Kids! Come Meet Nickerbacher - The Funniest Dragon - Brought to you by Terry John Barto!

Nickerbacher
The funniest Dragon

I bet you've all heard about Puff the Magic Dragon, but I just met another really cool dragon called Nickerbacher...  Nickerbacher is a funny dragon... He does standup comedy! Cool, right?! Well, he didn't start out that way...


We meet Nickerbacher when he is a sad dragon...


First let me stop and tell you about the fantastic colorful dragons you'll be meeting illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. They are so unique and fun to look at!

Nickerbacher:

The Funniest Dragon

By Terry John Barto

Illustrated by Kim Sponaugle

Nickerbacher had an important job, of course--he was guarding the princess in the high tower in which she lived. He was happy to help keep her safe, but that wasn't what he wanted to do for the rest of his life... He wanted to make people laugh!

Fortunately, the princess had become a friend and so she would listen while he practiced his routine, and Princess Gwendolyn laughed so much that Nicherbacher would start to laugh as well!
Let's watch...

Now you'll quickly admit his jokes are funny, but, really, have you ever heard or seen a dragon laugh?! I imagined it would be so unique that he'd probably lose his ability to make fire, don't you think? At least for awhile...
When his father came to see how he was doing, well, personally I think he made a mistake, as he, trembling, tried out a joke on his father:

Nickerbacher stepped up on a tree stump. "What do you get when you cross a dragon with a snowman?"
Papa just stared.
"A puddle," Nickerbacher answered.

Papa breathed fire and asked him what he was talking about. He tried, really, to tell his Papa Dragon that he wanted to be a stand-up comedian. But Papa hollered that it was his duty...every dragon's duty...to guard princesses.

Nickerbacher tried to argue saying that he wanted to make people laugh while his father told him that he was supposed to scare them..." He thought he had no choice but to agree...

And then the Prince came...and Nickerbacher couldn't help it...Instead of using his real name, Prince Happenstance, he said "Prince Fancypants..."

Nickerbacher grinned; the Prince did not...

This book is an excellent way to subtly help children know that they need to consider what they want to be when they grow up...and then work hard to make it happen, even when parents might not understand right away... Such a beautiful way to help children understand that they will need to begin to make decisions for themselves...\

Highly recommended...


GABixlerReviews

Before writing children's books, Terry John Barto directed and choreographed more than 200 regional theater productions. In addition, he was the creative mind behind numerous television and cruise ship shows throughout the world. When Terry John Barto was employed as the creative director for Wings of Dreams Productions, he worked with many diverse ideas and turned them into screenplays for animated films. He also used his experience to help artists develop popular action figures and dolls for several large retailers.

Terry lives in Los Angeles, California and enjoys Pilates, Yoga, and hiking with his dachshunds, Hunter and Mazie.

Second Day of Baseball Practice Means Choosing Your Bat! Learn more from Coach Keviin Christofora!

When I got to school, I saw some of my teammates
in the hallway. [They all had their uniforms on!]
~~~

It was Monday morning, and it was my second day of baseball practice. I woke up before my alarm clock rang! I was so excited to go to school to show off my new uniform. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and got dressed. Mom was so proud of me for getting dressed all by myself. She said, "You're acting like such a big boy! This baseball team sure has you excited.

Magic Bat Day

By Kevin Christofora

Illustrated by Dale Tangeman

This Indie approved reader is written for ages 3-7 and should be considered "a primary" in acquainting children with the game of baseball. The first story in the series appeared yesterday, so do click over if you missed it! Magic Bat Day
is actually the second day of practice, so, first, everything that was learned then was repeated--you got it! Those exercises we all love to do! So they are repeated every day to learn them...and those same exercises will always be done before a big game!

We all spread out around the pitcher's mount, just like the first practice. I still had the white hat, and I got to be the leader. "Okay everyone, let's do our jumping jacks. Ready, one two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten."

"Next, helicopters! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight nine and ten."

And now our stretching. Up, up, up, and down, one, two, three. Again! up, up, up, and down, one, two three. Last time ! Up, up, up and down, one two three."

I handed the white hat to Flo. "You can be the next leader," I said.

"Let's go, boys. Follow me around the bases." she said.

~~~

After warm-ups, Coach split us into two groups, and I
went to the dugout. I got to pick out a bat that felt good.
It was my favorite color, too. This one looked like it had
magic in it because the name on the side said "Bolt"
and had a picture of lightning on it.
~~~

The Coach announced that he would be teaching them how to hit the ball. But first, each player had to pick out their own bat!

First, though, the Coach showed them a baseball card of Babe Ruth and shared his history--letting them know that he was a role model that they should look toward, and that they could maybe someday play like him...

Nick, who narrates the story headed over with the rest of the team to find the perfect, perhaps magical bat, to use. Then the coach led them to the practice area where individual hitting stations were already established. Billy Ball showed up to explain why two white circles had been drawn near each hitting station...Do you know why?

Everybody was surprised that the Coach used a black marker to show how their knuckles were to be placed on the bat! Then when Nick tried to make his first hit, he missed! The coach used that marker again and Nick was able to make his first hit! 

 Boom! I felt the explosion in my hands! It made the coolest sound when I hit the ball. I did it! I hit the ball so far. That black dot really helped me see the ball. 

"Good hit, Nick. That's how you do it." Coach said, as he put another ball on the tee. "Let's do it again."

~~~

Each day the Coach called the team members together and talked to them about the day, asking what they liked best.

I continue to be so impressed with these stories and already wonder what will be taught next! The coach reveals in his actions his goals for teaching the game correctly, to allow the members to participate fully and equally, to gain feedback for future reference, and most of all to go slowly and at the pace the individual member needs, with help provided as needed...and to inspire their team in sportsmanship, good morale as well as acting as a wonderful role model...

Nick was so tired that he went to sleep in his uniform...But I couldn't help but think he was already dreaming when he was older, in high school, and totally experienced and playing real games--with a little bit of swagger to make the game fun! That's going to be sooooo cool!

Readers, you can't help but enjoy these books. While being very educational in the time-honored step-by-step process of learning, the author has inserted fun stops, such as another game of finding the balls in a page...or letting the kids think they must have hit a million balls in their practice...  There are places for autographs of favorite players...and a continuous check of what new words have been learned and remembered. For instance, do you know what Babe Ruth's full name is? I sure didn't! So baseball trivia and history of the game is also coming into the learning process...

No doubt about it--This series could be a must-read for many children out there! All you have to ask is if they want to..."Play Ball!"

GABixlerReviews

BRH's opinion? This coach's actions will never

lead to miscommunication! LOL

Uncle Amos Shares Delightful Children's Book, Mike and Pinky...

http://s665.photobucket.com/user/iLuvsummer2122/media/ist2_
4339761-turtle-cartoon.jpg.html

Father and Mother Turtle lived in a pond surrounded by a field. They had two children named Mike and Pinky.

Mike was older and liked to daydream. He and his grandfather, who was also named Mike, often walked together in the woods.

Pinky had a beautiful pink spot on his shell that he was quite proud of. All of the creatures who lived in the field said that they could see Pinky coming for miles.

~~~

Mike and Pinky 

By Uncle Amos

Uncle Amos is a very generous and loving man who started writing down his stories, as requested by his four grandsons... and for parents who might be interested in purchasing this book for their children, he has provided the entire book on the above video by a wonderful reader. I am certain you'll find it a short but important learning experience about realizing what you have and being thankful...

Uncle Amos also routinely provides his e-books free for a short time and I happened to get a copy when he posted it on my Reviewers Roundup Group on Facebook. This is my first time reading his books, but I am quite willing to highly recommend this book of 46 pages, as one I can see being carried around by...your...child,asking for somebody to read it ! LOL 

And if you want to teach him what a turtle really looks like, here is an interesting teaching video of Mike and Pinky, or their friends...

The artwork to accompany the story is delightful and is sure to capture the attention of small children... With each turtle having a name and a way to tell them apart, they will soon be able to call each turtle by his own name, making it a much more personal experience of knowing twins!

One issue that has been addressed but may remain hidden without special attention. That is, that the home of the turtles was destroyed by man without regard to the wild life living in the vicinity. Certainly this is a cause for concern and leaves way for wild life to become extinct if man constantly does nothing when they just start to bulldoze land!

I find it amazing how writers can consider such a story and bring about a learning process without making a special point within the narrative!

But one day, Mike saw many big machines drive into the field. There had never been machines in the field before. The machines carried lumber and tools and big men who didn't care about   turtles. The men built a house right on top of the turtles' home.
But father and mother turtle were gone, and their woodland friends were   nowhere to be seen.

~~~

Please note that everybody had been destroyed by these men, except Mike and Pinky...

Lots to be consider in such a short book and several opportunities for parents and grandparents to discuss what was happening as they read the book to younger children...

I thought it was especially clever to have the book end as it did...again, helping children understand that they don't realize what they have until somebody tells and teaches them.

A thoroughly enjoyable treat for children...Do check it out further...


GABixlerReviews

Uncle Amos started writing children's books at the request of his four grandsons, now aged nine, six, and three (Twins). His stories, which tackle the problems of growing up with humor and fun, are beloved of his family and hundreds of others.

If your children really get interested in Mike and Pinky, you might want to use the characters to create a turtle!

And if they are soon into Ninja Turtles...and drawing..., well... here's one for them!