The Smallest Spark


Book Description

Not many teenagers would take interest in the eternal welfare of a convicted murderer. Even fewer would have interest in becoming a nun cut off from the outside world—while still a teenager. And still fewer would be able to discern a meaningful significance to suffering in general. Thérèse Martin did all that and more. She embraced all the suffering she could handle both physically and spiritually, striving to offer all of it so that good could be brought of it until her death at the age of twenty-four. This book attempts to narrate from multiple perspectives the true story of the hidden life of an unknown young woman who, after her death, would come to be known as the Greatest Saint of Modern Times.




Each Tiny Spark


Book Description

From award-winning author Pablo Cartaya comes a deeply moving middle grade novel about a daughter and father finding their way back to each other in the face of their changing family and community. A SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD HONOR FOR MIDDLE GRADE Emilia Torres has a wandering mind. It's hard for her to follow along at school, and sometimes she forgets to do what her mom or abuela asks. But she remembers what matters: a time when her family was whole and home made sense. When Dad returns from deployment, Emilia expects that her life will get back to normal. Instead, it unravels. Dad shuts himself in the back stall of their family's auto shop to work on an old car. Emilia peeks in on him daily, mesmerized by his welder. One day, Dad calls Emilia over. Then, he teaches her how to weld. And over time, flickers of her old dad reappear. But as Emilia finds a way to repair the relationship with her father at home, her community ruptures with some of her classmates, like her best friend, Gus, at the center of the conflict. Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya is a tender story about asking big questions and being brave enough to reckon with the answers.




One Small Spark


Book Description

A young girl is inspired to make a difference in this thoughtful and lyrical exploration of the Jewish philosophy tikkun olam or repair the world. Imagine the world you want to live in. If it’s not the world you see, will you create it? So begins a young girl’s journey to solve a problem she notices one rainy day while walking to school. In that moment, the small spark inside her grows and then connects her to others who are inspired to make a change and help the world become a better place. This lyrical and very personal text from beloved author Ruth Spiro, with breathtaking and imaginative illustrations from Victoria Tentler-Krylov, explores the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or taking part to repair the world. It’s sure to inspire young readers to nurture their own small spark, taking action today that will change the world tomorrow.




The Tiny Dragon's Adventure


Book Description

The Tiny Dragon's Adventure Summary about this story: Spark, a small dragon who lives in the mythical country of Misty Meadows, goes on an amazing journey that belies his small size. Spark wants to show that even the smallest dragons can have the biggest hearts. Her green scales shine, and her wings are thin. When Spark sees a flyer for the Great Dragon Games, he sees it as a chance to show off his skills and make his dreams come true. He goes with determination to the Dragon's Roost, where the games are held. Along the way, he runs into obstacles like thick woods, dangerous rivers, and mischievous goblins. When Spark gets to the Dragon's Roost, he flies around the holes instead of through them in the Fiery Ring Race and wins a special prize. In the Crystal Maze Challenge, his small size helps him get through tight spots and find the valuable crystal. In the last event, the Sky-High Soar, Spark's drive helps him go higher and higher, which earns him the respect of the people watching. Even though he didn't win the race, his other dragons admire him for being brave and strong. Spark's adventures in Misty Meadows keep going as he discovers new areas and helps people in need. His name as a brave dragon spread far and wide. Even Eldor, the wise old dragon, heard about how brave he was. Eldor is so pleased with Spark's good qualities that he gives him a magical amulet that lets him grow whenever he wants. Spark goes on amazing adventures with his new power, where he meets magical animals and makes new friends. Spark's small size helped him solve problems and give a helping hand, like when he helped a lost spirit find her way home and when he helped a friendly giant get back his stolen golden harp. During Spark's underground trip in Atlantis, he meets Marina, a mermaid who cares about the health of the coral reefs. With the help of his amulet, he gets bigger and helps Marina rebuild the reefs, which makes the water creatures grateful. Spark learns from his adventures that a person's size is not a measure of how brave or important they are. The most important things about him are his heart, his courage, and his desire to help others. He becomes an example for other people, telling them to believe in themselves and be proud of what makes them different. King Cedric of Misty Meadows finds out about Spark's amazing deeds. Spark is called to the royal court, where the king makes him the Guardian of Misty Meadows and gives him the job of protecting the magical people who live there. Spark keeps going on adventures as the Guardian, protecting Misty Meadows and all the fun things there. His legacy lives on, inspiring people to believe in their own powers and accept the magic that is already inside them. Spark's journey shows how important it is to be brave, be kind, and believe that even the tiniest person can make the biggest difference. Spark's heart is full of happiness and pride every time he goes on a new adventure. Misty Meadows grows well under his watch, and the Valley of Whispers is a place where magic and knowledge from the past can be found. Spark's story will live on, telling everyone who hears it that greatness can come in many forms and that a brave heart can lead to the most amazing things. How the story started: Once upon a time, Spark, a small dragon, lived in the magical land of Misty Meadows. Spark was not like other dragons. In fact, he was the smallest dragon anyone had ever seen. He was a sight to behold. His green scales sparkled, and his wings were as thin as gossamer. Even though Spark was small, he had big dreams and a brave heart. He wanted to do big things like the big dragons he had heard about. He spent his days exploring the beautiful fields and playing with his animal friends in the woods. Spark, always wanted more. One beautiful morning, Spark was flying around when he saw a brightly colored bird. It said that there would be a race called the "Great Dragon Games," in which dragons of all sizes could take part. Spark's little heart was racing with happiness. He knew this was his chance to show that even tiny dragons can have the biggest hearts. Spark gathered up his courage and went to the Dragon's Roost, where the Great Dragon Games were going to be held. The trip wasn't easy for a dragon of his size. He had to go through thick woods, cross dangerous rivers, and even trick a group of sneaky goblins. Spark kept going because he was driven by his strong desire. After traveling for days, Spark gets to the Dragon's Roost. As dragons of all shapes, sizes, and colors came from all over, the place was filled with energy. Spark's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't let the fact that he was short stop him. He was going to do everything he could. There were many different contests at the Great Dragon Games, and each one tried a different skill. The Fiery Ring Race was the first-time dragons had to fly through a number of flaming hoops. Spark knew he couldn't fly as quickly as the others, but he was quick and smart. He didn't run through the hoops. Instead, he flew around them, using his speed and agility. Spark won a special prize for being creative because the judges were impressed by how he did things differently. The Crystal Maze Challenge, which was a test of intelligence and skill, came next. Dragons had to get through a maze full of magical hurdles to find a valuable gem. Spark was small, so he could quickly move through small areas and around tight turns. As he ran quickly through the maze, his green scales sparkled in the dim light. He saw the gem right away, which got him another round of praise from the crowd. The Sky-High Soar was the last game and the hardest one. Dragons had to fly to the top of the Enchanted Mountains while dodging stormy clouds and strong winds. When Spark looked up at the tall hills, he felt both excited and scared. But he wouldn't give up. With each beat of his little wings, he went higher and higher, never losing sight of his goal. As Spark reached the top, the crowd cheered loudly. They were impressed by how brave and determined the small dragon was. Even more important than the Sky-High Soar, Spark had won the love and respect of his fellow dragons. Spark went back to Misty Meadows, happy and proud of how well he did at the Great Dragon Games. The animals in the woods cheered and praised him because they were proud of their brave friend. Spark's story about being brave and persistent taught young dragons and other animals to believe in themselves and be proud of what makes them different. His story showed that a person's worth is not based on how tall they are, but on how brave and driven they are. Spark went on exciting adventures, where he found new places and helped people who were in trouble. He In Misty Meadows, he became a sign of hope and inspiration, a reminder that even the smallest of them could do big things. Spark's status as the little dragon with the biggest heart grew with every new adventure he went on and act of kindness he had. Eldor, a wise old dragon, took notice of Spark because he was brave and didn't care about himself. Eldor went to see Spark because he was amazed by how good he was. He told Spark about his own great adventures. Spark got a special amulet from Eldor because he was brave and helped bring peace back to Misty Meadows. Spark's size could be changed at will by the charm. Spark can change into a bigger dragon that can do even more powerful things with just one touch. Spark's size used to be seen as a bad thing, but now he sees it as a chance to make an even bigger difference in the world around him. Spark used his new skill to keep exploring the strange places beyond Misty Meadows. He solved problems and helped people in need as he went through beautiful woods, over dangerous mountains, and into secret tunnels. Because he was small, he could get into small spaces, go to hard-to-reach places, and talk to animals that others might have missed. With each new adventure, Spark's notoriety grew. Dragons from other lands came to him for advice, and animals of all sizes saw him as a sign of hope. Spark's kind and brave deeds became famous, and they still inspire people today.




The small BIG


Book Description

At some point today you will have to influence or persuade someone - your boss, a co-worker, a customer, client, spouse, your kids, or even your friends. What is the smallest change you can make to your request, proposal or situation that will lead to the biggest difference in the outcome? In The small BIG, three heavyweights from the world of persuasion science and practice -- Steve Martin, Noah Goldstein and Robert Cialdini -- describe how, in today's information overloaded and stimulation saturated world, increasingly it is the small changes that you make that lead to the biggest differences. In the last few years more and more research - from fields such as neuroscience, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and behavioral economics - has helped to uncover an even greater understanding of how influence, persuasion and behavior change happens. Increasingly we are learning that it is not information per se that leads people to make decisions, but the context in which that information is presented. Drawing from extensive research in the new science of persuasion, the authors present lots of small changes (over 50 in fact) that can bring about momentous shifts in results. It turns out that anyone can significantly increase his or her ability to influence and persuade others, not by informing or educating people into change but instead by simply making small shifts in approach that link to deeply felt human motivations.




The Smallest Village


Book Description

The Village of Dering Harbor was incorporated in 1917 after many successful years as a resort community formed in 1873 as Shelter Island Park. The centerpiece of the community was the great Manhanset House that opened in 1874 serving the well-to-do of the late 19th century during the summer season. As the hotel was nestled overlooking a protected harbor with access to both Long Island Sound and Block Island Sound with LIRR service from Brooklyn, the community attracted many yachting families from the New York Yacht Club, Atlantic Yacht Club, and other clubs from New York Harbor to Long Island Sound to Bristol Rhode Island. One of the many legacies is the large fleet of Herreshoff 12 1⁄2 footers located at the Shelter Island Yacht Club not to mention the burgees of some of the Club’s earliest members displayed as you find your way to the head. Many of the original cottages built in Dering Harbor were either private homes or houses owned and operated by the hotel. The styles range from period Victorian, Federal Style, Classic Revival to Queen Anne. Two buildings in use today were originally carriage houses. The Village also hosts the third oldest golf course in the Unites States, incorporated as the Manhanset links in 1896 now known as Gardiner’s Bay Country Club. The Village of Dering Harbor has frequently been called the smallest incorporated village in New York State, perhaps in the whole country. The late Ian Brownlie, former mayor, once spoke of his bailiwick as “the smallest political unit in the United States” and has not, so far, been contradicted. Ghost towns of smaller dimensions and zero populations may perhaps be found in the once-golden west but Dering Harbor is decisively not that sort of community. Skeletons in closets, maybe; ghosts not yet! The Rev. Dr. Herman grew up in Harrisburg, Penn., where his father was a Lutheran pastor. He graduated from Gettysburg College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Dr. Herman pursued additional graduate work in Strasbourg, France and Goettingen and Berlin, Germany. He became pastor of the American Church in Berlin and served there through 1939. From 1945 through 1948 Dr. Herman worked in the refugee and reconstruction division on the World Council of Churches in Process of Formation in Geneva, Switzerland. He joined the staff of the newly organized Lutheran World Federation in 1948 as director of refugee services. In 1952, Dr. Herman began a joint appointment with the National Lutheran Council and the Lutheran World Federation coordinating Latin America work. Dr. and Mrs. Herman retired to Shelter Island, N.Y. in 1971. He remained active as a trustee of the American Bible Society and in the Union Chapel on Shelter Island until his death in 2006.




James & Jude


Book Description




The Wisdom of Solomon


Book Description

A 1909 edition of an apocryphal book of the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) in English with an introduction and notes.







Spark & Hustle


Book Description

YOUR PASSION. YOUR PURPOSE. YOUR PROFIT. Some people are willing to spend their lives working for someone else. Not you. You’re ready to start your own business—or grow your existing business into something bigger. You’re ready to take control of your life, your finances, your future. Tory Johnson helps you make it happen. Based on her phenomenally successful “Spark & Hustle” workshops, Tory breaks down the basics, and helps you create a plan for success, including Exploring your motivations to profit from your passion How to nail a one-page business plan to launch your idea with clarity and confidence Finding the money to get going, perfecting your revenue and pricing Making social media (and other free tools) profitable for you Mastering sales without cringing at the thought of asking for money Detailed strategies for every aspect of your start-up and tactics to hustle for ongoing small business success