New Releases by Craig Orback

Gifts from the Enemy is the powerful and moving story based on From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography by Alter Wiener, in which Alter recalls his loss of family at the hands of the Nazis and his internment in five prison camps during World War II. This picture book tells one moving episode during Alter's imprisonment, when an unexpected person demonstrates moral courage in repeated acts of kindness to young Alter during his imprisonment. Written by acclaimed children's writer Trudy Ludwig, author of Better Than You and Confessions of a Former Bully, and illustrated by award-winning children's book illustrator Craig Orback, Gifts from the Enemy teaches children in age-appropriate language about the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and stereotyping and that there are good and bad in every group of people. The accompanying questions and activities for readers provide teachers and parents with helpful direction in presenting this history and the valuable story. Gifts from the Enemy highlights how acts of social justice and kindness can change lives.

Nate has returned to Camp Wolf Trail, his own personal heaven for the past two summers, with a secret: He doesn't want his cabinmates to know that he's a Bird Nerd. At least, that's what the kids at his school called him when they teased him about his newly found interest in birds. Nate confides in Vik, but can he trust his friend, the cabin jokester? Tension grows when before an overnight horse-riding trip Nate discovers that he has another secret. He is terrified of horses, even Herschel, the boney old horse assigned to Nate from the group of rescue horses that the campers ride.

Nate shows honesty and bravery when he faces his fears—both of being laughed at for his hobby and his apprehension of riding horses. His friends and his sense of humor save him when his secret is revealed without his consent. But what will Nate do when a wildfire threatens the safety of his friends, the horses, and himself while on a horseback trek deep in the forest? What will be the fate of homely Herschel, the horse no one wants to adopt? With profound admiration of nature, honesty, and above all, boy-friendly, lively humor, acclaimed author Kitson Jazynka and veteran illustrator Craig Orback catch and capture readers' eager interest in this exciting book for boys.