Super
Speed Sam (Book 5 of 12)
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Santa’s
Rescue Dog
by
Monty J McClaine
Table
of Contents
About this Media / Press Kit 3
The Super
Speed Sam timetable of events 3
Available publications 4
Enclosed Images Reference 5
About Monty J McClaine 7
Words – 140
characters (with spaces) 7
Words - 146
characters (with spaces) 7
Short Bio (50
words) 7
Medium Bio
(100 words) 7
Words - Long
Bio (400 to 600 words) 7
An animated Interview with Monty J
McClaine 9
Book review Excerpts 12
Santa’s
Rescue Dog details Super Speed Sam (Book 5) 12
Synopsis for Super Speed Sam
(General) 13
Each
introduction starts with… Except “Santa’s Rescue Dog.” 13
Synopsis for Santa’s Rescue Dog
(Book 5 of 12) 14
2-line
Summary: 14
Short Synopsis
(50 Words) - Santa’s Rescue Dog 14
Medium
Synopsis (100 Words) - Santa’s Rescue Dog 14
Long Synopsis
(400 – 600 words) – Santa’s Rescue Dog 14
Santa’s Rescue Dog Reviews and
Awards 16
Book review –
Readers’ Favorites 16
Reviewed By
Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite 16
Reviewed By
Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite 17
Reviewed By
Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite 18
Advanced
Praise for Santa’s Rescue Dog 18
Amazon review
from Bernie (Beta reader) 19
About this Media / Press Kit
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You
are free to download and share this electronic PDF file free of
charge in its original form only – nothing may be added to or
deleted from this file. While you may distribute it in conjunction
with commercial offers, no monetary charge can be made for this
file itself.
This media kit is
written using US English. Please update the spellings to UK
English if posting in the UK. |
The Super Speed Sam timetable of events
The following table is designed to
inform all interested parties of the current progress of the Super
Speed Sam project.
We are expecting to make available both
paperback and ebook versions, including bilingual variations of all
titles.
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#
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Language
Title
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English (US)
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Release
Month
Year
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Spanish (Catalan)
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Release
Month
Year
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Chinese
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Release
Month
Year
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1
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Hide and Panic Stations
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Mar 16
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Mar 16
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WIP
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2
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Reach For The Sky
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May 16
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WIP
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WIP
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WIP
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3
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Kitchen Decorations
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Jul 16
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WIP
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WIP
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WIP
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4
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Come Fly With Me
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Aug 16
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WIP
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WIP
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WIP
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5
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Santa’s Rescue Dog
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Sep 16
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WIP
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6
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Lights Out
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Dec 17
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WIP
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7
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Let’s Rock
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Mar 17
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WIP
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WIP
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8
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BBQ Blunder
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May 17
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WIP
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9
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Kinda Friends I
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Jul 17
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WIP
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10
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Halloween Howler
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Sept 17
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WIP
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11
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Bubbles Galore
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Nov17
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WIP
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WIP
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12
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Kinda Friends II
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Jan 18
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WIP
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WIP
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Last
Updated 15th September 2016
Note:
The Chinese bilingual version of Hide and Panic Stations is currently
in typesetting and should be released before the end of September.
Available publications
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Ebook, paperback and
Audio book available from:
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‘Click on image’
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Ebook, paperback and
Audio book available from:
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‘Click on image’
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‘Click on image’
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Ebook, paperback and
Audio book available from:
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Enclosed Images Reference
About Monty J McClaine
Words – 140 characters (with spaces)
Monty J McClaine is a new, independent
author who has written twelve short children’s stories about a dog
who has super speed abilities
Words - 146 characters (with spaces)
Monty J McClaine (pen name) is a new,
independent author who has written twelve short children’s stories
about a dog who has super speed abilities
Short Bio (50 words)
Monty McClaine (Pen-name) was born in
London during the sixties, schooled in the industrial Midlands of
England, and is married with two sons. Monty writes with the
following C.S.Lewis quotation in mind, “A children's story that can
only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the
slightest.”
Medium Bio (100 words)
Monty McClaine (Pen name) was born in
London during the start of the swinging sixties, schooled in the
industrial Midlands of England, and is married with two sons.
For some reason, Monty had always been
intrigued by the following C.S.Lewis quotation, “A children's story
that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story
in the slightest.”
Even before the ink had dried, Monty
had written the title for 12 short "Sam" stories – that
would hopefully make you smile, as Monty makes sure that Sam gets
into a lot of mischiefs when protecting his lovable McClaine family.
Words - Long Bio (400 to 600 words)
Monty McClaine (Pen name) was born in
London during the start of the swinging sixties, schooled in the
industrial Midlands of England, and is married with two sons.
Having spent his working life in
relative isolation as a computer engineer, Monty finally dipped his
toe into the water and wrote his first children’s book entitled
“Touch Screen Ted.”
For some reason Monty had always been
intrigued by the following C.S.Lewis quotation, “A children's story
that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story
in the slightest,” which has, as Monty protests, helped in the
formulation of his characters and storylines but did not contribute
to his dry sense of humor or his sense of timing.
As we all know, computers, electronic
games, TV shows and mobile phones and tablets are strongly prevalent
in today’s society, strengthening Monty’s belief that some of the
natural interactions between family and friends are gradually eroding
if not already gone for some.
It sometimes feels like the simple joy
of laughing or crying among family and friends is being replaced by
beeps, bops, and demands to ‘add new features’ or ‘why doesn’t
this work?’ or ‘who’s hogging the Wi-Fi?’.
With those thoughts in mind Monty set
out to create a fun and exciting series of children’s short
stories, with lots of adventure and splashes of humor, all paced to
hold children’s attention whether reading or listening… at least
that is his hope!
No sooner had his pen made contact with
the paper, even before the ink had dried, Monty had written the title
for 12 short "Sam" stories – self-contained episodes if
you will – that would hopefully make you, the reader smile, as
Monty makes sure that Sam gets into a lot of mischiefs when
protecting his lovable McClaine family.
Monty hopes that this beginning will be
the continuation of a longer journey, where I will be trying his
upmost to surpass or at least attain the entertainment desires of
today's modern reading audience.
Book 5 of the Super Speed Sam series,
referred to by some as Monty’s Christmas special edition, and by
others “Santa’s Rescue Dog” finally explains to the reader
where, why and whom did Sam get his magical super speed abilities
from!
Monty hopes you would all follow along
with him, as the episodes unfold – perhaps you may have already
guessed, or maybe not. Perhaps Monty may surprise you. Fingers
crossed.
An animated Interview with Monty J McClaine
Monty J McClaine (pen name) is a new,
independent author who has written twelve short children’s stories,
the Christmas special being a little longer than the others, about a
family that includes a very loving, protective and talented basset
hound as one of its members. We got a chance to interview with Monty
and found out about some of the creative inspiration behind these
fun, imaginative and action-packed books.
Q: Why did you write the 'Super Speed
Sam' series in a ‘12-book series’ format?
A: Well, the first Super Speed Sam book
was actually “Kitchen Decorations” where I hoped to introduce
readers to the imaginary world of the main character Sam – that’s
the dog. In effect, my thought was to have two stories running in
parallel - the main that is the human story, along with the imaginary
story of Sam.
(Here Monty looks thoughtful, then
explains…) So, for instance, when chocolate was being added to
the cake mix during Kitchen Decorations in Sam’s mind, the
chocolate would be substituted by bones, dog biscuits, and other such
things. But, while writing that episode, I decided to extend Sam’s
capabilities to include “Super Speed” and with that, the
character of Sam the basset hound took a more, er… defined shape!
(Monty smiles fondly and continues)
Making special abilities available to
Sam, like Doctor, Nurse - even cleaning skills - meant that in
effect, Sam’s true, better-rounded character was born. And from
there it simply took off – I thought up and detailed out 12 titles
for the books, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Q: As a writer, why do you think it’s
important to have stories that allow children and parents to share
thoughts and explore imaginations?
A: I am reminded of a C.S.Lewis
quotation - The Chronicles of Narnia etc.
“A children's story that can only be
enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”
(Monty pauses in reflection)
And I had spent many years as a
computer engineer, which is a solitary task - just you and the
computer equipment. As we all know, computers, electronic games, TV
shows and mobile phones and tablets are strongly prevalent in today’s
society. And I believe some of the natural interactions between
family and friends these days are gradually eroding if not already
gone for some.
(Monty looks pensive, eyebrows a
little drawn as he goes on…) It sometimes feels like the simple
joy of laughing or crying among family and friends is being replaced
by beeps, bops, and demands to ‘add new features’ or ‘why
doesn’t this work?’ or ‘who’s hogging the Wi-Fi?’. So
I set out to create a fun and exciting series of children’s short
stories, with lots of adventure and splashes of humor, all paced to
hold children’s attention whether reading or listening… at least
that’s my hope!
Stories that will delight both boys and
girls, the young and old, and, of course, moms and dads! Tales that
allow a return to simpler values, kid-like imagination for both
children and adults and, I sincerely hope, bring families closer
together.
Q: What messages would you like your
readers to get out of these Sam books?
A: Each book shares a simple message –
and that’s to play safe and be safe. Now, of course, many episodes
have much more than that - some are informative in a fun way! For
instance in ‘Kitchen Decorations’ we demonstrate how to clean
hands – properly. In ‘Lights Out’ we stress the importance of
using the correct equipment to change a lightbulb (lesson for the
parents!) and in ‘Kinda Friends’ we emphasize the ‘danger’ of
not sharing with new friends – both an emotional and physical
hazard as it turns out for young Jack!
Q: How challenging would you say it is
to write a series of 12 books?
A: (Let’s out a long breath and a
laugh at the end) I’ll tell you - it’s been quite a challenge
and a lot of hard work. Even when I decided on the initial structure
of the series, it was still very difficult to maintain the style and
ease of reading… and all whilst synchronizing the characters in the
same time lines. I love the series, but I won’t deny it was a
struggle at times and, again, lots of hard work.
Q: So, then for you, what’s the
single hardest part of writing these stories?
A: As with most things in life, the
hardest part is finishing, the easiest part is starting! Crossing the
T’s and dotting the I’s, and again, making sure all twelve
stories were consistent, entertaining and true within themselves. If
anyone out there wants to be a writer, especially of a series, I do
encourage you and be prepared to spend as much time in finishing and
polishing as you would in writing. And definitely ask for opinions,
engage an editor and don’t forget your proof-reader!
Q: Wonderful advice. Now, our final
question - what have you gathered from your readers about your books
and writing style?
A: The feedback has been great! (wide
smile here) The readers seem to enjoy the pace, style, and themes
of all the Sam stories, which couldn’t make me happier! And I’ve
had six of the books reviewed by professionals, and they’ve all
returned enthusiastic, 5-star reviews – I couldn’t wish for more.
Now, some readers suggested that more illustrations would help in the
appeal of these books. These are time-consuming, but Sam and I aim to
please readers, who are after all the people the series has been
written for – so I added the illustrations!
Book review Excerpts
Santa’s Rescue Dog details Super Speed Sam (Book 5)
By: (Monty J McClaine)
Published by: (Anthony J Dargis)
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Book details
Age Level: 8 – 12
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Ages 8-12
Print Length: 130 pages
Publication Date: 16th
September 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
LLC
Language: English US
ASIN: B01LY6YO3S
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Available
for Sale at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6YO3S
Retail Price for Print: ($5.99) - Print
ISBN - 13: 978-1534771031
Retail Price for Audio Book: ($7.00) –
ASIN - B01M1O3NS2
Author Website:
https://www.amazon.com/Monty-J-McClaine/e/B00L4FP4QU/
Character/Theme (Super Speed Sam)
website: http://www.superspeedsam.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/superspeedsam/
Synopsis for Super Speed Sam (General)
Super Speed Sam is a basset
hound and the main character of a series of 12 small children’s
animal chapter books that the author has written in his attempt to
create a fun and exciting rollercoaster of a story, no matter what
the reader’s age!
A series of short stories
with humor. Stories that build from the mundane to calamitous
situations. Stories to be enjoyed by both boys and girls, the young
and old, and not forgetting Moms and Dads of course. Stories that
allow children and parents to share their thoughts and explore their
imaginations. Stories that allow a return to simpler values that may
bring families closer together.
The target audience is from
ages 7 – 12, and for parents or family to read aloud at bedtime or
in a classroom for story hour.
Each book contains a similar
introduction, allowing each book to be read independently from the
others, with one exception, Book 4 entitled “Come Fly With Me”
where a reading of any other book would help understand this “wacky”
episode.
Each introduction starts with… Except “Santa’s Rescue Dog.”
The ever faithful basset
hound acts as both a friend and protector of his beloved human
family, which can be exhausting at times. Luckily, Sam has some help
from his doggy ancestors, who passed down very special, very secret
super powers…
A day in the life of Sam,
the basset hound includes daydreaming about cakes made of dog-bones,
relaxing with the McClaine family – Dad, Mom, six-year-old Jack and
baby Molly, and endlessly “saving the day” from inevitable
catastrophe!
With a simple chant, he can
switch into super speed mode and even add an extra power, such as
super sleuthing, engineering and cleaning! Absolutely no one in the
family knows about these super powers, except for little Molly, who
couldn’t tell anyone even if she wanted to… her main words being,
“Ma,” “Da” and “More” and “Ja”!
Sam can almost always be
found hanging out with his best friend, Jack. The two love doing
everything together; lounging around the TV room, playing catch out
in the garden, and engaging in fun games like Hide & Seek.
Synopsis for Santa’s Rescue Dog (Book 5 of 12)
2-line Summary:
Ever wondered what would happen if
Santa got stuck in a chimney? What would happen to Christmas – and
would Christmas be Christmas at all?
Short Synopsis (50 Words) - Santa’s Rescue Dog
The McClaine family’s faithful basset
hound, Sam, knows his super speed abilities are a ‘family thing.'
What he does NOT know is why, where, or what got these amazing
abilities started… that’s a big secret, even to him!
Ever wondered what would happen if
Santa got stuck in a chimney?
Medium Synopsis (100 Words) - Santa’s Rescue Dog
The McClaines faithful basset hound,
Sam, knows how to use his super speed powers, even in a pinch. What
he does NOT know is how these powers started… that’s a big secret
to him!
Sam knows it’s a ‘family thing,'
having been passed down through generations of ‘Sam’s’ from
long ago, he doesn’t know why, where, how or what got these amazing
abilities started.
Well, hold onto your seats because, in
this extra special Super Sam episode, you’re about to find out! The
challenge - will you be able to put this holiday special down?
Long Synopsis (400 – 600 words) – Santa’s Rescue Dog
The McClaine family’s
faithful basset hound, Sam, knows how to use his super speed
abilities, even in a pinch, keeping it top secret from everyone
except for baby Molly, of course. What he does NOT know is how these
powers started… that’s a big secret, even to him!
The story goes back to a
long time ago when Sam's ancestor, who also was named Sam, lived with
the Brockmans in a small village. Like the McClaines, Mr. and Mrs.
Brockman had two children, a boy, and a girl, named Zachariah and
Sophie.
They were both excited, as
was every other boy and girl in the world because it was Christmas
Eve. The two of them had strung popcorn and cranberries for their
Christmas tree, and then they darned the stockings they would hang by
the chimney.
Their dad was on guard with
the rest of the men in the village in case Mr. Bear, a giant grizzly
decided to come back into town. While all this was happening with the
Brockmans, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves were all busily getting
Santa’s sleigh packed up and the reindeer ready for their big day.
Sam knows that his super
speed abilities is a ‘family thing,' having been passed down
through generations of ‘Sam’s’ from long ago, he doesn’t know
why, where, how or what got these amazing abilities started.
Well, hold onto your seats
because, in this extra special Super Sam episode, you’re about to
find out!
Whether following Santa and
his reindeer on their highly eventful Christmas Eve journey,
discovering a special ‘sleigh recovery’ team of elves or meeting
Sam’s great, great, great (add a whole bunch of ‘greats’), you
won’t be able to put the holiday special down!
Find out if Santa gets
permanently ‘stuck’ and if Sam’s ancestor is able to control
his newfound super speed powers. Will the Recovery elves – or
Relves for short, the well-trained elf 'sleigh recovery team', be up
to saving Christmas, or are they to ‘rusty’?
Can Mrs. Claus keep it
together when she discovers a possible disaster with Santa? And, on
top of all that, will the quiet old village, home of the Brockman’s
and Sam’s ancestor, be attacked by the great grizzly bear?
Would Santa remember his
beloved Mrs. Claus reminder that he was to use his handkerchief if he
sneezed?
After all, we all know that
‘cough’s and sneezes spread disease’s’ – but why the
constant reminder by Mrs. Claus? What is the importance of Santa’s
handkerchief, especially on Christmas Eve? And would Santa remember?
Would Santa's mission to
give toys and gifts to all the children in the world succeed? Well,
sometimes even the most carefully planned events can go wrong, and in
this case, Santa was able to save the day with the help of his very
important rescue dog.
Read the exciting, humorous
and sometimes tearful special Christmas episode, Santa’s Rescue
Dog to find out! Sam might not know where his secret abilities
come from, but now you get the chance to uncover the truth of the
mystery in this fun, sweet, adventurous ‘Sam’ story!
Santa’s Rescue Dog Reviews and Awards
Book review – Readers’ Favorites
Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite
Santa's Rescue Dog: Super Speed Sam,
Book 6 is a children's animal adventure novel written by Monty J
McClaine. Readers of the Super Speed Sam series are well acquainted
with Sam's awesome powers which he uses to help his family,
especially six-year-old Jack who’s always getting into trouble, but
most don't know how Sam's family actually got those powers. The story
goes back to a long time ago when Sam's ancestor, who also was named
Sam, lived with the Brockmans in a small village. Like the McClaines,
Mr. and Mrs. Brockman had two children, a boy, and a girl, named
Zachariah and Sophie. They were both excited, as was every other boy
and girl in the world because it was Christmas Eve. The two of them
had strung popcorn and cranberries for their Christmas tree, and then
they darned the stockings they would hang by the chimney. Their dad
was on guard with the rest of the men in the village in case Mr.
Bear, a giant grizzly bear decided to come back into town. While all
this was happening with the Brockmans, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the
elves were all busily getting Santa’s sleigh packed up and the
reindeer ready for their big day. Santa was all set to go when Mrs.
Claus reminded him once again to use his handkerchief if he sneezed.
Would he remember? Would Santa's mission to give toys and gifts to
all the children in the world succeed? Well, sometimes even the most
carefully planned events can go wrong, and in this case, Santa was
able to save the day with the help of a very important rescue dog.
I have to confess that I was quite
curious about the history behind Super Sam's super speed and other
powers, so I was pleased to find that Monty J McClaine's children's
novel, Santa's Rescue Dog: Super Speed Sam, Book 6, promised to
reveal the answers I was looking for. At first, this book has two
different story lines going on at once, and it was grand fun
following the two and watching as they became one marvelous adventure
tale. Along the way, I learned lots of cool information about Santa,
Mrs. Claus, the elves, and even the reindeer -- for instance, why
Rudolph's nose is red. Santa's Rescue Dog has plenty of humor and
lots of action to keep readers wanting to read on. Ever wonder what
would happen if Santa got stuck in a chimney? You might just find out
the answer in this clever and original tale that answers both the
question of the origin of Sam's super powers and reveals quite a few
little known facts about Santa, his helpers, and his famous workshop.
Santa's Rescue Dog: Super Speed Sam, Book 6 is most highly
recommended for children and adventure lovers of all ages.
Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite
It’s Christmas Eve, and Santa is off
on his annual mission to deliver toys to good boys and girls around
the world. He’s done this job with pleasure for many, many years.
However, what started off as only a few children around the world has
now become a major undertaking as the population has increased
considerably. With the help of some magical spells from Father Time
and Mother Nature, Santa is able to be super-fast in his one-night
task. That is if he remembers to always cover his mouth and nose when
he sneezes. You see, if he doesn’t cover his mouth and nose when he
sneezes, then the spell breaks and Santa is no longer small,
invisible and super-fast. And that’s what happened. Part way down
the chimney, Santa sneezed without covering his mouth and nose. He
was stuck. With no one else to help, Sam the family dog came to the
rescue. Can he help Santa escape unnoticed and in time to save his
reindeer, now visible on the roof, from the encroaching hungry bear?
What a story. Monty J McClaine’s
Santa's Rescue Dog: Super Speed Sam - Book 6 is a clever tale about
the sparkle and excitement of Christmas, a tale that includes Sam, an
exceptional dog with exceptional talents. There is adventure and
mystery and a little bit of humor interspersed in this intriguing
Christmas story, one that is sure to regenerate the belief that Santa
really does exist. In another ‘Sam’ story in this series, young
reader, enchanted with Sam’s super powers will now learn how and
why he has them. A charming tale.
Reviewed By Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite
Santa’s Rescue Dog: Super Speed Sam,
Book 6 is from the children-animal series by Monty McClaine. In this
story, Sam the basset hound learns how he received his super speed
powers from his ancestors. Santa Claus ignores Mrs. Claus’ warning,
so his sneeze lands him and the reindeers in a snag, and he gets
stuck in the Brockman’s chimney on Christmas Eve. Will the dejected
Recovery Elves (Relves) finally get their chance to go on their first
rescue mission? Hungry Mr. Bear is on the prowl to snatch food from
the villagers’ homes but knows he has to be extremely clever to
outsmart the hunters who want him caught. How many more mishaps will
there be on the night before Christmas?
Santa’s Rescue Dog: Super Speed Sam
is a fun-filled, cleverly written adventure for small children. It is
such a delightful novella and is the sixth one in this
children-animal series. The story is a lively paced festive tale that
follows the entertaining escapades of Sam, an adorable dog with
secret powers who lives with the McClaine family, as well as Santa’s
extended family at the North Pole. The sketches are vibrant in colour
and depict the activities occurring. Monty McClaine is a great
storyteller with an engaging, comfortable writing style. His writing
is very detailed, providing interesting snippets on the energetic
elves, and Mrs. Claus, who has to oversee some of the important jobs
at the North Pole while Santa travels. Santa’s Rescue Dog is a
novella kids will love.
Advanced Praise for Santa’s Rescue Dog
I also had the opportunity to read an
early copy of Santa’s Rescue Dog which will be released shortly.
Children will love this Christmas special about Super Speed Sam,
especially as it tells of how Super Speed Sam came to get his special
powers in the first place. The story is full of fun and fantastical
drama, which will keep children wanting to read more. Parents and
children alike will enjoy this adventure, as they seek to find out if
Santa can get out of his ‘jam,' if the Reindeer will fall peril to
a big grizzly bear, and what will happen to Christmas if Santa cannot
deliver his presents…
The Super Speed Sam series is a great
bedtime read with children or ideally placed towards middle school
readers. Monty J McClaine has struck a winner with this fun,
family themed series about a pet dog with superpowers!
Amazon review from Bernie (Beta reader)
“I received the book free in return
for an honest review. I have enjoyed all of the Super Speed Sam
books, but this one really was great. Santa is out making his rounds
and gets in trouble and needs help. The house he is at had a dog and
Santa gets help from the farm dog “Sam.” It is a really good read
for all ages even though it is written for children. You need to get
this book for your child or grandchildren; I know they will love
it.”
Thanks for
looking
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Character/Theme (Super Speed Sam)
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