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Sage has misheard and misunderstood one of Mrs. Page's weekly vocabulary words. Her error leads to a humblingcatastrophe:a momentous tragedy, in front of the entire class. Can Sage turn her vocabularydisaster:an event bringing great misfortune, into atriumph:a true success? Anyone who has ever beendaunted:discouraged or disheartened, by a mere word in the dictionary will cheerwildly:in a manner lacking all restraint, as Sage transforms embarrassment into victory in Debra Frasier's touching story of loving--and mistaking--our glorious language.

I know some Big Words. I'll teach them to you. Although you are small, you can use Big Words too. Big Words aren't scary. They're big fun to learn. I was taught once and now it's your turn. The eighth hilarious picture book by the #1New York Timesbestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell helps little people communicate in a big person's world. With grown-up words like cooperate, respect, patience and considerate, a big, boisterous and zany family celebrates the power of language and discovers that words—bigorlittle—are the bridge that connects us all.

?With humor, style, and succinct, admirable precision, Heller summarizes everything most people will ever need to know about this particular area of grammar?A treasure.' --Kirkus Reviews ?Its lush, exuberant, full-color artwork will grab kids? attention, even if they're sitting at the back of the classroom.' --Booklist ?Her subject, made interesting by a rhyming text and brilliantly colored picture, will appeal to everyone.' -- Horn Book Q&A - Ruth Heller - A Paperstar Profile How did you become interested in writing books for children? I loved reading to my own children, and when they started school, I became the P.T.A. library chairman. I was the one who got to pick and choose and spend a nice fat budget for the elementary school library. I feel as though I've been surrounded by children's books for years. I suppose this and my strong art background are what prompted my trying to write. What is the biggest influence in your style of writing, and how has it changed since you first began? Hillaire Belloc, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear?I grew up reading all of them. I love their rhythm, and I loved reading Dr. Seuss to my children. No question, these were my influences. I think I've become wordier, not quite as minimal and succinct as I used to be. What made you decide to write a series on the parts of speech? Take a peek at the back end paper of the hardcover edition of A Cache of Jewels. You'll see that I committed myself, in print, to writing a book for each part of speech. Here I am, ten years later, thankfully completing the very last book in this series. It will be published in 1998. Do you begin with the words or pictures when you are developing a book? How does the second part come together? The first step is to decide what I am going to say on each page. Then I can begin to visualize my illustrations. The words dictate what the illustration will be, but that still gives me many options. Sometimes the two come together easily, sometimes not. If not, I pursue new research material until something clicks. Did you learn anything new about the parts of speech while writing these books? I learned many things I had forgotten, and some new information and rules that I had never known. I also learned that the textbooks that I used for research were difficult to understand and somewhat boring, and that I am guilty of frequent misuse of the English language. How do you choose the images in your book? An art teacher once told me to ?fall in love? with whatever I was drawing. So I choose images that I love: candy, ice cream, butterflies, sea creatures, carousels, jewels, etc.

With gorgeous pictures and lively verse, Heller's acclaimed language series has no rival! She now rounds out her popular series with a brand-new book that provides an intriguing, eye-pleasing explanation of just how prepositions tell us the "when" and "where" of things. Full color.

Mr. Wright's class can't believe it. What will it be like without question marks, apostrophes, periods, and commas? Punctuation has never been as entertaining as it is in this wacky picture book.

"Lively...The playfully rhymed text flows effortlessly as it discusses superlatives, irregular adverbs, and double negatives....Informative and fun."-- School Library Journal "Using expansive color drawings and catchy rhymes, Heller writes about words frequently and vividly and with an unmistakable flourish....A clever introduction."-- Booklist "This eye-catching book explains its perplexing subject well and clearly, and more memorably than could any grammar textbook." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Retold from traditional sources and accompanied by David Wisniewski's unique cut-paper illustrations, Golem is a dramatic tale of supernatural forces invoked to save an oppressed people. It also offers a thought-provoking look at the consequences of unleashing power beyond human control. The afterword discusses the legend of the golem and its roots in the history of the Jews. A Caldecott Medal Book.

A simplified prose retelling of Shakespeare's play about a man who kills his king after hearing the prophesies of three witches.

First he broke The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Now he uncovers the awful truth--and high hilarity--of life "happily ever after". It seems that the Frog Prince doesn't think life is a bowl of duckweed--all the Princess does is nag, nag, nag. So it's off to the deep dark woods to look for a witch willing to help him out. Full color.

The author of the Caldecott Honor book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales pokes affectionate fun at classic fairy tales in this richly illustrated picture book. Readers will meet a distinguished cast of characters who seem oddly familiar but somehow changed. Full color.

THERE IS NO better way to introduce children to classical music than with Prokofiev's musical fairy tale of the little boy (played by all the strings of the orchestra) who, with the help of a bird (played by the flute), outsmarted the big, bad wolf (played by the French horns). And now with this book and CD package, children can look and listen all at the same time. A new retelling by Janet Schulman follows the basic story, but with a kinder ending for both the big bad wolf and the argumentative duck. Peter Malone's paintings have the luminous quality of old Russian masters. The CD, with music performed by the Cincinnati Pops and word-for-word narration by Peter A. Thomas, was made exclusively for this book and CD package. From the Hardcover edition.

The life of a truffle-hunting pig is not easy! Unearthing delicious truffles all day without eating any is too hard for Bianca. After her very first bite, she and her piglets are banished to the forest where they meet up with a wolf. Award-winning illustrator Charles Santore–painting in a new style– has penned an original pig’s tale that feels like an old favorite. From the Hardcover edition.

Remember Sleepy Hollow? The place where the schoolmaster Ichabod Crane met his fate during an infamous encounter with the headless horseman? Now, Will Moses offers a nostalgic look at this legend using his own detailed, full-color folk illustrations. With its authentic portrayal of the Hudson River valley, Moses has created a unique storyteller's edition.

My girls and I have read this book many times. The subtle multiculturalism of the book comes across in a humorous, pleasant way. Coyote is the consumate trickster of generic Native American folklore, and the javelinas get help from Native and Latino people in the construction of their homes. The drawings are well done and the story sticks close to the classical version with a dash of southwestern spice. Recommended for children 3-7 and their parents.

"'Will you walk into my parlor,' said the Spider to the Fly..." is easily one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and the Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerlizzi as he -- drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s and 1930s -- shines a cinematic spotlight on Mary Howitt's warning, written to her own children about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions.

With this handsomely illustrated edition of O. Henry's best, children can now enjoy all the surprising twists and turns of six favorite tales by the master of the short story: "The Gift of the Magi," "Two Thanksgiving-Day Gentlemen," "The Last Leaf," "Mammon and the Archer," "After Twenty Years", and "A Retrieved Reformation." Noted scholar John Hollander provides the thoughtful introduction and insightful annotations, and illustrator Miles Hyman brings the stories to life in nostalgic pictures that evoke an America gone by.

Everyone knows the story of Sleeping Beauty: A handsome prince rescues a beautiful princess from a wicked fairy's terrible sleeping spell.             This story is just like the original. Except for the sarcastic frog narrator, the garlic-scented fairy, and--oh yeah--the princess inthis book not only sleeps and snores . . . she's also been turned into a hot-pink and purple dragon!              Certain to charm and delight fairy tale fans across the land, this raucous retelling isanythingbut a snoozer.            

Deep in the Hidden Forest, familiar characters from children's best-loved stories--Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, Peter Rabbit, and Goldilocks--meet, frolic and come to life in this clever book. Full color.

An all-time children's classic "The Velveteen Rabbit" beautifully packaged with an adorable, authentic plush version of the beloved bunny! The Velveteen Rabbit's journey from outcast toy to real bunny is a classic tale of love, friendship and learning to be yourself. This special hardcover gift edition, which includes beautiful design on every page, reunites Margery Williams's text with the original full-color 1922 illustrations by William Nicholson. The plush stuffed bunny, which has been designed exclusively for this gift set, is made of high quality velveteen and based on these same original illustrations. We hope that he will become, like the Velveteen Rabbit himself, a cherished companion and inspiration.

He was the finest modern poet in the English language--plus a playwright, theatre manager, politician, and passionate believer in supernatural. William Butler Yeats' writing captures all the magic and mystery of his native Ireland, and here are some 26 of his finest, most mesmerizing verses. In "The Stolen Child," fairies come in the night to entice a boy away forever to "where the wave of moonlight glosses the dim grey sands with light." Yeats claimed that a Greek folk song inspired "The Song of Wandering Aengus": the excerpt here follows Aengus on his quest to locate an enchanted girl. Visions of a fierce and terrible battle-where "unknown perishing armies beat about my ears"--emerge in "The Valley of the Black Pig," all seen in a dream. Matching the beauty of Yeats' written images are a series of exquisite and evocative paintings, which range from panoramic natural landscapes to compelling portraits of characters both human and fantastic. And, as always, this acclaimed series features fascinating biographical information, introductions to each verse, and full annotations that define difficult unfamiliar vocabulary.

William Carlos Williams' poems are like pictures, full of visual images that youngsters will quickly grasp and enjoy. Thirty-two of his finest verses, accompanied by gorgeous paintings that capture Williams' evocative references to nature and everyday life, grace this new title in the much-celebratedPoetry for Young Peopleseries. Renowned scholar and professor Christopher MacGowan, who has edited several volumes of Williams' work, provides a fascinating biography of this poet-doctor as well as invaluable annotations that explain unfamiliar vocabulary. Exquisite paintings, by the distinguished artist Robert Crockett, make every page a treat to look at and truly illuminate the poems. Among the poems included here are "Dawn," with its lovely evocation of bird song and flight; "Primrose," a celebration of summer's joys; "10/30," a witty verse that imitates the sounds of freight trains passing by the station near his home; and an excerpt from his famed book-length poem, "Paterson." Professor Christopher MacGowan is co-editor of Volume I ofThe Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams, and editor of Volume II and other books of Williams's poetry. He is also the author of articles on Sherwood Anderson, Denise Levertov, and Vladimir Nabokov. Professor MacGowan is the Chair of the English department at The College of William and Mary. Robert Crockett has illustrated numerous books, magazine articles, and advertising pieces. Among his many awards are 11 gold and silver medals from the San Francisco Society of Illustrators (of which he was past president). His paintings regularly show in the New York Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibit.

From the grand and mythic Idylls of King Arthur to the tragic, rousing "Charge of the Light Brigade," Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry explores a range of magical, dramatic, and thoughtful topics. This outstanding and stunningly-illustrated entry in the much-praised Poetry for Young People series gathers excerpts from 26 of his finest works. The biography and annotations by a distinguished scholar, and extraordinary full-color paintings by a renowned artist on nearly every page, are the hallmarks of this acclaimed series. Youngsters will enjoy encountering Tennyson's "Mermaid"; the "Lotos Eaters"; and "Ulysses." A beautiful picture of "The Lady of Shalott," captures the sad heroine's isolation "in her four gray walls, and four gray towers." Images of a lonely man and a sweeping landscape illustrate Tennyson's masterpiece,In Memoriam. Plus: the haunting "The Owl," the lullaby "Sweet and Low," "The Hesperides," and other immortal verses. About the Editor: John Maynard is Professor of English at New York University and the former chair of the department. He has written books on Robert Browning, Charlotte Bronte, and the Victorian view of religion and love. Professor Maynard is also co-editor of the journal Victorian Literature and Culture. About the Illustrator: Allen Garns has worked as a freelance illustrator for a number of publishers and magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly. He has received awards from the Society of Illustrators of New York, American Illustration, and Communication Arts and Graphics. His paintings have been exhibited in a number of galleries.

In a basketball game, the mind flows. Later, memory serves up moments--short takes. Here are twelve poems delivered in short, quick lines that press and twist and streak their way downcourt toward their goal with practiced, impressive dexterity. The feeling is of the inner eye and ear, alert and awake, storing up memories. Competition is everywhere. Voices taunt, swagger, defend. Bodies dare and challenge. And yet, amid the heart-pounding action, the athletic stop-starts, come moments of quiet, even odd reflection--the sound of sneakers on a wood floor, for instance.Small photographs capture suspended moments and pattern their way across colorful backgrounds in accompaniment to the energetic images of the poetry. Once again drawing on the rhythms of jazz and hip-hop, Charles Smith offers a fitting companion to his previous two books about The Game: Rimshots, an ALA Notable Book, and the highly praised Tall Tales.

He was the greatest poet and playwright who ever lived, the dramatist who penned lines that we quote without even realizing their origin. Shakespeare's glorious works have even inspired animated films--like Disney's The Lion King. Introduce children to the Bard with this wonderful, fully annotated collection of sonnets and soliloquies, enhanced with beautiful, highly realistic color paintings that bring each excerpt to vivid life. Here are Shakespeare's most famous speeches: "To be or not to be" from Hamlet, with the melancholy Dane pictured in front of the castle, his face pensive and gazing into the distance; Portia's gentle plea for mercy in The Merchant of Venice; Macbeth's witches' cackling "Double, double, toil and trouble"; and Marc Antony's sarcastic address to "Friends, Romans, Countrymen," in Julius Caesar. A golden-robed Henry V, kneeling and bowed from the weight of the world, ponders how rulers must bear the burden of their subjects' needs. Mercutio, seen here in a bright red background as fiery and explosive as his personality, gently teases his lovesick friend Romeo. From the tender sonnets (Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?) to the humorous songs sung by his jesters in comedies such as Twelfth Night, every page contains pure verbal and visual magic. "...the most delicate challenge in introducing poetry to children [is]...making all the necessary allowances for accessibility without completely throwing felicity and mystery to the winds. In this respect...it is particularly heartening to come upon...The Poetry for Young People Series [which] should be commended for recognizing that secure stepping stones hold infinitely more hope than forced marches."--Washington Post Book World.

A hilarous look at the day-to-day life of the average ghoul.Being a monster isn’t just about frightening villagers and sucking blood. Monsters have their trials, too. Poor Frankenstein’s cupboard is bare, Wolfman is in need of some household help, and it’s best not to get started on Dracula’s hygiene issues. What could be scarier? These nineteen hilarious poems delve into the secret lives of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Bigfoot, Godzilla, and others. A Junior Library Guild Selection.

From the puppies in Philadelphia to the piglets in Wichita, west to the Great Salt Lake (where the big green frog lives), and south to the Mardi Gras celebration -- here are poems and pictures for everyone to love. Ride a Purple Pelican confirmed Jack Prelutsky and Garth Williams's place in the hearts (and on the tongues) of young Americans. And Beneath a Blue Umbrella is a worthy successor. Here is a book for adults to share with children -- and for children to share with adults and with each other.

Ages 6 to 12 years. This book of charming poems by three-time Parents Choice Award Winner Barry Louis Polisar features in the funniest bugs on the planet. From the praying mantis to chiggers to millipedes, kids will discover that the weird and wacky bugs are the most fun. Even the dung beetle, brilliantly illustrated in a tuxedo and with formal serving tray, finally gets the recognition he deserves as one of the top insects to inspect. An index of the featured creatures rounds out the fun with scientific fact.

"Well-written, engaging introduction...illuminates Millay's personal history and writing...luminous, evocative watercolors...A noteworthy addition to the poetry shelf...both informs and intrigues."--Booklist.   "Luminous, elegant illustrations bring these complex and insightful verses to life...all are fresh and alive and will draw readers into the book."--School Library Journal.    "A good assortment of Millay's poetry."--Kirkus. "The watercolor artwork creates atmospheric settings for her words."--Publishers Weekly.

From bebop to New Orleans, from ragtime to boogie, and every style in between, this collection of Walter Dean Myers's energetic and engaging poems, accompanied by Christopher Myers's bright and exhilarating paintings, celebrates different styles of the American art form, jazz. "Jazz" takes readers on a musical journey from jazz's beginnings to the present day. Time line, glossary.

Houghton Mifflin Company Another inky evening’s here— The air is cool and calm and clear. Can it be true? Oh, can it be? Yes!—Bat Night at the library! Join the free-for-all fun at the public library with these book-loving bats! Shape shadows on walls, frolic in the water fountain, and roam the book-filled halls until it’s time for everyone, young and old, to settle down into the enchantment of story time. Brian Lies’ joyful critters and their nocturnal celebration cast library visits in a new light. Even the youngest of readers will want to join the batty book-fest!

I'm an awful, awful ogre, Absolutely awful ogre. I'm so awful, Awful Ogre Is my awful ogre name ... Awful Ogre is huge, hungry, horrible -- and totally lovable. Larger than life, Awful Ogre packs into one day enough excitement, imagination, emotion, and sheer ebullience to last most of us a lifetime. In his awful, irresistible way, he steals the heart of every reader. Ages 6+

"Twenty-eight poems (or parts of poems) reverberate with Kipling's compassion for his fellow humans....introduction details the events of his life and their relationship to his work. With dedication to the structure, rhythm, and rhyme of his craft, Kipling created poetry that, when read aloud, sings to its audience in every phase. Sharpe's exquisite paintings illustrate the exotic quality of the verse, whether of animals in the jungle or ships at sea. Vibrant colors reflect the strong emotions of each poem...The faces of children show humor, trust, curiosity, and moodiness. Familiar lines from 'If' and 'The Ballad of East and West' demonstrate the poet's universal appeal. As in other books in this series, each poem is preceded by background information, and difficult or unfamiliar words are defined...A worthy addition."--School Library Journal.

Langston Hughes's spare yet eloquent tribue to his people has been cherished for generations. Now, acclaimed photographer Charles R. Smith Jr. interprets this beloved poem in vivid sepia photographs that capture the glory, the beauty, and the soul of being a black American today.

What do we feel when we look at a great work of art? What does a poet feel? Heart to Heart offers an original way to approach poetry and art -- with new works by distinguished American poets, specially commissioned for this book by editor Jan Greenberg. Prompted by paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs by American artists working in the 20th century, these poems lend a new meaning to "art appreciation" and make each page of Heart to Heart an exciting discovery.Join such poets as Jane Yolen, Nancy Willard, X. J. Kennedy, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Mura, and Angela Johnson as they reveal a personal, heartfelt response to works by Thomas Hart Benton, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Grandma Moses, Faith Ringgold, Man Ray, Georgia O'Keeffe, and many others. Whether the poems are playful, challenging, tender, mocking, humorous, sad, or sensual, each work of art, seen through the eyes of a poet, allows readers to look at the world with new insight.

Lewis Carroll challenged readers' imagination with his most famous poem, Jabberwocky. Here, Christopher Myers takes on the challenge by brilliantly re-imagining it as a face-off on the basketball court. In this fresh take on the classic poem, the brave hero still has mad skills and, with the help of his Vorpal 2000s, he merges triumphant. Myers' signature exuberant art is sure to delight a new generation of Lewis Carroll fans.

Robert Browning's poetry has mysteries and a beauty of language that youngsters will love exploring, from the classic and belovedPied Piper of Hamelinto the charming verse playPippa Passes. Perfect for parents to read aloud or along with their children, and accompanied by striking artwork, here is a selection of some of Browning's most reader-friendly works. Several paintings compellingly capturePied Piper'sdrama: the Piper, smiling as he offers his services; the rats fleeing the town in droves; and the entranced children who will soon be lost forever.Home Thoughts from Abroad("Oh, to be in England, Now that April's there...") features illustrations of the countryside in full bloom. There are 25 excerpts in all, fully annotated to enrich young readers' understanding of these poems. Dr. Eileen Gilloolyearned her Ph.D. from Columbia University, where she is Director of the Core Curriculum and teaches nineteenth-century literature and culture. She has also edited another entry in thePoetry for Young Peopleseries on Rudyard Kipling. Joel Spector'swork appears regularly in books, in newspapers such as the New York Times, in magazines such as Business Week, Good Housekeeping, and Newsweek, and throughout Europe and in Japan. He lives in Connecticut.

With its combination of poetic brilliance and exquisite art, thePoetry for Young Peopleseries has won the admiration of critics, educators, children, and parents. Every breathtaking volume in this acclaimed, bestselling collection features magnificent full-color illustrations that enhance each verse, and a renowned scholar’s guidance to help children understand and love poetry. There’s an introduction to each poem, full annotations that define unfamiliar vocabulary, and fascinating biographical information. The star of this superb new entry in the series is 18th century artist and poet William Blake, who wrote his mystical, spirit-filled verses for children and adults alike. Best known for his masterpieces “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”—both excerpted here—he speaks of love, hate, anguish, relief and above all, mercy and the divine image that comforts us. Blake often uses simple, lovely language that young readers can appreciate, as well as animal metaphors; his poems sometimes even come in pairs, with the same subjects seen from different points of view. Professor John Maynard (Poetry for Young People: Alfred Lord Tennyson) provides the excellent biography and notes. Artist Alessandra Cimatoribus contributes richly colored and magically rendered paintings that fully capture the gentleness of “The Lamb,” the sparkling deep blue sky and angels of “Night,” and “The Tyger,” eyes glistening and sharp teeth bared—burning bright.