Best Selling Books by Martha Gold

FULL COLOR EDITION OF THE AWARD WINNING HILARIOUS CHILDREN'S ADVENTURE WITH A “COOL FACTOR THAT'S OFF THE SCALE!”  

Sir Sydney Dinkum is a story “WORTH CHEERING FOR” which is filled with “LAUGHTER & ADVENTURE.” 

The page turning tale features “masterful” and “brilliant” full color illustrations.  “People of every age can appreciate the fun and charming adventures of Sydney and that folks, is guaranteed!”

THE BLACK AND WHITE ILLUSTRATED EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

Can you imagine Crocodile Dundee as an animal? Paddington Bear in shining armor? Or Winnie the Pooh on a noble steed? Meet Sir Sydney Dinkum a rascally koala bear from the Outback of Australia who believes he can be The World's Next Big Hero. Like Dr. Doolittle he has the super power to talk to all animals, including humans! Like Don Quixote, he believes it's his job to right the wrongs of the world! But is this just an Impossible Dream? Can a koala really be dubbed knight? Can a little marsupial armed with a boomerang make a difference in the world? Or will Sydney make a mess of things, as usual?

KOALA BEAR SEEKS KNIGHTHOOD
Can you imagine Crocodile Dundee as an animal? Paddington Bear in shining armor? Or Winnie the Pooh on a noble steed? Meet Sir Sydney Dinkum a rascally koala bear from the Outback of Australia who believes he can be The World's Next Big Hero. Like Dr. Doolittle he has the super power to talk to all animals, including humans! Like Don Quixote, he believes it's his job to right the wrongs of the world! But is this just an Impossible Dream? Can a koala really be dubbed knight? Can a little marsupial armed with a boomerang make a difference in the world? Or will Sydney make a mess of things, as usual? The only way to find out is to join Sir Sydney Dinkum on his whacky adventures. Don't Delay! Add to Your Cart Today! Read More for Reviews and Testimonials!

Blog Reviews and Testimonials

”A koala bear with a quest, a reluctant wombat and a beautiful deaf dromedary heroine begin their riotous adventures to right the wrongs of the world… should become a chapter book classic.” Shirley Batenton, Interstate Library System

”…(the humor is) reminiscent of the Paddington Bear series.” R.B. Simpson, Blog Review

”Fantastic story, funny for both young and old.” Rizwai Assan, Online Book Review

”Readers of this book will be encouraged to follow their dreams and also be creative in life. …one book that everyone should read.” Angela Aaron Nyanchamba, Kenyan Children's Book Review

”This trio will steal your heart” B.D. Ellington, Kudos

”Well done to the authors Martha Gold and Marc Reilly, you have put together a well written and illustrated children's adventure book.”Ben Johnson, Australian Review Blog

”… offers the same level of humor that kids love without any of the violence. ” Nicole Tuhin, PBC (Parents Book Club)

”Sydney is cool! Really cool!" Lucas (age 10) Portola, CA.

Read an Excerpt

A noise from overhead stopped Sancho in his tracks. At first he thought it might just be his imagination, but as he took another step a voice called out, "Please don't leave us!" He scanned the surrounding trees but he couldn't see a thing. He'd never heard of talking trees, but on such a strange day as this he assumed anything was possible.
Just then Sydney returned. "Come on, Sancho! We haven't got all day!"
“But, Sydney!" cried Sancho, "I think these trees are talking to me!"
Sydney stared up into the thick blanket of leaves. "Hello," he called. "Is anyone up there or has my friend lost his marbles?"
To both their amazement, a small boy dropped out of a nearby tree and landed just a few steps from where they stood. "Hello," said the boy. "My name's Chip Horn."
"I see," said Sydney, "and do you live all alone up there in that tree?"
Chip giggled. "Oh no," he said, "my mother and father are up there as well. But they're too scared to climb down. I told them the crocodile was gone, but now they're not so sure about you."

SIR SYDNEY SUPPORTS THE AUSTRALIAN KOALA FOUNDATION

The Australian koala is in danger of extinction. A portion of all book proceeds are donated to the AUSTRALIAN KOALA FOUNDATION.

SIR SYDNEY'S WEBSITE OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!! Go to "About the Authors" for details

“…a fantastic website which offers wonderful free activities for kids as well as great guides for teachers and parents.” Jeannette Marshall, Teacher and Parent

This is the only modern, published account of the Soldier's Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania. A bureaucrat of the system wrote a so-called history in 1873 but it is very self-serving and devoid of any critical analysis. Also included, a bonus feature on the Ill-Fated Gettsyburg Orphanage.
The Soldier's Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania, 1864- 1889 were unique to the history of the nation. They were the first historical example of a government attempting to nurture and educate the children of soldiers killed in war. During the 25 years of its existence, over ten thousand children passed through the Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania.
Established largely through the efforts of Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, they were not orphanages but privately owned boarding schools funded by the state which took in soldiers' orphans between the ages of eight and sixteen.
While they designed a rigid academic plan of studies, the well-known professional educators who supervised the system for the state were mainly interested in the moral development of these children from the lower strata of society. Discipline, hard work, and obedience were the principal aims of those who ran the schools. Intellectual development was always secondary.
Located mainly in the rural and agricultural areas of the state, the Soldier's Orphan Schools were challenged by the new economic and social forces of the latter nineteenth century.
In a state renowned for its savage partisan politics, the Pennsylvania Soldiers' Orphan Schools got emeshed in a so-called scandal which involved the Democratic governor and the GOP opposition. Charges of neglect and fraud dominated the political press for months. This episode of 1886 soured the public on the system of relief established during the Civil War.
An add-on chapter concludes the book - The Ill-Fated Gettysburg Orphanage. This institution was like a counterpoint to the S.O.S. The latter was a government sponsored creation. The orphanage in Gettysburg for soldiers' orphans was a private endeavor with no government supervision or financial involvement.
This is truly an amazing story beginning with the battle of Gettysburg, the discovery of a dead soldier clutching the picture of his three children, the search for his identity, the sale of the picture to raise funds for an orphanage, its life from 1866-1877, and its closing largely because of a “cruel headmistress” who among many “evil acts” kept her charges in an underground torture chamber. This section features the Lunden Family Letters, printed for the first time. The 3 Lunden children corresponded with their mother while under the care of the notorious headmistress, Rosa Carmichael.

The book is enhanced by 170 photographs and drawings.

To request a review copy, please e-mail [email protected]