The Chestnut Challenge: The Nocturnals

The Chestnut Challenge: The Nocturnals

     In The Chestnut Challenge, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, Bismark, a loud-mouthed sugar glider, and Dawn, a serious fox, are playing a game of Chestnuts when Chandler, a conniving chinchilla, challenges Tobin for the title of Chestnut Champion. However, after a series of strange distractions occur, the Brigade begins to suspect that something is not quite right. Chandler is a competitive chinchilla...but could he also be a cheater?

     Readers will delight in an entertaining animal adventure while learning about playing games for fun and displaying good sportsmanship.

     This book came to us at just the right time. Two of our granddaughters, ages 7 and 6, have recently discovered the game of checkers. It's been interesting to watch them learn basic moves of offense as well as defense. And both of them will occasionally try to bend the rules. So the message against cheating is appropriate for their ages.

     They have also enjoyed learning about the animals in this story that come out to play after dark.

Includes bonus Nocturnals fun facts and animal glossary (Ages 6-8)

Themes include good sportsmanship, forgiveness, and friendship.

Mothers Teachers and Librarians with struggling, middle grade readers

I also grew up as a struggling, reluctant reader. My life took a course of dramatic motion picture, video, and television commercial production. It is from that well of creative experience that my adventures and mysteries originate for young readers.
The following letter is from a middle school teacher who has used my adventures and mysteries in her classroom for the past few years. It most clearly reflects what I hear from mothers, teachers, and librarians who have trusted my books to interest their young children in reading.

Dear Teacher,

    My name is Sandra Stiles. I am a middle school Language Arts teacher in Bradenton, Florida. I have always had a passion for reading. That passion doesn’t always transfer to your own children. My daughter was a struggling reader. It took another teacher to introduce her to an author whose books she devoured.  

    I am here to tell you about that author who has my students reading and fighting over his books.  Max Elliot Anderson has been one of my favorite authors for several years. Not only do I love his books, but my students love them as well.  I have three classes of students who have a remedial reading class, then they come to me for Language Arts.  
     When I did my first book pass with my students I made sure to have one of Max’s books in each pile to introduce them to his books. Both boys and girls love his books. Almost all of his books are not only filled with adventure, but also mystery. 
     One of my lowest readers has made it a goal to read all of Max’s books I have on my shelves. He has read eight books so far. The really cool part is that he started talking to some of the girls in the class. Now he has them reading them, too.

     Max has two major series, “The Sam Cooper” series and “The Accidental Adventures” series.  Both of these have characters that all kids - boys and girls alike - will love. 
     I can’t say enough about his books.  I highly recommend them to classrooms everywhere.

Sandra Stiles

NBCT

ELA teacher/Dept. Chair

     With summer coming, reading won't necessarily be on the minds of middle grade students. You can recommend these books with confidence. And I hope Sandra's words will encourage you to add some of my books to your home, library, or classroom for next year.

Find most of my books here, on Amazon. If you see a title you like, but it isn't available, all of those are being republished by a new publisher and should be ready throughout 2019.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=max+elliot+anderson

You can reach the author at mander8813@aol.com