Best Selling Books by Carol Crane

On November 21, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons set sail from a small northern Michigan town across Lake Michigan. Affectionately dubbed the "Christmas Tree Ship," this was an annual trek for the Rouse Simmons. With its cargo of Christmas trees, the ship was bound for Chicago. There Captain Herman Scheunemann would sell the trees for 50 cents or $1.00 and even gave many away to needy families. But the schooner never makes its destination. The Rouse Simmons, with all hands and cargo, disappears into the cold waters. The ship''s wreckage is not found until 1971. Drawing from stories told by her grandfather, author Carol Crane weaves a fictional tale based on the true events of the doomed schooner. And she explains how the captain''s widow went on to continue his tradition of delivering holiday trees to Chicago. Carol Crane''s many books for Sleeping Bear Press include the best-selling P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet and The Handkerchief Quilt. As a literacy advocate, Carol speaks at schools and conferences. She lives in North Carolina. Chris Ellison has illustrated children''s picture books and adult historical fiction for nearly 20 years. His book Let Them Play was a 2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Chris lives in Mississippi.

AV2 Fiction Readalong by Weigl brings you timeless tales of mystery, suspense, adventure, and the lessons learned while growing up. These celebrated children’s stories are sure to entertain and educate while captivating even the most reluctant readers. Log on to www.av2books.com, and enter the unique book code found on page 2 of this book to unlock an extra dimension to these beloved tales. Hear the story come to life as you read along in your own book.

State birds, flowers, trees, and animals brought to board book form for the youngest book lovers. Toddlers will delight in these books filled with rhyming riddles framed by brightly painted clues, introducing elements that make each state so special.

For many years, Monday through Friday, Miss Anderson has walked to Parkland School, eager to begin her day''s work in her classroom. She is a devoted teacher, beloved by the many children she has taught over the years. Theschool and her students mean everything to her. After one holiday weekend, Parkland School suffers a devastating flood. Burst pipes send water pouring into classrooms and the library. The school must close for repairs. But it''s not just the building that has been damaged. New supplies and materials, especially books, are needed. But there isn''t enough money to do it all. Miss Anderson cannot bear to think of her beloved school closed and her students left without materials. What can she do to help? And when the answer comes to her, Miss Anderson knows what to do and whom to ask for assistance. Carol Crane has written 14 books for Sleeping Bear Press, including the bestselling P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet. As a children''s literature advocate, Carol travels across the country, speaking at schools and many conferences. She makes her home in North Carolina. Gary Palmer has been a freelance illustrator for over 30 years. A graduate of the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, Gary now works from his home studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gary''s books with Sleeping Bear Press include H is for Hook: A Fishing Alphabet.

There are enough special people, wildlife, and natural wonders in the Lone Star State to fill several alphabet books, and Sleeping Bear Press has picked out the finest to represent Texas in L is for Lone Star: A Texas Alphabet. Author Carol Crane has worked for twenty-five years reviewing, lecturing and enjoying children''s literature. She is a respected national educational presenter, speaking at state and regional reading conventions across the United States. As a historian, Carol loves to read all historical markers. She is still stopping and reading them across Texas. Illustrator Alan Stacy is a self-taught artist, but his first practical art lessons came at age 6 from his mother, Jeanne, who is a fine artist. His father Fearl, an Air Force pilot and officer, took the family to Germany, Virginia, Alaska and New Mexico before settling in Texas in 1975. The time they spent outdoors siteseeing, camping and hiking in the American West and Pacific Northwest instilled within Alan a profound love of animals and nature, which is reflected in his art. With poems to engage younger readers and text to give further details for older students, Lone Star is a fantastic tool for sharing Texan pride with the ones you love. So lasso a copy of L is for Lone Star and get ready for a very special ride through the alphabet!

Travel across the diverse state of Alabama and meet its famous sons and daughters, from legendary football coach Bear Bryant to the remarkable Helen Keller and civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Visit landmarks such as the Bellingrath Home, or stop by Landmark Park and see how a farm was run in the 1890s. Written in the popular two-tier format for the Discover America State by State series, with simple rhymes for younger children and expository text for older children, Y is for Yellowhammer is a delightful tour of the state of Alabama.

State birds, flowers, trees, and animals brought to board book form for the youngest book lovers. Toddlers will delight in this board book filled with rhyming riddles, framed by brightly painted clues, that introduce elements that make South Carolina so special.

State birds, flowers, trees, and animals brought to board book form for the youngest book lovers. Toddlers will delight in these books filled with rhyming riddles framed by brightly painted clues, introducing elements that make each state so special.

Iconic Georgia topics and state symbols are presented in a rhyming riddle format with illustrated clues and answers. Peach, brown thrasher, and Cherokee Rose are included in this board book.

State birds, flowers, trees, and animals brought to board book form for the youngest book lovers. Toddlers will delight in these books filled with rhyming riddles framed by brightly painted clues, introducing elements that make each state so special.

As the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, Delaware rightfully earned its nickname of "First State." Though small in size, it is a treasure trove of history (Fort Delaware), inventions (the Victrola), and garden wonders (Winterthur). State symbols such as the Blue Hen Chicken and peach blossom speak to the character and traditions that formed the state. Historian Carol Crane loves looking through the kaleidoscope of the past and has taken many delightful journeys through Delaware. She loves to imagine her Swedish ancestors coming to this country on the Kalmar Nyckel, building log cabins, or starting the first Swedish church in Wilmington. Carol lives with her husband in North Carolina and travels the country speaking at education conferences across the nation."F is for First State" is Carol''s 11th book with Sleeping Bear Press. Elizabeth Traynor decided to be an illustrator when she was fifteen years old, while taking art classes at the Delaware Art Museum. She received her BFAin illustration from Rhode Island School of Design. An illustrator as well as an illustration professor, her work can be seen throughout the country, from book covers, newspapers and magazines, to ads and packaging. Elizabeth lives in Massachusetts and California.

The Sunshine State gets its own alphabet book! Florida, where "B is for Beaches, P is for Pirates, and V is for Vacationers," comes to life with playful, vivid illustrations by Michael Monroe and a conch shell full of fun facts and poems by Florida author and educator Carol Crane. Do you know which city is the state capitol? Which fragrant blossom is the state flower? Learn all this and more with S is for Sunshine: A Florida Alphabet.

As you travel through the Okefenokee Swamp, keep an eye out for Tiger Swallowtails and Brown Thrashers, and be sure to pick some Yellow Confederate Daisies before taking a nap under a Live Oak Tree. This is the Georgia that becomes a wondrous reality within the beautiful rhyming verses of Carol Crane and the colorful images of Mark Braught. At the same time the rhymes entertain and inform younger readers, Crane''s in-depth expository text will appeal to older ones, creating a two-tiered teaching tool for educators in the Peach State and across the country.

P is for Palmetto is a collection of evocative pages of watercolor that covers this beautiful southeastern state from A to Z. Carol Crane captures the diverse features of South Carolina with her flowing verse and solid expository text, while, within the images of Mary Whyte, you can almost envision yourself standing in the vast cotton fields and walking along the sandy shores of its stunning coastline. South Carolinians, young and old, will treasure P is for Palmetto and educators will find its two-tiered teaching format extremely useful in their classrooms.

From the Appalachian Mountains to the Outer Banks, readers will be delighted to discover the beautiful state of North Carolina in "T is for Tarheel". Explore the Biltmore mansion, with its 255 rooms, which took nineteenth century millionaire George Washington Vanderbilt six years to have built. Learn about the history and lore of NASCAR racing under "Z is for Zoom!"

Unrivaled by any other state for sheer size, Alaska is a land of mystery and wonder to many Americans. Bordered by water on three sides, it remains a remote and last frontier...until now. L is for Last Frontier: an alphabet book written by Carol Crane, takes readers on an informative adventure through the "land of the midnight sun." Lecturer and book reviewer Carol Crane was recently described as "A walking, talking bibliography of children''s books." Her twenty-five years in children''s literature supply the essential experience to bring Alaska''s vast wildlife and culture to children. Alaska''s sheer size lends to its diversity, but Carol Crane employs a two-tiered approach and produces a seamless sampling of the state''s culture and wildlife. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a rhyme for younger readers: T is for Tundra, a treeless arctic plain. Short warm summers, in winter, a frozen terrain. On the same page, older students can read the sidebar text to gain a richer understanding of the same topic. About the Author: Carol Crane advocates education through reading. She travels extensively and speaks at state reading conventions across the United States. Her thematic approach to learning has been widely accepted and successfully used by many reading teachers. Eight years ago, she founded "Bed, Breakfast and Books," a summer institute for teachers and media specialists across the country. L is for Last Frontier is Carol''s 4th book with Sleeping Bear Press. She lives with her husband, Conrad, in Bradenton, Florida. About the Illustrator: Renowned wildlife artist Michael Monroe was the winner of the 1997 Michigan Duck Stamp award.

From the lives of our early settlers, who established the foundations for American freedoms and ideals, to today''s celebrations, P is for Pilgrim colorfully examines the history and lore of Thanksgiving through snappy poems and expository sidebar text for each letter of the alphabet. Educators will find the inclusion of the Core Values of Democracy of valuable use for the classroom while kids of all ages will enjoy the bright, engaging illustrations and fascinating facts. Lecturer and book reviewer Carol Crane was widely recognized by many schools and educators for her expertise in children''s literature. She wrote several state books for Sleeping Bear Press including Texas (L is for Lone Star) and South Carolina (P is for Palmetto). Helle Urban, a Parker, Colorado resident, has been an illustrator for over 20 years. She earned her bachelor of fine arts in illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Helle has illustrated numerous children''s books, painted portraits of families, and was a background artist in the animation industry.

Various objects, animals, and people associated with the state of Texas are presented in short rhymes, with added commentary, and used to illustrate counting, multiplying, and adding.

The Riley family move from Ireland to America in search of a better life, settling in western North Carolina. When Pa returns home after fighting in the Revolutionary War, he finds his family missing. He walks up and down nearby Brown Mountain looking for them, carrying a torch. The legendary Brown Mountain lights are his ghost still looking for his beloved family.