For her sixth birthday, animal-loving Alicia is given her first pet, a guinea pig she names Annie. But while Alicia is making a vegetable-fruit cake for Annie's birthday, Annie disappears. Where is she? Alicia can hear her younger brother and sister - the dynamic duo, Jackson and Jillian - arguing in the bathroom. AND, she hears squeaking. Will Alicia be able to avert a near-disaster and make sure Annie stays safe?

"Alicia and Annie" is written for read-aloud and for early readers. A healthy recipe, and interactive questions to promote memory recall and emotional intelligence are included.

ABOUT THE THREE BOOK SERIES: I was in my classroom when a student asked, "I wonder what my sister is doing right now?" The student's question made me think about a child's emerging concept of time: that of being aware of life happening elsewhere, outside of the child's own experience.

Each book in the Sapphire Family Series is told from a different point of view: that of the twins, in "Jackson and Jillian, " their older sister, Alicia in "Alicia and Annie, " and big brother, Mason in "Mason and Invincible Igor." All three books take place during the same period of time, early evening.

Although the books can stand alone, read together they offer a three-dimensional exploration of sibling interactions and family dynamics. Reading a story from different points of view is a first step in thinking beyond oneself. My intention is that the Sapphire Family Series will offer children compelling characters with whom they can identify and grow, and present positive, realistic family dynamics that will delight them.