A collection of serious and not so serious short stories from the coast of Maine. Some of these stories are intended to amuse, and some may touch a chord and bring a tear. But they are all intended to help pass some leisure time, perhaps while waiting for the kids to get home from school, or the even the winter to pass into spring. No guarantee is given concerning the political correctness of any of these stories, but when reading one should remember that some people actually enjoy satire. And for those who do not, the author humbly submits that perhaps those who can't laugh at history may be worrying about the wrong things.

10 new and original stories with painted illustrations by Nadia Ilchuk. Imaginative stories of day-to-day adventures with human and animal characters that teach a life lesson. The story-telling is in the style of classics like The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, The Wind in the Willows or Winnie the Pooh in which animal characters have normal yet imaginative adventures, providing a vehicle for learning about community, compassion and collaboration. The elements used to craft the stories are: • normal, every-day activities into which is woven a challenge or a difficult situation. • talking animal characters engaged with human characters, involved in adventures. • lessons relating to teamwork, safety, helping others and kindness. About 2000 words per story.

From a professional magician and New York Times bestselling author, 116 tricks, stunts, and brainteasers that will engage the grandchildren and provide giggles, jaw-dropping awe , and wonderful memories. Guaranteed to make grandparenting even more fun, Grandpa Magic is sure to entertain—and crack up— the grandkids. From the old pull-a-quarter-from-behind-a-kid’'s-ear trick and “removing your thumb” to card tricks, stunts for the dinner table, and verbal puzzles that surprise and delight, there’s something for everyone. Step-by-step illustrations make them easy to learn.

These stories were initiated and written for those members of my family. They were originally penned to serve as children’s stories for parents and young ones alike to reread and continue to perceive the great beauty of nature. However, they are more closely related to Environmental Stories, while they still last.... These stories are written by a Bear. They reveal themselves under a different format than what would be expected. After all, being a Bear has a different outlook and perspective. And, for those who speak the language of a Bear, “One Word Says It All...GRRRR !” GRRRR !

A memoir and a history, Grampas Left Arm tells the story of Jakob Tirjan and Annie Kaufold, immigrants who settled in southeastern Pennsylvania in the early 1900s. Their village on the Austro-Hungarian eastern frontier faded into history when the province of Galicia came under Polish rule after WWI. The Authors curiosity about the origins of his name led him to explore Eastern Europes troubled twentieth century history and the societal transformations which shaped his political perspective of the United States. Ethnic clashes, the Red Scare, the KKK, fair wages and strikes, even the Business Plot were all heated topics around the dining table. These arguments planted the seeds of curiosity about the origin of his name. No one in his family knew for sure if Grampa Tirjan was really Austrian, as he claimed, or exactly where he had come from. But they all agreed that greedy captains of industry and politicians had their own interests at heart and working men and women had to look out for themselves. Jim Tirjans post-WW II all-American boyhood echoed many of the major events of the century: wars, the Depression, Communist spies, the isolation of rural life, lives painfully disrupted in modern industrial society and our fascination with and dependence on the automobile. Grampa Tirjan labored at Baldwin Locomotive Works while Grandma Annie ran a boarding house. Jims mother bought a new 1931 Plymouth for $530 with housekeeping wages. Jim picked string beans with prisoners and earned a masters degree. His story is told with humor and compassion and a great appreciation for the forces of history we ignore at our peril. Was Grampa Tirjan really an Austrian? Indeed and then some.

He is a writer and landscape photographer living on the coast of Maine. One of his greatest pleasures is driving on Mount Desert Island (home of Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor) in his Porsche 928, searching for interesting sights to photograph or perhaps just to see the sunrise. It is while enjoying one of these drives on a frosty late winter morning that he spots another Porsche. A woman is standing beside the car looking at a flat tire. Being a fellow Porsche owner, he naturally stops to try and help. Little does he realize his innocent offer of assistance will lead to adventure, danger, and involvements reaching far beyond the simple life that he knew-as he descends into "The Mists of Adriana."

A number of years ago now as one of my grandsons first birthday approached I thought about what to give a one year old. There are a million things that will be played with for a short while then either broken or ignored. I wanted to give something special, something lasting, something that even when older he might still enjoy. Then it struck me, since he likes the silly little stories I tell him upon his request, that maybe I could write some cute little short stories, with a moral as well, just for him (and any of my other grandchildren as well when shared). Thats all it took to get me started. Since then each year I write a little story that somehow relates to something in his life. When another grandchild came along he also was added to the list of recipients of original stories. When I got to thinking about it I decided there may be other grandparents that would like to spend time with their grandchild reading a little story. Now a few years down the pike and I have enough for a book. And so herein I offer my readers a chance to share the joy of time spent reading to a child. That is why my stories were written in the first place. Children go through phases as with my grandchildren there were the dinosaurs, whales, (especially the blue whale), hedge hogs, puppies and gold fish. Im sure you get my drift. All of these fed my imagination and help to produce stories that have a connection and personal touch for both the child and me. These stories are not written for children to read, but rather for a loving adult to sit down with child on their lap or side by side on a shared sofa and be read to. I recommend using funny voices and lots of emphasis and maybe a tickle or two at just the right moment to add flavor and a garnish to each story. The giggles, like sparklers on the 4th of July, will shower joy in all directions and warm the heart of the one reading the story and those close by. Do not be concerned about the content all the stories contained in this book are rated PG - (to be read by Parent or Grandparent). I hope you will enjoy these short stories even more that I did writing them.