(NewsUSA) - There’s a new generation running the show in the Kidverse: Generation Alpha. Defined as those born between 2010 and 2024, this new group of kiddos succeeding Generation Z is more diverse than any other generation, far more technologically savvy at a younger age and only know a world where social media is at the center of everything -- thus making social media stars THE celebrities they care about.     

Enter Alaya High, the hip-hop prodigy professionally known as That Girl Lay Lay. At age 15, she’s gone from being a social media sensation with 1.3 million Instagram followers to currently starring in her own namesake TV show on Nickelodeon and boasting her own line of consumer products sold at big box retailers across the country.       

In fact, you could say Lay Lay’s rise is a content creator’s dream come true. When she was 11, the Houston, Texas, native convinced her father, Acie High of the rap duo Aqualeo, to record her freestyling while they were driving -- she’d been rapping since age 5 -- and upload the clips to social media. Two weeks later, her performances had gone so viral on Instagram that even 50 Cent was reposting them, and she was on her way to becoming the youngest female rap artist to sign with Empire Records.       

“I was at my friend’s house,” she’s recalled of that time. “We went outside to go play. I came back, and I looked at my phone, and I was like, ‘Why does my phone say 3,000 notifications?’ I was like, Girl, I’m famous!’”     

Soon after, Lay Lay was rapping in music videos with the hugely popular likes of Young Dolph, Tr33zy and Lil Duval. And when Nickelodeon came calling last year to greenlight a show around her … well, let’s just say she was more than game, given that she considers herself a Nick Kid and counts “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “The Loud House” as her all-time favorite shows.       

“That Girl Lay Lay,” which recently kicked off its second season after having shattered records last fall and ranking as one of the top two series across all TV among Black kids age six to 11, continues to be a buddy comedy that speaks to a new generation of kids.       

The show follows a personal affirmation app (named Lay Lay, naturally) who is magically wished to life by a smart, real-life girl named Sadie (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) who has trouble speaking up for herself. Together they learn they can accomplish pretty much anything -- including getting Sadie to successfully run for her high school’s freshman class presidency -- so long as they work as a team.         

And with even more music and magic this year from everyone’s favorite personal affirmation app sprung to life, the premise really seems to have struck a chord: Last month “That Girl Lay Lay” ranked as the top live-action show with kids on cable TV.       

Better yet, executive producer Will Packer is excited by the real world impact the series can have on kids. “At any point in life, kids all around the world are faced with natural insecurity,” he said. “This is a series that can help them be confident in themselves and encourage them to be their own individuals.”     

And Lay Lay’s own effect?  She’s been called “the embodiment of fierceness, bringing optimism, magnetism and style to everything she does.” Meaning, young girls, especially Black girls, have a positive new role model they can look up to.

(NewsUSA) - ­­­­

“Rich Widows of Savannah Valley”
by Mitzi Perdue       

A whimsical, moving tale about Savannah Valley, the country’s most exclusive retirement community for the uber-rich. Set outside Savannah, Georgia, this fictional community is filled with mansions, Rolls Royce Phantoms and ladies who lunch. Four rich widows -- Glenda, Edith, Darcy and Sharon -- are looking forward to their golden years with everything taken care of. Then the amenities they have paid for begin disappearing.  

The activities become tiresome, the tee times are always taken, and the late dinners are no longer allowed. All of a sudden, it feels as if their wonderful retirement is little more than a cheap motel.   These women knew when they were being handed a load of bull. Laugh-out-loud hilarious, these women are not ready to give up anything they worked so hard for.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3De2iWL.

“I’ll Remember You”
by Deborah Packer  

“I’ll Remember You,” based on a true family tale and originally written as a screenplay, is set on the turbulent home-front America of 1943 amidst the anti-Semitism and racism of the time. It’s a love story about a young Jewish couple’s conflicted, hasty war-time courtship and marriage, a relationship plagued with doubt, misunderstanding and childhood trauma, that threaten any hope of a future together.  

An idealistic, fiercely proud small-town girl falls for a complex, enigmatic soldier from Brooklyn with horrific memories as a child in WWI Poland. Their romance, told from both perspectives, struggles through the turmoil of their hurried vows up to the moment the soldier leaves on a troop ship for England, convinced he will not survive the war. An epilogue is set in 1994.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3PtAPmj.

“Jasper the Wonder Dog”
by Richard Halliday  

This poignant tale packs twelve years of love and adventure into 52 pages, giving us a glimpse into the deep connection between Jasper and his family. While the story is bittersweet, it reassures fellow dog owners that we’re not alone when it comes to feelings of loss and remembrance.  

Ultimately, “Jasper the Wonder Dog” is far more than a children’s book about loss. It encompasses not just Jasper’s passing, but also the happiness and love that he received, thanks to his family. As much as the Hallidays brought love into Jasper’s life, Jasper gave it back to them tenfold. This book serves as a memorial to this incredible soul that touched their lives -- a true wonder dog. Beautifully written in first person with Jasper as our narrator.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3vYeHta.

“Aha! So That’s What Bitcoin Is!”
by Uncle Crypto  

This book is a step-by-step guide to cryptocurrency in pictures and plain language, helping readers understand the basic concepts before even beginning to tackle what it means to invest.  

The author believes that Bitcoin has the potential to change our lives as much as or more than the invention of the automobile, computers or the Internet. Once readers understand what Bitcoin is and what it can do, they will have a clearer picture of the future we are heading toward.   Education should be easy and fun. Forty-seven illustrations make the journey enjoyable, and readers will find that going from one simple idea to the next will get them to their “AHA!” destination.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3T8Oja4.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

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“The Color of Ice”
by Barbara Linn Probst       

This is the breathtaking story of a woman’s awakening to passion, beauty and the redemptive power of unconditional love.  

Freelance photographer Cathryn McAllister travels to Iceland for a shoot with an enigmatic artist who wants to capture the country’s iconic blue icebergs in glass. Widowed young, Cathryn has raised two children while achieving professional success. If the price of that efficiency has been the dimming of her fire, she hasn’t let herself think about it. Until now.  

Cathryn abandons a planned vacation itinerary to remain with Mack, the glassblower, who awakens a hunger for all the things she’s told herself she doesn’t need anymore: Passion. Vulnerability. Risk. When her path seems clear, she’s faced with a shocking discovery -- and a devastating choice.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3EkdRtD.

“The New Empire”
by Alison McBain   Fire. Blood. His brother’s hand smashing his face to the ground.    

These are Jiangxi’s final memories of Beijing from 1751. A bloody coup against the Dragon Throne thrusts the emperor’s youngest son into a forced voyage across the China Seas. When his ship arrives on the shores of a California that never was, Jiangxi is among thousands sold into slavery. Shackled to a tribal confederacy, Jiangxi’s journey becomes inextricably linked to the whims of Onas, the powerful Elder who controls his freedom and his fate.  

When Jiangxi gets caught up in a battle to liberate the slaves, he has to choose how much he’ll risk for the ones he loves. His choice will change the future of the two most powerful nations in the world.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3sXQhOY.

“Civil Terror: Gridlock”
by J. Luke Bennecke  

A thought-provoking thriller for fans of Dan Brown, Lee Child, and John Grisham about artificial intelligence and the self-driving revolution. You’ll be forced to consider how you’d react if you were cornered and trapped in a terrifying, life-threatening situation.  

Fed up with slogging through the treacherous LA traffic to get to work, Jake Bendel and a cunning team of experts create a roadway system for self-driving cars -- preventing thousands of traffic deaths. People finally feel safe in their cars. But should they?  

A Syrian terrorist group weaponizes the system and devises a scheme to kill more Americans in one day than the 407,000-plus U.S. soldiers killed in World War II. Then the group plants evidence that convinces the public Jake is the architect behind the heinous terrorist attack.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3zF9gly.

“Rough Justice”
by Burt Weissbourd  

Callie and Cash are back, and their world is about to explode. Callie and Cash are eating a late dinner upstairs at her restaurant, “The Bronze Pig.” It’s been a year since they saved her ex-husband’s life and subsequently had to take on unexpected, lethal adversaries. During that process, they discover they care deeply, romantically, for one another.  

So imagine their surprise when they get an unexpected, half-Algerian female guest, 25-year-old Sara, showing up at the restaurant and insisting on telling them her shocking, unbelievable story. Someone is trying to kill her, and they’ve stolen her identity. She needs their help now, and she has a stunning, life-changing secret to tell.  

Yet, again, Cash and Callie assemble their unconventional ragtag family to save Sara and, ultimately, their own lives.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3erI15G.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

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“Room-By-Room Setups That Cater to Cattitude”
by Tanya Smith       

Organizing the home can be difficult, especially when you’re being watched or judged by one or more cats. With this book, you can learn to use various features of the home to provide fun setups for your cat family. If you're a cat parent looking for ways to add safety and entertainment for indoor cats while adding convenience for humans, this book is for you.  

Providing picture-filled illustrations, this book shows how you can: learn ways to add comfort, safety and entertainment features for indoor cats; organize rooms in a cat-friendly manner; create window setups that can work for both mellow and energetic cats; make it easy for cats to sit in comfort as they stare at the neighbors; and more.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3z06RjA.

“Summer of No Rain”
by Laura Hunter  

“In this YA novel,” writes Kirkus, “a multiracial girl finds herself the subject of strange medical experiments in rural Alabama. It’s the summer of 1968. Heat and drought have dried out the fields around Hyssop, where 12-year-old Margaret Ann Odom lives with her Black Cherokee mother, M’dear.”  

“The medicine causes Margaret Ann to feel depressed, but the truth is even darker than she can imagine. The majority of the book is narrated by Margaret Ann, and Hunter gives her a poet’s eye for the world around her ... the novel is based on a true story, one that many readers likely have never heard of, and Hunter tells it in a way that highlights the horrors.”

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3v4YqlW.

“Curse of The Eagle”
by Michael E. Nathanson  

A work of “faction,” combining elements of history, a suspense thriller and modern-day reality.  

The Council of Practitioners of Jihad sounds the call for an unprecedented meeting. They have not officially met since the group’s formation 30 years earlier. Ultimately a unified, unstoppable military confrontation is planned.  

FBI agents Gerry Bolton and Jan Hanson track down clues to the murders of several high-profile government officials that share too many common details. FBI Special Agent Aziz Malawi probes into the underworld of terrorist activities in America. He is drawn by chance into a very dark world and plunges into the workings of a large-scale terrorist operation in America. His FBI team must give him enough leash to get the job done, yet extract him before he becomes another victim.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3aXmNLi.

“The Trouble with Miracles, Book 3”
by Stephen Steele  

The ancient secret of fusion energy is rediscovered in this breathless thriller and third book in the series, about the magic and mystery of the Easter Island statues.   Cyd and Alex return to Montana to settle down. Robert, a close friend working in Chile, turns up missing after recent earthquakes trigger strange lights coming from a volcano. Cyd and Alex go looking for him, and a harrowing adventure uncovers a civilization of ancient aliens who possess the secret to fusion energy, the same energy that powers the sun. An object is found in a lost city that explains the technology, but it is unreadable.  

Meanwhile, a journal from a sunken 18th-century Spanish galleon reveals something hidden on an island off Chile’s coast that can translate the alien object.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3B9lALf.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

“White Flag”
by Judy Mandel       

“I’m done with that life, I’ll never go back to it,” vows Cheryl, but at this point the words are meaningless. This is why, when her Aunt Judy finds Cheryl in jail after two years after presuming her dead, Judy prays this is a wakeup call for the eldest daughter of her dead sister.

Bestselling author Judy L. Mandel reveals that her niece Cheryl is just a symptom of the pervasive grip of trauma brought to light in her first book, “Replacement Child.” Judy grapples endlessly with the seeming futility of trying to help Cheryl, and in the process discovers that trauma and epigenetics may have been what started this avalanche of pain generations ago. She wonders why some people can recover from addiction, and others cannot. Why some can raise the white flag of surrender, while others fight, no matter what the cost.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3AwgNDv.

“Where The Sun Rises”
by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha  

The “From Kona with Love” series depicts multicultural romance, love, loss, and redemption woven into a family saga, set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Book Two is a story about overcoming adversity, the promise of young love, and the valor in letting go.  

When Maele Moana is paired up with Adam Yates to walk down the aisle together at her friend Andie’s wedding, it isn’t exactly a perfect match. Maele is the daughter of a plantation worker, and Adam is the son of one of the richest men in Oahu. But they have one thing in common: big dreams. But with love comes sacrifice, and the goals they’ve worked so hard for may end up tearing them apart.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3qCU7g0.

“The Rowdy Randy Wild West Show”
by Casey Rislov  

Rugged action. Daring stunts. Spectacular showmanship! Rowdy Randy is back, and this time instead of aggravating all the creatures in her path, she’s rounding them up to put in her very own Wild West show.  

Now critters from every rock, den and tree are lining up to audition. And what a show it is! From rope stunts to high jumps, and aerial tricks to climbing competitions, this cowgirl’s show has got it all. But there’s one unwanted character lurking in the shadows who is ready to take credit for it all. The latest in the Rowdy Randy series for children -- which will bring joy and enlighten the imagination -- from this award-winning author.

Purchase at  https://www.caseyrislovbooks.com

“When the Bough Breaks”
by Nancy Ferraro  

“When the Bough Breaks, True Stories of Hope and Encouragement of Mothers Who Have Had to Reinvent Their Relationships with Their Children,” seeks to shed light on that moment when Mom has to reach into the well of courage and ask for outside help.  

The author is an attorney and the mother of two boys, one of whom was adopted from Romania with severe disabilities. After almost a decade of advocacy and research, she placed her son George in a group home, where he is thriving, growing and participating in family life. She writes of her experience as the main caregiver in the family, as most American mothers are, and bearing the burden of guilt and responsibility when things go awry.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3wQ9Ee1.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - ­­­­

“Squeeze Plays”
by Jeffrey Marshall       

A modern tableau about money and power set in New York and London. Two powerful men, a bank chief executive and a New York tabloid publisher, are at odds over a loan that would keep the publisher afloat. Enter a ruthless Russian oligarch with an offer of a financial life raft to the publisher -- a gambit uncovered by a dogged financial reporter who senses a big story.  

The book whisks us into the paneled boardrooms and lavish penthouses of the New York elite and shows us their lifestyle, their desires and their foibles. The author carefully details the reporter’s story, which ties the central characters together in what becomes a stunning front-page expose. Along the way, the reader sees not just financial skullduggery but sexual blackmail, strong and principled female characters and a brisk and often satirical take on the corrupting influences of wealth and power.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3PSCG4Q.

“Laughing My Way Through the Third Stage”
by Susan Goldfein  

The author is highly qualified to tarnish the golden years and she does so with the usual wit and wisdom we’ve come to expect. Following her first two award-winning books, “How Old Am I in Dog Years and How to Complain When There’s Nothing to Complain About,” this collection of hilarious essays comments on her personal, but highly relatable, journey through the decades.  

With wit and candor, Goldfein discusses her left rotator cuff that no longer rotated, her horror at losing inches instead of pounds and the indignity of bathing suit shopping. Susan has become the hilarious new voice for “women of a certain age,” and she reminds us of how refreshing it is to step back and have a good laugh at our own expense.

Purchase at  https://amzn.to/3xmRYru.

“The Offering”
by Salah El Moncef  

A Tunisian diasporic poet explores the nature of loss as his life tragically falls apart in this critically acclaimed novel.  

After countless professional disappointments, Tariq Abbassi flees Tunisia with his wife for a new life in France, where he plans to flourish as an experimental poet. But soon he is struggling just to keep his family together. His uncompromising ambition and untethered anger, however, ultimately lead to an emotional rupture, and Tariq soon finds himself completely alone when his wife takes the children and leaves.  

This abandonment is only the first in a string of unspeakable tragedies that befall him. Reeling from his devastating loss while attempting to cope with a traumatic brain injury, Tariq finds his already tenuous grasp on reality slipping away.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3TTWhnL.

“The Power of Being Seen”
by Roger Saillant  

A poignant memoir about a person who was a product of the foster care system in the 1950s, showing how adults’ inability to really see and hear others can alter a life. Author Roger Saillant describes his journey, constantly doubting himself and wondering: ‘Why doesn’t anybody want me? Did I do something wrong?’ He lives life on a farm where all that matters is whether work gets done  --  with no regard to the typical experiences of a growing child.  

Saillant describes feelings of abandonment and hopelessness, but the good values instilled by many caring adults make this a story of optimism, courage and inspiration. “Roger understands the impact kind people have had on him. Those who saw him and assured him he matters will live in him forever,” says reviewer Kathleen Alfiero.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3QcqZFv.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

“Ruin: A Novel of Flyfishing in Bankruptcy”
by  Leigh Seippel       

A thoroughly engrossing novel about a young couple’s struggle to come back from financial catastrophe. Having fled their urban life, they begin to build a new life together in a rural setting, only to have it fall apart all over again in ways that could never be predicted.  

Former hedge fund owner Frank Campbell has gone bankrupt and lost the entire inherited fortune of his artist wife. The couple takes refuge in an abandoned Hudson Valley farm shared with a resident herd of congenial goats.  

Frank tries to build a new business, but it is not the answer. Only when he turns to flyfishing, traveling the world in search of the ever more perfect and elusive trout (and one memorable carp), does he find his way forward.  

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3zncGJK.

“KGB Banker”
by William McCormick and John Christmas  

A pulse-pounding international thriller spanning the globe. A return trip to the land of his ancestors is about to turn deadly for one whistleblowing Chicago banker.  

When financial executive Bob Vanags takes a job at  the ominous Turaida Bank in Latvia, he hopes to learn of his heritage and to fight economic fraud in Eastern Europe. Instead, Bob finds himself pulled into a world of political intrigue, blackmail and murder.    

Aided by his son David, his beautiful colleague Agnese and a fearless Latvian journalist named Santa Ezeriņa, Bob begins to unravel his employer’s darkest secrets, discovering their sins and conspiracies beyond his wildest fears. Secrets that Turaida wants to keep hidden, even at the cost of Bob’s life.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3MLchUz.

“Double Exposure”
by Jeanee Sacken  

It’s November 2015. Seasoned war photojournalist Annie Hawkins returns home after an assignment to find her life falling apart. She’s under investigation for an incident that happened six months earlier in Afghanistan. Her best friend’s daughter is still missing, apparently with her Taliban boyfriend. Her daughter and friends are fundraising to rebuild the Wad Qol Secondary School for Girls and expect Annie to deliver the money.  

When Annie returns to Afghanistan to cover peace talks between the government and the Taliban, she goes to Wad Qol, where she discovers that not everyone wants the new school. Sabotage delays construction, and when a worker ends up dead, it’s clear the militants are to blame. It’s also obvious that they know exactly where Annie is.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3M8n5fn.

“Mirth”
by Kathleen George  

“You cannot fail to fall in love with Harrison Mirth.”  

“Mirth” chronicles the struggles of a writer, Harrison Mirth, a romantic man who writes about love and tries to find it through three marriages, in three cities, and always with renewable hope. Amanda is first -- New York City and youth. Maggie is second and spans the middle-age years -- Upstate New York. Liz, the third, from Pittsburgh and the senior years, sees him as a man sheltering a secret lake of sadness, but somehow always upbeat, cheerful, a willful optimist, forever innocent. To her, that is irresistible.  

Margot Livesey, author of “The Boy in The Field,” calls the book “a dazzling portrait of a man who lives up to his name, and of those who love him. A wonderful novel.”

Purchase at .

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“Revelation (The Saga of Venom and Flame)”
by Victor Acquista       

An ancient conspiracy is about to be exposed ... .  

Since the dawn of civilization, a clandestine Brotherhood has been secretly organizing a hidden agenda. As the Illuminati orchestrate worldwide catastrophic events to establish a New World Order, only Serena Mendez and an ancient society with ties to Atlantis can save humanity from centuries of manipulation.   Serena is a warrior without a weapon. As she and her allies work to defeat the Illuminati, she must decipher seven mysterious messages that hold the key to survival in this thrilling race to unlock a secret that will change humankind. Rich in history and mythology, this book is a gripping battle between the masters of mind control and the warriors who oppose them.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3z1Scoa.

“Make America Beautiful Again”
by Bo Bancroft  

Kirkus calls it “a nimble political satire that should appeal to Americans of every stripe ... reminiscent of books by Christopher Buckley.”   Suspected terrorists attack with a pre-dawn bomb spree, baffling law enforcement as the only targets are towering billboards lining the interstates. The laundry list of culprits includes eco-terrorists, a notorious drug cartel and disgruntled outdoor advertising employees. With Georgians on edge, politicians quickly focus on how to manipulate the situation.   Caught in the crosshairs are the three adult Worthington siblings. Not only was their outdoor advertising business attacked, the youngest brother, a retired Army demolitions expert, has suspiciously disappeared. So the family enlists his Army buddy to track him down. The web she ultimately uncovers is far more nefarious than terrorists.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3aSniXb.

“Fields of Fire”
by Ryan Steck  

“Debut thriller of the year.” --Kyle Mills    

Unable to remember anything leading up to his team’s ambush, Marine Raider Matthew Redd can’t deny the possibility that he’s responsible for the leak that led to the massacre. Discharged from the corps, Redd heads home to Montana, where he discovers his adoptive father is dead and the explanation for his death is far from satisfying. Determined to dig up the truth, Redd uncovers a dark global conspiracy with no team at his back -- except one he might find among past friends, old enemies and new allies, if only he can figure out whom to trust.    

“Matty Redd has cemented himself as the go-to man in a bad situation.”  -- Brad Taylor.    

Purchase at https://amzn.to/33YTHrL.

“Ask The Girl”
by DJ Key  

Murdered in 1925, Katy Watkins, an 18-year-old debutante, finds herself near a worn-down cabin. She doesn’t know where she is, so she heads home and discovers two strangely dressed girls in her bedroom window. When her memory returns, a demon hunts her -- this demon is her killer.  

She walks in the woods trying to get home, stuck in a loop until she meets Lila and Rose. It was hard for Lila to cope after her father’s suicide, which forced Lila, her mom, and her sister Rose to live with their aunt and uncle. They discover a ghost tied to an old murder mystery. Rose is possessed by Katy. In order to save Rose’s life, Lila and Rose help Katy uncover the truth about her murder.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3GmW6uX.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

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“The Absolute: Collected Poems of Sri Chinmoy”       

This book is a collection of Sri Chinmoy’s poems, selected from his entire body of poetic work that spans more than six decades. All of his early poems were written from within the poetic restraints of meter and rhyme. Only later in his poetic career did he write in free verse.  

Speaking of his poetry, Sri Chinmoy says, “Throughout my poetry-journey, my poetry-tree has cherished various branches: philosophy, prayer, religion, spirituality, my love of Nature’s beauty, my love of word-making, which the English language indulgently allows me to explore, and my abiding love, concern and hope for this world of ours.” Sri Chinmoy’s poetry offers hope, strength and salvation to many an earnest traveler in his or her journey through life.

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3OiiMPe.

“Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless”
by Mitzi Perdue  

Winner of the Literary Titan Award for Nonfiction. “The Chicken Man’s” wife writes about the “Chicken Soup” guy. Mitzi Perdue spoke to many of the important people who inspired “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” co-author Mark Victor Hansen along the way and to those with whom he made a true difference in their lives. Hansen conquered many mountains by never letting any obstacle get in his way and by inspiring others to make a difference. His story is exceptional, but it is his extraordinary perseverance and generosity that led to his long-term success.  

Perdue is a meticulous writer who captures the essence of Mark with true stories that are inspiring and amazing in showing the tenacity of one man who learned that in order to receive, first you must give.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3udF0dY.

“TARRA: Mission to Earth”
by Inna Van Der Velden  

Anthony and his friends come to Earth to find the antidote for the fear dust pollution. The children on their native planet, Tarra, are in severe danger. If Anthony’s mission doesn’t succeed, life on Tarra will cease to exist.  

Readers experience a number of adventures and come to their own revelations, sensing with their heart and acting on their intuition. See Earth from an interstellar traveler’s perspective and learn how to live within its harmony.   TARRA: Mission to Earth, geared for ages nine to 12, has incredible magic hidden within. It opens every reader to a deeper understanding of our planet. “TARRA: Mission to Earth, The Family Companion” includes 34 tasks for children as well as an adult guide.

Purchase at  https://amzn.to/3ympqOJ.

“Diamond Eyes Makes His Mark”
by DJ Key  

Mark Van Buren, nicknamed Diamond Eyes, is a 14-year-old misfit who can't do anything right. When his father and stepmom plan to ship him to Florida to live with his uncle DJ and aunt Rita, founders of a cover band, the Ambient Images, he worries he won't be accepted. But when he fills in to sing one night, it changes his life.  

Various adventures take him on an Alaskan cruise, the Las Vegas desert, an Amish farm, and a crocodile-infested swamp. The book is a testament to the trials and tribulations adolescents face in today's world, such as bullying, suicidal thoughts, loss of a loved one and sexual identity. Ultimately, it is a tale of faith, endurance and the power of unconditional love.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3I12mcu.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(Reissued 9/16/2022)

(NewsUSA) -  

Jeffrey Breslow’s new memoir, “A GAME MAKER’S LIFE: A Hall of Fame Inventor and Executive Tells the Inside Story of the Toy Industry,” is the gripping account of how the inventor held his company together after an employee opened fire in the Marvin Glass and Associates conference room in 1976. The gunman killed two of the Chicago firm’s partners and an employee and critically wounded two more employees before killing himself. Jeffrey Breslow, a partner, missed taking a bullet only because the gunman didn’t see him -- he had just stepped into an adjoining office to take a phone call. The gunman left behind a hit list of fourteen names. Breslow later learned that his name was second on the list.  

Before the shooting, Breslow was the youngest partner of toy industry giant Marvin Glass and Associates at age 33. After the shooting, and despite his youth, Breslow’s partners voted him in as managing partner. Thrust into leadership by default, he faced incredible challenges, including consoling the families of the victims, dealing with the staff’s PTSD and rebuilding a sense of safety and morale. He was also determined to keep the successful but reeling business alive. He needed a miracle -- and he got one. His partner Howard Morrison created a blockbuster, Simon, which Smithsonian Magazine says “ushered in the era of electronic games.” The firm was back in business.  

In spite of the tragedy, Breslow still felt incredibly lucky. Marvin Glass had personally hired him in 1967, soon dubbed him a “boy genius” and made him a partner after 18 months on the job.  

From the first iconic toy Breslow developed, called “Bucket of Fun,” he gifted us with some of the most memorable toys of childhood, including: “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots,” “Ants in the Pants,” “Fashion Polly Pocket,” “Guesstures,” “Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash,” “California Roller Baby,” “The Animal” and “Masterpiece.”  

The secret to his success was creating games that each player thought they had a chance of winning. Clients of Marvin Glass and Associates included Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Ideal Toy, Fisher-Price, Playskool and many others.

Breslow rose to the challenge and learned to:     

• Consistently do the unexpected.     
• Never take “No” for an answer.     
• Help employees maintain their well-being.     
• Unlock the secrets of pleasing clients.     
• Be persistent, especially if an idea was unusual or cutting-edge.     
• Hire more women. Half of toy customers are female, and yet women were under-represented at his company.   
• Find mentors -- they don’t just come to you.  

Breslow would go on to an unprecedented career. He is the only toy designer to win the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval twice and was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 1998. It’s surprising that a man who played for a living had his leadership mettle forged in crisis, but “A GAME MAKER’S LIFE” is more than a memoir, it’s a guide to success under pressure, rebuilding a business and learning how to honor those who were lost -- by bringing joy to children and families around the world.

Purchase this book at https://amzn.to/3nmARRo.

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