Category Archives: Childrens

A Kid’s Guide to Magic Buttons

by Mike Kalmbach, Alexander Kalmbach, Nathaniel Kalmbach, and Lily Kalmbach
Illustrated by Mike Kalmbach

AIn the spirit of The Monster at the End of This Book and Don't Push the Button, A Kid's Guide to Magic Buttons will make your kids laugh and beg for more.

Kids love to push buttons, and now their parents will too. Sing, laugh, and play with your kids as you turn each page. This open-ended book makes every night a different adventure.

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About the Authors

Mike Kalmbach grew up in a forest near Lake Michigan. Spending his summers chasing wizards and fighting battles with evil ogres, Mike has always had a creative mind. He'll often share stories from his past, and some of them are even true.

After time dragged him from childhood, Mike moved into freelance editing, helping other authors improve dozens of stories. During the daylight hours, he writes software to help with genetics research. He leads the Rochester MN Writing group and often speaks on topics from writing and editing to engineering and robotics.

Luckily, Mike now has two sons, so he has plenty of excuses to set down the pen and play. He lives in Minnesota where he, his family, and a band of pirates can still be found battling ogres, dust bunnies, and even the occasional dragon.

Alexander Kalmbach was just two years old when he helped write his first book, A Shark at the Park. He has inherited his dad’s creativity and sense of humor (sorry world!). He spends his days fighting fires, busting ghosts, and chasing sharks away from the park.

Nathaniel Kalmbach enjoys playing with trucks, buses, and anything with wheels. He has inherited his dad’s creativity and sense of humor (sorry again, world!). He loves chasing monsters, putting together train tracks, and reading books.

Lily Kalmbach recently learned to walk, but she loves pushing buttons and seeing her parents react. Her parents suspect this will continue for a long time. She also sleeps through the night most nights, for which her parents are extremely grateful.

About the Illustrator

Mike Kalmbach grew up in a forest near Lake Michigan. Spending his summers chasing wizards and fighting battles with evil ogres, Mike has always had a creative mind. He'll often share stories from his past, and some of them are even true.

After time dragged him from childhood, Mike moved into freelance editing, helping other authors improve dozens of stories. During the daylight hours, he writes software to help with genetics research. He leads the Rochester MN Writing group and often speaks on topics from writing and editing to engineering and robotics.

Luckily, Mike now has two sons, so he has plenty of excuses to set down the pen and play. He lives in Minnesota where he, his family, and a band of pirates can still be found battling ogres, dust bunnies, and even the occasional dragon.

Nick Meets the Man in the Wheel Chair

by Rich Noll

NickWhat would happen when a young old boy goes to the book store and is surprised to meet someone ...someone his height? ...someone unique? ...someone disabled? Nick thought he knew a lot about the real world, but when he crosses paths with Sam, who is disabled, Nick learns a big lesson and makes a new friend.

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About the Author

Hello my name is Rich Noll. I am 37 years old. I have been in a wheelchair my entire life as I was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida.

Additionally, I was hit by a drunk driver while returning to campus while at college in Marshall, MN. Consequently, I received an brain injury from that incident.

Nonetheless, I am married and we have two beautiful girls age 6 and 4 and a half months old. I have lived most of my life in Rochester, MN.

I am a big sports fan; NBA, college basketball and football, tennis. I love to fish.

I of course love to write stories, most of my story ideas come from my own personal experiences in life.

A Shark at the Park

by Mike Kalmbach and Alexander Kalmbach
Illustrated by Nicole Cardiff

AA timeless story about the special relationship between father and son. This story will be enjoyed by fans of Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney.

Follow one boy, his dad, and a host of animals as they encounter A SHARK AT THE PARK.

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About the Authors

Mike Kalmbach grew up in a forest near Lake Michigan. Spending his summers chasing wizards and fighting battles with evil ogres, Mike has always had a creative mind. He'll often share stories from his past, and some of them are even true.

After time dragged him from childhood, Mike moved into freelance editing, helping other authors improve dozens of stories. During the daylight hours, he writes software to help with genetics research. He leads the Rochester MN Writing group and often speaks on topics from writing and editing to engineering and robotics.

Luckily, Mike now has two sons, so he has plenty of excuses to set down the pen and play. He lives in Minnesota where he, his family, and a band of pirates can still be found battling ogres, dust bunnies, and even the occasional dragon.

Alexander Kalmbach was just two years old when he helped write his first book, A Shark at the Park. He has inherited his dad’s creativity and sense of humor (sorry world!). He spends his days fighting fires, busting ghosts, and chasing sharks away from the park.

About the Illustrator

Nicole Cardiff is an American artist currently living in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with BFA in illustration. Nicole has been honored by the ImagineFX Magazine as a Rising Star and featured artist under 25. She works as a freelance artist and her works have mainly fantasy themes.

Snuffy and Vroom-Vroom

by Elizabeth Lavine
Illustrated by Sheila McGraw

SnuffySuitable for boys and girls, age 3-7, bedtime stories, reading aloud and beginner readers.

  • "Our daughters are 4 and 6 and this is one of their favorite books! Sure to be a classic. Love the illustrations by the master Sheila McGraw!" ~ Dad in Los Angeles
  • "I totally love this book. Such a sweet, fun story infused with profound lessons life lessons for kids and grown up kids alike." ~ Holly B. Reeves
  • "Really, really cute! A very special little book. This could become a children's classic. Your kids will love this!" ~ Sandy Jones

An adorable little vacuum cleaner's life is turned upside down when his beloved brother is purchased--and he's left behind at the store. Just when his heartbreak seems too much to bear, a magical friend arrives. She breaks the spell of sadness and sets in motion a chain of events that cause a surprising serendipity!

This book is beautifully illustrated with 16 full-color illustrations by award-winning artist, Sheila McGraw, illustrator of the children's classic Love You Forever.

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About the Author

Elizabeth Lavine was born in Minnesota and has lived a nomadic, well-traveled life of inquiry and adventure. She currently facilitates The Work of Byron Katie and Scott Kiloby's Living Inquiries and is working closely with Ellen Anderson on her next children's picture book, "The Happy Farm Woman," as well as several other projects in the works. She is blessed to share her life with a large extended family, 3 amazing grown children and 7 grandchildren. She loves reading and writing inspirational books and stories and watching transformational movies.

About the Illustrator

Sheila McGraw is an internationally recognized illustrator, painter, and author. She is the illustrator and/or author of fifteen children’s and how-to books including the children’s classic Love You Forever with more than twenty million copies in print; Paper Mache for Kids, winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award; and the bestseller I Promise I'll Find You. Sheila is an ex-pat Canadian living in Texas. She is the mother of three grown sons.

Jeva the Snowgirl: Perfectly Made

Perfectly Made

by Tracy Kennedy
Edited by Mike Kalmbach
Illustrated by Nicole Cardiff

JevaWhen my daughter was young, she became very sick. One night after a long day at the hospital, she asked me a tough question: “Mommy, why did my Maker create me this way? What good am I?” This broke my heart. That night, I prayed and found this answer. Every part of a child is like a snowflake, wonderfully and uniquely made. Much like how snowflakes form the foundation for a snowman, individual uniqueness is the foundation for each child. Even so, as anyone who has ever built a snowman knows, it is not the snowflakes alone that creates a snowman. The maker is essential in its creation. Every snowman, like every child, is created to delight its Maker. In their Maker's eyes, they are perfectly made. This story is for any child who feels different, strange, or downright weird, whether from interests, illness, or capabilities. My prayer is that every child finds a comfort within this story: that they are perfect just the way they are.

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About the Author

Tracy Kennedy graduated from Bethel Seminary with a Master Of Divinity degree in May 2014. Tracy’s ministry is revealed through inspirational writing and other contributions in the service of God. This is her first children’s book. Tracy is currently writing her second children’s book with the expected publishing date of December 2014. Tracy is a mother to three wonderful children and step-mother to four more. Tracy and her husband live in Minnesota where Tracy is a chaplain.

About the Editor

Mike Kalmbach grew up in a forest near Lake Michigan. Spending his summers chasing wizards and fighting battles with evil ogres, Mike has always had a creative mind. He'll often share stories from his past, and some of them are even true.

After time dragged him from childhood, Mike moved into freelance editing, helping other authors improve dozens of stories. During the daylight hours, he writes software to help with genetics research. He leads the Rochester MN Writing group and often speaks on topics from writing and editing to engineering and robotics.

Luckily, Mike now has two sons, so he has plenty of excuses to set down the pen and play. He lives in Minnesota where he, his family, and a band of pirates can still be found battling ogres, dust bunnies, and even the occasional dragon.

About the Illustrator

Nicole Cardiff is an American artist currently living in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with BFA in illustration. Nicole has been honored by the ImagineFX Magazine as a Rising Star and featured artist under 25. She works as a freelance artist and her works have mainly fantasy themes.