Zonderkidz; 24 pages; $3.99; Amazon

Now available from Zonderkidz is the newest entry in the Berenstain Bears' picture book franchise, titled "Blessed Our Pets" written and illustrated by Mike Berenstain, the son of the original creators Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Many of the newer titles have added Christian themes to the plots, which have received mixed reactions from older fans (readers) of the series.

"Bless Our Pets" centers on the Chapel in the Woods having a "Blessing of the Animals" event, where the Preacher Brown is going to bless everyone's pets. Of course Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear are excited that they get to bring their pets, Little Lady (a dog), Gracie (a cat), and Cutesy (a parakeet), to church with them.

Almost the entire population of Bear Country bring their pets to the blessing. There are animals of all kinds there. Everything goes as plan, well, until a dog chases a cat up a tree and then all chaos occurs.

Nickelodeon; Not Rated; 247 minutes; Walmart

Now available on DVD from Nickelodeon is Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder, featuring the final seven of the episodes from the fourth season of the current TMNT series, as well as the first four episodes from the fifth season, retitled "Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." There are no special features or extras on the two-disc set.

The final episodes of the fourth season introduces the turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo) to the Supper Shredder, aka the mutated version of Shredder, who is determined to destroy the turtles and their master Splinter once and for all. By the season's end, Shredder finally gets his revenge; all leading to a final deadly confrontation with the turtles.

Other storylines during the season includes the turtle's human friend April O'Neil becoming possessed with the evil spirit Aeon in "The Power Inside Her"; an alien named Tokka arrives on Earth looking for her baby boy in "Tokka VS. The World"; and a fox-mutant name Alopex comes to New York City to kill Tiger Claw in "Tale Of Tiger Claw."

The fifth and final season has a new opening theme song and title sequence, and has been renamed to "Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." The first four episodes are included on the second discs. The main plot of the episodes involves Tiger Claw summoning the demon Kavaxas (voiced by Mark Hamill) in the attempt to resurrect Shredder from the dead. Of course the turtles and their pals will do anything they can to save the day.

The eleven episodes on the two-disc set are:

Scholastic; 156 pages; $6.99; Amazon

Now available from Scholastic is the first book in the all new Goosebumps series, titled SlappyWorld: Slappy Birthday To You, featuring the fan favorite villain - the ventriloquist dummy named Slappy.

In a slight change of format from the Goosebumps Most Wanted series, SlappyWorld begins with a short introduction by Slappy himself, followed by the first part of the story. Occasionally, Slappy interrupts the story for a page or two; typically adding some slapstick humor.

The main character in this tale is Ian Barker, who is forced to celebrate his twelfth birthday with his younger sister, Molly, and their two annoying cousins Jonny and Vinny.

Ian's father repairs dolls for a living, (Yep, that's a real job!) and he gives Ian a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy. The dummy was sent to be repaired by Mr. Barker, but it came with no return address. After a year passed by, Mr. Barker decided to give the dummy to Ian, who has been wanting a ventriloquist dummy for years.

Of course Slappy is no ordinary dummy, (He even has his own Wikipedia page!). After Ian's cousin reads the words off a mysterious piece of paper - "Karru   Marri   Odonna   Loma   Molonu   Karrano!,"strange things begin to occur in the Barker household, all of which points to one conclusion - Slappy is alive!

Now available from Branch Publishing is the epic fantasy Mark of Destiny by Azrael James.




When did you become interested in storytelling?

Most likely, it happened when I was young and sitting around with my siblings and friends. They were pretty much all scary stories.

What was your first book/story published?

My first work is Mark of Destiny, in the epic fantasy genre.

What inspired you to write Mark of Destiny?

That is actually kind of a hard question to answer. There were so many contributing factors, but I knew that I really wanted to write a fantasy series and that was primarily my driving motivation.

What character in Mark of Destiny is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I would definitely have to say that Eco is the least like me, although I believe almost everyone is a little crazy. Echo thirsts for power and control and I truly believe that these only bind and hamper one’s own freedom. Also, I don’t just randomly slay people who irritate me, otherwise the roads would be full of examples of my irritations.

What is your favorite part in Mark of Destiny?

Now available from Crimson Romance is Legacy Lost, book two in the Hell's Valley series, by author Jillian David.

Thank you for having me on your blog! I’m happy to be hanging out at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer today.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

Forever. I’ve written since I was a little kid, won contests in middle school and high school, and even majored in English writing. However, life took me in a very different direction (medicine) for many years. Until I could return to the writing again…which is why I’m here today!

What was your first book/story published?

I believe it was a short story in The Stokeley Review, an anthology of young writers in east Tennessee. Might have published something before then, but I can’t recall.

What inspired you to write the Hell’s Valley series?

Hell’s Valley is my current paranormal western series. I don’t think there really is a paranormal western genre, so it’s possible that I made this genre up. The series has the rough-and-ready wild sense of ranchers and cowboys, but also the otherworldly forces and psychic powers integrated into the plot.

What inspired me to write this series was a brief mention in book #3 of my prior paranormal Hell to Pay series where characters wonder if the subtle powers seen in that book could be passed along to other generations. Then I started thinking of a family of siblings with odd powers and where they might live. And then I linked in the … well, you’ll have to read the series. If I explain the connections too much, it’ll spoil the story!

Revell; 351 pages; $13.99; Amazon

Now available from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is the murder-mystery novel Murder Is No Accident, book three in the Hidden Springs Mysteries, by author A.H. Gabhart.

Probably like many book lovers, I have always enjoyed reading a good mystery, especially when there is a cat on the cover. (Note: I'm also a cat lover.) If you happened to notice, there is a cat on the cover of Murder Is No Accident, which kinda explains why the novel appealed to me to begin with. Though, actually, I have read a few of the Shaker novels by the author, so I was already familiar with her writings.

This novel centers on a teenager named Maggie Greene (no she's not the same character from The Walking Dead) who happens to be at the right place at the wrong time. She had gotten permission to stay at the old Chandler mansion from Miss Fonda, an elderly woman who is now in a senior living facility. Maggie happened to be in the mansion the same day that real estate agent Geraldine Harper is murdered there. Yes, she could go to the police and tell them what she knows, but she thinks everyone would believe she was trespassing.

On the case to solve the mystery is Sheriff Michael Keane, who at first thinks the murder was a tragic accident, but he quickly believes otherwise after another body is discovered.