Susan J. Halbower – illustratör

What are Smurglets? Why, Smurglets are little creatures that make friends instantly, enjoy dressing up—and love to hide! Where do you find Smurglets? They’re everywhere! Every page of this fun-filled poetry book is bursting with delight for kids and adults alike. Texas Poet Laureate Alan Birkelbach tells you not only where Smurglets come from, but using captivating rhythms, goofy rhymes, and wonderfully made-up words he tells readers from ages 5 to 50 why Ogres Hate Okra, about what happens when Blob Junior Goes to Camp, and the dire consequences of losing your Galoopa! It’s all wild and wacky!..Delightfully illustrated by prize-winning artist Susan Halbower, kids will return again and again to read about, and marvel at, Giggleville, Komodos, and Weldon Wing (The Armpit King!), not to mention all the other creatures and crazy situations. Here’s a goofy excerpt from the poem ""What’s on the Menu"": The wicked witch’s house next door. was made of gingerbread. Since people don’t eat sweets as much, she used lunch meat instead. What happens next? You’ll have to read to find out! Parents will be reminded of the fun poems they grew up with, the poems they would memorize and then recite again and again. The topics include pizza and dinosaurs and anacondas—plus, wherever you look there’s a Smurglet! While the book might be targeted for 5 to 12 year-olds, everyone who is a child at heart will find something to enjoy. Teachers will discover this is the new book they have been searching for at story-time and for teaching about poetry. It’s playful, entertaining, easy to read, and easy to memorize. Not too hard to understand, not too grown-up, and not too many pages—it’s the perfect book to get kids to read (and make them giggle.) Smurglets are Everywhere! And soon you’ll see why!

Howdy, folks! Come join Peaches, a feline resident of Fort Worth’s Log Cabin Village, as she meanders through this “village from a long time ago.” Illustrated with original artwork and photos of the village and cabins, Log Cabin Kitty provides a glimpse of life during pioneer days.Did you know that pioneers often built secret stairways and ladders in their cabins to help them hide from unwanted intruders? As you follow Peaches through the village, you will learn about the dangers, challenges, and joys of pioneer life while exploring the homes of the families who once lived in these cabins. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Cat Track Facts! These fun facts help young readers imagine what life was like for children growing up during the 1800s, and instructions for pioneer recipes and crafts help them experience pioneer life for themselves.Journey with Log Cabin Kitty as she explores this exciting time in American history through a tour of the Log Cabin Village.

A dazzling pageant that brings to life stories and traditions originating in medieval times, the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival is a Christmas celebration that weaves both religious and secular narratives into a radiant tapestry celebrating the birth of the Christ Child. The festival began with an English legend about an Oxford student slaying a wild boar with a volume of Aristotle’s works—a story adopted by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to symbolize evil overcome by good. The angelic message to the shepherds, the visit of the Magi, the tradition of the Yule Log, the legend of good King Wenceslas, and more are woven into a delightful spectacle that culminates in the birth of the Christ Child himself.The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, presented annually during Epiphany at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, is the basis for this volume, which includes lavish color illustrations revealing the extraordinary costumes and accoutrements created for the pageant.