Bridge of Stones

In the simmering heat of August 1967, a kaleidoscopic minivan carrying a band of hippies – adorned with long hair, beards, beads, sandals, and granny dresses – pulls up at the gates of Ft. Gordon, Augusta, GA, then the heartland of the Military Police. Their mission is unconventional: to instruct the 25th Infantry Division, 60th Mine Scout Dog Platoon in harnessing the keen senses of dogs to detect landmines, trip wires, and hidden tunnels.

The air crackles with animosity as two worlds collide: the free-spirited and the regimented. Yet amidst the discord, Charlie Fasanaro, a young man with wisdom flowing through his veins, recognizes the crucial necessity of forging a bridge across the chasm of enmity that separates them. Their common cause is as clear as it is noble: saving lives in a theatre of war. Unbeknownst to Charlie, he is on the precipice of a spiritual catharsis that will redefine his very essence.

Volunteering to journey to the harsh landscapes of Vietnam alongside the 60th, Charlie is plunged into the visceral cruelties of war. Amidst the chaos, he witnesses acts of heroism and self-sacrifice that cast a new light on the soldiers he stands beside; a nobility and honor scarcely seen amidst the peace-loving circles of his civilian life. This revelation propels Charlie into a tumultuous voyage of self-discovery, as he grapples with his identity amidst a whirlwind of contrasting ideologies.

Bridge of Stones navigates through the turbulent waters of a time where ideologies clashed and the essence of humanity was put to the test. As Charlie endeavors to find his footing on the battlefield of conflicting beliefs, readers are ushered through a rich narrative that explores the profound essence of camaraderie, the unyielding spirit of sacrifice, and the indelible marks etched upon souls in times of war and peace.

Broken Tusk

Broken Tusk is a heart-wrenching tale that follows the trials and tribulations of a family of African elephants, narrated by the hero, a young male named Broken Tusk. From daily encounters with natural disasters to the cruel and devastating effects of human actions, Broken Tusk guides readers through the soulful journey of his family’s incalculable suffering. Alongside the hardships, readers also witness moments of joy, including playful games, mud baths, and even a bit of romance for Broken Tusk. With simple writing and short sentences, this absorbing story serves as an eye-opener for readers of all ages and provides an educational insight into the lives of African elephants.

Buto Meets His Famous Grandmother

Most parents start reading books to their children around two years old. At first, the characters tend to be imaginary or fanciful, encouraging virtues like sharing and tolerance. As reading skills advance, many kids gravitate toward more complicated, mystical stories over grounded tales. In my paediatric practice, I became convinced that reading content significantly impacts child development.

As I’ve seen with my grandchildren, reading shifts from fantasy to supernatural the older kids get, with less attention on relatable characters and environments. In writing Buto Meets His Famous Grandmother, I hope to bridge imaginative early reading to sophisticated young adult habits. The story features realistic figures for children to connect with as they transition into more complex fiction. All through the years of my paediatric practice, I was, and as I am now convinced the proper content of reading material plays an important role in children’s education and development.

Chalk Wars: Pommel Clock and the Incredulous Cost of Integrity

In a world dominated by gymnastics, one team stands out above the rest. Seven Bridges Academy has won three consecutive National Championships, earning massive resources for the school, permitting its students to live in luxury, filled with mansions, mega-yachts, and all the precious gems they could ever want. But when four students uncover the dark secrets underpinning SBA’s success, how far are they willing to go to bring honesty and integrity back to the sport?

Facing bribery, money laundering, scandal and corruption inside the World Gymnastics Federation, and opposition from inside their own school, Whitfield, Aspen, Ugu, and Flaherty must rely on their own superior mental and physical abilities to stop an evil organization intent on destroying the world of gymnastics as they know it. Can Aspen decrypt the cipher before time runs out? Can Flaherty stop a group of agents from hijacking a security system? Can Ugu survive two weeks inside the Glass Box? Can Whitfield forgive the daughter of the man responsible for killing his parents? And through it all, can the students at Seven Bridges ever forgive one of their own for forfeiting the All-Around Title?

Charlie, The Border Collie Without a Job

Did you know that Border Collies are often considered to be the most intelligent breed of all dogs? Due to their high level of intelligence and athleticism, Border Collies are in need of a job. If left to their own devices, they often get bored and get into trouble. As a member of the “herding breeds”, their job traditionally has been that of herding sheep. But not all Border Collies live on farms. Read to see how Charlie, the Border Collie, finds his own mission in life.

¿Sabías que el Border Collie se considera, con frecuencia, la raza canina más inteligente de todas? Debido a su alto nivel de inteligencia y atletismo, el Border Collie necesita tener un trabajo u oficio. Si no tiene con que ocuparse, se aburre y se mete en lios.  Como miembro del grupo de perros pastores, su trabajo ha consistido tradicionalmente en cuidar de las ovejas. Pero no todos los Border Collies viven en granjas o ranchos.  Lee para ver cómo Charlie, el Border Collie, encuentra su propio oficio.

Cherry Blossom Blues

Delve into a lyrical love story shared between two Afro-American men living in the District of Columbia during the ethos of the roaring 1920s and the Harlem Renaissance. In spite of their class differences, their clandestine affairs thrive among their respective travels, marriages, careers, and time itself. Experience exhilaration as the main characters intertwine with real-life figures: Al Capone, Marcus Garvey, Herbert Hoover, Stephanie St. Clair and Albert Khan in Harlem, Macon, Georgia and Paris, France. Get goosebumps observing the living commune with the dead during ritualistic and mysterious séances. Observe how history often repeats itself by encountering the ramifications of the Spanish Influenza, World War I, Prohibition, and the threat of rising fascism foreshadowing the Jewish Holocaust. Most importantly, glean the profundity of our interconnections with everything in the universe in order to achieve authentic bliss.

Child Protection in America

Child abuse and neglect are tragically common. Each year, more than 1,000 American children die due to maltreatment. Thousands more suffer physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Across the country, every community has a system of government-operated and funded child protective services (CPS). But given that social workers of CPS have the authority to remove children from unsafe parents, it is no surprise that CPS is controversial. Does CPS protect children? Does CPS do more good than harm? Is CPS fundamentally racist, as some critics argue? Should CPS be abolished? To answer these questions, it is essential to understand the origins of child protection in America. How did we arrive at the child protection system in place today? This book traces the history of child protection from colonial times to the present and provides the most in-depth analysis ever published of the origins of child protection.

Christina and Marianna's Wild Hair Adventure

This book is about two sisters who did not see how beautiful their hair truly was.

In the end, Christina learns to embrace the beauty of her curls and the versatility that goes along with her unique hair.

Join the girls on their adventure to discover the beauty of their hair.

Christina's War

Growing up on a poor farm in Missouri and learning how to sing opera from her war-scarred father, young Christina Cross has no idea the powerful forces of good and evil, of music and war, will one day pull her into the maelstrom of the Second World War, compelling her to make life-or-death-decisions about who she is fighting for and the price she is willing to pay.

Like a masterful opera, Christina’s War deftly transports the reader to early 1940s Paris where Christina and her sister, Nicollet, are sent by their father to live a better life with their Grandfather, Philippe Pétain. Philippe, eager to please the Nazi regime, envisions Christina’s exquisite voice as a means to entertain Hitler and his officers. Yet, unbeknownst to him, Christina’s heart belongs not just to music but to Laurent Gauvion Saint-Cyr, the charismatic leader of the French Underground who had recruited her into the resistance.

When she defiantly refuses to sing, setting Hitler’s fury aflame, Nicollet becomes a pawn in a dangerous game of power and retribution. Now, Laurent must not only fight for their country’s freedom but race against time to save the two sisters from the clutches of a malevolent Nazi officer who revels in torture.

Christmas Eve at Grandmother's House

Join three excited girls as they visit their grandmother’s house on Christmas Eve. The air is filled with laughter and chatter as they decorate, discussing who’s been naughty or nice. The warm, inviting scent of holiday smells from the kitchen, where Grandmother is busy preparing holiday dinner and treats.

The girls look so beautiful in the PJs Grandma has bought them for Christmas, a heartwarming tradition they cherish. Earlier that day, Grandma visited the MDPLS Library and has chosen a special story to read to her granddaughters tonight.

To find out how this enchanting Christmas Eve unfolds, you’ll have to read the book!

Circle of Stone

In Depression-era Arkansas, a group of Black individuals, weary of enduring relentless brutality and disrespect from white communities, form a covert alliance known as ‘The Circle.’ United by a vow to clandestinely resist racist oppression, they employ ingenious tactics to combat the injustices inflicted upon their town. As they skillfully orchestrate retribution, ‘The Circle’ begins to shift the power dynamics, much to the chagrin of their white oppressors. This stirring tale reveals the resilience and ingenuity of a community determined to fight back in the face of adversity.

Close Friends' Cathedral Adventure

Peat, a toad, and Paul-Paulette, an earthworm, live in the woods beneath the roots of their friend, Christy, a Christmas fern. One day they are dug up and carried away. Christy is replanted in a pot large enough to hold Paul-Paulette, but Peat is too big to get in and cannot completely hide. He stays under Christy’s fronds, but can’t disappear.Together with their wild flower friends, they are taken to the Washington National Cathedral to participate in the annual Festival of Flowers. While the plants are being carried into the cathedral, Peat is discovered, picked up and left in the Garth – the small, enclosed garden near the base of the stairs.This is the story of the little toad’s adventure as he tries to find his plant and animal friends in the huge building. It is a tour of the cathedral and an introduction to cathedral architecture inside and out. A short glossary of architecture terms is included.