Kids laugh at Wordy Birdy, Nugget & Fang

Youngsters and parents laugh aloud at the words of Oklahoma author Tammi Sauer.

In the book shown above, Wordy Birdy talks and never listens. That gets her in trouble. In many of Sauer's 30 picture books, readers laugh as the characters learn valuable skills.

The author grew up on a Kansas farm and loved being an elementary teacher and library specialist. Her picture book Cowboy Camp was published in 2005.

“Ideas are everywhere. A writer's job is to keep her eyes and ears open to them. The idea for COWBOY CAMP literally knocked on my door. One evening, a young boy showed up on our doorstep.

“He explained he was selling newspaper subscriptions to raise the money he needed to attend a cowboy camp. To me, he looked like the un-cowboy. I knew I had a story,” she says on her website, www.tammisauer.com.

When Avery gets to Cowboy Camp, he discovers that he can't eat beans and is allergic to horses. How will he survive?

Can Nugget, a minnow, and Fang, a shark, stay friends since sharks eat minnows? Other popular books are Caring For Your Lion, Mostly Monsterly, and Chicken Dance, written for ages 2-6.

“My family and I live in Edmond, Oklahoma, with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random ��ish,” she says. “Writing is one of my absolute favorite things to do, but I also love to read, ski, spend time with my family and friends, go to movies, and eat out as often as possible. What is more, I am hopelessly addicted to checking my e-mail.”

Kid Robin Read loves to read to Kindergarteners and First Graders, especially funny books like these. Robin suggests checking your library for Sauer's books. Ask your elementary school if you can read to the younger students.