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Joey, left at home alone one night, sees and hears strange things, but he has the superior wit to convince any and all possible monsters that his brother, Dan, is the better choice for dinner.

"Wonderful and powerful . . . This story has kept our memories alive."
-Toshimi Ishida, survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, student at Honkawa Elementary School

"[This] inspiring story . . . reminds us to live hand in hand together on this earth."
-Hiroko Matsui, first lady of Hiroshima

"There's never been a story like this in English. Running with Cosmos Flowers is like a Bible of Peace."
-Tomoko Furusawa, survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, student at Honkawa Elementary School

Reading through these words and phrases is an abbreviated trip through history, with lists of major naval mutinies, a summary of the slave trade, and even jokes. This dictionary is written to be entertaining as well as informative, to give a flavor of the interesting times from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries when pirates controlled many sea lanes. It also contains a treasure trove of factual information about life aboard the ship, important pirate haunts, and technical terms.

A true music-lover's journey into the past!

Late one night in 2005, Zeke Schein made an amazing discovery while searching for a vintage guitar on eBay: a grainy, battered photograph captioned Old Snapshot Blues Guitar BB King???? Neither man looked like King, but one seemed to resemble the twentieth century's most mysterious musician, Robert Johnson. Would others see what he saw? With only three or four known images of the legendary blues guitarist in existence, this single picture was certainly an exceptional link to the past.

In 2014, the truth about the photo was finally revealed. Schein details his strange journey in solving this musical mystery and crusade for legitimacy amidst pushback from music historians.

Upsie Downsie has convinced his mother he's having trouble falling asleep, so she brings in the neighborhood experts to help. They try lullabies, tedious recitations, storytelling, a massage, a warm bath, and even counting, but they all succumb to sleep, leaving Upsie to the next neighbor.

A detailed history of a New Orleans landmark. Congo Square is an iconic location in New Orleans culture, filled with the echoes of jazz and the footsteps of modern dance. Brimming with the rich history of the city, this auspicious landmark traces its origins back to the 1740s. A popular gathering place for African-Americans, the square hosted public markets, musical events, and even the Congo Circus throughout its history. Johnson's detailed analysis of the development of the landmark places the deep-set culture of both the African-American community and the roots of New Orleans music firmly in the heart of Congo Square.

A great big tale about peach pickin' fun. Join Tall Papa Tom, Pretty Mama May, Little Buddy Earl, and the rest of the bunch as they head to the Peach Pickin' Festival. Little Buddy Earl yodels each time they pass a field, but what's the use of that? His yodel soon comes in handy when he turns a tiny peach into the largest in the land! Complete with a recipe for peach cobbler, this tale about teamwork proves that sometimes the smallest person can be the biggest help.

When his father relocates the family to Paradise to work for the mysterious Eden Corporation, Jack Barrett uncovers a sinister plot that threatens everyone he loves.

Chuan helps readers learn about ratios to craft puppets.

Alycat wakes up on Monday with the dreaded Monday Blues, certain that nothing will go right. But when a mishap sends her astray, she discovers that helping a friend will lead her to discover her own hidden talent and cure her Monday Blues!

Find the original song, Monday Blues, on iTunes, YouTube, and Apple Music!The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts.

Alycat and the Monday Blues has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services by the Mom's Choice Awards.

"[A] charmingly illustrated [and] deftly written picture book for children ages 4 to 7, Alycat and the Monday Blues will prove to be a unique and extraordinarily entertaining addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections." --Midwest Book Review

People are talking...

The Alycat Series features: Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day, Alycat and the Monday Blues, Alycat and the Friendship Friday, Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, Alycat and the Sleepover Saturday, and Alycat and the Sunday Scaries. The books in this series have won more than 17 awards, including the NYC Big Book Award, the Mom's Choice Awards, and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; have been featured in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and have appeared in the Oscars celebrity swag bag and the Grammy Awards gift bag. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, featured Bourque and her life-size mascot, Alycat, on her popular YouTube channel Little Red News.

Alycat's teacher has something special planned for Friday: a field trip! But when a new student joins the class, someone feels left out. Can Alycat use her creativity and imagination to help everyone feel included?

The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts.

Alycat and the Friendship Friday has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services by the Mom's Choice Awards.

"A thoroughly charming and entertaining read for children that also holds an important social lesson about inclusion, Alycat and the Friendship Friday is very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections." —Midwest Book Review

People are talking...

The Alycat Series features: Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day, Alycat and the Monday Blues, Alycat and the Friendship Friday, Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, Alycat and the Sleepover Saturday, and Alycat and the Sunday Scaries. The books in this series have won more than 17 awards, including the NYC Big Book Award, the Mom's Choice Awards, and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; have been featured in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and have appeared in the Oscars celebrity swag bag and the Grammy Awards gift bag. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, featured Bourque and her life-size mascot, Alycat, on her popular YouTube channel Little Red News.

Big Brother finds out that not all babies are the same. Big Brother learns that not all little siblings are the same when his parents bring home a baby girl. He thinks he learned all about babies when Little Brother was small. However, Sister is very different. Other things are different too. Big Brother is old enough now to help keep an eye on the baby when Mommy and Daddy are busy and watching after Sister is not as easy as it sounds. But despite all the trouble she causes, Sister finds her way into Brother's heart, and that is where she will stay.

Max tells his little brother, Jason, all about what happens in New Orleans on Mardi Gras morning, when the Indians come out in their colorful, feather-and-bead suits. Soon, Jason sees this beautiful custom for himself. The author is the big chief of the Golden Comanches and shares here a fascinating inside look into the rich tradition of New Orleans' Mardi Gras Indians.

Sweet, inviting treats from the town of Tex-Mex and spice. Influenced by Spanish and Mexican flavors, the cuisine of San Antonio is sensational and simple-Latin food with a sure Texas twist. This collection of the best desserts from the city's favorite restaurants includes Warm Cajeta Apple Crisp, Ruby-Red Grapefruit Tart, Banana Cheesecake Brule', Candied Jalapenos, and dozens of other chocolaty, spicy, fruity, and fresh dishes. Featured restaurants include Rosario's, Azuca Nuevo Latino, the Colonial Room at the Menger Hotel, El Paradiso, and El Siete Mares.

Let your story-writing skills take you out of the henhouse! When the Little "Read" Hen's friends won't help her write an "eggcellent" story, she doesn't let it ruffle her feathers! This literary spin on a beloved folk tale is perfect for aspiring young writers interested in learning how their own fledgling ideas can hatch into a polished story. Holly Stone-Barker's vibrant cut-paper illustrations add riotous fun to each page.

"Full of sly wit and Cajun Spice."
--Scholastic.com

Chosen as a title for use in the Core Curriculum category of folktales and adaptation for grade set 3.5, this series of trickster tales, stemming from African folklore, bears remarkable resemblance to the Deep South's Brer Rabbit tradition. The Louisiana version of Brer Rabbit, Compere Lapin, is a mischief maker determined to get the best of Compere Bouki. In a trio of stories that praises brains over brawn, this rascally rabbit seems to come out ahead no matter what.

Journey to the new world with a privateer! Christopher Newport made history when he founded the first British colony in America. This biography takes young readers through Newport's exciting adventures on the high seas as a privateer-full of sword fights, pirates, exotic foods, and shipwrecks-to his landing in Jamestown.

"'Aye Chihuahua! The sky is falling." Join the colorful desert bird, Chachalaca Chiquita, and her feathered friends in this Southwestern spin on the Chicken Little tale. The story incorporates Spanish vocabulary for un peque'o fun as the amigos set off to tell the jefe that the sky is falling. The story takes a turn when they meet sly Tacito Ocelote.

How much can a tall Texan eat?

In this humorous retelling of the classic tale, a tall Texan devours a toad, a rattlesnake, a bat, a bull, and more to get rid of the flea he accidentally ate. The Texan gets bigger and bigger as he eats more and more-all to get rid of a silly old flea! Whoo-ee!

Autobiography of an Old West outlaw. Known for his scandalous career as a train and bank robber, Emmett Dalton remains a significant figure in American Old West history. This candid autobiography details his years with the Dalton gang, his courtship of Julia Johnson, and the fourteen years he served in prison. Peppered with anecdotes, this book provides a peek into the mind of an outlaw.