On September 11, 2001, I was called back into active duty with the United States Air Force. I was a Security Forces member with the Iowa Air National Guard. This set in motion a series of events that took me away from home several times during my activation. My daughter, two and a half at the time, had a very difficult time understanding why her mommy was going away and leaving her behind. In her little world, coping with something of this magnitude was foreign for her. Amazingly enough, at such a tender age she was more concerned with my welfare than she was with her own. She decided to send along with me her favorite doll, Baby Jeff, to keep me safe.

Baby Jeff and I ended up doing a tour together in the desert. I took many pictures of her on post with me so I would have something to share with my little one when I got home. As my activation ended, the pictures went in a photo album and things slowly returned to normal.

My daughter is now in school and part of her school activities involve "show and tell." As I was tucking her in one night, she reminded me that the following morning was her turn. Shear panic set in and the hunt started for the cool "show and tell" that she so desperately wanted. I happened to spot Baby Jeff and suggested she take her. We decided to send the pictures and write out the story of how Baby Jeff ended up in the desert. Her teacher sent her and the story to the principal's office. The principal called me and left me a message stating that I should consider publishing the book. Well, the rest is history...

"Alaska Malawi", a dog born in Africa in the country of Malawi is adopted by Americans who eventually take him back with them to the State of Alaska in the United States.

This half-wild dog has many escapades trying to learn how to live in a completely strange environment while he gets comfortable with his new family. No longer does he forage for his own food in the garbage pit. No longer will he fear people. No longer must he endlessly scratch his flea bites. Of course, he can no longer run wild and free with other dogs, but he quickly bonds with his new family where he finds lots of love and care.

"Alaska's" first year of growing up in Malawi shows the Malawian lifestyle, culture and topography. His adventures include having his first bath, going to the veterinarian, slipping through the fence to play with a pretty girl dog, eating forbidden chicken, getting dipped for fleas and visiting Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa.

Au does not want to put anything on the back cover

A tale of three small chidren telling a bedtime story. Each child creates a character, a special power, and a weakness to overcome. The children create an adventure in their thoughts and minds, in search of a heart that they believe once returned to the owner, it will grant them a wish.

One day a ‘glow’ appeared in the shadow of the creature to become A. “Find your B and C … all of the others will follow,” whispered the ‘glow.’ … From scribbles to alphabet the humans went. Helped by the creatures the Weaver had sent. The humans in time … learned to make words. A cosmic and magical tale, Quite Early One Planet narrates the creation of the twenty-six letters of the alphabet through both poetic narrative and unique and colorful illustrations. The story depicts the early beginnings of language through creatures with claws, fur, and feathers. One special character, enhanced with a glow, becomes the leader of the alphabet. In Quite Early One Planet, author and illustrator Jerome Austin McNicholl sought to produce creatures that would have been the inspiration for humans to craft the cuneiform alphabet. From these animals, the alphabet springs to life.

Exploring Our "Big" Backyard is a book that can be used for educating young children to the natural world around them through photographs and text as well as providing an enjoyable story for reading. This book can help adults teach children about the wonders of nature that surround them everyday in their backyards, neighborhood parks, school yards, and as they travel in the car, van, or bus. The types of subjects will vary depending on the geographic area, but the theme of the book will create awareness of what children see in the natural world around them on a daily basis. This first book has been evaluated by a group of elementary school teachers and received very positive remarks from the teachers. They used the book as part of their teaching program for reading and introduction to the natural world. In the back of the book are some questions that can be used as a part of the teaching process. This first book covers mainly song birds. Our plan is to publish additional books covering more creatures to be discovered in the big backyard. It is our sincere hope that exploring our big backyard will help children and adults discover the wonderful world of nature all around us and that you will cherish the time spent reading and learning together.

Camping with the Penguins is a true story of camping on a small island off the southern tip of Australia, Philip Island.

We set up tent and were in our sleeping bags when we heard a strange sound coming towards us. My husband, John, got out his flash light, unzippered the tent flap and we were astonished to see dozens of little animals coming towards us: they were Fairy Penguins. They were not a bit afraid. Instead of going round the tent, they waddled straight through, over us and under the canvas on the far side.

In the morning as dawn was breaking the penguins returned, scrambling all over us. They were on their way to the ocean in search of food.

We could have set our tent somewhere else but we all loved the penguins so we stayed and gave the penguins the right of way.

Mikey/Jackster is about a boy who can sing and his rascally dog named Jackster. The book is about friends and pets and growing up that particular bond. Amid difficulties, hardships, and losses, they remain strong pillars for one another’s life and several interests.

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A tale of three small chidren telling a bedtime story. Each child creates a character, a special power, and a weakness to overcome. The children create an adventure in their thoughts and minds, in search of a heart that they believe once returned to the owner, it will grant them a wish.