Something for younger readers.

I’m happy to introduce you to the Tessy & Tab Reading Club Magazine. I can tell you that, had these been available when our children where little, we would have loved them. Each issue has a single theme.

The issues sent for review include:

On an Airplane


Flag Football


Fire Station Trip


Moving Day

Making Monsters


Basketball


Ghost Party


Get in Trouble


Camping Trip


Making Pizzas


Cool at the Pool


and


Soccer Game


At the end of each magazine, there is a section for kids to look for pictures from the story and special words. There are also simple questions to be answered. Each story features one letter and one number.

The magazine is for ages 2 – 6. It comes in the mail two times per month.


Tessy & Tab are simply delightful. They make reading and learning fun for even the youngest child. For more information, see their web site at: http://www.tessyandtab.com/index.htm  

"Great magazine...great concept...makes me wish our children were small all over again." Max Elliot Anderson, Children's Author

Samples of the magazine were provided for this review.

Comfort Publishing Announces Plans to Re-launch Popular Youth Literature Series

Concord, NC (May 2010) -Comfort Publishing announces today that is has signed popular children’s adventure and mystery author, Max Elliot Anderson, to a contract that involves re-publishing seven of his very successful youth mysteries, as well as a new addition to the series!


Comfort Publishing, located in Concord, North Carolina, is picking up where Anderson's previous publisher left off due to economic pressures.


Titles to be republished by Comfort Publishing include Newspaper Caper, Terror at Wolf Lake, North Woods Poachers, Mountain Cabin Mystery, Big Rig Rustlers, Secret of Abbott’s Cave, and Legend of the White Wolf. A new book, Barney and the Runaway, will also be published. All titles will have new cover art and look upon their re-release.


“We are excited to have Max as part of the Comfort Publishing family of authors,” said Jason Huddle, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing. “Mr. Anderson has already proven himself as a successful author in his genre and we look forward to being a part of that success as he moves forward with this series of books for young men!”


“Over a period of three-and-a-half years,” Mr. Anderson added, “I wrote 35 manuscripts. Now I’m glad I did that.” Each book has different characters, locations, and plots.


“I began writing in 2001 because I grew up hating to read,” Anderson said. “Now, with a recent study released by the Center on Education Policy, which spotlights the difficulties boys have with reading, my books seem to be coming out at just the right time.”


Mr. Anderson began writing his action-adventures and mysteries geared toward boys ages 8 – 13. They are equally enjoyed by girls. Even adults find his books hard to put down. One child recently noted, “Reading one of your books is like being in an exciting movie.”


Further details can be found on Mr. Anderson’s blog, Books for Boys, at http://booksandboys.blogspot.com This blog consistently ranks # 1 on Google, when searching for information about books for boys. Comfort Publishing will announce the publishing dates for these books soon.

“Where do your writing ideas come from?”

“Where do your writing ideas come from?”

What writer hasn’t heard that question? Most would likely tell you that their ideas come from their own, personal experiences.

Some of those might be positive while others may not. And the kinds of stories these memories generate often reflect those experiences.

I’ve been blessed with a wide variety of experiences while producing films and video programs, or TV commercials, across this country and around the world.

While working on Pilgrim’s Progress, in Ireland and England, I had the privilege of working alongside Liam Neeson in his first dramatic role in a feature motion picture.

Many of the other projects were films for children where I learned about dramatic pacing and storytelling.

A children's film project in Wyoming provided material for Big Rig Rustlers which will be republished later this year. And a client video production in Virginia suggested the background for Secret of Abbott’s cave which will also be published this year.

Film productions in Florida, and the jungles of New Guinea, came together in the story for Lost Island Smugglers, the first book in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series. That book will be published in August.

In addition to traveling for production, I had a great childhood where we were free to roam the woods and lakes around our Michigan home. It wasn’t unusual to hit the back door after breakfast – or we’d even take food with us – and not return home until nearly dark. Many of those adventures can be found in the pages of my books.

So, I guess you could say I’m fortunate in the ideas department. My life has provided an abundance of sources for characters, settings, and stories.

Keep an eye out this year for the re-release of Newspaper Caper, Terror at Wolf Lake, North Woods Poachers, Mountain Cabin Mystery, Big Rig Rustlers, Secret of Abbott’s Cave, & Legend of the White Wolf, and the new releases of Lost Island Smugglers, and Barney and The Runaway. These will be followed by a number of additional titles beginning in 2011.

To other writers, where do your ideas come from?

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Search there for Max Elliot Anderson.

Ripple...An Interesting Concept For Young Readers!

What is Ripple?








FREE!


Ripple Reader is a free eBook reader for kids. Parents and other adults purchase recordable eBooks that work on both a PC or Mac. The iPad Ripple Reader app is coming soon.


COLOR!


eBooks on Ripple are presented full screen and in brilliant full color. Unlike adult eBooks, popular titles on Ripple are presented just like the original book with both illustrations and text.


RECORDABLE!


Add more reading fun when you record the story in your own voice. Users can record themselves reading the story or invite someone else to read it. Kids can also record each page over and over and listen to both their voice and the parent or friend's voice for each page.


LEARNING!


By both seeing and hearing their eBooks, Ripple Reader helps kids become better readers by growing their vocabulary, improving word recognition, learning story structure and other important literacy skills.
 
For all the information, and to get started, go to http://www.ripplereader.com
 
No products or funds were involved in exchange for this post

Run Away And Join The Circus...WHAT?

We’re still a few months away from the release of my book, Barney and the Runaway. The publisher updates the status of this project, and the book is moving forward.


I wanted to give you a little flavor of the story, to whet your appetite for this new book. Remember, young readers report that reading one of my action-adventures or mysteries is like being in an exciting or scary movie.

The Story 


Be honest, even grown men today. Who hasn’t thought about running away to the circus? Am I the only one?

Well, Michael Ellis thought he’d teach his parents a lesson. You see, he felt like they were too hard on him and his little dog Barney. They also had a lot of rules, and made Michael help out around the house.


So he decided to pretend he’d run away, just for a few hours. They left a note and everything. He and Barney climbed up into a boxcar, on a railroad siding, but they fell asleep. Barney had never been much of a guard dog anyway.


When the main engines hooked up to the waiting railcars, including the one full of hay where Michael was sleeping, the force slammed the door shut. Before he could do a thing about it, Michael and his dog were on their way down the railroad tracks to a destination they did not know.

Mike and Barney do find themselves in a circus. And Barney becomes the star. But it is there that Mike learns one of the most important lessons of his life! This story is filled with danger, excitement, belly laughs, and even a few tears.

A 13 year-old reader:
“Barney and the Runaway kept my interest and never got boring. I could barely wait to find out what happened in the end! This book also taught me a lesson about parents. My parents have always said they love me and that’s why they discipline me. That’s confused me, but Barney and the Runaway helped explain that. I’d recommend this book to anyone!” 


Barney and the Runaway is a book that children will want to read again and again. Watch for release information on this blog.


Follow Max Elliot Anderson on Facebook and Twitter
http://www.facebook.com/#!/max.e.anderson   

Children’s Book Week is May 10 – 16 - 2010

Children's Book Week

When?

Children’s Book Week is May 10 – 16, 2010.


Who?


The Children’s Book Council

What?

According to the council, it’s "A celebration of the written word, Children's Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes and bookstores. Through Children's Book Week, the Children's Book Council encourages young people and their caregivers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books."


Children’s Book Week began in 1919. Frederick Melcher, a founder of Children’s Book Week, said, “A great nation is a reading nation.” The Children’s Choice Book Awards are a large part of the celebration week. The week is observed in homes, bookstores, libraries, and schools. Other national observances point out the vital importance of reading.


The official site further describes the week as, "A celebration of the written word, Children's Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes and bookstores. Through Children's Book Week, the Children's Book Council encourages young people and their caregivers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books."


You can learn more about Children’s Book Week, including information about receiving the official poster and bookmark – each year created by prominent children’s illustrators by visiting www.bookweekonline.com  The web site includes bookmarks to download and activities for kids. There are additional ideas and resources for teachers, librarians, publishers and booksellers.


And as I like to point out to children, “Remember, readers are the leaders others follow."  Max Elliot Anderson

Lost Island Smugglers, August 2010

Barney and the Runaway for Review

Barney and the Runaway for Review .



ATTN Book Reviewers:

I grew up hating to read. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries especially for boys 8 – 13, that girls like reading too.


Comfort Publishing will re-release my first 7 books along with the new title, Barney and the Runaway. I don't have a release date as yet, but the book is in production now.


Synopsis_________________________________


Barney and the Runaway


Author: Max Elliot Anderson


Audience: 8 – 13; especially boys


Barney and the Runaway tells the story of Michael Ellis, who has recently told his parents to start calling him Mike from now on. He especially hated the way they were always telling him what to do. Mike decides to teach his parents a lesson by pretending to run away for a day with his dog Barney.


The plan of running away gets a bit more complicated than planned when Mike and Barney hide in a railroad boxcar, fall asleep, and end up in Georgia with a circus in the middle of the night. Luckily for the runaways, Big Bob the Clown takes Mike and Barney to safety in his wagon. Mike decides that living and performing with the circus might be a good idea until Big Bob opens Mike’s eyes to his unfortunate past.


Mike’s encounter with this grown up runaway, in the circus, helps him to understand that his parents truly love him. Then Mike and Barney save the circus. Through it all, Mike learns the importance of family.


Parents often punish their children, but only because they love and want what is best for them, not because they don’t care. Even though the life of a circus performer with a circus family may appear fun, if given a choice, most would agree that living in a warm home with loving, caring parents is the preferred choice. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” After Mike overhears some unsettling news and both he and Barney are involved in a scary and dangerous crime, Mike learns his lesson before it’s too late.


So here are my questions. Are you interested in reviewing Barney and the Runaway, and in what form do you like to receive your review copies? This could include the manuscript, an electronic file of the manuscript, galleys, an electronic copy of the galleys, or to wait until the published book is available. I’m assembling my reviewer list now and will be in touch again when everything is ready.


Please send me an email to mander8813@aol.com with


- Your preference for your review copy


- Your email address

- Your mailing address


- Where your reviews can be seen
- Any particular instructions for me or the publisher

- Other information


I look forward to working with you in the future since I’ve completed a total of 35 manuscripts for this age group.


Thank you in advance for your interest. Of course, it will be up to my publisher concerning the choice of review opportunities.
er
Max Elliot Anderson


mander8813@aol.com


Books For Boys Blog (Often #1 on Google)


http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

BIG NATE...What a FUN book!

Many people know that I grew up hating to read. It’s the reason I began writing action-adventures & mysteries especially for boys.


I can tell you that if a book like Big Nate had been available when I was a kid, my reading habits may have taken an entirely different turn.


Big Nate, written by Lincoln Peirce, and published by Harper Collins, is endorsed by many, including Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.


The entire book covers only one day in the life of Big Nate. Nate is always in trouble at school, but he keeps a good attitude because he believes he’s destined for greatness. A fortune cookie told him so.


Big Nate is part graphic novel, part comic strip, and all funny. Tweens will especially enjoy the humor.


The second book, Big Nate Strikes Again, is due out in November.


Read more about Big Nate online at http://www.bignatebooks.com and http://comics.com/big_nate


Max Elliot Anderson

A copy of the book was provided for review. No other products, services, or payment were exchanged for this blog post.