Excerpt Extravaganza! Today's Excerpt Is From "Sydney Finds a Job"

Welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where an eclectic team of creative geniuses share their fantastical imaginations. 

On Mondays we are featuring an excerpt from one of our creative authors. And what makes this feature so fun is that we publish a wide range of genres. You'll never know what to expect for the excerpt.

To read all of our excerpts thus far, we invite you to visit our blog archives and look for our first Excerpt Extravaganza! that began on August 1, 2016.

Enjoy!

All previous excerpts are available in our archives. We began this Monday series on August 1, 2016.

Today's excerpt is from 5 star children's book author Thom Battisto, Sydney Finds a Job. Thom is the owner of the Read to Sydney Foundation, a nonprofit entity that is teaching children to read...one "tail" at a time. 

I will find a job, thought Sydney, and off she went to figure it out. Just then Tom headed out the door to get the morning paper. Sydney had an idea. Get the paper. I can do that! She raced past Tom and grabbed the paper. Hang on tight, Sydney thought.

Tom laughed and called out to Sydney, “Bring the paper here, good girl!” Sydney dropped the newspaper at Tom’s feet. Oops! There was a problem. What do you think the problem was? That’s right:  the newspaper was very wet and dripping with slobber. Tom patted Sydney’s head. “You’re good at fetch Sydney, but this is not the job for you.” Sydney agreed that wet papers are yucky. She set off to find herself a different job.

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If you would like to discover more about our author Thom Battisto or purchase a book (all proceeds go toward funding the Read to Sydney Foundation) visit Thom's author page on the JLB Creatives Publishing website.

Encourage your child to read with Sydney Finds a Job

In Sydney Finds a Job, children follow Sydney as she tries to find a job that's right for her. Through humor, she tries several different jobs that just don't work out, but she finally finds one she loves helping children read.

Sydney Finds a Job is more than just a book. Sydney is a real dog with a real job, helping children learn to read. The Australian Shepherd/Chow mix was adopted from a no-kill animal shelter by author Thom Battisto about two years ago.

Sydney was trained and earned accreditation as a therapy dog and visits nursing homes to bring a bit of furry joy to the residents' lives. She also visits schools, libraries, and events to educate children about the human treatment of animals. Sydney’s favorite part of these visits is when the children are given the chance to read to her.

First Lady Laura Bush had this to say after receiving a copy of the book:

“Dear Shari and Thom,

Thank you...for your work with the Read to Sydney Foundation and for sharing Sydney with others.”

Sydney Finds a Job will delight early readers as well as older children and inspires a joy of reading in all ages. Sydney Finds a Job is also available in a Spanish-language version Sydney Encuentra un Trabajo

Where to buy your copy! 

Books-a-Million

Barnes & Nobel

Amazon

About the authors:

Shari Shaw Todd grew up in a small town that gave seed to big dreams of being an author. Co-writing this book with Mr. Battisto has helped her make two dreams come true: now she gets to be involved with kids and animals. Ms. Todd is currently dreaming up ideas for other books in the “Read to Sydney” series. Look for them to follow.

Thom Battisto was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago suburbs. He is now a Florida resident and is a passionate advocate of animal rights. He has adopted several shelter dogs and has volunteered at a local shelter. Wanting to do even more, Thom and other supporters started the nonprofit organization called “Read to Sydney.” This is Thom's first book.

Find out more about the Read To Sydney Foundation 

ReadtoSydney.org

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Keep up with all the great books already on the shelf and soon to be released by JLB Creatives Publishing at:

JLBCreatives.com

Facebook Twitter @jlbcreatives 

JLB Creatives author in the news!

Thom Battisto and the amazing Sydney
 Photo courtesy  of West Orange Times & Observer

We are thrilled for Sydney Finds a Job author Thom Battisto to be in the news with his pal Sydney. They were interviewed by the West Orange Times & Observer. Thom talked about the Read to Sydney program to help promote literacy and plans to expand the program with a Read to Sydney book bus!

You can read all about it  here:
Canine companion lends a listening ear in Ocoee 

Learn more about the Read to Sydney Program at ReadtoSydney.org
And don't forget to follow on
Facebook
Twitter 
Pinterest





Help raise funds for the program by visitng the Read to Sydney Reading Center 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through June West Oaks Mall, 9401 W. Colonial Drive. 

If you're not local you can purchase Sydney Finds a Job and Sydney Encuentra un Trabjo at the links below in paper back and ebook.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
BooksAMillion

Author Thom Battisto's Favorite Recipe...

Hello fans and followers. For the month of November we are going to be featuring some of our authors' and team members' favorite recipes every Tuesday and Friday right here on the JLB Creatives Publishing Blog.


Today we're featuring children's author Thom Battistos's favorite recipe. Find out more about Thom's children's books by visiting Sydney Finds a Job.

This is one of my many favorite Thanksgiving foods:

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

CRUST:

1-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 tlb brown sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 stick melted butter

FILING:

3 8oz. packages of cream cheese at room temp.

1 15oz. can pureed pumpkin

3 eggs + 1 egg yolk

 1/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ground clove

2 tlb. all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Directions:
CRUST

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter then press crumb mixture flat into a 9" spring form pan. Set aside.

FILLING

Beat cream cheese until smooth. 
Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and all the spices. 
Add flour and vanilla. 
Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust and spread evenly

Bake in oven for 1 hour
Turn off oven and crack oven door open, leaving pie in oven for 1/2 hour 
Remove from oven and let sit for 1/2 hour, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

JLBCP Has Been Making Their Presence Known Nationwide

Thursday September 25, 2014 JLB Creatives Publishing's senior editor Dar Bagby joined library manager Ann Marie Smith of the Pickford Community Library to give a cutting edge presentation at the UPRLC (Upper Peninsula Region of Library Cooperation) annual meeting. 

L - JLB Creatives Publishing's senior editor and
Young Writers Workshop facilitator Dar Bagby.
R - Randy Riley: Michigan State Librarian.

Ann Marie opened with "Engaging Your Community's Writers and Readers: Libraries and ePublishing." Dar Bagby immediately followed filling in the details with her presentation "ePublishing and How It Influences the Community." This dynamic duo of risk takers knocked it out of the park for the nearly 60 attendees representing libraries from across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the executive director  of the Midwest Collaborative for Library Sciences, Randy Dykhuis.

Dar is a co-facilitator/founder along with JLBCP's CEO Janet Beasley for the Young Writers Workshop (YWW) that takes place at the Pickford Community Library, Pickford Michigan.

Ann Marie holds accolades such as taking a community library from a circulation of under 400 to nearly 1600 per month in only two short years, and being bold enough to approach not only Dar, but others of the community to bring in many beneficial special programs that take place at the library. 

You can expect to begin seeing Dar and Ann Marie at other appearances in the future throughout the entire state of Michigan. 

Pictured L to R: Les Cheneaux Community Library Manager
Jane French, Shannon White from the Library of Michigan,
Pickford Community Library Manager Ann Marie Smith.

Only 3 short days after this dynamic duo's appearance in Michigan's UP, JLB Creatives Publishing's CEO Janet Beasley and Senior Financial Director Jean E. Lane headed to St. Augustine to appear at the Florida Heritage Book Festival.  

Janet gave a presentation regarding the innovative ways JLB Creatives Publishing is making a difference in the literary world, as well as shared some of their authors' works with the captive audience. 

L - JLBCP's Senior Financial Director Jean E. Lane

R - JLBCP's CEO Janet Beasley

Florida Heritage Book Festival exhibit 2014

Back on the exhibit floor Janet and Jean E. teamed up to show off the collection of select JLBCP authors. In addition to selling books they both engaged in effective networking with other literary professionals, authors, and readers. JLBCP is definitely looking forward to making an appearance once again at this fabulous festival  in 2015.

We invite you to visit and "Like" our FB pages:

http://www.Facebook.com/JLBCreatives

http://www.Facebook.com/PickfordCommunityLibrary 

5 Star Review for Sydney Finds a Job!

"Sydney Finds a Job is written by Shari Todd and Thom Battisto. Sydney is an Australian Shepherd who lives with Tom. Their home has a nice back yard with flowers. But Sydney becomes bored and wants more things to occupy her time. This dog breed is accustomed to doing lots of outdoor activities. Their main job is to help ranchers and farmers round up cattle, so they are often referred to as cattle dogs. Sydney decides to help Tom by fetching the morning paper. But that doesn’t go well and she gets it wet with her slobber. Next, she helps Tom water the flowers by swishing the hose around, but waters his shoes instead! Tom tells her that she will soon find a job she can do well. Sydney sees a little girl named Sarah crying. Sarah tells her that she doesn’t know how to read her new book. Sydney decides to help her friend, but will she make a mess of this new job too?

Sydney Finds a Job is a cute little book that will make story time fun for small kids. Shari Todd and Thom Battisto introduce educational facts about this dog breed in a creative setting, so kids will learn about them while being amused by the story. The photos of the real Sydney are adorable. She lives with Thom Battisto and has a job visiting nursing homes, schools and libraries where kids can read to her. Sydney and Thom were praised for their work by First Lady Laura Bush."

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

About Sydney Finds a Job 

Follow Sydney as she tries to find a job that's right for her. Through humor, she tries several different jobs that just don't work out, but she finally finds one she loves--helping children read.

ISBN 978-0615979496

Where to buy Sydney Finds a Job

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million 

About Thom Battisto

Thom Battisto was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago suburbs. He is now a Florida resident and is a passionate advocate of animal rights. He has adopted several shelter dogs and has volunteered at a local shelter. Wanting to do even more, Thom and other supporters started the nonprofit organization called "Read to Sydney."

About Shari Todd

Shari Shaw Todd grew up in a small town that gave seed to big dreams of being an author. Co-writing thisBattisto has helped her make two dreams come true: now she gets to be involved with kids and animals. Ms. Todd is currently dreaming up ideas for other books in the READ TO SYDNEY series. 

book with Mr.

Where to find Thom and Sydney on the web!

Website

Facebook

Twitter 

Pinterest

For more great books and authors, or to submit a manuscript for consideration visit JLB Creatives Publishing