Meet the Award-Winning Author
Carl Sommer

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Carl Sommer is a devoted educator and a successful businessman with a passion for communicating values and practical learning skills to children. As a successful businessman and educator, Sommer is eminently qualified to impart to students the principles necessary for success in an increasingly complex world.

Following his passion, Sommer has authored books in many categories, over 100 books. His works include: the award-winning “Another Sommer-Time Story™” series of children’s books and read-alongs that impart values and principles for success for children. The Another Sommer-Time Story™ Series of 20 character-building story books and read-alongs have won these awards: Teachers’ Choice^TM Award, Mom’s Choice Award, ForeWord magazine Book of the Year Award, Benjamin Franklin Award, The Communicator Award, Family Review Center Gold Award, iParenting Media Award, and Family Choice Award. Many of these books have been translated into foreign languages. In addition, It's Not Fair! won the Children's Choice Award, Mayor For A Day received Today's Librarian award for best children's picture book, and The Ugly Caterpillar received the Benjamin Franklin Award for best children's picture book.

Sommer also authored Reading Adventure: a phonics literature-based reading program for children consisting of over 40 books. Reading Success: a phonics literature-based reading program for adults consisting of over 30 books. And Number Success: a complete practical mathematics series from addition to trigonometry, supplemented with workbooks and videos consisting of 12 books and 47 teaching DVDs. His concern for the lack of character in America led him to write, Character Under Attack and What You Can Do About It (Free at our website.). To promote character training, this book was sent free to every elementary school librarian and guidance counselor, and school superintendent in the United States. It has also been sent to every state governor, U.S. senator and U.S. representative. Over 115,000 free copies were distributed.

During the Korean War Sommer served in the Marine Corps. At age 40, he became a New York City public high school teacher. To become a certified teacher, he attended Oswego State University, City College of New York, and New York University. Sommer then became an assistant dean of boys in a high school with 3,600 pupils where he counseled students and parents. As Sommer taught, he witnessed firsthand the many deficiencies of the educational system and began to investigate the system. His research led him to work as a substitute teacher at every grade level in twenty-seven different schools in all of the boroughs of New York City. Identifying the problems and needs of America’s students, he proceeded to craft solutions. His exhaustive ten-year study, including a one-year leave of absence from teaching, led to his first book published in 1986--Schools in Crisis: Training for Success or Failure? (Free at our website). It has been heartily endorsed by teachers, university professors, and prominent educators around the country. It is reported the book has had a major impact on school reform in New York, as well as other states.

Across the nation, Sommer has appeared on radio and television programs, including the nationally syndicated Oprah Winfrey Show. He has served on the Texas State Board of Education Review Committee and taught a Junior Achievement economics course at Prague University, Czech Republic. International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England has also nominated him for International Writer of the Year.

Sommer is the founder and president of Advance Publishing, Inc.; Digital Cornerstone, a recording and video studio; and Reliable EDM, a precision machining company that specializes in electrical discharge machining. It is the largest company of its kind west of the Mississippi River (www.ReliableEDM.com). His two sons manage the EDM company which allows him to pursue his passion for writing. Another son manages his publishing and recording studios. He has also authored technical books: Non-Traditional Machining Handbook, a 432-page describing all of the non-traditional machining methods currently available, and coauthored with his son, Wire EDM Handbook and Complete EDM Handbook.

Born in 1930, Sommer is happily married since 1955 and has five children and 17 grandchildren (See the Sommer Family at 50th wedding anniversary). He continues to write and develop educational materials in Houston, Texas. His publishing company, Advance Publishing, will be releasing four more Another Sommer-Time Story books and twelve Another Sommer-Time Classics Series. They are also producing Story Lesson Videos and bilingual versions in Spanish for all 24 Another Sommer-Time storybooks. Their website provides over 750 pages of free character-building resources (Free Resources).

Sommer is an avid reader, and his hobbies are swimming and fishing. He exercises five times a week at home. Twice a week his workouts include chin-ups on a bar between his kitchen and garage, and dips at his corner sink. Three times a week he does push-ups and leg raises. Five times a week he does jumping jacks, walks on a treadmill, and lifts weights on his home gym. He attends church faithfully, and thanks the Lord for his excellent health. Sommer has no plans to retire. He is in excellent health and continues to write and develop educational materials in Houston, Texas.

Advance Publishing’s mission statement reveals Sommer’s passion and purpose: “Providing exciting and inspiring character-building resources that train and motivate children with positive virtues and life skills, which enable them to live successful lives, and results in stronger families, better schools, and a safer and more productive society.”