These texts are characterized by a startling and macabre novelty, with elements of the grotesque, fantastic and child-like touching the imagination of the everyday. They express the cultural landscape of Stalinism -- years of show trials, mass atrocities and stifled political life. Their painful, unsettling eloquence testify to the humane and the comic in this absurdist writer's work. The translator Neil Cornwall gives a biographical introduction to his subject, enlarged upon by the poet Hugh Maxton in a contextual assessment of the writing of Flann O'Brien, Le Fanu and Doyle, and of their shared concerns with detective fiction, terror and death. Daniil Kharms 91905-42) died under Stalin. Along with fellow poets and prose-writers of the era -- Khlebnikov, Biely, Mandelstam, Zabolotsky and Pasternak -- he is one of the emerging experimentalists of Russian modernism.

    

    On a night of wild storms, two lonely creatures escape from captivity.One of the creatures is a boy, Smiler, wrongly convicted of stealing, the other a cheetah, Yarra, leaving the Longleat Wild Life Park to have her cubs in privacy.Both are in danger from the outside world and each other, but somehow their lives become inextricably bound up as they fight for survival on the edge of Salisbury Plain.The Runaways is the first book in Victor Canning's classic children's trilogy, which continues in Flight of the Grey Goose.‘Victor Canning is one of the world’s finest story-tellers’ Good Housekeeping

    Placing the tiaras upon their heads, they transform from regular girls into Super Duper Princess Heroes! Their new powers, however, come with strings attached: to keep the magic going, the girls need to help others, work together as a team, and always be humble about their abilities. Can these awesome girls rise to the challenge and help save the world? Through fun and adventure, the story of the Super Duper Princess Heroes conveys positive messages to young girls about independence, strength, teamwork, and responsibility, demonstrating how some princesses might have higher aspirations than wearing fancy gowns and glittering jewelry.

    Sean's babysitter insists that he stay in his room, but there's a monster under his bed! What can Sean do?4 full color illustrations, 3,500 words, recommended for ages 6 and up

    But his peaceful life is shattered when his sister, Nessa, mysteriously disappears. He sets off to find her and soon realizes that he and his traveling companions, including the feisty young archer Breo-Saight, have become involved in something much larger and more sinister than he had imagined.

    

    A collection of poems, written by the fictional Jeremy Bloom, discuss homework, measly allowances, boring teacher assignments, and other trials and tribulations of youth.

    In 1932, during Australia's deep economic depression, young Paul meets Eric the Red--a wandering swagman--who teaches Paul how to play the bamboo flute and brings music back into Paul's life.

    A young knight is a failure in everything except the slaying of dragons, an activity in which he succeeds because of a certain "magic" word.

    Kay catches a magic golden leaf and enters a world where dreams are true, but when she tells her family, all of them are too busy to listen and understand - except one.

    But, despite the Gatsby-like parties and trimmings of success, she suspects something might be deeply wrong in the household—specifically with Rose Sewell, the formerly vivacious lady of the house who now refuses to leave her room. The other servants say Rose is crazy, but scrappy, strong-willed Martha thinks there’s more to the story—and that the paintings in the Sewell’s gallery contain a hidden message detailing the truth. But in a house filled with secrets, nothing is quite what it seems, and no one is who they say. Can Martha follow the clues, decipher the code, and solve the mystery of what’s really going on with Rose Sewell . . . ?Inspired by true events described in the author’s note.

    He enjoys his life in the carnival, thank you very much – until he meets a young boy called Sebastian, who has a rather peculiar gift. Sebastian can read Stargazer’s mind, and what starts as a fairground fun, turns into a great adventure. Their lives collide, and nothing will ever be quite the same again… Wild Horses will not Tear you Away! About Magical Adventures & Pony Tales Magical Adventures & Pony Tales is a collection of six enchanting pony inspired children’s short stories, drawing readers into magical lands with unforgettable characters and ponies. Fantastic friendships, battles between good and bad and magical mysteries all come together in this unforgettable world. About the Author Angharad Thompson Rees is a rather strange individual. She believes in the magical, revels in the whimsical and owns a pet unicorn. Angharad has spent a lifetime working with horses and ponies of all sorts, from Olympic show jumpers and world class racehorses to taming wild ponies using the art of Horse Whispering. She has always been horse mad and her love for these magnificent beasts can be seen on every page of the new children's book series, Magical Adventures & Pony Tales.

    Browne and his love of precepts. Simply put, precepts are principles to live by, and Mr. Browne has compiled 365 of them—one for each day of the year—drawn from popular songs to children’s books to inscriptions on Egyptian tombstones to fortune cookies. His selections celebrate kindness, hopefulness, the goodness of human beings, the strength of people’s hearts, and the power of people’s wills. Interspersed with the precepts are letters and emails from characters who appeared in Wonder. Readers hear from Summer, Jack, Charlotte, Julian, and Amos.   There’s something for everyone here, with words of wisdom from such noteworthy people as Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Confucius, Goethe, Sappho—and over 100 readers of Wonder who sent R. J. Palacio their own precepts.

    Should the reader share it with friends or keep it all? The outcome of the story depends upon the choices the reader makes--providing a number of interesting endings.