Zac Zap is our hero. Born with spina bifida and unable to speak except for at most two words at a time, he finds adventure when he and his wheelchair are mistakenly loaded onto the mail car a westbound train.
Hundreds of miles away he is discovered after the railroad company sorts things out, he is sent home by bus with two of the most inept bus drivers. When the fall asleep, Zac steers the bus to Smartinville, LA just as the Great Big Canoe Race is set to start on the Bayou Teche. He is recognized by a hometown friend, Amy (a stellar athlete who has Down syndrome) who is in need of a partner for her two-person canoe.
Boo Gweebeau, the organizer of the event is wary of Amy andhas carefully "fixed" the race so that his sons, Fartimore and Nbread -- but just in case, he has a backup scheme waiting at the finish line.
Author Biography:
Born in Morgan City, Louisiana, Author/Illustrator Michael Verrett grew up blocks away from sugar cane fields and the unhurried Bayou Teche. Michael has created or contributed to over 80 books. He has books for elementary level, photo books, and writes a YA series, Wherever the Wind May Blow and Zac Zap. A former homicide detective and police sketch artist, Michael has taught gifted art in the WBR Parish School System. A Veteran of the U S Army and Reserves, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. As a member of 3rd Army, his duties took him from Asia, to Africa and the Pentagon. His cartoon strip, Army Life, appeared weekly in the Army magazine, The Desert Voice. Lt Colonel Michael retired as an Instructor with the Army's Command & General Staff College and is currently employed with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge. Michael studied writing at Louisiana State University and the Institute of Children's Literature. He studied art at Louisiana State University, the Scottsdale Art Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, and the FBI Academy. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators, a board member of Creative Minds Writers of Ponchatoula, LA, a member of Louisiana Library Association, and a member of the Writers Rendezvous of the Fairwood Library in Baton Rouge. He is a past-president of the Arts Council of Livingston Parish. A former member of the LSU Operetta Chorus. He continues to perform on stage as the president of Spotlight Theater Players of Livingston parish. He has taught gifted art in the public school system and worked in anti-terrorism. As a volunteer he provides programs for libraries and schools around the State. He attends Christ Community Church He now lives in Denham Springs, LA with his wife Melissa Garbarino Verrett their three dogs: Hamlet, Romeo, and Jack-Jack (and a couple of cats (who wish to remain anonymous). Born in Morgan City, Louisiana, Author/Illustrator Michael Verrett grew up blocks away from sugar cane fields and the unhurried Bayou Teche. Michael has created or contributed to over 80 books. He has books for elementary level, photo books, and writes a YA series, Wherever the Wind May Blow and Zac Zap. A former homicide detective and police sketch artist, Michael has taught gifted art in the WBR Parish School System. A Veteran of the U S Army and Reserves, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. As a member of 3rd Army, his duties took him from Asia, to Africa and the Pentagon. His cartoon strip, Army Life, appeared weekly in the Army magazine, The Desert Voice. Lt Colonel Michael retired as an Instructor with the Army's Command & General Staff College and is currently employed with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge. Michael studied writing at Louisiana State University and the Institute of Children's Literature. He studied art at Louisiana State University, the Scottsdale Art Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, and the FBI Academy. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators, a board member of Creative Minds Writers of Ponchatoula, LA, a member of Louisiana Library Association, and a member of the Writers Rendezvous of the Fairwood Library in Baton Rouge. He is a past-president of the Arts Council of Livingston Parish. A former member of the LSU Operetta Chorus. He continues to perform on stage as the president of Spotlight Theater Players of Livingston parish. He has taught gifted art in the public school system and worked in anti-terrorism. As a volunteer he provides programs for libraries and schools around the State. He attends Christ Community Church He now lives in Denham Springs, LA with his wife Melissa Garbarino Verrett their three dogs: Hamlet, Romeo, and Jack-Jack (and a couple of cats (who wish to remain anonymous). Born in Morgan City, Louisiana, Author/Illustrator Michael Verrett grew up blocks away from sugar cane fields and the unhurried Bayou Teche. Michael has created or contributed to over 80 books. He has books for elementary level, photo books, and writes a YA series, Wherever the Wind May Blow and Zac Zap. A former homicide detective and police sketch artist, Michael has taught gifted art in the WBR Parish School System. A Veteran of the U S Army and Reserves, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. As a member of 3rd Army, his duties took him from Asia, to Africa and the Pentagon. His cartoon strip, Army Life, appeared weekly in the Army magazine, The Desert Voice. Lt Colonel Michael retired as an Instructor with the Army's Command & General Staff College and is currently employed with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge. Michael studied writing at Louisiana State University and the Institute of Children's Literature. He studied art at Louisiana State University, the Scottsdale Art Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, and the FBI Academy. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators, a board member of Creative Minds Writers of Ponchatoula, LA, a member of Louisiana Library Association, and a member of the Writers Rendezvous of the Fairwood Library in Baton Rouge. He is a past-president of the Arts Council of Livingston Parish. A former member of the LSU Operetta Chorus. He continues to perform on stage as the president of Spotlight Theater Players of Livingston parish. He has taught gifted art in the public school system and worked in anti-terrorism. As a volunteer he provides programs for libraries and schools around the State. He attends Christ Community Church He now lives in Denham Springs, LA with his wife Melissa Garbarino Verrett their three dogs: Hamlet, Romeo, and Jack-Jack (and a couple of cats (who wish to remain anonymous).
