Bad Bananas

A wisecracking activity-story book about the short (shelf) life of a bunch of bruisers--with 7 yummy recipes

A wisecracking activity-story book about the short (shelf) life of a bunch of bruisers--with 7 yummy recipes to save families from "I'm bored" disease. While banana characters try crazy stunts and start turf wars, this cautionary cookbook provides easy, low-sugar recipes (including banana muffins, smoothies, cookies and pancakes--more recipes at Premiobooks.com). The story is fun and filled with conjunctions. The perfect family activity, Bad Bananas facilitates tasty, funny, hands-on fun (ages 4–12). Called “bizarrely funny” in Horn Book’s blog, it’s also an ebook. 24-page, perfect bound 8”x10”, paper picture book with African-American character, 320 words (before recipes) by Karl Beckstrand, illustrated by Jeff Faerber, Premio Publishing & Gozo Books, LLC (worldwide rights 2011), available via Premiobooks.com (SEE INSIDE! Free recipes), Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Follett Library Resources/BWI Title Wave, Brodart, Bn.com/NOOK, Kindle/Amazon.com, iBooks and select retailers. ISBN: 978-0977606511, LCCN: 2010910826, JUV050000, JUV011010, JUV019000, JUV054000, JUV020000

Karl Beckstrand is a freckle-faced author of twelve books and more than 30 online titles (reviews by Kirkus, The Horn Book blog, School Library Journal, ForeWord Reviews). Raised in San Jose, California, USA, he received a B.A. in journalism from BYU and an M.A. in international relations from APU. Two publishers produced his early titles, In 2004 he founded Premio Publishing & Gozo Books. An engaging speaker, consultant, and workshop facilitator, Beckstrand has experience in high tech, public policy, radio, TV, and film. He contrasts traditional with digital/self-publishing. He has presented for SUECON (education conference), Taiwan’s Global Leadership for Youth, California’s Capital Book Festival, Utah Educational Library Media Association, Salt Lake City Book Festival, Utah Humanities Council, Murray City Writer’s Workshop, PCI Webinars, Utah Housing Coalition, Midvale City Reading Program, Utah Office of Education, and many schools. His nonfiction/biographies, activity books, Spanish & bilingual books (with pronunciation guide), e-book mysteries and app feature diverse characters and usually end with a twist. He has lived abroad, been a Spanish/English interpreter, and he enjoys volleyball and kayaking (usually not at the same time). His work has appeared in: Barnes & Noble, Border’s Books, Deseret Book, Costco, Kindle/Amazon, Sony/Nook/Kobo/iBooks, The Children’s Miracle Network, The Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives, Papercrafts Magazine, LDS Film Festival, and various broadcasts. Find: “Karl Beckstrand – Author” on FB, Amazon, Twitter, and KarlBeckstrand.com. Get books/ebooks/app via: Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Bn.com, EBSCO, Follett/BWI, Mackin, Overdrive, Quality Books, PremioBooks.com, KarlBeckstrand.com.