The Magic Drum and Other Favourite Stories


Book Description

A princess thinks she was a bird, a coconut that cost a thousand rupees, and a shepherd with a bag of words...Kings and misers, princes and paupers, wise men and foolish boys, the funniest and oddest men and women come alive in this sparkling new collection of stories. The clever princess will only marry the man who can ask her a question she cannot answer; the orphan boy outwits his greedy uncles with a bag of ash; and an old couple in distress is saved by a magic drum. Sudha Murty's grandparents told her some of these stories when she was a child; others she heard from her friends from around the world. These delightful and timeless folktales have been her favourites for years, and she has recounted them many times over to the young people in her life. With this collection, they will be enjoyed by many more readers, of all ages. Age group of target audience is 8+.




Playway to English Level 1 Teacher's Book


Book Description

Playway to English Second edition is a new version of the popular four-level course for teaching English to young children. Pupils acquire English through play, music and Total Physical Response, providing them with a fun and dynamic language learning experience. In the Teacher's Book: • Clear, comprehensive lesson plans with valuable suggestions for mixed-ability classes • Useful photocopiable resources to supplement lesson plans




Beowulf


Book Description

He comes out of the darkness, moving in on his victims in deadly silence. When he leaves, a trail of blood is all that remains. He is a monster, Grendel, and all who know of him live in fear. Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, knows something must be done to stop Grendel. But who will guard the great hall he has built, where so many men have lost their lives to the monster while keeping watch? Only one man dares to stand up to Grendel's fury --Beowulf.




After the Kiss


Book Description

Becca and her boyfriend, Alec, attend different schools, but they make things work—mainly by being inseparable after school and on weekends. So when Becca has to take a job at a coffee shop, she is more than a little bit insecure about what this will mean for their relationship. Meanwhile, new-girl Camille meets a haiku-spouting boy who makes her genuinely laugh, even though she can see an all-too-familiar loneliness in him. The kiss they steal on the back deck at a party takes her by surprise and leaves her wanting more. What Camille doesn’t know is that this boy is Alec, Becca’s boyfriend. And Alec doesn’t know that Becca’s best friend has captured The Kiss on her camera phone. Becca and Camille have never met, but their lives will unravel and intertwine in surprising ways throughout this beautifully crafted verse novel about love, heartbreak, and trust.




El Bronx Remembered


Book Description

In a city called New York ... In a neighborhood called El Bronx ... The Fernandex children own a very special pet: A white hen named after their favorite Hollywood movie star. A new girl comes to school - a gypsy child who can read palms and foretell the future. A young boy must face the humiliation of wearing his uncle's orange roach-killer shoes to his high school graduation. In the South Bronx - or El Bronx, as it's known to the people who live there - anything can happen. A migrant "fresh off the boat" from Puerto Rico can be somebody on the mainland, pursue the American Dream ... and maybe even make it come true. Here are stories that capture the flavor and beat of El Bronx in its heyday, from 1946-1956. A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year Finalist, 1976 National Book Award for Children's Literature A Notable Children's Trade Book in Social Studies ( NCSS/CBC )




Stones in Water


Book Description

When Roberto sneaks off to see a movie in his Italian village, he has no idea that life as he knows it is over. German soldiers raid the theater, round up the boys in the audience, and pack them onto a train. After a terrifying journey, Roberto and his best friend Samuele find themselves in a brutal work camp, where food is scarce and horror is everywhere. The boys vow to stay together no matter what. But Samuele has a dangerous secret, which, if discovered, could get them both killed. Lovers of historical fiction will be captivated by this tragic, triumphant, and deeply moving novel.




Angels Watching Over Me


Book Description

It's Christmas time, and Leah Lewis-Hall finds herself spending the holiday season alone and stuck in the hospital. Luckily, she quickly befriends her hospital roommate, a young Amish girl, and her close-knit Amish family. She becomes especially close to Ethan, the handsome and gentle older brother who can barely look Leah in the eye. When Leah receives frightening news about her condition, Ethan will show her that miracles can happen- and that sometimes angels appear in the most unexpected places. This nationally bestselling book is the first of three stories in The Angels Trilogy by Lurlene McDaniel.




Born in Sin


Book Description

Despite serious obstacles and setbacks, fourteen-year-old Keisha pursues her dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer and medical doctor.




Across the Lines


Book Description

Twelve-year-old Edward thought of Simon as his friend and never imagined life without his companion and slave. But when the Union army invades Virginia and takes over Edward's family's plantation, Edward's family flees to nearby Petersburg, while Simon runs toward freedom. With terrific detail and historical facts woven throughout, the author crafts a story set during the actual siege at Petersburg, complete with battle scenes, descriptions of army life on both sides of the war, and what life was like, told from the point of view of two young boys--one white and one black.




1940-60


Book Description

Looks at innovations such as atomic fission, supersonic travel, space flight, electronic computers and the pocket radio.