Loving our Capital Cities' Backyards

Welcome to the home of Atlanta Smiles and Charley's Columbia Backyard, where young adventurers and their families can find all the reasons to fall in love with capital cities!  Books published by B.A. Reader Publishing encourage children to not only read about capital cities, but experience them.  In each book, readers will find a bookmark that doubles as a Checklist of all the greatest aspects of that capital city.  When a reader completes 15 items on the Checklist, he or she can become either a Jr. Ambassador in Columbia, or an Atlanta Adventurer in Atlanta.  This web site is designed for children and families, as well as educators in S.C. and GA. 

  

  

Welcome Atlanta Smiles, the newest children's book of Atlanta, Georgia!  Atlanta Smiles was unveiled to the public on April 18 at a press conference, hosted by Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta.  On April 23, Authors Angie Patnode and Mary McGuire, along with Illustrator Kathryn Krogh, will have their initial book-signing at Centennial Olympic Park's Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day.  In this book, Atlanta native James shares his love for his hometown with visiting friend, Addie.  Over 20 Atlanta attractions and many Georgia state symbols are featured.

   

Published in 2006, Charley's Columbia Backyard was named the "Official Children's Book of Columbia" by former Mayor Bob Coble.  More than 20,000 copies of this book have been sold, and the book has been found on The State newspaper's Local Bestsellers List.  Author Caroline Bennett has visited more than 30,000 students in 100 schools across S.C. to share all her capital city has to offer.  The book was selected in 2009 as the feature book for the city's Together We Can Read project.