So far Josh Klausner (Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After), Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Julia Pistor (Charlotte’s Web, Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events), and even Shane Acker (Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, 9) are on board, developing the movie no one ever thought possible for Thomas.

What’s my opinion of all this?

I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the years I have become a big fan of the toy company known as TOMY. They specialize in new, unique ways to play, like more realistic figures and motorized die-cast cars. But my all-time favorite is the TRAINS. They are so much fun to play with!!! I’m 12 years old now, and I am still playing with these. You can have your Hot Wheels or your Transformers, but these toys I’ll NEVER grow out of!!! (You’d probably agree with me, too, if you could try them out!)

Just look at them! They’re a unique hybrid of wooden-railway scale, GeoTrax and professional model trains!

They also do models for TV series. They started these with the Thomas the Tank Engine line.

Now they are working on Thomas’ arch rival TV show, Chuggington.

TOMY is a great toy company. I would highly recommend a TOMY train as a gift for a little engineer.

Javelin at the foot of Greencarriage Castle

After I started Animal Land, I wanted to write more books, make more TV shows, and maybe make my first theatrical movie. (Not that it would end up in theaters, anyway.) Well, I decided to start with a new book series. Javelin of Greencarriage, the exciting pilot of the series, tells the tale of a boy who is attacked at age five, and survives living on his own by age ten. He is then welcomed into Greencarriage Castle and taken care of by Sir James the Brave.

But then the castle is attacked for its jewels and gold, and everyone except Javelin (who managed to slip away) is captured. Javelin must continue his blacksmith project to save the village.

I am planning on selling copies of this first book plus audios as well.

Now, hold on a minute while I consult my coworker about just how much info I should publish. Please stand by…….

…okay, he said I can tell you this next part.

Javelin and the Mountain of Dragons (the sequel) is in the works!

-Thomas

Well, the series launch has been successful, and we will soon be posting some episodes of the Animal Land Show!

Okay. So you know that I am creating an all-new series of– well, multiple things– about a made-up island just off the coast of Spain. What you did not know was what it will turn into. Here’s a hint of what I have in mind:

It’s gonna be awesome!!!!!!!!!

So, what do you think? Take the poll about what I should do next. Right now I’m working on their big break on television, The Animal Land Show! (Here’s the poll:

We also filmed Animal Land’s first-ever online video, a Christmas music video. We chose “Let It Snow”. This video has been completed! It was aired on YouTube as soon as it was finished. Here it is!

And yes, the Animal Land characters are stuffed animals.

That was in August 2007. Now, it’s August 2009, two years after we started homeschooling, and Mom is still teaching us. (Thanks again for taking on the trouble, Mom, just so we can have education. Not that I’m part of the trouble, anyway… oh, boy…) This time we’re using the Workbox System.

This is a reason to celebrate! Hmm … just let me switch to bold … aha!

IT’S THE 3rd YEAR OF MOM HOMESCHOOLING US!!! (um…applause?)

I’m kind of getting Ruff Ruffman‘s personality, except I’m not a dog.

Also, I’ve put up my first poll on my site. Vote which of my book characters is the most adventurous!

And, finally, the winning Crazy Summer Story will be posted here, right after I get more people to enter.

Morning Routine in Gilbert

At the hostel, I woke up to the smell of an old-fashioned oven being lit. Danny, the hostel owner, was making breakfast. I went downstairs and sat on the couch. It was freezing! 10 seconds later, I was burrowed under an adult button-up shirt. I was not only waiting for breakfast, but also for my friends Calvin and Jacob. They were going to go canoeing with us. Dad came downstairs. Then Deacon Paul came downstairs. And finally, Ryan came downstairs. We ate breakfast, told stories and jokes, and waited. While we were waiting, Danny told me that Gilbert was the coldest city in Arkansas. That explained why it was cold. We were still waiting for the other boys. Then suddenly, they were pulling up in the gravel driveway. We got together our stuff and got in our cars. We were on our way to the Buffalo River!

The Canoe Trip

We started the canoe trip somewhere outside Gilbert. Then, we loaded up and were off! We paddled on calm waters and I was just getting used to the peace and quiet when my dad yelled, “Rapids, dead ahead!” I shook myself awake and saw that we were headed right for rapids that could tip your boat over! I pulled in my paddle and held on as we entered the rapids. Ryan was steering hard and letting the rapids push us. Then, all of a sudden, it was over. We were out of the rapids! “All right!” I yelled, “We’re done with rapids!” But I had spoken too soon. We were headed for more rapids! I had to pull in my paddle again and hold on again, and Ryan steered hard again and let the rapids push us again. And again, it all was suddenly over. This went on and on and on and on until we landed in Gilbert. We hopped out and started to swim. The water was so shallow, I could walk in the river to the other side and back! Then we went back to the hostel, changed, went to The Gilbert Cafe, ate, went back to the hostel, and got ready for a campfire.

The Campfire (OR Misty’s Gift)

We already had a huge teepee of sticks, so we lit the fire, then added newspaper, small sticks, and other things that you can put in a fire. We were getting a good fire, but needed one more thing to put in it. Just then, Misty, the yellow lab, came along. She had something in her mouth. She gave it to Buddy, the black lab, who gave it to Danny. It was a hot dog package! It was empty, of course, so we put it in the fire.

Going Home

The next day, we packed up and went to Fayetteville. We had missed the English mass, so we had a little time to eat before the Spanish mass. We picked up some popcorn chicken and some waters at Sonic, then went to Arsaga’s Espresso Cafe. I got a hot chocolate, and Dad got an espresso coffee. We went to the Spanish mass, then went to Harps to get some strawberries for a pizza party. Then we went on to the party. After that, we went home.

There were supposed to be pictures and videos on here, too, but it will be a while.

Oh, and the Crazy Summer Story Contest will close on the 10th day of August. So hurry!

Correction: I’m the kind of guy who loves to read and write books.

When I was a little boy (but I’m still a boy), I wanted my mom to never stop reading to me. I loved books then and I love books now. Now, I want to go to the library as much as I can.

A few years ago, I started writing comics to show to my friends at the playground. They kept asking me to write more. So I did. Then, I thought about creating a book series called Animal Land. All of the books would be about an island called Animal Land, located somewhere between North America and Africa. Only animals would live there, but talking animals, living the same way humans do.

So I did.

I am in great need of ideas for my books. If you have an idea and would like to share it with me, please e-mail me at:

telong2009@gmail.com

I’m really looking forward to writing your idea(s) in my book(s)!