A special New Year 2-day promo took place January 5-6 to start 2026 off with a bang!💥
The book also appeared back on the chart at home in the U.S.
A big thank you 🙏 to everyone who welcomed this story into their home during this promo.
Check out this feature as well as some other great articles in ITSE magazine.
https://issuu.com/inthespiritentertainmentmagazine/docs/itse_magazine_winter_2025?ff
Both Guinea Pig Power and Cowboy Cooper are running promos right now!
Guinea Pig Power is free and available on Kindle Unlimited.
Cowboy Cooper is part of a Kindle Countdown Deal and is currently priced at just 99¢.
Update: Thank you to everyone who took advantage of these deals!
Cowboy Cooper made it into the Top 6 in two of its categories, and Guinea Pig Power hit the Top 5 in two categories as well.
Grateful to be invited to Three Trails Elementary, where Principal Jillian Brownell and the staff created a wonderful celebration for the 67th day of school. I read to 400 students, answered questions, and shared my journey as an author and illustrator—both with publishers and independently.
Continue reading “Three Trails Elementary Reading Event”
My guest post for ReaderViews Magazine is now live! I want to give a big thank you to Sheri and Susan for inviting me and for the support they give to many authors through guest posts, reviews, interviews, and their esteemed award program. It was a nice shift from my usual work in news and marketing, and it gave me a chance to talk more directly about writing itself.
In the post, I look at a few reasons animal characters work well in children’s books. I discuss their familiar appeal, the sense of comfort they offer young readers, and how they can help kids follow and remember a story.
Thanks again to ReaderViews Magazine for having me. I hope the post offers something useful to anyone creating stories for children.
A big thank you goes out to friend and educator Katy Alexander for sending in this picture.
I’ve received my first selection on FilmFreeway. My vertical animated short Cupid School (which hasn’t been released on any of my personal socials yet) is an Official Selection at the Vertical Shorts Festival in Los Angeles California 2026.
Vertical Shorts Festival is a global celebration of short-form films created specifically for vertical screens. Our mission is to elevate mobile-first storytelling and redefine how cinema is experienced in the 21st century.
Bam Bam the Bunny: Fuzzy Heroes is a heartwarming children’s picture book written and illustrated by Ben St. James. It follows the adventures of Bam Bam the bunny, who lives in a bustling town and loves to jump from one place to another. He is heroic and always ready to spring into action when someone needs help. When a woman screams for assistance because she is stuck on top of a tall building with an ape, Bam Bam teams up with the police to resolve the situation. However, he soon realizes that not everything is as it seems, and rushing to judge a problem can lead to confusion. By the end of the day, he resolves a misunderstanding and brings together unlikely friends in an unexpected circumstance.
Bam Bam the Bunny: Fuzzy Heroes is both a fun and meaningful story that teaches children about facing their fears and the importance of not making quick judgments. Through Bam Bam, they learn to be there for others in need, show understanding, and help resolve conflicts. His cheerful and energetic nature makes it a joy to read about his adventures. Ben St. James’ narrative is rhythmic, featuring rhyming words and conveying vital messages that both children and adults can appreciate. The artwork is the most striking part because it is colorful and eye-catching. Anyone who has watched classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry or Bugs Bunny will feel nostalgia over the illustrations, as they evoke fond memories of that animation era. Overall, the story emphasizes that differences should be celebrated and that compassion can turn strangers into friends. I highly recommend sharing this book with your children to teach them these valuable lessons while enjoying an entertaining story.
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers’ Favorite
I’m happy to celebrate two incredible authors, Sara Uren and Sasha Milena Filipovich, for their wins at the 2025 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards — one of the most respected programs recognizing excellence in children’s literature since 2006.
Continue reading “Two of my Authors win big at the Moonbeam Award”Great news came in about Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town. It is officially out of the slush pile and a contender in this year’s Chanticleer Little Peeps Picture and Children’s Books competition.
The book made the long list, along with a host of books from various authors and publishers.
There are multiple rounds of judging which take place over the next few months into 2026.
Big thanks to everyone who entered. As of right now My books are on over 1700 reading lists on GoodReads.
Guinea Pig Power also jumped to the #2 and #4 spots on two Amazon charts as the giveaway wrapped up.
Among the news features is local outlet the California Newswire, Daily Jefferson Country Union, The Daily Independent, and the Associated Press to name a few.
Guinea Pig Power has gone nation-wide. This story has been featured in the Associated Press and picked up by over 400 news outlets across the country. It’s great to see Fuzwald and Rex, two ordinary guinea pigs who become superheroes, getting so much exposure.
Continue reading “Guinea Pig Power Hits The News Across the U.S.A.”
To celebrate a new season of learning and fun, as well as the book’s recent 2nd place win in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards we have 100 KDP ebooks up for grabs over at Goodreads.
Contest ends September 30th.
“Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town is a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Ben St. James. It follows Cooper McGee, affectionately known as Cowboy Cooper to his family and friends due to his love for the Old West. One day, Cowboy Cooper’s teacher introduces the class to an abandoned ghost town near his family’s farm. Excited about the possibility of exploring, Cowboy Cooper decides to search for treasures in the town.
Continue reading “Cowboy Cooper: Reader’s Favorite Review Page is Live!”To mark the recent 2nd place win in the Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, a new edition of the book is now available. This Premium Edition includes updated cover art featuring all major award wins commemorating the book’s exciting journey, higher quality interior pages, and a refreshed, more vibrant design.
Guinea Pig Power has tied for 2nd place in the Humor category at the 2025 Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Book Awards.
Judges look for books that are well-written, visually appealing, and engaging for young readers.
Continue reading “Guinea Pig Power Wins 2nd Place at the 2025 Purple Dragonfly Awards”
Meet Bam Bam the Bunny, the star of the upcoming rhyming picture book from the Fuzzy Heroes series. This sequel to the award-winning Guinea Pig Power skips the origin story and hops straight into action — with a few new faces joining the fun.
Most of this book was completed before Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town, but that release made room for a new scene and a few final touches. It’s nearly ready to go!
Stay tooned for release details!
After being released July 4th, Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town has maintained Top New Release status for a full 4 weeks in a row on Amazon.com
Cowboy Cooper held onto its top Hot New Release status in 4 categories:
Children’s Exploration (Paperbacks)
Children’s US Western Historical Fiction (eBooks)
Children’s Exploration History (eBooks)
Children’s Western American Historical Fiction (eBooks)
Here is what some readers are saying on Goodreads.
“This children’s book is a good example of an important message mixed within an interesting story. The illustrations are spot on with the story, allowing the message to shine and enhance a child’s entertainment. The only question… Will there be more stories with Cowboy Cooper to follow?”
– Kelly Knapp
“Cute book with a moral message children can understand. Illustrations are sweet and not scary. My grandchildren liked this book.”
– Lisa Hurst
“This was very cute and fun to read. I can’t think of a better way to reach kids about stealing and preserving history!”
– EstephBooks
The Cowboy Cooper paperback book reached #22 in Children’s Books on the History of Exploration & Discoveries & #1 in the Hot New Releases sub category in that format.
It has been a very busy week. From celebrating July 4th with friends and family, setting up an LLC, winning a new award, planning a move, lots of learning, launching the new book and more!
The Goodreads giveaway has wrapped and the winners are notified automatically.
We watched over 300 people jump onboard in the last 12 hours of the promotion.
I’m looking forward to my next giveaway!
Over the holiday weekend, Cowboy Cooper & the Ghost Town officially launched on Amazon and managed to debut at #1 in seven categories across Kindle and paperback.
Continue reading “Cowboy Cooper Debuts at #1 in 7 Categories across Amazon U.S.A.”Had a great celebrating Independence Day w/ Family & Friends, launching “Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town”.
This book is inspired by what I saw in Ghost Towns around the U.S. & what I have learned from historians about the #pioneertrails here in the city of #Independence.
Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town is featured atop the winners list in the Children’s category alongside other great books by some exciting authors.
Continue reading “Regal Summit Book Awards”
I’ll be sharing these on my adventures.
There are other promotional items that you can print out at home as well.
Free Downloads: Cowboy Cooper Coloring Page, Word Search, & Answer Key
Natalia wrote “A Picture Day to Remember”, published by Clavis Books, as well as her self-published debut “Something Lost, Something Found”. She shares special insights into the upcoming story “Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town” by Ben St. James — a book that shares ideas about preserving history and how learning can inspire creativity.
Continue reading “Early Review by a Fellow Author”
Celebrate July 4th with a spirited Wild West adventure! Enter to win this Royal Dragonfly Award-winning picture book about preserving history!
Related Stories
Cowboy Cooper Review by Historian Travis Boley
The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards recognizes Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town
Unlike the first book which includes an origin story, this one hops right into action.
A new Fuzzy Heroes book is on the way. The follow-up to Guinea Pig Power will introduce Bam Bam the Bunny in an all-new rhyming adventure.
Unlike the first book which includes an origin story, this one hops right into action. Readers can also look forward to meeting new characters along the way.
Written, illustrated, and edited by Ben St. James. Stay tooned for the upcoming cover reveal.
“This time, there’s no origin story — just pure adventure.”
More updates to follow.
Ben St. James