John Claude Bemis

The automa Pinocchio has always been duty-bound to serve in the floating palace of Venice's emperor. So when Pinocchio finds himself locked in a trunk and delivered to a new master-a wanted criminal and alchemist named Geppetto-he is curious about everything around him. But most curious is the way Pinocchio seems to be changing from a wooden servant into a living, human boy. Before Geppetto and Pinocchio can uncover the mystery surrounding the automa's transformation, Pinocchio is stolen away. Determined to find Geppetto again, Pinocchio begins a harrowing journey across the Empire, where danger in the form of half-beast outlaws and winged airmen abounds for a lost automa. Meanwhile, Princess Lazuli, the daughter of the ruler of a magical kingdom called Abaton, is also on a quest through the emperor's territory. Her father, Prester John, has been captured by the Venetian Empire, and Lazuli is desperate to rescue him. With the emperor's airmen closing in fast, Lazuli learns the only hope for saving her father-and her beloved home-lies in Pinocchio and Geppetto. In a masterful reimagining of Pinocchio, John Claude Bemis weaves an enchanting, thrilling adventure for middle-grade readers in the first installment in the Out of Abaton duology. Praise for The Wooden Prince "Wow! John Claude Bemis hides new magic in old stories." -Tom Angleberger, New York Times best-selling author of the Origami Yoda series "Young readers will find this reimagined adventure an exhilarating and insightful journey." -Kirkus Reviews "Pinocchio gets a new look in this curious, complex novel of betrayal, rebellion, and loyalty. . .the world-building is impressive, and the captivating setting will likely attract fantasy, steampunk, and adventure fans alike." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Flying lions, fiery salamanders, chimera, sylphs, gnomes, men with wings, and an enormous sea monster all play roles in this fantastical retelling of Pinocchio." -School Library Journal "Pinocchio's growth is sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes heartwarming, and bound to entrance readers." -Booklist

The Wooden Prince

Twelve-year-old orphan Ray travels south, drawn by the lodestone his father gave him years before, meeting along the way various characters from folklore who are battling against an evil industry baron known as the Gog.

The Nine Pound Hammer

When an orbital spacecraft crashes on a post-apocalyptic Earth where animals have regained control, a cubless mother bear adopts the lone survivor, a young boy, and leads him on a journey toward safety away from the ruling wolf clans. By the author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy.

The Prince Who Fell from the Sky

The automa Pinocchio has always been duty-bound to serve in the floating palace of Venice's emperor. So when Pinocchio finds himself locked in a trunk and delivered to a new master-a wanted criminal and alchemist named Geppetto-he is curious about everything around him. But most curious is the way Pinocchio seems to be changing from a wooden servant into a living, human boy. Before Geppetto and Pinocchio can uncover the mystery surrounding the automa's transformation, Pinocchio is stolen away. Determined to find Geppetto again, Pinocchio begins a harrowing journey across the Empire, where danger in the form of half-beast outlaws and winged airmen abounds for a lost automa. Meanwhile, Princess Lazuli, the daughter of the ruler of a magical kingdom called Abaton, is also on a quest through the emperor's territory. Her father, Prester John, has been captured by the Venetian Empire, and Lazuli is desperate to rescue him. With the emperor's airmen closing in fast, Lazuli learns the only hope for saving her father-and her beloved home-lies in Pinocchio and Geppetto. In a masterful reimagining of Pinocchio, John Claude Bemis weaves an enchanting, thrilling adventure for middle-grade readers in the first installment in the Out of Abaton duology. Praise for The Wooden Prince "Wow! John Claude Bemis hides new magic in old stories." -Tom Angleberger, New York Times best-selling author of the Origami Yoda series

Out of Abaton, Book 1 The Wooden Prince

Ray Cobb and the rest of the Ramblers must cross into the Gloaming and destroy the Gog's machine, which has started to spread a darkness over the land.

The Wolf Tree

Look no further for the perfect book for boys and girls who love fantasy, adventure, and white-knuckle action! "Can you imagine eternal Darkness, sir?" So asks the sickly stranger who staggers into Peg Leg Nel's birthday party. Before the man dies, he tells Ray and his friends of a Darkness spreading like wildfire across Kansas, turning good people bad and poisoning anyone who tries to escape. It's clear that though the evil Gog is dead, his devilish machine has survived and is growing stronger. Now a full-fledged Rambler, Ray leads his friends on a mission into the heart of darkness. Vital to their success is tracking down the legendary Wolf Tree, rumored to be a pathway to the spirit world. Only with one of the tree's limbs can the Nine Pound Hammer be repaired and the Gog's terrible machine finally destroyed. The search for the Wolf Tree grows desperate as the Darkness spreads, threatening Ray, his friends, and all of humanity. The Wolf Tree is the second fantasy adventure book in John Claude Bemis's series The Clockwork Dark, and adds new layers of myth and magic to Bemis's original take on American tall tales in The Nine Pound Hammer.

Book 2 of The Clockwork Dark

Drawn by the lodestone his father gave him years before, twelve-year-old orphan Ray travels south, meeting along the way various characters from folklore who are battling against an evil industry baron known as the Gog.

The Wolf Tree: Book 2 of the Clockwork Dark

Ray, Conker, and their Rambler friends face the Gog and his machine in a final struggle at the 1893 Chicago Exposition.

The White City

Robert Crawford

Heifer International

In Rwanda, still recovering from the deep wounds of war, a family is able to send their older children to school because of the gift of chickens that provide eggs--and income. Flora, the youngest child, must guard the chickens to protect the family's source of food and well-being. When the rowdy rooster Kubika escapes while Flora is playing, a wild chase sets off. Flora's friend Gideon, whose family is unable to send him to school, joins in. Along the way, Mother Yasenta helps the children in an unexpected way, prompting Flora to help Gideon to achieve his dream of going to school.Heifer International has helped millions of families achieve their dreams of education, income and enough to eat through the gifts of farm animals and training. For 70 years, Heifer International has worked in more than 125 countries, helping families move toward self-reliance. Recipients of Heifer gifts agree to "pass on the gift," as Mother Yasenta and Flora do, so that many others may benefit from a single gift.

Flora and the Runaway Rooster

Pinocchio can't believe the Moonlit Court is his home! With royal banquets, a regal wardrobe, and a whole new set of rules, Pinocchio has a lot to adjust to in his new life as prester alongside Princess Lazuli. But before they can get comfortable in their thrones, a fancy dinner at the palace is interrupted by an unwelcome guest-a monster! And this isn't just any monster; it's a manticore, a beast that was imprisoned centuries earlier. Desperate to locate the prison and make sure none of its other monsters were able to escape, Lazuli, Pinocchio, and their Celestial Brigade set out to save Abaton from these ancient beings. Their journey requires intelligence, strength, and a dash of the magic only presters control. But when Pinocchio tries to use his powers, they have an unintended effect: he is turning back into a wooden automa. And if he's not careful, he may lose his human form forever. The second book in the Out of Abaton series continues John Claude Bemis's reimagining of Pinocchio in an action-packed adventure that celebrates friendship, tolerance, and the power of being yourself. Praise for The Wooden Prince "Wow! John Claude Bemis hides new magic in old stories." -Tom Angleberger, New York Times best-selling author of the Origami Yoda series

John Claude Bemis

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