May Davenport Publishers

A TASTE OF THE ELEPHANT written by Robert Norman Farley. Cover design by Denise Davenport from a painting by George Mathis (1901-1977). When gold was found nearby a small town called Victoria, California, people began arriving in droves. Hotels, shops, arenas for bull fights and grizzly bear vs. bull fighting were built to handle the different needs of the newcomers. With no sufficient law enforcement, besides the Vigilantes, no banks to store the gold which miners found, it took three boys and an abandoned dog with a deep depression named Bones to solve the mystery how the gold disappeared from an impenetrable vault; 195 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-7; US $15.95 (ISBN 0-943864-03-8).

THE CHASE OF THE SORCERESS written by Philip R. Johnson, cover design by Cindy Cartano, text illus. by May Davenport. A 10-yr.-old boy and his older brother were informed by the FBI that their father was missing/presumed dead in the Louisiana bayous. Motorcycling to the area, the boys discovered the activities of a voodoo cult with a drug operation. The older brother is hypnotized by the sorceress, the boy rides the bike to get help, and fortunately, bikers came to the rescue for a happy ending; 148 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-8, US $8.25 (ISBN 0-943864-58-5).

CREEPS written by Shelly Fredman, illus. by May Davenport. Despite peer pressure in his middle school of belonging to the "in" or "out" group, young boy discovers he didn't need to belong to any "right" or "wrong" group at all to feel good about himself; 175 pgs., 1st edition, hardcover, grs. 5-8, US $16.95 (ISBN 0-943864-55-0).

DIRTY MARY witten by Marion Page, cover design by Denise Davenport. Self-reliant, spirited 14-yr.-old Dirty Mary babysits a 4-yr.-old boy who can't pronounce her name Deidre Marie. She confides in him about her dreams. Her school friend Emile, an Abinaki-French Canadian boy, wants to confide in his ancestral Indian spirits. "Story is emotional, credible, and enjoyable." M. Hendrickson, a middle school teacher-reviewer; 172 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 5-8; US $10.95 (ISBN 0-943864-96-8).

EAGLE TRAP written by Ron Bliss, illus. by Richard C. Herman. Imaginative story of Suzuna—a coyote narrator—who liked to sneak close to the pueblo at night to listen to the Old Peoples tell stories of the Santa Ana Indians in New Mexico long ago and how their lives were linked together with animals.. When Suzuna sees how and why the eagle is trapped he raises a ruckus, and thereafter in legends, the Old Peoples never liked coyotes;1st ed., paper, grs. 3-7; US $3.50 (ISBN 0-943864-05-4).

I TOLD THE SPOTTED FISH written by James D. Warwick, cover design by Lauren Francis, text illus. by May Davenport. Vivid, warm flashbacks one summer—a boy visiting his grandparents learned to respect their values of living and dying like pioneers on their farm; 48 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 9-12, US $7.95 (ISBN 0-943864-62-3).

MAGDA ROSE written by Paul Luria. During a multicultural history unit in the 6th grade, an elderly teacher told his students about his first love for Magda Rose, a daughter of survivors of the Holocaust. She was 13; he was 15. Since he had conducted his class like a forum, the students contributed their own knowledge of "love" today among teens, as well as questioned the injustice of concentration camps with African black slaves and American Indian reservations. Story is not devoid of humor.205 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 6-12; US $12.95 (ISBN 0-943864-98-4).

MICKEY STEALS THE SHOW written by Diane Harris-Filderman, illus. by Miriam Sagasti. Two children entered their mongrel dog in a dog show to win the grand prize—a vacation for the family at an amusement park. Training the obstinate pup was a problem, but their father applauded their efforts. He had just invented a portable doghouse and planned to exhibit some samples. And Mickey at the dog show succeeded to promote the new invention by running amuck, which entertained everyone, then by retreating in the doghouse; 86 pgs., 1st ed., hardcover, grs. 3-5; US $16.95 (ISBN 0-943864-75-5); Teacher's Guide $5. (ISBN 0-943864-88-7).

SOMETHING IN THE AIR written by Anne Derson, illus. by Renee Duprey. Two young sleuths planned to be locked in their school with scientific instruments to test their theory that carbon monoxide caused students and teachers to be ill. The boy's knowledge of burglar alarms helped them escape without being arrested for trespassing on school property. When their scientist friend informed the principal of the air pollution problem, the two sleuths were grateful he didn't mention their names; 136 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 3-5; US $6.95 (ISBN 0-943864-77-7); Teacher's Guide $5. (ISBN 0-943864-93-3).

THE GHOST, THE GOLD AND THE WHIPPOORWILL written by Frank J. Nuckols, illus. by Alex Nuckols. Memories of the Great Depression in Kentucky was fictionalized with stoic, caring, elderly characters and energetic, adventuresome youngsters. Story is suspenseful with ghostly Indians, a Civil War ancestor, bootleggers, and spectacular caves. One cave led to a secret room where runaway slaves once rested, and where gold was hidden; 150 pgs., lst. ed., paper, grs. 3-5; US $8.95 (ISBN 0-943864-91-7).

THE REBUS ESCAPE writ. and illus. by Ray J. Lum. An uncle taught his ten-year-old twin nephews how to draw rebuses. Once, one twin decided to use rebuses in a trail for the uncle and his brother to find him in the hills. That day, two pizza-store robbers were in the hills, too, because their car had a flat tire. The uncle began the search after deciphering the clues, found the abandoned shack with the robbers and his nephew and began shouting rebuses. Fortunately, the boy understood rebuses, and was able to follow his uncle's directions what to do. Happily; no bloodshed ensued; 64 pgs., 1st ed., paper, grs. 3-5; US $5.95 (ISBN 0-943864-63-1).