Five new episodes in the friendship of two hippos: "The Tight Rope," "The Diary," "The Icky Story," "The Big Scare," "The Amusement Park."

    This striking book contains full-color woodblock prints made during Japan's famous Edo Period, historic and contemporary photographs of geisha life, and images of the "floating world" Japan's mysterious artistic subculture. The accompanying text includes evocative Japanese poems and haikus. All celebrate the beauty and creativity of the geisha, who with her exquisitely detailed costume, elaborate make-up and hairstyle, and artfully ritualized behavior, chastely beguiles and entertains Japan's most powerful men.

    Although he died nearly 200 years ago, something about his work continues to haunt the twenty-first century. What is it about Blake that has so endured? In this illuminating essay, John Higgs takes us on a whirlwind tour to prove that far from being the mere New Age counterculture figure that many assume him to be, Blake is now more relevant than ever.

    Great for Father’s Day or any day with Dad. The bond between a father and his son is as powerful as a rocket ship blasting into space, a giant whale splashing across the ocean, and booming, colorful fireworks lighting up the night sky. Celebrating that one-of-a-kind relationship between Dad and his favorite little guy, If My Love Were a Fire Truck is a rhyming love song from fathers to sons that will become a cherished part of their lives for many years to come.

    Diane Durston’s meditation on the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi will inspire you to focus on the blessings hiding in your daily life. Celebrating the way things are rather than how they should be, Durston encourages you to bask in the subtle joys of the natural world and cultivate an appreciation for everyday objects. Step back from the hectic modern world and find enjoyment and gratitude as you explore the ancient and powerful concepts of wabi sabi.

    But when he goes to his classroom and sits down at his desk, his day begins to change - a new teacher, Mr. Gee, bursts into the classroom with an extraordinary idea that challenges all the children to use their imagination. Suddenly an ordinary day is turned topsy-turvy, and the boy is inspired in a way that will change him forever.The rollicking words and pictures celebrate the unexpected in this tribute to great teachers and students everywhere.Once Upon an Ordinary School Day is a 2006 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

    Recollections of Farrar's father are prominent throughout the stories. Ultimately, it is music and musicians that are given the most space and the final word since music has been the creative impetus and driving force for the past 35 years of his life.In writing these stories, he found a natural inclination to focus on very specific experiences; a method analogous to the songwriting process. The highlights and pivotal experiences from that musical journey are all represented as the binding thread in these stories, illustrated throughout with photography from his life. If life is a movie, then these stories are the still frames.

    A crab carrying his house. And Miranda and her friends, building a castle out of sand.But at the end of a day at the beach, the seagulls go back to their nests, the crab goes back to the sea, the castle goes back to the sand . . . and Miranda goes back to Mama, who wraps her up in a hug when it's time to go home. Because Miranda and Mama will always belong to each other.Perfect.

    So it's up to Doc to figure out what's wrong. Turns out, Lenny ran out of water for his fire engine hose, and once Doc refills him, he's as good as new! The gang learns a lesson about dehydration and the importance of drinking plenty of water, especially on hot days.

    Born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong, Bruce Lee was the child star of Hong Kong cinema. But, after getting into trouble as a teenager, his father sent him to live in America. Starring roles were hard to come by for Asian-American actors in Hollywood, but Bruce went on to act in blockbuster hits, featuring his skill as a martial artist. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the great actor's life.Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

    . . but in Alison Jay's ABC, B also stands for basket, beehive,and butterfly. Featuring a simple format and bright paintings, this acclaimed alphabet book is perfect for toddlers. Older readers are encouraged to look and look again as each spread reveals a new perspective on what has come before and intriguing hints of what's still to come.

    And hats with feathers, stars, and shells. But which ones will they choose to buy? Pink or purple, red or white?We think these will be just rightThe girls invite you to dress up, too! Put on your favorite hat and join in the rhyming fun as they unveil a very special mother-daughter surprise.

    Louisa drew on her experiences in writing the novel, but there's a lot more to her rags-to-riches story. Louisa came from a family that was poor but freethinking, and she started teaching when she was only seventeen years old. But writing was her passion. This informative biography captures the life of a compassionate woman who left an indelible mark on literature for all ages.

    It shows daddies working in all kinds of careers, from farming to teaching to even singing in the opera! And it assures children that at the end of the workday, by taxi, train, by car and bus, Daddy rushes home--to us!Illustrated by Tibor Gergely, who brought the beloved Little Golden Book characters Scuffy the Tugboat and Tootle to life.

    His working-class Scottish family arrived at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Carnegie worked hard, in factories and telegraphy. He invested in railroads, eventually becoming the richest man in the world during his time. Carnegie believed strongly in sharing his wealth, and one of the ways he did this was by funding the construction of over 2,500 public libraries around the world. His philanthropy completely revolutionized public libraries, which weren't widespread at the time.