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Classy ReadsBooks by Maxwell

Little Stories from the House of Maxwell

Gather round. There’s a story here for everyone.

Western adventure novels and hand-painted, large-print picture books from one family of storytellers: Larry L. Maxwell, the Master Story Teller; Frankie A. Maxwell, who painted every picture; and her son, F. Matt Hogle, who carried the saga on.

Help me pick a bookSee all 21 books

Stoke the fire and a story rises from the smoke.

Cover of Jacob's GoldFrom the fire: a novelJacob's GoldNothing stirs the imagination like the word GOLD.
Cover of PartnersFrom the fire: a novelPartnersTwo young men from Germany, as close as any two brothers.
Cover of Texas RangerFrom the fire: a novelTexas RangerDutch rides as a Texas Ranger, bringing some law and order to the Old West.
Cover of Against the Western SkyFrom the fire: a novelAgainst the Western SkyThe exciting conclusion of the epic tale of Jacob Waltz and Dutch Weiser.
Cover of The Shadow TreasureFrom the fire: a novelThe Shadow TreasureWhy the Native American choice of jewelry is silver and not gold.
Cover of A Christmas PrayerFrom the fire: a picture bookA Christmas PrayerA young boy and his dog show their faith and love of Christmas.
Cover of The Spirit of GivingFrom the fire: a picture bookThe Spirit of GivingOne of the greatest ways to bring the spirit of Christmas into your home.
Cover of The GiftFrom the fire: a picture bookThe GiftLujon and his best friend Shannon learn that prayer and giving are the best ways to heal.
Cover of Falling LeafFrom the fire: a picture bookFalling LeafA legend powerful enough to be carved in stone.
Cover of The Bethlehem JourneyFrom the fire: a picture bookThe Bethlehem JourneyThe first Christmas, as told by Jo Jingo, Joseph and Mary’s donkey.
Cover of Murry the MopFrom the fire: a picture bookMurry the MopBased on a true Alaskan story: a little dog and a large Alaskan bear.
Cover of Fun on the FarmFrom the fire: a picture bookFun on the FarmFive rhyming stories, loved by the whole family.
Cover of Farm FriendsFrom the fire: a picture bookFarm FriendsThree rhyming stories that teach us what really matters most.
Cover of Tell Us About ChristmasFrom the fire: a picture bookTell Us About ChristmasFour Christmas rhymes that help us feel the true spirit of Christmas.
Cover of Christmas StoriesFrom the fire: a picture bookChristmas StoriesOur stories must be original, must teach moral thoughts, and must rhyme.

Fresh off the press

The two newest books

Tap the book to turn it over

Our newest novel

Warriors of the White Mountain

  • F. Matt Hogle Author
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

Warriors of the White Mountain is a fast-paced, action-filled story that follows three young friends as they embark on a great adventure that takes them across the Arizona Territory to a People that they will try their best to save.

Buy on Amazon: Warriors of the White Mountain

Tap the book to turn it over

Our newest Christmas book

A Christmas Prayer

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Author, editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

This holiday season, please share with your family and friends the story of how a young boy and his dog show their faith and love of Christmas and the Christmas spirit in blessing their friend.

Buy on Amazon: A Christmas Prayer

21 books, one family

Where do I start?

Answer one question or both, and the shelf sorts itself: the best first read comes to the front.

Who is it for?
What sort of story?

Showing all 21 books: the six novels first, then the fifteen picture books.

The map

Follow the Jacob’s Gold trail

From Germany to the gold fields, to Texas and the Arizona Territory: pick a book and the wagon rolls to where it happens. Then switch to the storytellers’ own map.

The novels, in order

The storytellers

Silver City, New Mexico

Where Larry and Frankie were both born. Larry was raised by his grandparents in the Gila Valley; Frankie between Silver City and Mesa.

Meet the storytellers

The storytellers

Mesa, Arizona

Matt’s hometown. Here Larry was shown a pamphlet about Jacob Waltz and his gold mining.

Meet the storytellers

The storytellers

Anchorage, Alaska

The last frontier: Larry’s lifetime adventure at 19, and Matt’s home from age thirteen.

Meet the storytellers

Try your luck

Pan for a nugget

Swirl the pan: drag it round in circles, or press the button. Wash the gravel away and every pan turns up a nugget: a line from the books.

Nuggets found: 0 of 8

GOLD! Nothing stirs the imagination like the word GOLD.

From Jacob's Gold

In 1848, news of gold in California brought over 300,000 prospectors looking to strike it rich.

From Jacob's Gold

No greater love can any man have than to lay down his life for another…

From Partners

Many of the best stories are yet to be written, the best songs are yet to be sung.

From Larry L. Maxwell

They travel far and wide in search of treasure.

From Against the Western Sky

They learn why the Native American choice of jewelry is silver and not gold.

From The Shadow Treasure

Our stories must be original, must teach moral thoughts, and must rhyme.

From Christmas Stories

Children and adults from 1 to 101 will enjoy this great Christmas story.

From A Christmas Prayer

Little Stories from the House of Maxwell

Open a picture book

Fifteen hand-painted, large-print books. Turn the pages: each one shows the cover Frankie painted and what the story is about.

Cover of The Gift

Book 3 of 15

The Gift

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Author, editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

The Gift tells of how a young boy named Lujon and his best friend Shannon learn that prayer and giving are the most important ways to heal, and that Christmas time is the best time, a season of love and giving.

Buy on Amazon: The GiftMore about The Gift

Cover of Falling Leaf

Book 4 of 15

Falling Leaf

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

Falling Leaf is an American Native legendary tale of a story told for generations, powerful enough to be carved in stone. This is the legend of an Indian warrior and father who embarks on a remarkable journey to save his family and his tribe.

Buy on Amazon: Falling LeafMore about Falling Leaf

Cover of Murry the Mop

Book 7 of 15

Murry the Mop

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

Murry the Mop is based on a true Alaskan story. It is a fun, all-original rhyming tale of the adventure of Murry the dog, and how he proves his worth by chasing off a large Alaskan bear.

Buy on Amazon: Murry the MopMore about Murry the Mop

Cover of Fun on the Farm

Book 8 of 15

Fun on the Farm

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

Fun on the Farm is a compilation of five all-original rhyming stories that are loved by the whole family, written by the Master Story Teller, Larry L. Maxwell, and brought to life with full-color illustrations by Frankie A. Maxwell.

Inside: Limp Lucy · The Fence · Red Head Fred · Ringo the Dog · Paw Dunkin the Pumpkin

Buy on Amazon: Fun on the FarmMore about Fun on the Farm

Cover of Farm Friends

Book 10 of 15

Farm Friends

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

Farm Friends is a compilation of three original stories, fully colored with illustrations, geared for children but loved by all ages: rhyming books that teach us all what really matters the most.

Inside: Chickadee and Chickadoo · Old Croaker the Frog · Patches the Dog

Buy on Amazon: Farm FriendsMore about Farm Friends

Cover of Tell Us About Christmas

Book 11 of 15

Tell Us About Christmas

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • F. Matt Hogle Editor
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

A compilation of four all-original stories told by the Master Story Teller, Larry L. Maxwell, and brought to life with full-color illustrations painted by Frankie A. Maxwell: rhyming stories that help people feel the true spirit of Christmas.

Inside: Tell Us About Christmas · Our Christmas Surprise · The Town That Saved Christmas · The Christmas Light

Buy on Amazon: Tell Us About ChristmasMore about Tell Us About Christmas

Cover of Adventures of Smitty Gumshoe

Book 14 of 15

Adventures of Smitty Gumshoe

  • Larry L. Maxwell Author
  • Frankie A. Maxwell Illustrator

Master Story Teller and author Larry L. Maxwell takes us to a world with all-new and original characters. Travel with them through a series of exciting adventures that teach morals and rhyme, as Frankie Maxwell brings the stories to life with her full-color illustrations.

Inside: Puck-A-Gin · Mitty · Mud Dobber’s Delight · Mildred the Moo · The Arrow of Stone · WampusKitty

Buy on Amazon: Adventures of Smitty GumshoeMore about Adventures of Smitty Gumshoe

1 of 15

The House of Maxwell

Three storytellers, one family

  • Larry L. Maxwell in a straw cowboy hat and a plaid shirt, smiling

    Larry L. Maxwell

    The Master Story Teller1932–2019

    Born in Silver City, New Mexico; raised by his grandparents in the Gila Valley; off to the Territory of Alaska at 19. He wrote Jacob’s Gold and over a hundred and twenty rhyming stories.

    Larry’s story
  • Frankie A. Maxwell holding Tell Us About Christmas in front of a shelf of the family’s books

    Frankie A. Maxwell

    Artist and illustrator

    Larry’s sweetheart and Matt’s mother. She painted the covers of all the novels and illustrated every one of the large-print stories, and spearheaded turning them into real books.

    Frankie’s story
  • F. Matt Hogle in a plaid shirt

    F. Matt Hogle

    Author and editor

    Born in Mesa, Arizona. He helped Larry publish the saga, finished it with Against the Western Sky, then wrote The Shadow Treasure and Warriors of the White Mountain.

    Matt’s story

From Matt’s desk

On the blog

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When’s the next book?

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