About this item
The world's leading toy manufacturer gives each toy it creates a tiny, computerized brain and a unique personality making for some seriously awesome toys. But sometimes there's a faulty toy . . .Dan is a "Snugliffic Cuddlestar" bear--he should be perfect for hugging. But because of a malfunctioning chip, Dan is so strong he could crush a car. Thrown into the rejects pile, he meets Arabella, a "Loadsasmiles Sunshine" doll, who has a very short temper. Soon Dan, Arabella, and Flax (a custom-made police robot rabbit) are recruited by the head of the toy world exactly for what makes them unfit. And their first mission is a doozy: to protect a senator's eight-year-old son from being kidnapped.With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this hilarious book has reluctant reader appeal written all over it.
About the Author
A percussion artist/educator and world traveler, Mark Powers has studied, performed and taught throughout North America, as well as in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the South Pacific. He has contributed drumset and/or percussion tracks to a number of incredible recording projects, including releases by M. Ward, Mbrascatu, Haley Johnsen, Falls, Amanda Richards, King Black Acid, Rob Wynia (of Floater) , Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, and others.
Mark has also made music on stage with a diverse list of artists, ranging from Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Devon Evans (of Bob Marley and the Wailers) , Clyde Stubblefield, Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries, and America's Polka King- the late Frankie Yankovic, to disco sensations The Afrodisiacs and 80's nerd-rockers The Spazmatics.
As a teaching artist, Mark facilitates a variety of percussion programs - including his popular "TrashBamBOOM!" (formerly "Junk Jam") and "Sights & Sounds of Ghana" classes - educating students of all ages in schools around the world. He also presents at youth/adult correctional facilities and leads businesses and organizations through leadership and team building training in his highly interactive "Rhythms at Work" workshops.
He has spoken at TEDxConcordiaUPortland and TEDxYouthOmaha, is co-author of "Alfred's Drumset Method: Book 2" and "The 2-in-1 Drummer," and author of "Solo in Style" (all three published by Alfred Music) , as well as author of two children's board books, "I Want To Be A Drummer" and "I Want To Be A Reader" (both published by blue manatee press) .
He has also written for Modern Drummer Magazine, Percussive Notes and a number of other percussion publications, and releases 60-second video drum lessons on his educational website, DrumItInAMinute.com
Mark plays and endorses Tycoon Percussion instruments, REMO drumheads, Cajon Brush, SABIAN cymbals and ProLogix practice pads.
Fun fact: He is also former co-holder of the Guinness World Record for Longest Drum Roll by a Group (shared with Namiah Tribolini, Peter Buxman and Pat Flanigan) !
More information about Mark can be found at PowersPercussion.com
