kid Reporter Xander Dorsey, who joined Kids Press in 2022. “The experience has taught me the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and the power of storytelling to inform and engage others.”

“Over the past 23 years, the Kids Press program has helped students better understand their world by sharing stories about events that matter to them and their peers,” said Suzanne McCabe, editor of Scholastic Kids Press. “Now more than ever, it’s important for young people to cultivate media literacy skills, which will help them analyze information and stay informed.”

According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report ™, the majority of parents (93%) say it’s important that their child learns how to think critically to understand what they see, read, or hear online . Through the program, Kid Reporters will not only cover the ever-changing media landscape, but also deepen their knowledge and literacy skills.

During the 2022-2023 program year, Scholastic Kid Reporters covered the G7 summit in Japan, San Diego Comic-Con, National History Day, and hotly-contested runoff elections in the U.S., among many other topics. Throughout the program’s history, Kid Reporters have interviewed several influential figures, including Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai; CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper; Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda; conservationist Jane Goodall; former First Lady and President of the United States, Michelle and Barack Obama; Captain Underpants and Dog Man creator Dav Pilkey; and more.

To learn more about Scholastic the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, visit the Company’s media room: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

A NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS WITH “CRITICAL ROLE: THE TALES OF EXANDRIA LL—ARTAGAN”

By

Jocie McKade

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4 October 2023

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From Critical Role veterans: writer Sam Maggs, artist Aviv Or, and colorist Cris Peter

The world of Critical Role’s Exandria expands with the brand-new series, Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria ll—Artagan. Created in consultation with the cast of Critical Role, this new adventure is written by Sam Maggs (Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Jester Lavorre, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Nott the Brave), illustrated by Aviv Or, colored by Cris Peter (Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria—The Bright Queen) and lettered by Ariana Maher (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins). The first issue will also feature a cover by Toby Sharp.

The powerful and mischievous Archfey Artagan, also known as the Traveler, finally gets his day in court–which is the LAST thing he wanted. But since he’s here, he’s happy to tell the Seelie and Unseelie Courts how he’s graced the various material and other realms with his knowledge and mentorship. But there are witnesses who may have a different take, and the consequences could be dire.

Critical Role: Tales of Exandria ll—Artagan #1 (of 4), rolls into comic shops on January 3, 2024. It is now available to pre-order for $3.99 at your local comic shop.

Be sure to follow Dark Horse Comics on social media for more news, announcements, and updates!

Praise for Critical Role: Tales of Exandria l—The Bright Queen:

“Bringing in more from the Bright Queen and the story of the Luxon is so engrossing, and with a series this lovely, there will hopefully be much more from the Dynasty and Exandria in the following entries.”—Fanbase Press

“If you are a fan of Critical Role, you owe it to yourself to get this book.”–The Geekly Grind

Dark Horse Comics

SNEAK PEEK: SHADOWS AT DUSK BY ELIZABETH GODDARD

By

Jocie McKade

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4 October 2023

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SHADOWS AT DUSK BY ELIZABETH GODDARD

—USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard has mastered the craft of writing action-packed, high-stakes novels that keep readers on the edge of their seats. In Shadows at Dusk, book two in the Missing in Alaska series, Goddard returns readers to the last frontier and introduces characters who face new dangers and dark mysteries as they search for what they’ve lost while learning to trust each other.

Alaska is a far cry from his home state of Montana, but Detective Trevor West would go to the ends of the earth to find his missing sister. After disappearing in a small Alaskan town, all she left behind were a few photographs. With Police Chief Autumn Long’s help, Trevor seeks out Carrie James. An experienced bush pilot with knowledge of the area, Carrie is his best shot at finding the locations depicted in the photographs.

But Carrie won’t help for free. Grieving the death of her trusted friend, she agrees to use her skills to help Trevor if he uses his own expertise to track down her friend’s killer and bring them to justice.

Neither of their searches prove to be easy as they venture into the dark secrets of the Alaskan land. To find what they need, they’ll have to trust each other and stay steadfast in the face of danger. The truth—and a killer—is out there.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and awardwinning author of more than 50 novels, including Cold Light of Day and the Rocky Mountain Courage and Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold nearly 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.

New Picture Book Focusing on Imagination and Play Brings Big Trucks into Small Hands

By

Jocie McKade

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3 October 2023

0

When the newly established MamaBear Books launched in 2022, their mission was to create a small press dedicated to bringing stories to families that help inspire imagination and creativity while fostering high morals and values through beautifully written and illustrated picture books. Their debut title, The Day I Had a Bulldozer is a fun and clever story about a group of young friends who are delighted to discover real construction vehicles of their very own, written by publisher and author, Ashley Wall.

In Wall’s playful story, young Luke cannot believe his eyes when he looks from his window and sees a bulldozer outside…with his name on it! He can’t wait to show his friend Noah and vrooms over with his best buddy, his dog Bobo. The pair discover Noah driving a dump truck and the boys have a blast together with their awesome vehicles, making an enormous dirt mountain! But the fun doesn’t end with those two pals. When Mikey rolls in on his steamroller and Emma zooms up in an excavator, their day of adventure is just getting started for these four kindhearted friends.

Young readers and vehicle lovers will delight in this fun story with a vibrant illustration style reminiscent of story favorites, Little Einsteins and Paw Patrol. Family and educators of young children will welcome an imaginative story that children will return to again and again. With an underlying theme of friendship and kindness, it is the perfect addition to any classroom or home library.

The Day I Had a Bulldozer is the debut title in a new series of picture books that highlights imaginative play, with additional installments including The Day I Had a Dinosaur and The Day I Had a Pirate Ship. It is the launch series of a new children’s book publisher, MamaBear Books, a family owned and operated children’s book publishing company located in Austin, TX. Additional forthcoming picture book series include Detective Stan the Crayon Man, and their Feelings on the Farm board book series. In addition to creating high-quality books for children, MamaBear Books is committed to helping make new authors’ dreams come true.

If you would like more information about author Ashley Wall and The Day I Had a Bulldozer, or MamaBear Books, or visit http://mamabearbooks.com/.