Overview

The Big Dream - The Crow's Tales Series (Book 2) ""Holy Ravioli! The police are forming a special unit to investigate thieving birds in my hometown, and even though I'm only twelve years old, I can't shake the vision of myself behind bars in an orange jumpsuit! We've got to stop Ralph before it's too late!"" The small city of Riverside is buzzing with excitement as the spectacular remote-controlled car race approaches. For Brandon, this is the chance to make his dream come true and prove himself to the world. But with distractions at every turn, including a pesky English assignment and a mysterious bird thief, will he be able to stay focused and build his winning car in time? With the help of his family, friends, and pet crow, Ralph, Brandon sets out on a journey of hard work and determination. But as the race draws closer, a special unit of the police is formed to investigate the bird thefts, leaving Brandon worried about his fate. Can he raise the funds, construct a victorious speedster, and win the race before time runs out? The Big Dream is the second book in The Crow's Tales series, a thrilling action-adventure about chasing your dreams and never giving up. If you loved the heartwarming story of The Million Dollar Race, the suspense of The Vanderbeekers On the Road by Karina Yan Glaser, or the humor in How To Win A Slime War by Mae Respicio, you'll love this book! Don't wait, read now, and DREAM BIG! Perfect for boys and girls 8-12. Sometimes it Takes a Village to Raise a World-Class Hot Rod! Bonus! Teacher Reading Resources Included. Don't forget to read The Bird Caper! Book 1 of THE CROW'S TALES, a 3-book series. Exciting stories with wholesome values from award-winning authors Victoria E. Pannell and Thorir Sigfusson. REVIEWS: THE BIG DREAM-The Crow's Tales (Book 2) ""A heartwarming tale with an engaging premise and satisfying conclusion."" -Kirkus Review ""A compelling adventure full of birds, cars - and big dreams! A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!"" -The Wishing Shelf Book Awards ""A delightful read, with a surprising, unexpected twist at the end."" -5 Stars Readers' Choice

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9781964064048

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Reviews

""This is an entertaining story and young readers will laugh out loud at the boy's fund-raising adventures and the (mis)adventures of Ralph the crow, who is drafted in to help. The book beautifully captures the essence of summer, childhood friendships, and the innocence of youth. A delightful read, with a surprising, unexpected twist at the end."" -- Reader's Choice Finalist ""A heartwarming tale with an engaging premise and satisfying conclusion."" -Kirkus Review KIRKUS: ""A young boy determined to build a remote-controlled car for an upcoming race faces obstacles in Pannell and Sigfusson's middle-grade novel. Brandon Woodberry is a sixth-grader who struggles to stay awake in his last class of the day; when he falls asleep, he's awakened by sliding out of his seat and landing on the ground. Amidst the laughter of his classmates, he learns that there's an important final essay due on the upcoming Monday. Although the prompt is simple--to write about plans for the summer--he'd rather hang out with the birds on his rooftop (he's especially close to a crow he's named Ralph) with his friend Josh. Brandon is looking to expand his rooftop coop, which already holds 20 birds, by catching some wild pigeons. However, those plans are set aside when he learns about a remote-control car race whose winner will have their car design featured in a video game. Though Brandon's father doubts he has the experience or technical know-how to win (""It's huge. Too big for you to handle right now""), Brandon isn't so easily deterred. He plans to raise enough funds to buy a car-making kit by getting a summer job, and to conscript his group of friends to be his pit crew. Their first attempt to make money via a car wash isn't as lucrative as they hoped. When Ralph starts to find money around town, Brandon thinks he might actually reach his financial goal-but the involvement of the police throws a wrench in his plan. They've created a special unit to aide them in investigating a series of bird-related thefts-and even Brandon's father is involved, interviewing those affected to write a news article. Pannell and Sigfusson work together well in crafting this second installment in The Crow's Tales series; no knowledge of the previous book is necessary, as readers are immediately immersed in the world and its characters. While some plot threads are dropped abruptly, most are adequately wrapped up by the end. Brandon's grit and determination shine through as an inspiration to young readers, as does the book's positive depiction of friendship and cooperation."" ""A compelling adventure full of birds, cars - and big dreams! A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!"" -The Wishing Shelf Book Awards ""A delightful read, with a surprising, unexpected twist at the end."" -5 Stars Readers' Choice ""This book is brilliant reading for middle schoolers, and older folks too. Well written with many good wholesome points without them being obvious. This book stands out for so many reasons: great storylines, fun, adventures full of surprises, and totally keeps you interested until the end. You just can't help getting totally lost in the story, and wanting more. Can't wait for the next one in this trilogy. Your kids will love it, and so will you."" GoodReads Review.

Author Information

Victoria E. Pannell is an award-winning author of middle-grade fiction. The Bird Caper is the first of her three co-authored book-series The Crow's Tales. The Bird Caper was honored in 2024 with the prestigious indie B.R.A.G. Medallion. It also received a five-star review by Readers' Favorite and Reader Views. It received a Literary Titan Gold Award and is a Readers' Choice Book Awards Finalist. The Big Dream, the second book in the series, received recognition as a Red Ribbon Winner in the 2024 Wishing Shelf Book Awards and was also chosen as a finalist in the Readers' Choice Book Awards 2024. Victoria E. Pannell has extensive experience in teaching and public relations, which brings a nuanced understanding of young readers' minds to her writing. She holds both a degree in English and Elementary Education. Together, with her husband, Thorir Sigfusson, they draw inspiration from their rich life experiences and their grandchildren, who spark their creativity and drive their storytelling in collaborative writing. Thorir Sigfusson is an award-winning author of middle-grade fiction. The Bird Caper is the first of his co-authored three-book-series The Crow's Tales. The Bird Caper was honored in 2024 with the prestigious indie B.R.A.G. Medallion. It also received a five-star review by Readers' Favorite and Reader Views. It received a Literary Titan Gold Award and is a Readers' Choice Book Awards Finalist. The Big Dream, the second book in the series, received recognition as a Red Ribbon Winner in the 2024 Wishing Shelf Book Awards and was also chosen as a finalist in the Readers' Choice Book Awards 2024. Thorir Sigfusson, a retired architect, discovered his passion for writing later in life, finding joy in translating his artistic inclinations into words. Crafting stories with his wife, Victoria E. Pannell, together, they draw inspiration from their rich life experiences and their grandchildren, who spark their creativity and drive their storytelling. They presently live near the coast in Delaware.

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