Jan 29, 2026
Ollie and the Alliog
By Jim Balmain
$17.99; Ages: 5-6
Publisher: Xlibris
Amazon.com
From local Bakersfield author Jim Balmain of Smith’s Bakery comes a heartfelt Southern adventure about courage, friendship, and finding your place in the world.
By Debbie Tinoco & Monica Martinez
$10.10; Ages: 3-6
Publisher: 1127 Press
Amazon.com
Bakersfield native Tinoco penned the story of Zachary and his friends, who encounter a charming group of reptiles who lead kids on a new alphabet discovery!
By Teresa Adamo & Jennifer Williams-Cordova
$9.95; Ages: 3-6
Publisher: f/8 Press
Amazon.com
Shafter resident Adamo penned several books in homage to her terri-doodle, Indy. In this installment, Indy wanders the streets of Bakersfield to meet and greet the locals.
By Debbie Tinoco & Saul Escobedo
$12.99; Ages: 5-8
Publisher: BookBaby
Amazon.com
Tinoco, author of “Zachary’s Alligator,” also penned a series of multicultural books, “Dale Gas Carmen.” This installment tells the tale of the Castillo family as they prepare to make tamales for Christmas—and maybe George Washington.
By Jeff Rzepecki
$29.99; Ages: 5-10
Publisher: Dorrance Pub Co.
Amazon.com
Inspired by his nephew, Patrick, who has Down Syndrome, Rzepecki, a salesman-turned-teacher, penned this book about how learning to read can change a life.
It tells the tale of Golden Eagle, who discovers a wolf pup struggling to survive on his own, and the two forge a bond of friendship and survival.
By Allison Crotzer Kimmel & Rotem Teplow
$15.16; Ages: 6-9
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Amazon.com
allisoncrotzerkimmel.com
Local author Kimmel introduces children to history with this tale of a dog who became a Civil War hero during the Battle of Gettysburg. The true story is depicted in a statue at Gettysburg by the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
By Beth Brookhart
$19; Ages: adult
Publisher: Sibylline Press
Amazon.com
https://bethbrookhart.com/
Brookhart’s debut novel was inspired by her years of service on the Kern County Museum’s board of directors. Set in rural California in the 1950s, four women are determined to save the museum’s budget crisis—but it’s not about the money. The fun comes with the personalities of the women who rally against what society expects them to be.
By Norman Farrell Brown
$19.99; Ages: adult
Publisher: Fig Factor Media Publishing
Amazon.com
www.kernliteracy.org
Brown had a traumatic childhood, including being a victim of abuse, substance abuse, suicide attempts, arrests, and homelessness. But he wasn’t ready to give up. He knew he could do better—and he has done better. He’s involved in the Kern County Literacy Council and the Model T Club and has set an example of how a bad start doesn’t have to lead to a bad finish.
By Phyllis Wachob
$11.73; Ages: teen-adult
Publisher: Phyllis Wachob
Amazon.com
https://phylliswachob.com
When a body turns up in a local orchard, a retired school librarian barely makes note of it—until she realizes she may have a tie to the dead guy. Now, the days of shelving books seem dull compared to her new job digging up clues, tracing missing persons, and solving crimes. The first in a series of Kern Kapers books, penned by Wachob, a retired English teacher.
