Children's Books that 102nd Place has helped to create

Rocco to the Rescue: A Robot Soccer Tale

The Dynamos are playing in the Robot Soccer Championship!

Rocco would love to be out on the field with his team, but a glitch in his sensors makes his kicks go all wonky and his head-shots fall flat. Still, that glitch gives him a special skill in fixing his teammates. He’s the team’s Robot Repairer!

With just minutes to go, tragedy strikes. The Dynamos’ star player, Tycho, breaks a rod connecting his knee to his foot. Rocco doesn’t have a replacement in his tool kit and can’t fix him.

When the coach tells Rocco to take Tycho’s place, his dream comes true, and he zooms onto the field. But when he misses a kick that lets the Cyborgs tie the score, Rocco has a big decision to make. If he stays in the game, the Dynamos might lose. What will he do?

No! No, Nap!

Zander doesn’t want to take a nap. He wants to keep playing and doesn’t understand why he can’t. When he throws his toys in anger, Mom sends him to time-out. But then, a wonderful thing happens. A team of spiritual beings called guides appears to help Zander figure out his problem. With their gentle guidance, he discovers how taking a nap is good for him and how he can say, “I’m sorry,” to Mom and Dad.

Cosette and Oreo: The Case of the Night Raiders

A fun book about the love between a child and her rescued dog.

Cosette’s curiosity and her desire to keep Oreo lead her to find a way to solve the mystery of all the messes and uncover the real culprits. Included are two activities your child can do at home to hone their own detective skills – writing secret messages with invisible ink and lifting fingerprints.

The Fastest Dinosaur

Enzo is the fastest dinosaur in the world. All his friends agree.

When slow-moving Constantino challenges him to a race, Enzo is sure he will win.

But the track is filled with dinosaurs in trouble.

Can Enzo help his friends and still win the race?

The Fastest Dinosaur is a retelling of The Tortoise and The Hare. However, in this story pride and laziness aren’t what cause Enzo to lose the race. Kindness is. Winners are made in many different ways.

Ranger Henry: The Case of the Toy Thief

Toys are missing!

Henry dreams of a rough and ready Arizona Ranger. When his playmates’ toys go missing, Henry hops on his hobby horse to track down the stealing varmint.

But being a Ranger isn’t easy. After falsely accusing several suspects, Henry doubts he’s Ranger material. Ironically, a flock of chickens gives him an idea that just might help him catch the thief.

Henry will need all his powers of observation to find the children’s toys and regain faith in himself.

Sea of Surprises

It’s Vienna’s birthday, and her Mer-gran promised her a big surprise! When Mr. Pelican delivers the package, instead of a present, there’s a clue that sends Vienna and her best friend Chloe on a treasure hunt. Solving the clues is fun, but a wrong guess could be dangerous. The girls are determined to find the treasure, and when they do . . . SURPRISE!

Saturday Safari

Today is Saturday, and that means Safari! Elliott has waited all week for this adventure. He jumps out of bed, throws on his safari gear, and grabs his camera. Maybe today he’ll see an animal he’s never seen before like a crocodile or a rhinoceros. If he does, he’ll have to be quick to snap a picture and add it to his prized collection. Would you like to come on Safari with Elliott? Grab your safari gear and don’t forget the sunscreen. But let me warn you, Elliott has a crazy, wild imagination. What he sees isn’t always what it appears to be. Saturday Safari is a book about encouraging the use of imagination to see the world differently. When you read it with your child, ask them to describe common objects in a new light.

Wren’s Whiskers

Wren wants more than anything to be a cheerleader like her best friend Lilah. But Maggie, the team captain, doesn’t want a curly-whiskered, clumsy mouse on the squad. Wren tries everything to straighten them. Boing! Boing! Boing! When Maggie misses a jump during practice for the cheer championship, the team discovers curly whiskers are exactly what they need. Wren’s Whiskers shows children that it’s okay and often desirable to be different. Wren is determined and never gives up on her dream. Although she is misdirected at the beginning, by the end she learns to embrace her whiskers and stand in her power.

Sunny Flower and His Fairy Good Friend

Sunny wants more than anything to have the other flowers in the garden for his friends. But he doesn’t look like any flower they’ve ever seen. They laugh at him and call him a weed. No one wants to be his friend and that makes him feel alone and sad. Then one day he meets a Dragonfly Fairy who tells him all about the magical world beyond the garden. Through her friendship Sunny learns to rise above it, look to the light in spite of the actions of the others, and comes to understand, no matter how small, kindness matters.

Leo Learns to Swim

Leo is a sea turtle and sea turtles are supposed to swim. He’s sure he could if one of his flippers wasn’t shorter than the others. He’ll try anything to learn, but when none of his crazy fixes get him swimming he starts to lose hope. Then a giant ghost crab threatens his cousin Elliott and Leo discovers that caring about others is the only fix he needs.

The Sweet Dream Fairy

Violet, the Sweet Dream Fairy, protects the sleeping children from nightmares and monsters by sprinkling her magic dust. But Griffin the Goblin has other plans. He captures Violet, steals her dust, and starts scaring the children. Violet knows she has to escape and fast, but how? She’ll need some real fairy magic if she wants to get her dust back and save the children.

Fannie First

Fannie First is rooted deep in the Amish culture. It tells the story of two young women, Fannie and Havana, who despite their differences learn to accept and love one another as they grow together. The story begins with Fannie’s difficult birth. She was born bottom first. It then blossoms into new adventures and new beginnings as she forges her friendship with Havana, a non-Amish girl she meets by chance outside the library. Their shared love of books and reading brings the two together, but it’s their willingness to be open to each other’s differences that expands their worlds. The more they learn from each other, the more they realize they’re not so different after all.

The Monster from Gila Bend

This is a tale about not judging a book by it’s cover or by it’s name. The name Jorge was given says he’s a monster. All the desert creatures think so. Jorge wants more than anything to show them he isn’t a monster – just a creature who would like to make new friends. On his journey to do so he discovers that the other desert creatures aren’t the only ones who jump to the wrong conclusions.

The Cat’s Pajamas

George the cat can’t dream. Every morning his Boy tells George about his wonderful dreams. That just makes George jealous. Why can his Boy dream when he can’t? George is determined to do whatever it takes – even wearing pajamas – to discover the secret and make his wildest dreams come true.

Angels, Angels, Everywhere

Does a child you know see, hear or sense things that you cannot? Are you concerned their imagination is running away with them; that their friends and yours might start thinking of them as odd? Relax. They just might be talking with Angels. Angels really are everywhere and children are naturally receptive to their presence. However if they don’t know that Angels exist, the experience may be scary. Angels, Angels, Everywhere is a story and activity book that explains Angels and their interactions with us in simple terms that your child can understand. This book is a catalyst, through various activities, for you to interact with your child to gain a better understanding of what he/she is seeing, hearing and feeling.

The Magical Rainbow

The Magical Rainbow draws on color, sound, and vibration. It allows children to use their imaginations while feeling, sensing, and experiencing an energy changing adventure. Caleb takes you on his journey when he moves to a new island. He is all alone and feels sad. Then he wakes up one morning to a rainbow dancing in his bedroom, a talking tree, and a bird that changes colors 8 times. Through Caleb’s adventure, you journey into his world where learning and wonderment go hand in hand and miracles happen. This is a simple, playful story for all to enjoy. The Magical Rainbow teaches us there is a rainbow in every child. It was created for children to connect with their divine life force, and inspiration for the expression of self.

Annie Argyle’s Amazing Adventure

Annie Argyle is tired of spending her days in dark, smelly places. She wants to have an adventure. Leaving her worried sock twin Andy and the unsuspecting little boy Harrison behind, she slips her toe into the dryer and Whoosh out she goes. A traveling carnival leads to plenty of fun and adventure: roller  coaster rides, ice cream, merry-go-rounds. Then an unlucky toss sends Annie into a different dark, smelly place. One she doesn’t like at all. Can Annie make it safely back to Andy and Harrison?

Planet Discovery Books for Kids

Planet Discovery Books for Kids are an educational series of photo eBooks for children age 5 to 9.  Bestselling author Matthew Taylor uses colorful photos and fun facts to engage children to be curious about the world and creatures around them.

Snakes

Snakes – they silently slink on the ground, slither from trees, and swim in the deep. To many of us they are scary creatures and symbols of evil like the Slytherin house in Harry Potter and Lord Voldermort’s pet snake Nagini. But most snakes won’t harm humans and are actually good for our planet. This book lets kids see snakes as they really are. Not scary or bad, just a different type of creature sharing our planet. With 25 large color photographs and easy to read words SNAKES ALIVE! teaches children of all ages about the unique world of snakes. 

¡SERPIENTES VIVAS!

Del autor de bestsellers Matthew Taylor. Las serpientes se deslizan silenciosamente por el suelo, reptan desde los árboles y nadan en las profundidades.
Este libro permite a los niños ver a las serpientes como son en realidad. No son temibles ni malas, sino un tipo de criatura diferente que vive en nuestro planeta. Con fotografías a color y palabras fáciles de leer, ¡SERPIENTES VIVAS! enseña a los niños de todas las edades el singular mundo de las serpientes. En este libro descubrirán – Cómo nacen las serpientes – Cómo son sus cuerpos – Cómo crecen – Qué comen y cómo lo hacen – Dónde viven – Cómo soportan el frío – Cómo ayudan a nuestro planeta

Reindeer

For most of us, the only contact we have with reindeer is through the annual showing of Rudolph or a reading of The Night Before Christmas. But there is so much more to these amazing animals! Do you know why Santa’s reindeer had to be girls? Do you know what cool body part lets reindeer swim? Do you know how fast a one day old reindeer can run? Reindeer! explores these fun facts and so much more! Filled with colorful pictures of both wild and tame reindeer that both you and your child will enjoy.

Deadly Creatures

Who are the deadliest creatures known to man – sharks, spiders, snakes? The answers may surprise you. Based on a list published by Bill Gates on his blog, this interactive book will help you explore the 12 creatures that cause the most human deaths per year. You’ll discover how they kill, why they kill and what you can do to protect yourself. Click on the earth symbol that appears on each picture and additional fun facts “pop-up” that might just amaze you about these creatures. (Note – pop-up feature only works on Fire devices, and Kindle for iPad, iPhone, and Android.)

Rabbits

Rabbits is a fun look at all things rabbit. Did you know that a rabbit is not a hare? Did you know that the correct plural is bunnies not bunnys? Do you know how to do a binky and why rabbits do them? How about why a rabbit’s tail is white and how they can see behind them without moving their heads? Discover this and so much more! Includes over 40 full-color photographs you and your child are sure to enjoy!

Reindeer

For most of us, the only contact we have with reindeer is through the annual showing of Rudolph or a reading of The Night Before Christmas. But there is so much more to these amazing animals! Do you know why Santa’s reindeer had to be girls? Do you know what cool body part lets reindeer swim? Do you know how fast a one day old reindeer can run? Reindeer! explores these fun facts and so much more! Filled with colorful pictures of both wild and tame reindeer that both you and your child will enjoy.

Leprechaun

Everyone knows that you can find a Leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but do you know why you find it there? Did you know that leprechauns are an endangered species protected by law? Do you know how to recognize a leprechaun and where to find one? Leprechaun! answers these questions and so much more. You’ll learn how to build a leprechaun trap and what you have to do once you catch one to make sure you get all his gold. You can also explore the different types of leprechauns, what they eat, the type of work they do and what they do for fun. Full of great pictures and interesting facts, leprechaun riddles and jokes, plus a maze that you can follow to find the leprechaun’s pot of gold. Fun for children of all ages!

Animal Mothers

Mothers come in all shapes and sizes. But no matter what your mom looks like – you’re pretty sure that she’ll love and protect you no matter what. In the animal kingdom, it makes a big difference who you mother is. Some moms literally let their children eat them alive. While others leave their children to fend for themselves if they get sick or injured. Animal Mothers! takes a look at the best and worst mothers in the animal kingdom.  Great for Mother’s Day reading or anytime!

Books by Linda Ann Casey Smock

Ringo is a talking chihuahua. He and his friends, Tahoe, Cookie, Norbert and Cupcake, have wonderful adventures in this whimsical series based on real, live dogs.
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