PooPa The Graduate

Here’s the next PooPa picture.


I hope you had a great Christmas…we did.


Later this week, our son, a Northwestern University and Northwestern School of Law graduate, and our daughter, an Auburn University graduate, will be traveling to Tampa, FL for the Outback Bowl. The most amazing thing is that their two schools, from the Big Ten and the SEC, will be playing each other in that game.


This could NEVER happen. And it will likely NEVER happen again. The picture above is in honor of the schools our children graduated from and the game to come.


So, if you’re a football fan, you might want to catch the game on January 1. It’s in the morning.


Max

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

My Favorite Teacher

Keep posting stories about your favorite dog or cat of all time and why.

This is picture # 3 of the favorite from our family, PooPa.

More to follow.

Max Elliot Anderson

"A Dog and His Boy" Books

As promised, here's the next picture. PooPa liked to call this, "A Dog and His Boy" books collection.

“One Gallon Dog in a Ten Gallon Hat.”

Over the next few days, I’m going to post pictures of the greatest dog I ever owned. Her name was PooPa. How’d she get a name like that? It’s the sound of the words children in Germany use to say “little doll.”

Several years ago, I was interested in developing a picture book with this small wonder, and add captions to my photographs. PooPa loved to perform and to please. I call the following picture:

“One Gallon Dog in a Ten Gallon Hat.”

I hope you’ll post a comment about the best dog or cat you’ve ever owned. There is nothing quite like the connection we have with our pets.

More pictures to follow over the next several days.

Max Elliot Anderson

Limited Edition African Animal Art - Signed and Numbered

Note! Folds across images are from a scan of a printed brochure.

                                                                                                                             By Artist Philip Lasz

It was my distinct honor to know and work with Philip Lasz for several years. Phil was a missionary in Kenya, with an immense talent for capturing African animals on canvas. Sadly, he lost his battle with cancer, but his love for the animals that God created, lives on in his work.

 

Peace Before the Storm (From edition of 1000 - Signed & Numbered in person by the artist.)

 

(34" × 21")

Elephant Herd on the Move (From edition of 1000 - Signed & Numbered in person by the artist.)
 
 

(34" × 21")

 
His Majesty (From edition of 1000 - Signed & Numbered in person by the artist.)
 
 

(34" × 21")

 
Greater Kudu (From edition of 1000 - Signed & Numbered in person by the artist.)
 
 

(34" × 21")

Signed & Numbered by the artist.

I still have a small supply of his beautiful, Limited Edition, signed and numbered lithographs are available for $199.95 each. These large (34" × 21") impressive works of art are perfect for the living room, den, or office. We'll pay shipping/handling.  
 
Rush your check before December 31 to:
 
Max Anderson
P.O. Box 4126
Rockford, IL 61110

Questions may be emailed to mander8813@aol.com

New Action-Adventure-Mystery comming soon

Sam, Tony, and Tyler had just finished taking a scuba course at the marina that Tony’s dad owned.

They couldn’t wait to try out what they’d learned in the marina pool. Now they headed out to the open ocean for their first real dive.

The weather looked fine when the boys left port that early morning, but there were a few problems.

Tony didn’t have permission for the rental boat, or any of the diving equipment. Nobody checked the weather, and nobody asked permission to go out that day.

These boys were about to face more trouble than they knew, and the storm was only part of it.

Watch this blog for further details on
a NEW action-adventure-mystery
from author
Max Elliot Anderson.

True Heroes (Make sure to follow the link to this film)

Children today have a twisted view of what makes a real hero.


It's true. They look for their heroes in all the wrong places like professional sports, the music industry, motion pictures, TV, and a few comic books. But it would be time well spent for you and your children to sit down and watch the film, Gray Eagles

http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434&br=500  
You won't find men filled with self-pride and stuck on their own success. No, what you'll see are men who gave of themselves in WW II, came home, and went back to work.


Gray Eagles is a warm, sensitive documentary film, about a   P-51 Mustang, that will truly touch your heart.


I hope you'll watch it. It'll be time well spent. And when you do, I also hope you'll send a comment to let others know what you thought about this special story.


Thank you,
Max Elliot Anderson

PS. The action-adventure & mystery books that I write for kids, usually present a humble hero who doesn't want to be thought of as a hero...just like the true hero in Gray Eagles.

Mentoring Boys

An excellent site I like to recommend is Mentoring Boys. My daughter teaches 2nd grade, and we've discussed how classroom behavioral problems might improve, if boys were allowed to go out and run off steam for a half hour in the morning and again in the afternoon. She agrees that it would help a lot.

Teachers will especially appreciate Mentoring Boys. You can sign up to receive their newsletter.

Find out more at:  http://mentoringboys.com/

Max Elliot Adnerson

A New Action-Adventure & Mystery is comming

It's too early to give any of the details yet, and the new book is still months away, but since so many have asked when there will be any new titles available, I wanted to give you a heads up.

The contract is written, but not signed yet, although the manuscript is written and just needs another revision or two.

But if you like the idea of a story with three boys, jet-powered speedboats, scuba diving in the open ocean, and more excitement, mystery, and adventure than you can stand . . .

Laughing Turkeys

I thought this was funny.

Nearly every day of the year, several groups of turkeys amble through our front and back yards like clockwork. But yesterday, Thanksgiving, not one bird showed its face.

Then, this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, I heard a bird between my house and the neighbor’s. Now, usually, they come and go, and make no noise. Sometimes, you’ll hear a light, clucking sound. But on this morning, the day AFTER Thanksgiving, I heard what could only be described as a laughing turkey.

I grabbed my camera, went outside, and snapped this picture as the birds walked across the street. To my ear, they were still making that same noise. It sounded like they were laughing as if to say, “Na na na boo boo, we survived Thanksgiving!”

Last Child in the Woods

With most American schools either enjoying or approaching Thanksgiving break, many parents wonder how to keep children occupied while they cook, clean and prep for the holiday. Perhaps this is the ideal time to revisit some classic advice from award-winning journalist Richard Louv.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. Richard Louv, 2005, 2008. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Read the full article:
http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=19602

NOTE: "Since most of my books for boys are adventures that take place outside, I'm very much in favor of this book. In fact, I'd add to the title, "And when they come back inside, have them read a book."
Max Elliot Anderson

Lemony Snicket, Book # 1 FREE

For a limited time, book # 1, The Bad Beginning,

by Lemony Snicket, is available FREE!

Check it out while you can!

Read it now

http://browseinside.harpercollinschildrens.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780064407663

View Lemony Snicket’s video response to this latest unfortunate event.

http://www.lemonysnicket.com/

Max Elliot Anderson

Author of

Action-Adventures & Mysteries...especially for boys.

Interview about my Books for Boys

A new interview has been posted about my action-adventures and mysteries at: http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/2009/11/max-elliot-anderson-author-of-reluctant.html

Literacy, families and learning

Another blog that offers solutions, ideas, and help for the reluctant readers in your family, classroom, or cirlce of friends is called Literacy, families and learning. Find it at http://trevorcairney.blogspot.com/2009/11/getting-boys-into-reading-through.html

National Struggling Reluctant Reader Week

Okay, so it's actually National Young Reading Week November 9 - 13. However, I'm taking it a step farther in calling it National Struggling Reluctant Reader Week. Why? Because if we don't reach out to struggling, reluctant readers, then there isn't much use in simply setting aside a week to highlight reading.

Last month I wrote an article, Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers. You can get a FREE copy of that article by emailing me at mander8813@aol.com

So, this week, please do something to identify a struggling reader in your family or circle of friends, and do what you can to help them become a reader. My action-adventures & mysteries have helped many to make the leap from struggling to avid reader.

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 are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

Max Elliot Anderson

PS. The above picture is of my son and me. Today, he's a lawyer in Chicago. Reading works!

Veterans Day

Received several nice emails and phone calls today, thanking me for my military service. Nice. But it seems like a hundred years ago now. I was drafted into the army in 1969 and served until 1971. I didn’t go to Vietnam, because I already had an older brother there. My younger brother went to Okinawa.

But when I returned to work in my father’s film production company, where do you think my first film project was? VIETNAM. I couldn’t believe it. The project was a film for Venture For Victory with locations in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam.

All of my basic training had been geared to Vietnam with instructors who had fought there. All of the training films were also about Vietnam.

So, as a civilian, you can imagine my panic, when the helicopter I was flying in, from one filming location to the other, dropped me off in the wrong rice patty. I was all alone.

Another time, I felt as if I were being watched. So I zoomed the lens all the way in, and focused on infinity. When I spun the camera around in the direction of that strange feeling, what did I see but a pair of binoculars disappearing into the tall grass! A cold chill went right up my back.

So it is with profound appreciation that I say thank you to all who have actually served in harm’s way. You have my deepest respect.

Max Elliot Anderson

On Blogging Well

See my guest post about blogging at On Blogging Well http://onbloggingwell.com plus other entries that you may find helpful and interesting.

I Told Two Friends & Books for Boys

My focus in writing is to reach reluctant readers, especially boys 8 - 13. In my research, I also became aware of the problems surrounding adult literacy. Did you know that most of the men in prisons today either grew up as reluctant readers, or they can't read at all?

I found a web site that might interest you if you're concerned with adult literacy. I Told Two Friends can be found at http://itoldtwofriends.com

Max Elliot Anderson

Knowonder - Legend of The White Wolf

The November issue of Knowonder Magazine is out, and in it is chapter 1 from my adventure book, Legend of The White Wolf. You can find the free, electronic issue at
http://www.knowonder.com/magazine/november/ on Page 54.

Knowonder is a magazine intended to, "Inspire your child's Imagination." I like that.

Legend of The White Wolf is available on Amazon, or you may order signed copies. Contact me for more information about that at mander8813@aol.com

Max Elliot Anderson

LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF $10.95 0-9752880-3-2
They didn’t call him a liar; they just couldn’t believe his story. Brian Fisher was determined to prove it was true even though it involved the risk to his own safety. His rescue of a wolf pup from a steel trap results in a mysterious relationship with surprising results. The story is set in the lower elevations near Yellowstone