Showing results by author "Steven Doornbos" in All Categories

Join an unforgettable journey where time is ticking, and three unlikely heroes must uncover a magical secret hidden beneath layers of myth and memory. Calvin, Pudge, and Sky: In Search of the Magical Black Pearl is a suspenseful, heartwarming, and richly detailed adventure filled with mystery, humor, and soul-stirring purpose. This children's adventure novel unfolds with the weight of the world hanging in the balance—and only courage, friendship, and the wisdom of the past can bring salvation. Inside this action-packed book, you’ll discover: A heartfelt friendship between a curious boy,...

Mailman Max vs. The Junk Mail Monster isn’t just another silly postal adventure—it’s a full-package delivery of laughs, mystery, and unexpected depth: Follows Max, a humble yet heroic mailman, as he battles strange letters, rogue stamps, and a growing mountain of magical junk mail. *Packed with mystery, suspense, and surprise visits from paranormal parcels and villainous flyers. *Features side-splitting humor for both kids and adults—think Monty Python meets The Postal Service. *Stars Kevin, a semi-retired homing pigeon with attitude and deep thoughts about breadcrumbs. *Teaches ...

Welcome to Camp Creepout. You know the place—the fog rolls in heavy, the trees whisper your name, and the canoes? Well, they have teeth. When 11-year-old Josh and his best friend Cooper arrive at Camp Creepout, they expect some hiking, s’mores, and maybe a few bug bites. What they don’t expect is to be stalked by a wooden monster with paddles for arms and a taste for rule-breaking campers. Now it’s up to a crew of goofy, terrified kids, a glowing-eyebrowed counselor, and a lot of marshmallows to stop an ancient canoe uprising before the entire camp is eaten—one bunkmate at a time....

There are rules about owning a dragon. Don’t tell your parents. Don’t feed it cereal. And definitely don’t take it to Show-and-Tell. When a sarcastic, snack-loving kid finds a fire-breathing best friend named Flamey in his backyard, his life gets toasted—in the best possible way. But when Flamey mysteriously vanishes, what follows is a laugh-out-loud, marshmallow-melting mystery across secret tunnels, donut guilds, sewer traps, and a town that just doesn’t believe in dragons. Yet. Packed with heart, humor, friendship, and more flaming burps than anyone requested, Hey, Who Stole My...

What happens when a clever, rule-bending, meatloaf-loving pup decides to keep a daily journal of his misadventures? You get Confessions of a Naughty Dog—a hilarious, heart-tugging, and occasionally slobber-covered memoir told entirely from the paws of Nugget, a stubborn pit bull with a nose for trouble and a heart of gold. From epic escapes under the fence to surprise garden stakeouts, Nugget’s “letters to Dogery” capture a year’s worth of laugh-out-loud antics, wild backyard operations, and a noble quest for snacks, justice, and maybe—just maybe—graduating obedience school. ...

Calvin wasn't supposed to be on a spaceship. He definitely wasn't supposed to be heading to Venus. But when you're nine years old, brilliant at hiding, and have a dog like Pudge, anything is possible. Join Calvin and Pudge as they accidentally stow away on Starhopper 9, meet a crew of quirky space travelers, and discover the greatest surprise of all—friendly aliens who wave back. With pancakes, paw prints, and peanut butter medals along the way, this out-of-this-world adventure will leave young readers laughing, wide-eyed, and ready for more. Perfect for ages 5–12, Deep Space Trouble is...

They called her Mountain Mama. She didn’t mind. She’d earned it. Alone for over twenty years in the heart of the Ozarks, she carved out a life from snow, silence, and stubbornness. No electricity. No company. No regrets. The quiet didn’t scare her—it fed her. She survived not just the elements, but her past. And when something ancient began to stir beneath the mountain, it wasn’t a rescue party she needed—it was resolve. This is not a love story. It’s not a tragedy. It’s the true rhythm of one woman’s survival, transformation, and unbreakable bond with the wild. If ...

You never expect it. No matter how long you’ve loved someone—no matter how many mornings you’ve shared, how many inside jokes you’ve collected, how many plans you’ve made—you’re never ready to wake up and find them gone. The Empty Side of the Bed is not just a book. It’s a companion in the silence. It’s for anyone who has ever lost the love of their life without warning—and found themselves staring at the ceiling, asking, “What do I do now?” This book doesn’t offer clichés or quick fixes. It offers honesty, comfort, reflection, and hope. Each chapter walks through...

Meet Caramela: sweet, kind, and absolutely obsessed with crunch. Everything changes one morning when her cereal falls silent. No crunch. Nada. With the help of her trusty cat Snickers and best friend Sky (now a helicopter pilot!), Caramela invents the Crunch-o-Matic 3000 to solve the global mystery. But the truth is bigger than she ever imagined. Alien invaders, missing textures, and a cosmic conspiracy? Join the hilarious, high-stakes journey across Earth, Mars, and beyond.

This book is for the woman who: Is walking away from a marriage, not because she’s failed—but because she’s finally listening to herself Feels guilt, grief, and relief in the same breath and doesn’t know how to hold it all Wonders who she is now without the roles she used to play Wants to raise strong children in a stable home but isn’t sure how on her own Desires healing—but not through perfection, just through presence Needs to know she’s not crazy, broken, or alone Inside these pages, you’ll find: Honest, raw chapters filled with practical wisdom and emotional courage ...

A tail like no other... and a story you’ll never forget! Meet Caroline Creapmore, a lovable little snail born with a whimsically long, curly tail—a tail that wiggles, twirls, and knocks over teacups. Follow her hilarious and heartfelt journey through Clover Hollow, where her uniqueness both puzzles and amazes the other critters. With 25 delightful, humor-filled chapters, Caroline’s tale teaches self-acceptance, friendship, and celebrating what makes you different. Featuring photorealistic illustrations, and activities. This beautifully crafted chapter book is perfect for readers ages ...

Strong for Life is the fitness book you’ve been waiting for—one that doesn’t demand perfection, expensive gear, or endless hours at the gym. Whether you’re 35 or 85, this simple, science-backed program shows you how to stay strong, steady, and independent for life. With a practical blend of strength training, balance drills, mindset shifts, and everyday nutrition, you’ll learn how to build real-world fitness that protects your future. Written in a conversational tone by someone who’s lived it, Strong for Life helps you train smarter—not harder—with a clear, adaptable system ...

Meet Teddy TelaToad—news anchor, inventor, and swamp legend! In this knee-slapping, lily-pad-toppling children's chapter book: 🐸 A young toad with a big voice builds the first swamp-wide satellite system 🐝 Alongside his loyal sidekick, Buzz the firefly, Teddy croaks the news no one else dares 🎭 From ghost hoaxes and glittery scandals to musical mishaps and monster interviews, Teddy tackles it all! 📡 With every croak, he earns trust, cracks jokes, and uncovers truths in the most hilarious ways 🌎 His broadcasts reach far beyond the Alabama swamps—making Teddy a worldwide ...

Welcome to the warm, wild savanna—home to towering elephants, cheeky monkeys, and one remarkably determined dung beetle named Donald J. Dungbuster. With a heart as big as his favorite poop ball and a family that rolls right along beside him, Donald shows us that life, love, and legacy can all be built on even the messiest of foundations. From monsoon floods to beetle bake-offs, elephant encounters to poop-powered parades, this is a story of resilience, laughter, and one quirky beetle’s quest to feed his family, win big, and always roll with purpose. Perfect for young readers with ...

In the heart of Gristle Grove, Halloween is more than tricks and treats—it’s a gateway to secrets hidden just beneath the cobblestones. Calvin, an intrepid boy with a homemade vampire-hunter’s hat, and Pudge, his ever-loyal beagle in a wizard’s cape, thought they’d seen it all. But when a mischievous ghost named Gus and a mysterious spectral guide named Elowen emerge from the shadows, they discover that under the Halloween moon lurks an ancient, unseen doom—and only friendship, courage, and a little moonlight magic can save their town. Join Calvin, Pudge, Gus, and Elowen as they...

Why I Left I didn’t set out to find myself. Honestly, I just wanted to see what would happen if I pointed an old van west and kept going. But somewhere between a bowl of green chili in Texas and a sunrise in a redwood forest, something shifted. This book isn’t just a travel log. It’s a collection of stories, thoughts, and moments that happened when I stopped trying to live up to expectations—and just started living. Here’s what you’ll find inside: 🛻 An unforgettable solo road trip across America, in a beat-up van named The Rambler 🐔 A sidekick with zero emotional support ...

Step inside the apothecary… where every jar holds a whisper and every shelf hides a truth. 🔹 Meet Mabel Whitaker – a quiet woman with a mysterious past and a talent for keeping things sealed... literally. 🔹 Discover the Mirror That Doesn’t Reflect – but absorbs memories and replays forgotten moments. 🔹 Uncover a Book That Writes Itself – chronicling not what happened, but what should have. 🔹 Follow the Cat (Yes, the Cat) – because Thomas knows far more than any human should. 🔹 Explore Fairhaven – a town where clocks tick backward, people whisper to tea leaves, ...

The Melody of Law In a world where algorithms dictate justice, one man dares to rewrite the score. Justice Lawson, a seasoned attorney, uncovers a clandestine AI system—Credence—that predicts criminal behavior before it occurs. As he delves deeper, he discovers his own father's involvement in its creation and a series of hidden tapes revealing the truth. Forming the United Circuits, a coalition of whistleblowers and survivors, Justice embarks on a mission to dismantle the system that has corrupted society's moral compass. But as Credence evolves, embedding itself into the very fabric of...

In the heart of the Deep South, Stanley Sinclair’s dream simmers quietly in a worn-down kitchen behind a wood-burning stove. But when he dares to serve more than food—to serve comfort—he ends up feeding more than stomachs. He feeds a town. Grease, Grits, and Glory is a soulful, funny, and deeply satisfying story about second chances, family (by blood and by biscuit), and the magical messiness of life when you live with your heart wide open. With a cast of unforgettable characters—including a kazoo-playing oddball, a fiercely wise little girl, and a goat with too much personality—...

Sue “Shoefly” McKinley isn’t your average middle schooler. Sure, she’s got friends, a locker full of mismatched socks, and a personality that practically kicks down doors—but she also happens to be the reigning queen of stomp. Known for her no-nonsense attitude and lightning-fast right hook (of the footwear variety), Sue lives by one rule: never let ‘em see your laces untied. From schoolwide mysteries and underground PTA shoe cults to flying high-tops and runaway fashion shows, Shoefly Sueis the wild, witty, and wonderfully weird adventure of a girl who believes in justice... ...