The book, Gertie's Birdies, is both a visual delight and an easy to read aloud collection of verse to stimulate the minds of young children and connect them to the natural world. The author slips a few easy to understand ornithological facts into each page thereby teaching and entertaining both reader and listener. Donna Salko is the mother of five children and a curious bunch of grandchildren. "I had my first granddaughter using binoculars before her fourth birthday. Her brother could identify more birds than the average adult before he even started preschool." Donna has had a love affair with photography since her father put the first Canon SLR in her young hands. Today, she continues the generational tradition by teaching young children proficiency with cameras and binoculars. Trips to birding hotspots are regular events. An avid prize winning photographer and outdoor enthusiast, her efforts to introduce her grandchildren to birding fell short due to the lack of educational and entertaining material available. Searching book stores, gift shops and information centers, the author found the few field guides written for children seemed to be geared toward much older children. The very young children had only coloring and activity books from which to learn. Donna Salko put together a collection of stunning bird portraits paring each with a short verse. From the large size American Eagle, Osprey and Wild Turkey, to the very small Ruby Throated Hummingbird and American Goldfinch, each of the portrait and poem pages gives small children a better grasp of the avian beauty and diversity in their own backyards without overwhelming them with scientific fact. The author lives in Northeast Pennsylvania but travels frequently to Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Maine and Rhode Island. She can be found photographing birds and wildlife from her backyard to J.N. Ding Darling NWR, Bosque del Apache and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, her favorite haunts. She enjoys visiting classrooms to read aloud and discuss these backyard wonders to very receptive and enthusiastic primary grade-schoolers.

At just three months of age, he had seen more than anyone should ever have to see. He was the offspring of two champions in the bloody, sadistic world of dog-fighting. An American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the pup was bred to be a killer, trained in violence and fear by the brutal Leroy "Big-Un" Keller. One night it becomes too much, and the young dog runs away. The pup escapes into the arms of another survivor, Rick Simpson, the man who finally gives him a name: Billy Bob. With Rick, Billy's world opens up to friendship and love. Billy is able to connect with those in need of comfort and help people in trouble. However, Billy is pursued by the savage Keller clan as well as animal control forces who cannot look beyond the stereotypes of Billy's breed to see the loving, loyal animal underneath. The bond between Rick and Billy runs strong and true, but will it be enough to put an end to Keller's vicious cycle of abuse so Billy can live free?

Billy Loves Birds tells the fact-filled story of a day in the life of Billy, a budding young naturalist who is wild about birds of all kinds! Billy encounters many different kinds of birds in his adventures during his day at Forest School, and this book is filled with facts about all the different species he comes across, and some that he can only dream of seeing in the wild one day. He studies a blue tits' nest with chicks about to fledge, spies a kingfisher catching a worm, and shows his friend how to peck like a woodpecker! Follow Billy as he shares his love of birds - discover how to trumpet like a crane or laugh like a kookaburra and learn what makes feathers fabulous or beaks extraordinary. With an engaging and lively narrative from Jess French and fun, warm illustrations from Duncan Beedie this book will help ignite a love and appreciation for nature, right on our doorsteps. The Nature Heroes series focuses on a group of friends who are passionate about nature and the great outdoors. Each book features a different child who has a favourite topic that they are fascinated by: Billy Loves Birds, Bella Loves Bugs, Ava Loves Animals, and Pedro Loves the Planet! Playful text and funny relatable illustrations make this an accessible series, which provides an entertaining introduction to the natural world.

Seventeen years in the making, this novel is intended for all ages. It is about two hamsters trapped in their plastic prison known as a chummery, Oliver Fluff and his comrade, Smudge McDuff, far from content at their fate long to escape their mundane and monotonous existence so common to pet hamsters everywhere, in search of freedom in the outside world. They escape into an unexpected underworld of terror, horrible evil and nasty villains, but in the process discover the value of friendship, the commitments and sacrifices required, as well as the ultimate satisfaction in achieving their motivating dream.