The Big Book of Classic Fantasy


Book Description

A FINALIST FOR THE 2020 WORLD FANTASY AWARD • Unearth the enchanting origins of fantasy fiction with a collection of tales as vast as the tallest tower and as mysterious as the dark depths of the forest. Fantasy stories have always been with us. They illuminate the odd and the uncanny, the wondrous and the fantastic: all the things we know are lurking just out of sight—on the other side of the looking-glass, beyond the music of the impossibly haunting violin, through the twisted trees of the ancient woods. Other worlds, talking animals, fairies, goblins, demons, tricksters, and mystics: these are the elements that populate a rich literary tradition that spans the globe. A work composed both of careful scholarship and fantastic fun, The Big Book of Classic Fantasy is essential reading for anyone who’s never forgotten the stories that first inspired feelings of astonishment and wonder. INCLUDING: *Stories by pillars of the genre like the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Mary Shelley, Christina Rossetti, L. Frank Baum, Robert E. Howard, and J. R. R. Tolkien *Fantastical offerings from literary giants including Edith Wharton, Leo Tolstoy, Willa Cather, Zora Neale Hurston, Vladimir Nabokov, Hermann Hesse, and W.E.B. Du Bois *Rare treasures from Asian, Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Native American traditions *New translations, including fourteen stories never before in English PLUS: *Beautifully Bizarre Creatures! *Strange New Worlds Just Beyond the Garden Path! *Fairy Folk and Their Dark Mischief! *Seriously Be Careful—Do Not Trust Those Fairies!




The Big Book of Monsters


Book Description

Meet the monsters in this who’s who of the baddest of the bad! Like those supernatural beasts everyone knows and fears—the bloodsucking vampire, Count Dracula, and that eight-foot-tall mash-up of corpses, Frankenstein’s Monster. Or that scariest of mummies, Cheops, who scientists revived after 4,700 years—big mistake! Or more horrifying yet, the Horla, an invisible, havoc-wreaking creature that herds humans like cattle and feeds of their souls. Drawn from the pages of classic books and tales as old as time, this frightfully exciting collection features 25 of the creepiest creatures ever imagined, from witches and werewolves to dragons and ghosts. Every monster is brought to life in a full-size full-color portrait that captures the essence of the beast, and in lively text that recounts the monster’s spine-tingling story. With sidebars that explore the history and the genre of each sourcebook, The Big Book of Monsters is an exciting introduction to literature and language arts.




The Big Book of Cryptid Trivia


Book Description

Explore the world of cryptozoology in this first-ever trivia book all about the folklore, study, and eye-witness testimonies of cryptids like the Jersey Devil, Yeti, and more! You’ve heard of Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch) and the Loch Ness Monster (aka Nessie). But these famous beasties are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fantastic beasts, real and imagined, out there in the wild. These creatures are called cryptids: animals that some think exist but for which there is no concrete scientific evidence. In The Big Book of Cryptid Trivia, you’ll learn all about cryptozoologists and ufologists like Loren Coleman and John Keel, as well as about real-life sightings and interesting tales of famous and lesser-known cryptids all over the world, including: Tahoe Tessie Mokele-Mbembe Ahool of Java Georgia Bigfoot Piltdown Man Hogzilla Pope Lick Monster Loveland Frog And more! Whether you are a seasoned skeptic, a budding cryptozoologist, or something in between, this book is sure to include facts and oddities that intrigue, educate, and entertain. Perhaps you'll find out if you want to partake in a bit of cryptid tourism. Loch Ness, anyone?




7 Best Short Stories by Kenneth Grahame


Book Description

Kenneth Grahame is a British writer famous for being the author of classics of children's literature and fantasy. In this book the critic August Nemo selected seven short stories of this author, including The Reluctant Dragon: - The Twenty-First of October - Dies Irae - Mutabile Semper - The Magic Ring - Its Walls Were as of Jasper - A Saga of the Seas - The Reluctant Dragon




The Big Book of Oz: Volume 2 - The Little Wizard Series


Book Description

L. Frank Baum originally wrote 14 full length books set in 'Oz'. 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' being the first. Here we present the second in our 'Big Book of Oz' series containing Oz books 7 - 14. Classic tales still sure to delight all ages. Giant 8.5" x 11" book




The Big Book of Mind-Bending Puzzles


Book Description

Brainiacs on the prowl for challenging fun will find everything they're looking for in these cunning conundrums. Puzzle master Terry Stickels has created a mind-melting collection filled with hundreds of diverse and fiendishly tricky problems--including wordplay, math, analytic reasoning, logic, visual dilemmas, and code breaking. Figure out the next number in a series, find hidden phrases, and determine what a three-dimensional object would look like from two-dimensional drawings. Every puzzle provides a workout that strengthens mental muscles. And while these brainteasers do require concentration, they don't demand any special training or high-level math skills. A little practice, patience, and imagination are all it takes.




The Big Book of Gross Stuff


Book Description

The author of The Big Book of Superheroes presents a hilarious look at science, nature, and the human body in a book full of good laughs and bad smells. From boogers, B.O., and belches to sneezes, diseases, and demon cheeses, The Big Book of Gross Stuff is chock-full of practical knowledge about things you shouldn’t discuss at the dinner table. Kids can take a Gross Quiz to find out how their sensibilities stack up against the rest of society, and learn about the World's Most Disgusting Jobs (whale-feces research, anyone?). With the turn of every page, The Big Book of Gross Stuff will challenge your gag reflexes as it introduces topics, terminology and trivia about toilets, scabies, decaying bodies, and much more. For instance, did you know: · In 1971, a band named Hot Poop released a record titled Does Their Own Stuff! They were never heard from again. · When using fake vomit, the key to faking people out is to sprinkle water on the stuff to make it look more realistic. · Belly button lint is composed of dust, dried sweat, fat, dead skin, and bits of cotton.




Best Short Stories Omnibus - Volume 3


Book Description

This book contains 350 short stories from 50 classic, prize-winning and noteworthy authors. Wisely chosen by the literary critic August Nemo for the book series 7 Best Short Stories, this omnibus contains the stories of the following writers: - Sheridan Le Fanu - H. and E. Heron - Charlotte Riddell - Flora Annie Steel - Amelia B. Edwards - Margaret Oliphant - Edward Bellamy - Arnold Bennett - S. Baring-Gould - Daniil Kharms - E.F. Benson - John Buchan - Ella D'Arcy - Jacques Futrelle - Frank Richard Stockton - John Kendrick Bangs - Kenneth Grahame - Julian Hawthorne - A. E. W. Mason - Richard Middleton - Pierre Louÿs - Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole - Ethel Richardson - Gertrude Stein - E. Phillips Oppenheim - Arthur Quiller-Couch - Mór Jókai - Andy Adams - Bertha Sinclair - Fitz James O'Brien - Eleanor H. Porter - Valery Bryusov - John Ulrich Giesy - Otis Adelbert Kline - Paul Laurence Dunbar - Frank Lucius Packard - Barry Pain - Gertrude Bennett - Francis Marion Crawford - William Pett Ridge - Gilbert Parker - Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford - Elizabeth Garver Jordan - Richard Austin Freeman - Alice Duer Miller - Leonard Merrick - Anthony Hope - Ethel Watts Mumford - Anne O'Hagan Shinn - B. M. Bower




The Big Book of Practical Spells


Book Description

"What a fascinating book! From theory to practice, it's all here. . . . This book will be a treasured addition to any magickal library."--Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, author of Grimoire for the Apprentice Practical, inspirational, and comprehensive, The Big Book of Practical Spells is a useful tool and resource for beginners and experienced devotees of the magical arts. Here in one majestic volume is a basic introduction to magic; a psychic glossary; a primer on the four elements, colors, and magical supplies (including minerals and botanicals); and a compendium of spells for any situation you may face. With Judika Illes as your guide, you will learn how to enhance your psychic power, cleanse your aura, protect yourself from malevolent powers, and create and use a wide variety of spells. There are spells for marriage, fertility, pregnancy prevention, babies and children, money, healing, and transitioning to the next life. These are spells that will help make life easier, more productive, and stress free. "Judika Illes underscores the fact that magic is real and available to everyone. As she says: "Magic is your birthright." And there is no negative magic included--nothing harmful to you or anyone else. Now you have no excuse not to use it."--Raymond Buckland, author of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft




Jim Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook


Book Description

The classic million-copy bestselling handbook on reading aloud to children--revised and updated for a new generation of readers Recommended by "Dear Abby" upon its first publication in 1982, millions of parents and educators have turned to Jim Trelease's beloved classic for more than three decades to help countless children become avid readers through awakening their imaginations and improving their language skills. Jim Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook, updated and revised by education specialist Cyndi Giorgis, discusses the benefits, the rewards, and the importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation. Supported by delightful anecdotes as well as the latest research, an updated treasury of book recommendations curated with an eye for diversity, Jim Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook offers proven techniques and strategies for helping children of all backgrounds and abilities discover the pleasures of reading and setting them on the road to becoming lifelong readers.