Margaret Olivia McManis
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imamohogg@yahoo.com More

About The Author

Ms McManis, a long time librarian and Texas history buff has chosen a different path with 'Ham Grenade', a memoir dedicated to her artistic mother. Ms Mac as she is known to Texas school children graduated from Vermont College with an MFA in creative writing and one of the most exciting projects of her writing career was to have her first book about Ima Hogg of Texas included in the McGraw Hill supplementary reader Texas Treasures. She has done author visits all over the U.S. and even in Spain. She enjoys traveling to Europe on research projects and hopes you find this family story enjoyable and FUN.


 


 

I Love Doing School Visits! 

 

Ham Grande Holiday Cover

 

A flavorful tale of family, tradition, and togetherness —

The Ham Grande Holiday by Margaret McManis is a must-read treat.

 

Margaret McManis School Visit

Books Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Thanksgiving Story

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2025

Verified Purchase
Full Disclosure: Margaret McManis shared this story with me when she was still working on the manuscript. I loved it then and I love it even more now with the perfect illustrations. Too many holiday stories are either silly or sappy. This one hits the mark. A great tale for Thanksgiving or any other holiday gathering. (Just remember to keep an eye on the timer if anything's cooking!)
- E. A. Kimmel
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic representative of the “melting pot” that is Texas!

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025

Verified Purchase
I found the story to be a heartfelt and genuine homage to a lady whose heart and creativity might have far outweighed her culinary skills! The resolution seemed to represent Revelations 7:9 very well. Not only does this book teach creative synergy; it shows how PEOPLE are what make holiday traditions so special.
- Meghan
5.0 out of 5 stars Finger lickin good????????

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025

 
I love and lived this story/event during a much different time. A time when families sat down at the table to share an evening meal, even when it’s not so perfectly prepared.
This was such a fun story and a fun time in our lives.
- Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Always a great Children's book with this Author

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2025

 
Having read Margaret McManis' other children's books, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't. A great story based on a true story. What a fun book to read with your kids.
- K K Hart
5.0 out of 5 stars Tongue in Cheek Humor for a Great Texas Woman Who Shared Her Love for Texas

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2019

 
While touring the Hogg Mansion in Houston, I was browsing books about early Texas life in the Gift Shop.As I thumbed through a book about Ima Hogg, I came across a story about the Hogg Ranch and its unusual animals. There I met a woman who was looking in the children's section and she related a fictionalized humorous children's book about Ima Hogg and an Ostrich on the ranch. As the book was now out of print, I managed to find a copy in a elementary school library. Since I am a retired geologist and have known about the Hogg Family's oil interests, I was curious on how this story related to Ima's life in Texas.
I found the book to be a hilarious account of a race involving a horse and an ostrich and Ima's love of animals. The illustrations are beautiful and complement the colorful story about Ima's contribution to Texas children and Texas history. It gives young children joy and love of a life of a woman who had to endure hardships as a young child and yet contributed so much to the State of Texas in her later life.
I have read all of the reviews on Amazon which almost entirely give this light and colorful children's story a 5 star rating. However, there is one review which does not do justice to Ms. McManis' excellent effort to relate fictional humor to this great Texas Woman. The reviewer obviously has not understood that this is a children's fictionalized humorous story in order to honor Ima Hogg not berate her..
One person found this helpful
- Jim L
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2020

 
Great book, what a great thing to get children to read and the bonus .... to learn about Texas history!!!!??????
- Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to read for Go Texan Day!

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2019

 
I love this book. When I worked as a substitute in a Texas school district I was instructed to read this for Go Texan Day! I have loved this book every since. Great example of increasing the imagination of our children!
- Keisha L. Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Super funny - super good - super weird

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2015

 
Comments made by my five year old grandaughter. Super funny - super good - super weird, girl riding an ostrich. Best Line - Even my toes were mad! Best part - that she kept her promise to her papa and didn't brag.
- Susan Count


Books

Margaret Olivia McManis

The Ham Grenade Holiday

The Ham Grenade Holiday

When the Thanksgiving canned ham mysteriously blows up in the oven Margo and her mom have to figure out a way to enjoy a not so traditional feast with their new neighbors from Venezuela, China and Ukraine. Everyone gets on board to make sure it will be a memorable Thanksgiving in more ways than one.

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Ima & the Great Texas Ostrich Race

Ima & the Great Texas Ostrich Race

In 1892 on a Texas ranch, ten-year-old Ima Hogg rides her pet ostrich in a race against her brothers who are on horsback. Includes facts about the real Ima, daughter of Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg.

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Olé! Cinco de Mayo!

Olé! Cinco de Mayo!

Learn about Cinco de Mayo through song-ol�! This fifth of May, join Pablo as he takes his calf, Rodeo, to school for the Cinco de Mayo celebration. When Rodeo wreaks havoc in the building, the students must find the magic charm to calm him down. Vibrant illustrations, along with musical narration, fill this Latino-flavored version of the classic B-I-N-G-O round song. This charming book will have you singing and dancing along!

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The Wild Texas Stampede!

The Wild Texas Stampede!

When Ima Hogg's father leaves her in charge of her younger brother Tom, trouble starts across the Hogg farm. With raging buffaloes, outraged ostriches, and angry elephants, Ima has her hands full, but it's up to her to put an end to the stampede and save her brother from the mess he's made. Based on real-life characters in Texas history, this book is an exciting adventure for all readers.

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