This Week's Special: Signed, Personalized Copies! Save on Shipping!

This week's special!! While supplies last!! Order the softcover of Mommy, How Many Numbers Are There? directly from me, the author, while I'm still on holiday break. You will:

a) save on shipping
b) get signed copies by Becky and Jack
c) get personalized message to your kiddo
d) all of the above

Answer: d (I even give tests on break...)

Maybe you'd like to purchase some ahead for a little one's birthday or other holiday gift! If interested, please email us directly at JacksBackBooks@gmail.com


Click here for a peek inside the book!

Need a quick, inexpensive gift for a child?

Anne Mitchell, Illustrator

Just a little over a week left

to get the $1.99 special digital version of

Mommy, How Many Numbers Are There?*

Click here to go to Amazon for details on $1.99 digital version.

Click here for details on softcover version.

Also, our digital version is now available to borrow through Amazon at Kindle Owners' Lending Library. More information here! 




*After 12/31/11, the price for digital version will go back to $Pi, or $3.14.

Thank you, Ecosmart!

How did I discover this company? I can't remember really. I'm just so glad I did. They sell refillable dry erase markers. I've done the math and they not only just cost pennies compared to the other dry erase markers, but think of all that plastic that's being tossed! I haven't tossed out a dry erase marker in over a year thanks to the AusPens!

They just posted a little something THAT MEANS A LOT to us. Check it out!

Math Educator Publishes Book With Her Son

And I must share my favorite teaching tool... my AusPen Kit!

$1.99 Holiday Special for Kindle version and Reviews!

"It looks GREAT on the Kindle! The illustrations are fantastic. In fact, once I finished reading it, I actually went immediately back to the cover just so I could see who the illustrator was because the illustrations were so great! I just *love* the ending of the book." - Lisa, Charlotte, NC

"It looks GREAT on my iPhone with the free Kindle app!" - Jason, St. Louis, MO



That's what a couple parents had to say about our new digital version of  Mommy, How Many Numbers Are There?

Regularly priced $3.14, the holiday special is $1.99 through 12/31/11. With a Kindle or free Kindle Reading App, your favorite little cutie "pi" can view the book on your Kindle, Iphone, Ipad or Android! Links below for your convenience.

Click here to go to Amazon

Click here to go to free Kindle Reading App

First Look at Display Box!

 My wonderful neighbor/graphic artist, Ann Jenkins, just delivered a sample display box for Mommy, How Many Numbers Are There? We're so excited! They hold up to 10 books, have little Jack figures on the side and a springy 3-d Jack that pops out of the header. There will be a few modifications, but this is basically what they will look like. If you have a bookstore and would like wholesale information, just let us know.

We expect to have displays at the East Central College bookstore (Union, MO) and Thierbach Orchards (Marthasville, MO) in time for fall apple picking!

Thank you, Ann!

Big Fan, Little Cutie

Precious! This little cutie from a few states away surprised her mommy one morning. Her mommy was making breakfast, then she turned around and saw her little cutie enjoying one of the illustrations of our book. She seems to like the part about family!

We're so glad to have fans from across the country. We love hearing from you! 

And where has the summer gone? Jack and I are both getting ready for the fall semester to begin, as many of you are doing. Enjoy the rest of the summer, stay cool and we'll be in touch! 

We look forward to more readings at our local schools. If your school would like a reading of our book, just let us know.

FAQs... From the Kids

The kiddos at Coverdell Elementary book reading

Whew! Three schools in two days! But I had a BLAST reading to all of those kiddos and Anne enjoyed explaining the illustration process. I learn something from Anne each time we read together!

From kindergarten through fourth grade, the kids have been asking some great questions. I thought I'd share those that I remembered with you. Here are the responses I gave along with the extended versions after some thought. A sincere thank you goes out to The College School, Coverdell Elementary and Monroe Elementary for two wonderful days!

Why do authors write books?
Because of YOU. YOU are the reason I write books. I always wanted to write children's books, but it wasn't until my son, Jack, started asking the questions which inspired these books. These are stories I have told to him and I wanted to share these stories with all of YOU.

Do you have any other books?
I have one other book that's already written and a few others that are partially written. Remember the spooky story I read to you all? The one that's partially written? Anne, my illustrator, is working on the illustrations to those other  books right now.

Will you come back when the others are written?
Absolutely! We would love to come back! How about we visit you this fall, close to Halloween, when the spooky book is written? And please know that it's really not a spooky book. It's about a little child, like you, and his imagination that made him scared, but their parent helped them figure out that there was nothing to be scared of. I can't wait to visit you when that book is done!

How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was in first or second grade, I wrote a story called The Magic Piano. It was pretty bad. It was full of a lot of "and he said", "and she said", "and he said", "and she said". My dad was an English teacher; he taught me how to write poetry and I've been writing poetry on a regular basis for about 20 years. I have also been the editor for a few newsletters.

If you've written so much poetry, maybe you could publish that into a book!
Maybe I will. I've been thinking the exact same thing!

Did you always like to draw?
(Anne) Yes, for as long as I can remember. In fact, I can remember drawing a lot when I was your age.

How did you make the pictures?
(Anne) Becky sent me the story, her words, then I tried to picture in my mind how to illustrate those words. That's what an illustration is. It's like when you read a story, you know how you use your imagination to picture the story in your mind? It's like that. I sketched them in pencil, then when I knew that's what I wanted, I scanned it into the computer then used the computer to color in the sketches. The computer has tools to color in the sketches just like a paint brush is a tool.


Well, there were soooooooooooooooooooooo many wonderful questions, but that's what I remembered. If there are any kids out there with any other questions or if I missed your question above, feel free to reply to this post or email me at JacksBackBooks@gmail.com.

Thanks again, kiddos, for a wonderful week and HAVE A GREAT SUMMER. And remember: Read, read, read!