The Bird Caper: Middle-Grade Fiction: BOOK1 (The Crow's Tales) - Hardcover

Pannell, Victoria E; Sigfusson, Thorir

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1964064015 ISBN 13: 9781964064017

Publisher: Vptswriters, 2024

Synopsis

GOLD WINNER Readers' Favorite Book Awards

GOLD WINNER The Wishing Shelf Book Awards     

Comparable Title: The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier - BookLife Review

"Friendship, humor, and a young boy's touching bond with a free-flying crow make this story soar." - Kirkus Review

Are you ready for a thrilling adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat?

Look no further. In THE BIRD CAPER, enjoy a rollicking mystery adventure! Tensions mount when ten-year-old Brandon's life spirals out of control because his parents decide to uproot him from the only home he's ever known. "Holy Ravioli!" Brandon doesn't like the idea for a hundred or more reasons. Why can't his life stay just as it is? No CHANGES!! He worries about his pet birds and his friends. Will he lose everything important to him?

Who knew moving to a new neighborhood could be so crazy? Or frightening! Brandon has moved near the scariest bullies in Riverside Middle School, the infamous B.B. Boys! How will he navigate their torture? He'll need a plan to save himself. But wait... when Brandon's pet crow, Ralph, is accused of stealing the head bully's prized whistle, there's real trouble. Now, he needs a plan to save Ralph!

Amidst the chaos, Brandon discovers an unexpected ally in the form of ladybugs, leading to a surprising resolution that teaches him that CHANGE, while daunting, can also open doors to new friendships and adventures. A must-read for boys and girls 8-12 years old. Fans of "The Mysterious Benedict Society" will devour this captivating and humorous tale.

Don't wait, grab your copy today!

GOLD Book Award - Literary Titan

Prestigious B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

Readers' Choice Five-Star Review

Reader Views Five-Star Review

Readers' Favorite Five-Star Review

Bonus! Teacher Reading Resources Included. Also, see the STEAM note below.

Book One in The Crow's Tales series, by Victoria E. Pannell and Thorir Sigfusson. Be sure to read THE BIG DREAM, book 2 of THE CROW'S TALES, a 3-book series. Entertaining stories with wholesome values!

STEAM NOTE:

Students and teachers find that integrating fictional narratives into science lessons improves comprehension and enjoyment by making complex ideas more relatable. In THE BIRD CAPER, ten-year-old Brandon conducts a ladybug experiment using a kit given to him by his grandparents. To document his ladybugs' life cycle, he maintains a journal and consults a library book with colorful photos of each stage. The story's adventure features the book and the ladybugs in key roles. A study of the ladybug life cycle is a STEAM activity that includes science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Incorporating the reading of The Bird Caper into the study of the ladybug life cycle is an enrichment activity for both the students and the teacher.

About this title

About the Authors

Victoria E. Pannell, a middle-grade fiction author, grew up in southern New Jersey. She graduated from Rowan University with degrees in English and Education and has extensive experience in public affairs and communications with an MBA in Public Administration. At 73, she co-wrote and self-published her first book, "The Big Dream." It was a finalist in the Readers' Choice Book Awards and won the Wishing Shelf Book Awards' Red Ribbon Award. She went on to co-author "The Bird Caper," which received GOLD in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards, GOLD in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, was awarded the prestigious Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion, GOLD in the Literary Titan Book Award, Finalist in the Reader's Views, and received five stars from the Readers' Favorite Book Reviews. "The Bird Caper," with its theme focused on the challenges of "change," has been praised for its relatable message, resonating with boys and girls around the world. The Crow's Ring is the third in their series, The Crow's Tales, and won SILVER in the Readers' Choice Book Awards. She writes with her husband, Thorir Sigfusson, and the duo writes under the pen name Pannell and Sigfusson. They love writing stories about friendship and humor. Victoria is a member of SCBWI, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild. She's a ventriloquist and loves to perform with her puppet for children at local libraries.

Thorir Sigfusson came to the United States from Iceland when he was twelve and recalls those years of transition, not knowing the language, as a time of great adjustment. Today, as an award-winning author, Thorir creates relatable stories for middle-grade readers, beginning his writing journey after retiring from a long career as an architect. Thorir co-authored his debut novel, The Big Dream, a Readers' Choice Book Awards finalist and winner of the Wishing Shelf Book Awards' Red Ribbon Award. He went on to co-author "The Bird Caper," which received the 2024 GOLD medal in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, the prestigious indie B.R.A.G. Medallion, GOLD in the Literary Titan Book Award, Finalist in the Reader's Views, and received five stars from the Reader's Favorite Book Reviews. The book receives praise for its modern style and relatable message that resonates with children worldwide. He writes with his wife, Victoria E. Pannell, and the duo writes under the pen name Pannell and Sigfusson. "The Crow's Ring" is the third in their series, The Crow's Tales, and won SILVER in the Readers' Choice Book Awards. Thorir is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).

Award-winning illustrator and author.

Edition details

• Publisher: Vptswriters
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1964064015
• ISBN 13: 9781964064017
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Brooks Mikey
• Number of pages: 198