New Releases by Betsy Duffey

If animals could talk, what stories they could tell us about Christmas! Imagine the perspective of Mary''s cat, or the donkey that carried her to Bethlehem. What stories would the camel tell about the Magi, or the sheep about the night the angels appeared? Nine animals each share a part of the Christmas story from Mary''s house cat in Nazareth to cow in the stable in Bethlehem. As the animals tell their stories, we see that they have been changed by Christmas. A fearful cat gains courage. A proud camel learns to kneel. We are all changed by the presence of Christ and the story of the small baby king born in Bethlehem.

We long for our children to be safe and secure in a dangerous world. We invest in security systems for our homes. We buckle our children into car seats. But are they safe? Are we missing something? What if prayer could make a difference? In a world that is unsafe, God provides protection by giving us his equipment for security: the armor of God. Within the verses of Ephesians, we find everything our children need for their protection - truth, righteousness, faith, service, salvation, scripture, and prayer. Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers will guide you as you take these powerful verses and pray for God''s armor for your children.

Quietly, a force of power is unleashed, changing the course of the world - the prayers of faithful women and men for children. We will never be able to count the good choices made and bad choices avoided, the lives grown in faith as a result of these prayers. You too can unleash that power by praying Psalm 23 for your children. In this book of devotions and prayers you will learn something important about yourself, your children, and God. Our relationship to God is like a sheep to a shepherd. In the Bible there are over 700 references to sheep. God often refers to us as his sheep. People and sheep are alike. We are stubborn and anxious. We are crowd pleasers. We are fearful. We are helpless on our own. But God is our shepherd, ready to provide everything we need. It''s all there in Psalm 23. How can you join in and pray for your children? Everything we want for them is promised in the powerful words of Psalm 23. Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers will guide you as you take Psalm 23 and pray its truths and promises for your children.

Complete with new beginnings and the promise of happy endings, the Howard Books Spring 2013 Fiction eSampler has an array of debut authors and perennial favorites for you to try out and enjoy. Step back in time with our historical fiction, fall in love with our inspirational romance, and enjoy our contemporary stories. If you would like to learn more about any of our authors or the titles featured, please visit us at HowardBooksOnline.com, follow @Howard_Books, or like us at Facebook.com/HowardBooks and sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter to stay informed of all of Howard’s fiction releases. With chapter excerpts from the following Spring 2014 new releases: Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner Friend Me by John Faubion The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki The Thief by Stephanie Landsem Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo The Shepherd’s Song by Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury Fearless Hope by Serena Miller Sing for Me by Karen Halvorsen Schreck Fair Play by Deaanne Gist Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt Visit HowardBooksOnline.com for more on these and other authors.

Follow the incredible journey of one piece of paper—a copy of Psalm 23—as it travels around the world, linking lives and hearts with its simple but beautiful message. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures… Shortly before a tragic car accident, Kate McConnell wrote down the powerful words of Psalm 23 on a piece of paper for her wayward son. Just before she loses consciousness, Kate wonders if she’s done enough with her life and prays,“Please, let my life count.” Unbeknownst to Kate, her handwritten copy of Psalm 23 soon begins a remarkable journey around the world. From a lonely dry cleaning employee to a soldier wounded in Iraq, to a young Kurdish girl fleeing her country, to a Kenyan runner in the Rome Invitational Marathon, this humble message forever changes the lives of twelve very different people. Eventually, Kate’s paper makes it back to its starting place, and she discovers the unexpected ways that God changes lives, even through the smallest gestures. With beautiful prose evocative of master storyteller Andy Andrews’s The Butterfly Effect, this “intriguing…[and] inspiring read” (RT Book Reviews) will touch your heart and remind you of the ways God works through us to reach beyond what we can imagine.

An irresistible collection of short stories for cat lovers. At the annual gathering of the MEOW society, cats of all kinds convene to share their stories and those of their ancestors. Chico, the smallest cat in the world, recounts stopping a crime. The Pirate Cat tells of the fateful day when he discovered a treasure while hunting for mice. And Georgio shares his delectable—and sometimes surprising—recipes. Cat Diaries is a winning companion to Dog Diaries, also by Betsy Byars and her daughters Betsy Duffy and Laurie Myers. With gorgeous black-and-white illustrations by Erik Brooks, animal lovers and reluctant readers will be wooed by the charm, strength, and wit of these feline friends.

Throughout the year, 12 of Mr. Magro''s students have written about their biggest emergencies and tucked them into The SOS File. Now it''s time to read the stories out loud and try to guess whose contribution has earned extra credit. Illustrations.

Aspiring writer Booker Jones isn''t happy. His parents have left Booker''s older sister, Libba, in charge while they''re on vacation, Booker''s best friend, Germ, has suddenly become the most popular writer in school, and now Booker''s got writer''s block! Life is going from bad to worse, and there''s nothing Booker can do to stop it-or is there? Author-to-be Booker Jones is back in this hilarious sequel to Utterly Yours, Booker Jones. "Booker is a thoughtful, creative and sympathetic character. . . . This funny, entertaining novel will appeal especially to boys." (School Library Journal)

"Add this title to your "Recommended Reading for Summer Camp" bibliographies"--School Library Journal Cody''s mom is pulling the plug and sending him off to camp. That means no TV, no video games, no computers-for one whole week! According to his wilderness guide, the first rule of survival is to be prepared. The only thing Cody''s not prepared for is how much fun he''ll have at camp! "Fans of Cody will stay unplugged themselves until the final pages of this fun-filled story." -Booklist

Nine-year-old Cody Michaels is bound for stardom in the third grade talent show just as soon as he figures out his talent.

How much trouble can two third graders and one pint-sized alien get into? Plenty, as well as plenty of slapstick fun! It''s just an ordinary school day when third-graders Lexie and J.P. see an unusual sign on the bulletin board. In silver letters that seem to float on the paper it says: Alien for Rent: Two Gugentocks Per Hour. Definitely weird. Before Lexie and J.P. can find any aliens, Bruce, the fifth-grade bully, finds them. When he tries to punch J.P., Bruce freezes in mid-swing, glows green, and floats off the ground. What on Earth is happening? The answer is not actually from Earth. His name is Bork, and Lexie has accidentally rented him for the price of two gugentocks--a.k.a. Twinkies. Just what other "good deeds" has Bork done for Lexie? And how will they undo them? Anything is possible when a junk food-loving alien comes for a visit!

Kelly Sparks is the undisputed gadget champ at Danville School. Then Albert Einstein Jones, an alumnus of Young Inventor''s Camp, joins her class. Kelly could give up the gadget crown gracefully -but she''d much rather let the spitballs and smelly goo fly!

Third-grader Cody Michaels is doing everything he can to avoid Cupid''s arrow.B&W illustrations.

It''s not easy to seem cool when the whole class knows you wear superhero underwear and your mom still kisses you goodbye at the bus stop. But Robbie York has a plan. 1) Get rid of the name Robbie. 2) Get jeans. 3)Avoid bullies like Bo Haney. If only it were that simple!

It''s not easy to seem cool when the whole class knows you wear superhero underwear and your mom still kisses you goodbye at the bus stop. But Robbie York has a plan, in this delightful chapter book that''s "well tuned-in to third-grade cool" ("Kirkus Reviews").

Cody and his classmates in the third grade are having fun reporting on the origin of their names, until Cody finds out that his parents named him after a dog.

Cody''s father is an F.B.I. agent, he''s got a pet emu, and he''s an ace on Rollerblades. At least, that''s what Cody tells his class on the first day at his new school. Being Super Deluxe Cody is great, until someone throws a skating party. And suddenly, the game may be up!

Middle school student and aspiring author Booker Jones is evicted from his bedroom when his grandfather moves in, creating problems both at home and at school.

Does "Math Wiz" have to equal "Sports Dud"? Marty Malone thinks no problem is too complicated for him. Then he starts third grade--and learns that being a math wiz won''t stop him from getting picked last in gym class. Kids like tom Ballan are so much better at sports that Marty will never be able to catch up. Trying harder doesn''t work. Trying to get out of gym doesn''t work. But what if Marty makes a friend in class? And what if that friend is a math wiz, too?

Willie and Crow are back at camp. Last year, Willie won the joke contest and was the knock-knock king. Now Crow wants to get him back. But Willie has a secret weapon--or does he? This time Crow takes charge as Willie must solve the clues hidden in knock-knock jokes to get back his secret weapon--a knock-knock joke book.

First published in hardback in 1995, a story featuring George and his puppy, Lucky, in which the little dog gets into trouble one Christmas when a Great Aunt comes to stay, but when she intervenes with an unexpected gift, it looks as if it might be a perfect Christmas after all. Illustrated in black and white.

While secretly building a roller coaster in the woods, twelve-year-old Hart tries to come to terms with his parents'' divorce and his mother''s new relationship with a television weatherman.

Booker Jones is a writer. When he settles down at the typewriter to write a story, life is great. But when his grandfather has a stroke, Booker has to give up his room and things begin to change.

Originally published in 1996 and now available in paperback, a novel in which a young boy has to deflect his mother''s overweaning attention in order to elude the school bully and develop his personal brand of cool. Illustrated in black and white throughout.

Evie and Megan find a dog, cat, and rabbit in a temporary animal shelter and try to find them homes before they are put to sleep by the authorities.

The Pet Patrol tries to cope with the plight of a mysterious animal that has been raiding neighborhood trash cans every night.

Two girls start the Pet Patrol, their own business of finding, minding and feeding pets. Pet Patrol.