Eileen Beha

The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-sea: the Story of Annaliese Easterling & Throckmorton, Her Simply Remarkable Sock Monkey Eileen Beha

Marc Notes: Relates an abandoned sock monkey's adventurous quest to reunite his owner with the one person she most longs to know.; Ages 8-12. Brief Description: Relates an abandoned sock monkey's adventurous quest to reunite his owner with the one person she most longs to know. Review Quotes: Beha's (Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog) humorous story with a gothic setting stars a family of stuffed sock monkeys who may not speak to their human "keepers," but have many thoughts and emotions nevertheless... Throckmorton's sweet contemplations about friendship and loyalty--mixed with some honest reflections about abandonment--will have many readers dusting off their own favorite stuffed pals.--Publishers Weekly, September 22, 2014Review Quotes: Centered around a rich, eccentric elder and the stuffed animals she created for her descendants, Beha's well-paced debut often seems like a throwback to children's books written decades ago. Set in a remote seaside home in Maine where the children are tutored, the story is made even more quaint by its narration, particularly attuned to the tender feelings of a hand-sewn sock monkey...[Beha's] her main characters, particularly Throckmorton, are sweet and sympathetic.--Booklist, August 2014Review Quotes: ... Throckmorton is an engaging narrator, and budding mystery lovers may enjoy piecing together the story of Olivia's return and also figuring out the identity of the thief...youthful fans of cozy manor house mysteries and those who believe their stuffed animals can come to life when unattended may be an appreciative audience. Understated and fluid monochromatic illustrations add atmosphere.--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 2014Publisher Marketing: A charming sock monkey reunites a fractured family in this simply remarkable novel in the tradition of "The Velveteen Rabbit "and "The Penderwicks." Meet Throckmorton S. Monkey. He's everything a sock monkey is supposed to be: Loving. Loyal. A very good listener. And he's never, ever--not even once!--stopped smiling. Yet Throckmorton has been long forgotten by his keeper Annaliese Easterling, and he seems doomed to live out his days lost and lonely among other abandoned stuffed animals. But then one day Great Grand Mama Easterling sends engraved invitations to forty-nine sock monkeys to attend her ninetieth birthday along with their human keepers. Throckmorton is thrilled! The arrival of his invitation brings him back together with Annaliese. And he vows to do something so remarkable, so "amazing," she will never want to be separated from him again. Indeed, over just a few days, Throckmorton will survive being buried in a blizzard. He'll be spared from a vicious attacker. But best of all, he'll find a way to reunite Annaliese with the one person she most longs to know. Not bad for a stuffed toy--if you're to believe that's all Throckmorton S. Monkey really is... Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2014 (EAN 9781442498402, Hardcover) - *Starred Review School Library Journal 09/01/2014 pg. 116 (EAN 9781442498402, Hardcover) Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2014 pg. 145 (EAN 9781442498402, Hardcover) Publishers Weekly 09/29/2014 (EAN 9781442498402, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2015 (EAN 9781442498402, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Beha, Eileen Eileen Beha is the author of "The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea "and the celebrated middle grade novel "Tango: The Tale of" "an Island Dog." A former middle school principal, Eileen received an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and their two dogs, Tango and Daisy. Visit her at EileenBeha.com. Contributor Bio:  Wright, Sarah Jane Sarah Jane Wright is the creator of an original line of artwork that hangs in nurseries and children's bedrooms worldwide. A Christmas Goodnight is her first book for children. She grew up in the greater Washington, D. C., area, where her favorite Christmas Eve tradition was sleeping in the same room as her four siblings so they could all wake up together on Christmas morning. She now lives in Provo, Utah, with her husband and their three children.