Why am I passionate about this?

I wrote Billy Balloon in fourth grade for a writing exercise. I remember the teacher reading it to the whole class. I was filled with pride. Then through the years I’d revisit the story and think about getting it published. Many years later, with the support and encouragement from my family, I finally decided to go through with it. We then went from wanting to publish one book to building a brand similar to Curious George and Thomas the Train. We had such a great experience and fun time we also decided to share the adventure with others. We invite readers to submit ideas for other books in the Billy Balloon series through our website


I wrote

Billy Balloon

By Jack Payton,

Book cover of Billy Balloon

What is my book about?

Billy Balloon was born in a little balloon factory on a little hill, with hundreds of his brothers and sisters…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids

Jack Payton Why did I love this book?

A co-worker had introduced me to this book when I mentioned my daughter was having trouble in school.

It’s a wonderful book that made a lasting impression. I would reference the book whenever she would get down or needed extra motivation.

My daughter even wrote about the lessons she learned from How Full Is Your Bucket in her college entrance essay.

By Mary Reckmeyer, Tom Rath, Maurie J. Manning (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Every moment matters.
Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful. Yet most children (and many adults) don't realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day.
In How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids, Felix begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets as well.
Follow along with Felix as he learns how easy it can be to fill the…


Book cover of Daddy Kisses

Jack Payton Why did I love this book?

The baby store where I bought this book closed long ago, but I still remember the day.

My wife was halfway through her pregnancy and we were getting the room ready. The title caught my attention and I picked it up and started to read it. I got teary-eyed.

I imagined reading it and giving my daddy kisses to our soon-to-be baby. For both of my kids, this became a special and exclusive book that only I read to them while giving daddy kisses. 

By Anne Gutman, Georg Hallensleben,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Daddy Kisses as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What could be sweeter than adorable baby animals snuggling with their daddies? This simple board book with warm illustrations feature a variety of animals and celebrate the affection between fathers and children. Cuddles and kisses will surely abound when reading this aloud!


Book cover of Curious George

Jack Payton Why did I love this book?

The fun thing about George was reading all the different books with my kids, and discovering what he was up to next.

He is curious about everything around him, and isn’t always able to express himself. Very much like little kids. George’s childlike innocence and sense of adventure is contagious.

I was also in awe of the author's productivity. There were so many different stories! It was an inspiration to my book series, to invite readers to help co-author additional books.

By H. A. Rey,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Curious George as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Curious little ones will love to cuddle up at bedtime with this padded story collection with sturdy pages. The perfect ending to a long day of play!

Includes six stories:
Curious George: Are You Curious
Curious George and the Firefighters
Curious George's Day at the Farm
Curious George Goes to a Bookstore
Curious George Loves to Ride
Good Night, Curious George


Book cover of Thomas the Tank Engine's Hidden Surprises

Jack Payton Why did I love this book?

This is another impressive and prolific book series.

The magic here is how trains on set tracks on an island can have such big and diverse personalities. Thomas was the little engine trying to do big things.

In a way he is like a little kid growing up and exploring their independence. He tries to show he can do things the bigger trains (or kids) can.

My kids and I had a great time growing up alongside Thomas. My son always carried a small Thomas toy in his pocket.

I would notice he would pat his pocket whenever he needed extra encouragement, for example, at the park among the bigger kids.

By Rev. W. Awdry, Josie Yee (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Thomas the Tank Engine's Hidden Surprises as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Thomas is going on a special trip to the circus, and there are lots of wonderful things to discover along the way--a beautiful hot air balloon, a playful dolphin, and a barrel of monkeys, just to name a few! Lift and peek behind the many flaps and see the hidden surprises. Preschoolers will want to climb on board with this fun transportation shaped flap book, bursting with treasures on every page!


Book cover of Nova the Robot Builds a Friend

Jack Payton Why did I love this book?

This one is part of a small group of books I’m going to keep and one day read to my grandchildren.

I hope printed books will still be around. This board book holds a special place. My kids learned names of colors and shapes with this book.

This is the book I remember sitting my kids on my lap, watching them turn pages with their chubby little hands, while I read to them.

By David Kirk,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nova the Robot Builds a Friend as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 2, 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

Youngsters can learn their colors and shapes as they help Nova the Robot build himself a friend, in a robot-shaped board book which features the author's popular eight-year-old robot boy, Nova.


Explore my book 😀

Billy Balloon

By Jack Payton,

Book cover of Billy Balloon

What is my book about?

Billy Balloon was born in a little balloon factory on a little hill, with hundreds of his brothers and sisters and friends. The Big Balloon Race starts on the first sunny day of Spring. The children tie pen pal notes to their balloons. The balloon traveling the furthest for other children to find, wins the race. Come find out what happens.

Book cover of How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids
Book cover of Daddy Kisses
Book cover of Curious George

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Elephant Safari

By Peter Riva,

Book cover of Elephant Safari

Peter Riva Author Of Kidnapped on Safari

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been to, and loved, North, Central, and especially East Africa for over fifty years. Only six times have I been to Africa on holiday; more often, perhaps twenty or more times, as a television producer. Working in Africa gains a perspective of reality that the glories of vacation do not. Each has its place, each its pitfalls like stalled plane rides with emergency landings in the bush or attacks by wildlife. But, in the end, the magic of the “otherness,” what an old friend called “primitava” captures one’s soul and changes your life.

Peter's book list on the otherness that few get to experience

What is my book about?

Keen to rekindle their love of East African wildlife adventures after years of filming, extreme dangers, and rescues, producer Pero Baltazar, safari guide Mbuno Waliangulu, and Nancy Breiton, camerawoman, undertake a filming walking adventure north of Lake Rudolf, crossing from Kenya into Ethiopia along the Omo River, following a herd of elephant making their annual migration.

Stumbling onto an elephant poaching, the team become embroiled in true financing of terrorism for al Shabaab –ivory sales–and are determined to stop the slaughter at any cost. Ivory trade financing terrorism involves UN refugee camps with two hundred thousand displaced Somali persons, powerful…

Elephant Safari

By Peter Riva,

What is this book about?

A documentary team hiking through East Africa collides with a gang of deadly poachers, in this gripping adventure by the author of Kidnapped on Safari.

Years of filming, extreme dangers, and daring rescues have taken their toll on documentary producer Pero Baltazar and his team. To relax and reconnect with the East African wildlife they love, Pero organizes a walking safari for him, his camerawoman Nancy Breiton, and their elite guide Mbuno Waliangulu. Still, Pero has trouble truly disconnecting from work. When the team comes across a herd of elephants making their annual migration north of Lake Rudolf, Pero decides…


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