In The Nutcracker's Night Before Christmas preparations for a doomed stage production of the classic ballet goes from terribly bad to ridiculously worse. Sick stagehands, renegade cats, and crashing Christmas trees have everyone sure that the show won't go on. But it's Christmas Eve and help is on the way! Told in verse with wonderful whimsical illustrations, this story hits all the right notes for holiday reading.
A princess, bored with her princess duties and fancy clothes, longs for freedom and adventure. Actually, she would prefer to be a frog! But then she falls in love.
Super Crazy Cat Dance creator Aron Nels Steinke is back, and now he's gone to the dogs! All aboard for the Super Duper Dog Park, an awesome amusement park where dogs ride bikes, fly kites, and have an unforgettable day!
A high-interest inquiry into the possible existence of North America’s forest-dwelling Bigfoot, emphasizing reported sightings and seekers as well as footprint analyses.
A high-interest inquiry into the possible existence of Scotland’s water-dwelling Loch Ness Monster, emphasizing reported sightings and stories as well as scientific investigations.
A high-interest inquiry into the possible existence of magical fairies, emphasizing reported sightings and stories as well as investigations into fairy rings.
Among the millions of stories ever told, the tales of the legendary explorer Marco Polo are the most renowned. Listen as an old-time scribe tells his curious young neighbor about stories that are worth remembering.
In this gentle riddle of a tale, a well-loved horse recounts its adventures and various riders throughout the long years of its curiously restricted yet imaginatively rich life.
A lonely bear who lives in a magical tree provides shelter for countless animals in his fuzzy, furry hat as they all withstand a deluge and become forever friends.
An illustrated guide to the punctuation mark known as the commas, including descriptions and examples of how to properly use them.
An illustrated guide to the punctuation marks known as parentheses and ellipses, including descriptions and examples of how to properly use them
An illustrated guide to the punctuation marks known as hyphens and dashes, including descriptions and examples of how to properly use them
An introduction to the ways that authors form distinctive writing styles. Novel and short story excerpts and analysis help to explain the importance of rhythm and tone in writing.
An illustrated guide to the punctuation marks found at the end of all sentences, including descriptions and examples of how to properly use statements, exclamations, and questions.
An illustrated guide to the punctuation marks known as colons and semicolons, including descriptions and examples of how to properly use them in lists and in relation to independent clauses.
An illustrated guide to the punctuation marks known as quotation marks and apostrophes, including descriptions and examples of how to properly use them
An introduction to the ways that authors create scenes using words. Novel and short story excerpts and analysis help to explain the importance of strong sensory details in writing.
An introduction to the ways that authors develop fictional characters. Novel and short story excerpts and analysis help to explain how to create effective characters and dialogue.
An introduction to the ways that authors present stories. Novel and short story excerpts and analysis help to explain the importance of voice and different narrative points of view.
Jane Yolen’s poetic and sensory ramble through the four seasons highlights the cyclical passage of time as artist Lisel Jane Ashlock portrays a changing natural environment.
An elementary exploration of rhyme and rhythm in poetry, introducing syllables, rhyme schemes, and sonnets as well as poets such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Includes a writing exercise.
An elementary exploration of the forms and themes of poetry, introducing famous poets William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, and Pablo Neruda. Includes a writing exercise.
An elementary exploration of word play and attitude in poetry, introducing puns, stanzas, and limericks as well as poets such as Edward Lear. Includes a writing exercise.
An elementary exploration of images and personification in poetry, introducing similes, metaphors, and haiku as well as poets such as William Carlos Williams. Includes a writing exercise.
Mark Twain’s classic American story about a boy with a nose for mischief and a knack for avoiding any sort of work is here presented in vibrant detail, with new illustrations by C. F. Payne.
