☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN

Monday, November 9, 2026

Land of Math

Children's Non-Fiction

Date Published: 11-09-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

Land of Math is a vibrant juvenile picture book that introduces early learners to the building blocks of mathematics through a whimsical narrative centered on the structured realms of Ones, Tens, and Hundreds. The story follows the diligent King Equation as he strives for stability in his kingdom, only to have his plans upended by the playful antics of Prince Addition and Prince Subtraction. When the princes’ magical meddling leads to an overflow of Ones, the king must consult the High Wizard of Ordinals. By utilizing the enchanted Carry-Over and Borrow Rivers, King Equation successfully manages the numerical surplus, teaching readers about place value and operational balance. This delightful adventure blends creative storytelling with academic fundamentals, providing an accessible and engaging way for children to master basic arithmetic and logic.

About the Author

After recently completing Stahno the Space Explorer, Lan H. Reilly, a self-taught artist, was inspired to write her next book, hoping to cultivate a love for mathematics among her young audience. She was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and spent most of her childhood there.

In 1975, she was evacuated with her family from the US Embassy and settled in Wisconsin.

She later earned her Engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She met her husband while working in Minneapolis, then relocated to Michigan to raise their three children.

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https://mybook.to/LandofMath

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Peanut Butter and Donner – The Wishing Tree

Children's Picture Book

Date Published: November 19, 2026

Free on Amazon – November 9-14

Peanut Butter the bunny isn’t sure he’s brave.

So when a magical wishing tree opens the door to a glowing forest, he must decide whether to follow his friends—Donner the parakeet and Annie the duck—into the unknown… or stay safely behind.

As Peanut Butter steps into the forest, everything feels new, exciting, and a little bit scary. With wobbly paws and a worried heart, he wonders if he made the right choice. But along the way, he meets a surprising new friend, Earl, and begins to discover something important: bravery doesn’t mean feeling fearless—it means taking small, steady steps forward, even when you feel unsure.

With gentle encouragement, teamwork, and moments of humor, Peanut Butter learns that courage can grow in quiet ways—and that being brave looks different for everyone.

Perfect for children ages 3–8, Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree is a warm and reassuring story that helps young readers explore big feelings, face fears, and build confidence—one small step at a time.

About the Author

Erin Rosenblum is a licensed therapist, storyteller, and the creator of the Peanut Butter and Donner series. For more than 20 years, she has helped people navigate anxiety, life transitions, and the many emotions that shape our lives. Those same experiences inspire the stories she writes for children.

Erin believes some of life's biggest lessons are learned through gentle moments, meaningful conversations, and characters children grow to love. Her books combine playful rhyme, memorable adventures, and emotionally rich storytelling to help children build confidence, resilience, and compassion.

Peanut Butter and Donner: The Wishing Tree was inspired by a cherished family tradition in the redwood forests of California, where generations gathered around a hollowed redwood known as the Wishing Tree. Blending those memories with her experience as a therapist, Erin reminds young readers that bravery isn't about never feeling afraid—it's about taking the next small step, even when your knees feel a little wobbly.

When she's not writing or working with clients, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her many rescued animals, including the real Peanut Butter the rabbit and Donner the parakeet, whose unique personalities and friendship inspired the beloved characters in the series.

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Free on Amazon 11/9 - 11/14

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Friday, November 6, 2026

Zombie Zoo Tour Base

Adventures in Tub (Felix & Ninja, Book 1)

Upper Middle Grade

Date Published: 09-15-2026

Publisher: Oculus Print

Two orphan loners. One supernatural plague. When wood-eating zombies threaten their island, mismatched investigators Felix and Ninja must combine science and instinct to save Spinachi-before they're next.

ZOMBIE ZOO is Book 1 in a five-book middle grade adventure series for readers ages 8-13, blending paranormal mystery, zombies, unlikely friendship, and STEAM-powered problem-solving.

When 13-year-old aspiring naturalist Felix Fizzystyxx discovers that orphans at Wayward Amok Orphanage are transforming into wood-eating zombies, his quiet tree-fort observations are no longer enough. Someone has deliberately unleashed a strange plague on Tub's island town of Spinachi-and they're still out there.

To find a cure, Felix must team up with Ninja, a shadow-dwelling orphan who trusts her instincts and never backs down. Intense and razor-sharp, she notices what others overlook and lives up to her name as the island's most mysterious sleuth. With their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne compromised and the town's water supply contaminated by a glowing bioluminescent substance, the two mismatched investigators must combine scientific observation with sharp intuition to stop the outbreak before their island home is devoured.

Set on the fictional island of Tub, this fast-paced, humorous adventure naturally weaves in STEAM concepts-biology, chemistry, bioluminescence, water systems, pattern recognition, and the scientific method-within an age-appropriate supernatural mystery. Themes include unlikely friendship, identity, trust across differences, courage, and finding your voice when adults won't listen.

Featuring diverse protagonists, quirky humor, spooky-but-fun scares, and strong female and male leads. ZOMBIE ZOO is ideal for reluctant readers and fans of Max Brallier's The Last Kids on Earth, B.B. Alston's Amari and the Night Brothers, and Goosebumps. Comprehensive educator resources-including discussion guides, vocabulary lists, STEAM extension activities, and printable maps-support classroom use, library programming, book clubs, and make this title ideal for cross-curricular lessons bridging ELA, STEAM, and SEL.

About the Author

Melanie Abed is a behavioral expert turned story weaver. She believes dragons are real but hiding, and finds thunderstorms equally delightful and terrifying. A tea-loving bookworm, she champions young minds and writes to help kids discover their superpowers are real.

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Instagram: @byMelanieAbed

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https://mybook.to/ZombieZoo

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