Amazon Jungle House Publications Jungle House Publications Category:  Children Publisher: Jungle House Publications ISBN-10:  0976933233 Type: Fiction Pages: 64 Copyright: Jan. 1, 2011 ISBN-13: 9780976933236 A snowy plover shorebird, whose greatest wish is to hatch her eggs, is guarded by 12 other shorebirds and a maverick ghost crab for 24 days. Snowy Pea and the Ghost Crab, is a 81/2 x 11, hard cover, 64 page, 13 chapter, fully illustrated in watercolor, fictional children's storybook for grades 2-5. The story takes place on the beach on Sanibel Island, in southwest Florida. The book begins with a Cast of Characters that describes the real animals with both story names and real life names. As an endangered species, Snowy Pea (a snowy plover shorebird) has never been able to hatch her eggs due to predation or destruction. After losing her mate to a hawk, she flies to a new beach (on Sanibel Island) and lays her eggs. Four resident birds, Paulie Pelican, Edna Egret, Oscar Osprey, and Crazy Crow, watch as a raccoon is threatening the nest. They decide to intercede and scare the raccoon away. Feeling sorry for the tiny bird, the birds decide to form the Snowy Pea Protection Plan and gather eight more shorebirds to take turns guarding the nest until the eggs hatch. A maverick ghost crab, Ghosty Ghost Crab, joins in as a guard. Over the next 24 days, the nest is threatened by a dog, ghost crabs, a raccoon, a snake, a herring gull, and children. One egg is tragically destroyed, but the ending is happy, with the hatching of two adorable chicks.    Excerpt It wasn't long before all the birds heard about Harry Herring Gull. They were sad for Snowy Pea. They knew she wouldn't leave her eggs, so they brought her food when they came to the nest for guard duty. The day after Snowy Pea had lost her egg, Crazy Crow brought her what looked like a large white egg. It was big, shiny, and slippery, and he could hardly hold onto it with this bill. He dropped it right next to the nest and said, "I found another egg for you Snowy Pea." Snowy Pea looked at the new egg. She knew it wasn't a snowy plover's egg because it was much bigger. It was perfectly round, white, and had dimples all over it.

A Book For All Ages
A Book For All Ages
by Di Saggau
Snowy Pea and the Ghost Crab is
a new children’s book by Sanibel
resident Kyle L. Miller, illustrated
by Randon T. Eddy. While it is written
for ages seven to 11, lucky is the adult
who gets to read the book. Miller’s cast
of characters helps to identify birds
and other critters found on Southwest
Florida beaches, while engaging readers
in a story about a tiny snowy plover
shorebird whose greatest wish in life is
to hatch her eggs.
Miller says the story was written not
only to entertain and educate, but also
to bring awareness to the reader of how
difficult the survival of many species has become in our world. The beautiful little snowy plover has become endangered on the Pacific Coast and threatened on the Gulf Coast because of loss of habitat due to predators, human interaction, and weather.
We first meet Snowy Pea running
around in circles and zigzags, dragging
one of her wings in the sand, trying to
look injured in order to distract a predator that could eat one of her eggs. She soon meets a small ghost crab who, unlike most crabs, doesn’t eat bird eggs. Ghosty promises to help protect the nest. Along with a host of many island birds, including
Paulie Pelican, Edna Egret, Ringer Ringbill Gull and Iris Ibis, The Snowy Pea Protection Plan is formed to keep predators from gobbling up the eggs. They come up with some ingenious ideas.
The book is imbedded with life lessons
in courage, teamwork, independent
thinking and forgiveness. Dr. Sidney B.
Simon, professor emeritus, education,
University of Massachusetts, and Sanibel
resident, writes: “Snowy Pea and the
Ghost Crab is thrilling, suspenseful, and a great educational tool. Kyle Miller knows how to weave a tale and teach at the same time, and the brilliant illustrations by Randon Eddy match every twist and turn. The birds and animals the kids and grownups meet in this charming story will be remembered forever.”
Holly Moulder, award-winning author
and former Teacher of the Year writes:
“An engaging story, charming characters,
and lots of interesting facts about shorebirds make this book the perfect choice for any young reader or family vacationing at the seashore.”
Miller has a description of the characters listed at the beginning of the book so readers can become familiar with the names and images of the wildlife. Her narrative teaches how to identify them. For example, on page 25 when Snowy Pea meets a helpful gull: “I’m Ringer Ring-bill. I’m a gull, and I have a black ring around my bill. That’s one way you can tell me apart from Joker (a gull who likes to tell jokes) and other gulls. My bill
is very sharp, so don’t worry, I will peck anything that comes close to your eggs while I’m on watch.”
Snowy Pea and the Ghost Crab is
a wonderful gift for any young reader. It sells for $16.95. It may be purchased directly from Jungle House Publications by calling: (239) 395-4518, or by Pay Pal at the website: www.junglehousepublications.com Ms. Miller will personally sign the book when ordering by phone.

Snowy Pea and the Ghost Crab
by Gary Roen
Syndicated Book Reviewer
I loved this kid’s book that is for all ages to enjoy. The author tells the story of Snowy Pea a Snowy Plover who has a problem. She has laid her eggs and is worried about some other animals and birds who will attempt to eat them. Some interesting characters come to aid her and protect her eggs. The writing is fun while educational for everyone. The artwork by Randon T. Eddy adds a depth to the work that makes it that much more fun to read. This is a very great team and I would love to see other collaborations by these two talented women.