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Joe Manchin sinks Joe Biden's agenda & presidency. He killed LGBTQ civil rights when he did it.
Sen. Joe Manchin Photo: Third Way Think Tank For months now, Senator Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat, has been hemming and hawing about how he could support Build Back Better. The omnibus bill would enact much of President Biden's agenda, including battling climate change, reducing drug costs, and investing in child care. It would also provide tax refunds for some same-sex married couples .
Or more accurately, it would have. Yesterday, Manchin went on Fox News to kill the bill once and for all.
Related: Madison Cawthorn gets mocked for not knowing what pronouns are
"I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation," Manchin said. "I just can't. I've tried everything humanly possible. I can't get there."
Manchin cited a number of reasons for his opposition, including concerns about the deficit and its impact on energy infrastructure. (West Virginia is a major coal producer, and coal is hardly a green energy source.) Over the course of months of negotiations, Manchin had already objected to some tax increases on wealthy Americans, Medicare expansion to include hearing aids, and the temporary nature of some of the programs in the bill.
But what apparently sent Manchin into orbit was a fairly bland […]
Overnight Health Care — Presented by AstraZenca and Friends of Cancer Research — Biden's speech to focus on testing, vaccines
Media 3.0: The news creator economy arrives
As Ban on Most Surprise Medical Bills Takes Effect, Critics…
Economy is crying out for calm: The challenge with all bull…
McCormick: Let's Keep Building North American Automobiles…


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New COVID variants are coming. Will there be a winter surge?
Updated: 5:06 PM PDT Oct 18, 2022
By Amy Graff , SFGATE
A BRIEFING WAS HELD TODAY. SO MONKEY POX CASES IN DAYCARE CENTERS WILL OCCUR DUE TO THAT REALLY CLOSE CONTACT OF THE CARE PROVIDER AND THESE YOUNG CHILDREN MONKEY POX IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD TO DAYCARE CENTERS AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES TOO. THAT IS ONE OF SEVERAL PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS SHARED BY HOPKINS EXPERTS AT A BRIEFING ON THURSDAY. SO ASK YOUR DAYCARE PROVIDERS FOR THEIR MONKEY POX PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THEY ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CASES AND HAVE A RESPONSE PLAN THAT'S POISED FOR ACTION. WE NEED TO RAISE THE AWARENESS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THESE CAN I IDENTIFY CASES AND PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING SOMETHING THAT'S SPREADING IN OTHER SCENARIOS LIKE AMONG FAMILIES OR IN DAYCARE CENTERS AND THOSE KIND OF PLACES EXPERTS FROM THE BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. ALSO SAID YOU ARE NOW MORE LIKELY THAN EVER TO ENCOUNTER SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH AN ACTIVE CASE OF COVID-19. YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF. THEY SAID BY GETTING THE NEW BI-VALENT BOOSTER SHOT. THEY SUGGEST YOU GET YOUR FLU SHOT AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH OF THOSE ARE NEEDED. BOTH OF THOSE SHOULD BE SCHEDULED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND IDEALLY AT THE SAME TIME THE VACCINATIONS THEY STRESSED REPEATEDLY ARE PEOPLE'S BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE MODERATE COVID SURGES THIS FALL IN WINTER AND WHAT TRACKING SHOWS COULD BE A VERY STRONG FLU SEASON AS WELL. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN HIGH RISK GROUPS BECAUSE MANY GROUPS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE COVID ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE INFLUENZA. IN ADDITION TO TARGETING OMICRON THE EXPERTS SAY THE NEW BIVALENT BOOSTER SHOT ALSO COVERS TWO NEW COVID MUTATIONS THAT ARE COMING RIGHT BEHIND OMICRON REPORTING LIVE TONIGHT FRO
TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE
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As the weather cools and the San Francisco Bay Area enters its traditional cold and flu season, residents are starting to wonder: Will the fall and winter bring another COVID-19 surge, too?SFGATE asked two UCSF experts whether we're likely to see a repeat of last year, when the highly transmissible omicron variant caused cases to shoot up dramatically. Both agreed that infections will increase as the days get colder, driving people indoors, where the airborne virus spreads more easily. Both also maintained, though, that while a small number of people will become very sick, or even develop long COVID, the majority of people who catch the virus will experience mild illness."We are in a completely different time because we have so many more tools to help even unvaccinated people stay out of the hospital, and the population has already seen so many waves of COVID," Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, wrote in an email. "That means we won't see as many hospitalizations and deaths as in the past two winters."Chin-Hong said that, because the majority of the population has either vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, he's stopped using the word "surge" to describe rising infections. Instead, he prefers "increase in cases.""'Surge' has become a fighting word for some people as it gives them PTSD from 2020 and 2021," he wrote. COVID is here to stay, according to infectious diseases expert Dr. Monica Gandhi. That means we should get used to seeing cases go up every winter from now on. "ith vaccines, boosters, and antivirals for older people, the Bay Area at some point will have to decide how to live with ," Gandhi wrote in an email, pointing out that it is now carried by 29 species of animals, as well as being thoroughly entrenched in humans. "It does not have the features of an eradicable virus."Which variant will be dominant this winter?The vast majority of infections in the Bay Area are still being caused by variants in the omicron family, as they have been for several months. In mid-October, the BA.5 variant remained dominant, accounting for 71% of cases in the US, while closely related variants BA.4 and BA.4.6 are causing about 13% between them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The newly updated booster shot, which contains genetic information from both omicron and ancestral strains of the virus, is expected to provide significant protection against all three of those commonly circulating variants.Chin-Hong said experts are watching at least four other descendants of the original omicron variant. One, called BF.7, went from the third most common strain to the fifth most common in the U.S., the CDC said in its latest report on variant proportions. BQ.1 and BQ1.1, both immune-evasive variants, are rising rapidly and account for about 11% of cases in the US."I am now just as worried about BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 if not more than BF.7 given its trajectory," Chin-Hong wrote. "It seemed to come out of the blue and rising in the charts quickly--suggesting increased transmissibility of BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 compared with BA.5.Even if another variant begins circulating widely, though, "people who are up-to-date on vaccines will avert serious disease, hospitalization and death for many more months if not more than a year without further boosters," Chin-Hong said. Are any of these variants especially scary?It's true that several variants have become adept at evading antibodies, the body's first line of defense against infection; antibody production also wanes over time. However, thanks to both widespread vaccinations and massive waves of infections over the last two and a half years, the vast majority of the U.S. population has some immunity to the virus. When antibody protection fades, you become more likely to actually catch the virus. However, your body produces several types of specialized cells in response to either infection or vaccines, which remember how to fight COVID once it's entered your body. This "cellular immunity" is extremely long-lasting and harder for new variants to evade, according to Gandhi. In 2020, scientists found that people previously infected by SARS, which is in the same family as COVID, still had cells that could recognize and fight infection 17 years later.
As the weather cools and the San Francisco Bay Area enters its traditional cold and flu season, residents are starting to wonder: Will the fall and winter bring another COVID-19 surge, too?
SFGATE asked two UCSF experts whether we're likely to see a repeat of last year, when the highly transmissible omicron variant caused cases to shoot up dramatically. Both agreed that infections will increase as the days get colder, driving people indoors, where the airborne virus spreads more easily. Both also maintained, though, that while a small number of people will become very sick, or even develop long COVID, the majority of people who catch the virus will experience mild illness.
"We are in a completely different time because we have so many more tools to help even unvaccinated people stay out of the hospital, and the population has already seen so many waves of COVID," Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, wrote in an email. "That means we won't see as many hospitalizations and deaths as in the past two winters."
Chin-Hong said that, because the majority of the population has either vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, he's stopped using the word "surge" to describe rising infections. Instead, he prefers "increase in cases."
"'Surge' has become a fighting word for some people as it gives them PTSD from 2020 and 2021," he wrote.
COVID is here to stay, according to infectious diseases expert Dr. Monica Gandhi. That means we should get used to seeing cases go up every winter from now on.
"[W]ith vaccines, boosters, and antivirals for older people, the Bay Area at some point will have to decide how to live with [COVID]," Gandhi wrote in an email, pointing out that it is now carried by 29 species of animals, as well as being thoroughly entrenched in humans. "It does not have the features of an eradicable virus."
Which variant will be dominant this winter?
The vast majority of infections in the Bay Area are still being caused by variants in the omicron family, as they have been for several months. In mid-October, the BA.5 variant remained dominant, accounting for 71% of cases in the US, while closely related variants BA.4 and BA.4.6 are causing about 13% between them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The newly updated booster shot, which contains genetic information from both omicron and ancestral strains of the virus, is expected to provide significant protection against all three of those commonly circulating variants.
Chin-Hong said experts are watching at least four other descendants of the original omicron variant. One, called BF.7, went from the third most common strain to the fifth most common in the U.S., the CDC said in its latest report on variant proportions. BQ.1 and BQ1.1, both immune-evasive variants, are rising rapidly and account for about 11% of cases in the US.
"I am now just as worried about BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 if not more than BF.7 given its trajectory," Chin-Hong wrote. "It seemed to come out of the blue and rising in the charts quickly--suggesting increased transmissibility of BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 compared with BA.5.
Even if another variant begins circulating widely, though, "people who are up-to-date on vaccines will avert serious disease, hospitalization and death for many more months if not more than a year without further boosters," Chin-Hong said.
Are any of these variants especially scary?
It's true that several variants have become adept at evading antibodies, the body's first line of defense against infection; antibody production also wanes over time. However, thanks to both widespread vaccinations and massive waves of infections over the last two and a half years, the vast majority of the U.S. population has some immunity to the virus.
When antibody protection fades, you become more likely to actually catch the virus. However, your body produces several types of specialized cells in response to either infection or vaccines, which remember how to fight COVID once it's entered your body. This "cellular immunity" is extremely long-lasting and harder for new variants to evade, according to Gandhi. In 2020, scientists found that people previously infected by SARS, which is in the same family as COVID, still had cells that could recognize and fight infection 17 years later.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A well-rounded pork belly was had for EoY Christmas lunch at The Stables Bar. Racked with indecision between this and the choice of a 300g Angus beef steak, I went the pork belly. That's two out of two years I've gone for the pork belly at the EoY lunch. And two out of two pork belly hits.
Out from the kitchen, with relative speed, came a large piece of tender belly surrounded by crackling sat on chickpeas and a pink sauce. It came complete with the wow factor.
The big portion of pork was fall-off-your-fork tender. It was lacking somewhat in smoothness and flavour. The crackle had sufficient crispiness and the fat had been rendered off well. More salt was needed, if anything. The chickpeas and sauce provided good moisture, while the salad added a freshness that paid dividends. It was a main that ticked all major boxes.
Dessert was a choice between a chocolate mousse with a chocolate brownie and ice-cream, a passionfruit cheesecake, and a cheeseboard. While I'm usually partial to any sort of cheesecake on the menu, this time I was all in with the chocolate. The stiking gold sugar net, brownie log, shiny mousse, chocolate crumble and icecream looked incredible. The brownie was gloriously fudgey, and the mousse, thick and smooth. They were a chocolate bomb to the palette, diffused only by the crumble, the sauce, and the ice-cream. Refreshing, textural elements that drew away some of the sweetness and decadence.
This was chocolate hit delivered like a postman on a mission. A great dish.
Taste verdict A great Xmas lunch. No word of a lie when I say the pork belly made a few people jelly. The chocolate dessert was the bomb. Highly recommended.


Over the past few months we've had one doomcast after another. Pastor Lindsey Williams reported that the elites plan for a global currency reset in the first quarter of 2014. Jim Willie had a series of doomcasts for 2014 and spoke of two currency resets targeting the United States. Jim Garrow predicted a host of calamities, including civil war. The Chechens and the Saudis promised terrorism at the Winter Olympics. And, my 2014 – The Beginning of the End series hasn't helped to lighten the mood.
Well, since I am such a ray of sunshine, here are two more doomcasts to brighten your day. Grady Means, described as an 'elite insider', predicted financial catastrophe around March 4, 2014. And, a chart has popped up that seems to describe an eery parallel between today's stock market and the stock market of 1928-29.
I wouldn't normally pay much attention to these two extra forecasts of doom (i.e., doomcasts), but there is some logic to them.
Grady then goes on to talk about the fundamental reasons behind the economic crash, but he says nothing about why it will happen on – or around – March 4th. Very curious. Very curious, indeed.
SHTFplan.com profiles the article and adds more fundamental analysis, and it was SHTFplan.com where I stumbled across this curious tidbit by Grady Means.
We know that the global elites (aka, Illuminati) are planning a take down of the system. And, it appears that they've chosen 2014 as the year when their plans will gather speed. But, March 4th?
Interesting. We'll see what happens.
Parallel between '29 crash and today.
Twenty years ago, when I first got into the investment business, I quickly realized that 'mass psychology' drove the markets. My ability to do future-value calculations, analyze price-to-earnings ratios, and determine fair market value… well, none of that made a bit of difference in the face of the masses of investors that I call the 'thundering herd'.
The 'smart money' has been getting out of the markets since July 2012, and the 'dumb money' has been flooding in. I mean, REALLY flooding in! What happens to 'dumb money' when it gets spooked by 'bad news'?
It rushes for the door in a stampede that crushes everything and everyone before it – i.e., the thundering herd.
So, if you're in stocks, get ready to be trampled. In fact if you are in ANY financial institution of ANY kind… get ready to be trampled. The global elites plan to take down the financial markets and the global economy. They might do it in late February or early March, or they might choose some other 'auspicious' time. But, they're going to do it. And, you do NOT want to get trampled.
You must be prepared for what's coming.
Just a note of coincident, that is about the same time behemoth sun spot 1944 (aka 1967) will be rotating back around to be facing the earth.
The Ides of March (middle of March) might be a date picked by the Illuminati as a major turning point. It was sacred to Jupiter (Satan according to Tom Horne) and it was a transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire because of the murder of Julius Caesar. See Wikipedia.
Yes, beware the Ides of March. And, the Moon will be Full on the 16th.


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Honda - Hybrids for Hybrid Skeptics / Meh Campaign
Selling a Hybrid for Hybrid Skeptics
Creating a Mehmorable Campaign with Honda
Many people don't realize that Honda came out with the first mass-market hybrid car in the U.S. back in 1999. Since then, hybrids have grown in popularity. And now, 20 years later, Honda wants to change how people think about hybrid cars.
Because here's the problem with hybrids: They look too much like, well, a hybrid.
It's cool that it's a hybrid and all, but not cool enough to sacrifice design, performance and affordability.
So, Honda built and designed the 2019 Insight as the car for the hybrid skeptic.
The appeal of the Insight isn't the fact that it's a hybrid. It's a car that discerning buyers will want to drive because of its looks, fuel efficiency and price — being a hybrid is just icing on the cake.
"The campaign sets up a 'meh' world of hybrids: cars shaped like the way you feel when you drive them," said VP/Creative Director Sarah May Bates. "It isn't the future. It's more like a parallel version of reality where everything has the edges sanded off of it and drivers are resigned to snacking on rice cakes. That is, until the Insight enters the frame."
[vimeo vimeoid="282710951" caption="The 2019 Honda Insight – World of Meh" ]
Creatively, we knew that people tend to look at hybrids and come away feeling "meh." The campaign builds off this tendency by empathizing with and capitalizing on people's apathy toward most hybrids.
"Honda wants to get people into lower-emission vehicles, but the majority of people aren't going to buy because it's better for the environment. Honda created a car, and we created a campaign, that speaks to a significantly more powerful human desire…not having to compromise."
SVP/Group Strategic Planning Director Christian Cocker
Honda - Hugfest Super Bowl 2014


Are You Going Faster than the Speed of Life?
Has stress, overwhelm or anxiety got you down? You may be moving faster than the speed of life!
Have you ever wondered why the faster you try to get things done, the more mishaps occur? Could it be that sometimes you actually "get ahead of yourself"? And you move too fast for your own good?
There is a natural rhythm to the Universe and when we are in sync with this rhythm, life unfolds seamlessly. But when we try to force it, and rush toward a destination or goal, we actually move faster than the speed of life. Getting out of sync with life and its natural rhythm often results in a myriad of challenges and issues. So, if your life is chaotic or you are stressed out, tired, fragmented, anxious, confused or things are breaking all around you, chances are,you are moving faster than the speed of life.
Being out of sync is like the chain falling off your bicycle – you are still pedaling but no matter how fast you pedal, you are not getting anywhere. Lots of effort but little result creates exhaustion and overwhelm.
Many years ago, I was a stressed-out single mom and business owner. I had about a million things to do each day, or at least it felt that way. I remember waking up each morning under an energetic blanket of overwhelm and anxiety. I didn't want to get out of bed and face the day, but I had to – at least until I realized that I didn't have to. That idea took me by surprise and contradicted everything that I had ever believed about myself and my life. I questioned this new concept but it secretly gave me strength, peace and resolve.
I began to start each morning by surrendering my day to a higher power. In the recesses of my mind I would whisper, "Today, I don't have to do anything." Ahhh… I could breathe – the layers of the heavy blanket began to dissolve.
We humans are incredibly resilient and tenacious, but at some point, we get so exhausted and so stressed-out that we have no choice but to eventually surrender. Things just aren't working and we don't have a clue on how to fix them, so as a last resort, we let go. Of course, letting go is exactly the right thing to do.
Here's the thing, by letting go of everything, before my feet even touched the ground, I suddenly had the energy and desire to take inspired action but without the urgency, stress or strain that previously engulfed me. By telling myself, "I don't have to do anything today," I became at choice with my days – with my life. I realized that despite how things might seem, I always had the choice to do – or not do. My life was the way it was because it was my choice – and at any moment I could make a different one.
From this perspective, I was no longer in a rush – I was no longer stressed. At some point, I felt the tectonic plates of my life slip into place – anxiety began to melt and I realized that the overwhelm which once swallowed me up could not exist if I was conscious and present in this moment.
When we surrender the stress and release the rush, we immediately re-align with the Universe. No matter how off-center we have been, alignment can happen in an instant, simply by letting go.
The first sign that we are aligned and in sync is that we feel better. We feel calm, peaceful and we are in the moment. No rush. No urgency. Just here – now. The second thing we notice is that things get done easier and quicker, and sometimes they might even appear to get done on their own.
Synchronicity is simply being in sync with Life, and when you are in sync, everything good-and-fine lines up for you – you manifest what you desire with ease and grace.
So, I did just that – I slowed down, I chose my life and I became really, really present. Then the most amazing thing began to happen – not only did I feel better, my life began to getbetter. I was suddenly in sync with the rhythm of the Universe. Everything got done that needed to get done – kids got fed, money got made and even books got written, but there was no longer stress or grief. There was the sweet dance that became my life. The things that once took all my energy, because I was resistant and not present, now seemed to get done without effort.
Ironically, I discovered that the more I slowed down, the more I accomplished and the better the results!
At some point, I realized that my sweet dance was the sweet dance that the Universe had in store for me all along – so, as I had been trying to force things, make things happen and do everything myself, I was actually causing unnecessary pain and hardship. The mere act of slowing down and letting go, allowed the Universe to do her magic, which is infinitely more powerful than anything I could ever do in many lifetimes.
What does it take to get in sync with the natural speed of life?
Sometimes we move faster than the speed of life because we believe that we are all alone, and we must do everything ourselves. Despite how it may seem, you are not alone on this journey. You are an intricate part of the Universe – of life itself. When you believe that you are doing it all alone, anxiety and stress are the result. But it is those very emotions that tell you that you have unplugged from the rhythm of life, and it is time to let go so that you can plug back in.
Often, we keep super busy because we are afraid of meeting ourselves in the quietude. We are afraid that if we are alone and still, we might confront our weaknesses and have to deal with the shadows we have been avoiding. So, we run from one thing to the next – switching roles, playing identities and hiding behind the illusion of busyness. Yes, it may be uncomfortable to "meet yourself" at first, but you cannot be in sync with life, if you don't knowwho you really are. Whether it is your body or your mind that runs a mile a minute, in order to get in the flow of life, you have to stop, and be still – so that you can hear the quiet voice of your own true self.
The voice of stress says, "I have too much to do and not enough time to do it." Stress is a liar – in fact, it is stress that shortens time and gives you more to do. When you think thoughts like,"I don't have enough time" you are telling the Universe, don't give me enough time. And when you think thoughts like, "I have too much to do," you are telling the Universe, give me too much to do. Your thoughts program reality, so you must consciously program peaceful and harmonious thoughts.
Somehow we have been brainwashed with 'work ethics' that tell us that in order to succeed we must work incredibly hard and sacrifice ourselves for the success of our desires. This is a myth – the only thing that you have to sacrifice in order to succeed is the belief that 'you must work so very hard and sacrifice yourself.' Yes, success requires an exchange of energy – things don't materialize out of thin air (at least not yet), but as the saying goes, work smarter not harder. Working smarter does not just mean innovation and efficiency, it also means state of mind. If you are working from a state of overwhelm and stress, you are likely giving out more energy than you are getting back. If you are multi-tasking and not focused, you are also not getting an equal return for what you put in. However, when you are relaxed, focused and in a state of flow, the energy that you give out through your work is exponentially returned to you tenfold. Working smarter means engaging the power of the Universe on your behalf.
Being in the flow with the Universe doesn't happen by forcing things or trying to control things – it only happens by letting go and trusting that flow, wherever it takes us.
Does this mean that we really let go of control? Well, in some ways, yes, but it also means that we take our power back as creators, which is well beyond the petty control of details. When it comes down to it, the only control that we really have is the control of our minds. You can make a huge difference in your life by beginning each morning by pre-paving your day. By envisioning your perfect day, you are telling the Universe what to create for you. The Universe will respond with giving you inspired action which will support your desires. Without desire, there is no inspire.
Like a good parent, the Universe will allow you to do whatever you want to do on your own, and not interfere, but as soon as you ask for help, the power and energy of the Universe conspires on your behalf. When we try to do anything ourselves, we experience more effort and less results, but when we invoke the magic of the Universe, we experience less effort and more results. The key is asking! There is an infinitely great Source that loves you unconditionally and eternally, and this Source is always conspiring for your highest good, even when it appears otherwise.
Around this same time of surrender, one day I was making my boys peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, when I realized that my focus was elsewhere. I immediately recalled my energy and I put my entire attention on the task at hand, and as I did, I could feel my love enliven the sandwich that my children would soon be eating. In that moment I got it – I needed to put my love in everything, and so now I do, and, of course, it comes back to me in abundance.
Despite how it might seem, we are not equipped to multi-task. You can really only do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking causes stress, and stress makes us less productive. As you focus on one thing at a time, be present doing it. Don't be daydreaming or thinking about the next thing that you have to do. Be here now, and be present to the experience that you are having, as if it is the first and only time you will be doing what you are doing.
When we move faster than the speed of life, big and small mishaps are designed to slow us down, and get us back on track. This includes slow drivers who cut in front of you on the highway, when you are in a rush to get somewhere and all sorts of unforeseen delays. Nothing is random – everything in your reality is specially selected. The Universe is conspiring to wake you up! But first, you have to slow down, and quiet your mind, so that you can hear that wake up call.
Get real with yourself, and ask yourself, "Is this really something I want to do?" You might surprise yourself by answering yes, but if the answer is really no, then turn off automatic pilot and find a better way to live your life, or a better state of mind to do what you are doing. Life does not change until you ask it to change. You must be willing to let go of the way things are and willing to embrace new possibilities.
It is often our identities that keep us from being truly present and in the flow. Maybe we are so busy playing the good mom or dad that we forget to pay attention to our children, or we are so caught up in playing a career role that we forget who we are beyond the performance. So instead of being superman or super woman, just be present. There is no stress in being present.
It is often self-judgment that causes us to stress-out and go faster than the speed of life. When we drop criticism and self-judgment and we allow ourselves to be – without 'have to's,' or 'shoulds,' – we become free to grow and flourish with life.
P.S. Perfectionism is just another word for self-judgment.
If you are overly busy or stressed-out, chances are you are putting yourself last, but this is the worst thing that you can do. In order to get in the flow of life, you must make yourself a priority. So, instead of "seeing if you have time" for working out, meditating or getting a massage, you must make self-care your number one priority. Your body has immense wisdom, but in order to access that wisdom, you must take care of yourself and you must listen to your body, when it has guidance to offer – which is literally every day. Your body is the first to tell you that you are moving faster than the speed of life.
You are meant to be happy, and if you are not happy, you are not in the flow of life. Unhappiness is your inner guidance system telling you that you are going in the wrong direction. If you get to the end of the road and you are stressed-out and unhappy, turn around and find another way. Resistance to change is like digging a deeper and deeper ditch in a place you don't want to be.
Nature is always in resonance with Life. You never see a flower unnerved because it is not blooming fast enough, or a cloud upset because it didn't make a deadline. When we spend time in nature, the rhythm of our bodies begins to sync up with the rhythm of nature and we too slide into resonance.
Breathing deeply brings you back into your body and aligns you with the present moment. Just ten deep breaths tells the body and mind that it is safe to relax. While you are breathing deeply, you might as well imagine that you are breathing in beautiful golden light, and you are enveloped by the love of the Universe.
Life does not have some grand finale, nor is it a game to be won. The beauty of your life is right here in this moment, and if you are not going to pay attention to it, you will have missed an enormous gift that only you can experience – and appreciate. If you are not going to live your life, no one else can.
Life loves you and desires to make all your dreams a reality – this means that, firstly, you must dream and secondly, you must align with those dreams by getting in sync with the divine speed of life. Only then can the "synchronicity of miracles" shower you in abundance.
I have recorded two beautiful meditations (7 minutes and 15 minutes respectively) which I would love to share with you, designed to help you let go and re-align with the rhythm of life. Meditate now at www.Nanice.com/MeditateNow.


text:
Mrs. Benton's Classroom
Library Total:
- Battle of the Books*Abigail H*Charlie G*Cruz M*Daunavyn B*Emma B*Hope G*Horice R*Isaiah R*Jacob P*Jasmine P*Javeon S*Marcelo R*Melina J*Natalia D*Nicholas C*Nico T*Sophie L*Tatum M*Timyah B*Zann J1 Beverly Cleary2 Roald Dahl3 Gary Paulsen4 Newbery Medals5 Animal Protagonists6 Human/Animal Rel.7 Fiction Series8 General Fiction9 Realistic Fiction10.A Sci-Fi10.B Sci-Fi Series11 Fantasy12 Fantasy Series13 Mystery Series14 Mystery/Suspense15 Time Travel16 Maps/Geography17 Poetry18 Fables/Myths19 Math20 Sports: Fiction21 Sports: Non-Fic.22.A Hi-Fi 1: -99922.B Hi-Fi 2: 1000-161922.C Hi-Fi 3: 1620-177422.D Hi-Fi 4: 1775-178122.E Hi-Fi 5: 1782-178722.F Hi-Fi 6: 1788-185023 Hi-Fi 7: 1851-186524 Hi-Fi 8: 1866-192825.A Hi-Fi 9: 1929-194525.B Hi-Fi 10: 1946-26 US His 1: -99927 US His 2: 1000-161928 US His 3: 1620-177429 US His 4: 1775-178130 US His 5: 1782-178731 US His 6: 1788-185032 US His 7: 1851-186533 US His 8: 1866-192834.A US H 9: 1929-194534.B US H 10: 1946-35 Biographies36 Earth/Space Science37 Life Science38 Marine Science39 Physical Science40 General Non-Fiction41.A Soc. Studies41.B US Soc. Studies42 Graphic Novels
Alice 1 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll Beloved classic describes a little girl's adventures in a topsy-turvy land underground and her encounters with such improbable characters as the White Rabbit, March Hare and Mad Hatter, the sleepy Dormouse, grinning Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, and the dreadful Queen of Hearts. Includes all 42 of Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Alice 1-2: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
Lewis Carroll In 1862 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a shy Oxford mathematician with a stammer, created a story about a little girl tumbling down a rabbit hole. Thus began the immortal adventures of Alice, perhaps the most popular heroine in English literature. Countless scholars have tried to define the charm of the Alice books–with those wonderfully eccentric characters the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum, and Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, the Mad Hatter et al.–by proclaiming that they really comprise a satire on language, a political allegory, a parody of Victorian children's literature, even a reflection of contemporary ecclesiastical history. Perhaps, as Dodgson might have said, Alice is no more than a dream, a fairy tale about the trials and tribulations of growing up–or down, or all turned round–as seen through the expert eyes of a child.
Avalon - Web of Magic 4: The Secret of the Unicorn
Rachel Roberts Avalon is a magical mix of mismatched girlfriends; mysterious and endangered animals, enchanted power stones, and spellbinding music-coming together to wage a fantasy-driven battle of good vs. evil.
Ever since the portal to the world of Aldenmor opened, magical animals have appeared at the Ravenswood Wildlife preserve. Most are refugees needing to be healed. So far, Emily, Kara and Adriane, using their power stones, have been able to help. But now, a baby unicorn has come through. It is frightened, badly wounded and confused.
What special magic does it hold? Who hurt it, and why? What secrets does it hide in its heart? If the girls can figure it out, they may uncover the most important clue yet to finding Avalon. But time is running out, and if Emily can't save it, all hope may be lost.
Beast Quest 4: Tagus the Night Horse
Adam Blade One boy's journey to help his village becomes a quest to save the kingdom. Features a fearsome new beast in every book!
A mysterious force has been creeping over the plains of Avantia. The animals are stampeding, and brush fires sweep the prairie. The farmers are spooked—whispers of a mysterious horseman are spreading as fast as the stampedes. And now that someone has disappeared on a cattle drive, suspicion runs high.
Tom and Elenna speed to the plains to stop Tagus the Night Mare before he can do any more damage. But Tom ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and is mistakenly thrown in jail. Can he win the trust of the people—and his own freedom—before it's too late to stop Tagus?
Bone - Quest for the Spark 1
Tom Sniegoski A return to the enthralling world of BONE with book one in this gripping spin-off novel trilogy, illustrated in four-color!
Twelve-year-old Tom Elm is just an ordinary turnip farmer from the Valley, but he's always felt destined for something bigger. So when he discovers everyone in his village is asleep and plagued by nightmares, he assembles a band of unlikely heroes. They must fight to preserve the Spark—a divine light born at the core of a vast, dark nothingness called the Nacht. The Nacht is trying to permeate the Waking World with nightmares of the Dreaming, and it's Tom's mission to defeat the Nacht and its most loyal follower, the Constable. If he fails, his family—and everyone—might never wake up again.
The Books of Elsewhere 1: The Shadows
Jacqueline West For fans of Pseudonymous Bosch, Coraline, and Septimus Heap comes the first book in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Books of Elsewhere series.
This house is keeping secrets . . .
When eleven-year-old Olive and her parents move into the crumbling mansion on Linden Street and find it filled with mysterious paintings, Olive knows the place is creepy—but it isn't until she encounters its three talking cats that she realizes there's something darkly magical afoot. Then Olive finds a pair of antique spectacles in a dusty drawer and discovers the most peculiar thing yet: She can travel inside the house's spooky paintings to a world that's strangely quiet . . . and eerily sinister. But in entering Elsewhere, Olive has been ensnared in a mystery darker and more dangerous than she could have imagined, confronting a power that wants to be rid of her by any means necessary. With only the cats and an unusual boy she meets in Elsewhere on her side, it's up to Olive to save the house from the shadows, before the lights go out for good.
Children of the Lamp 1: The Akhenaten Adventure
P. B. Kerr From acclaimed thriller writer Philip Kerr comes an exceptional, imaginative adventure trilogy about a twin boy and girl with magical powers.
Meet John and Philippa Gaunt, twelve-year-old twins who one day discover themselves to be descended from a long line of djinn. All of a sudden, they have the power to grant wishes, travel to extraordinary places (and not necessarily on public transportation), and make people and objects disappear. Luckily (and luck does have something to do with it), the twins are introduced to their eccentric djinn-Uncle Nimrod, who will teach them how to harness their newly found power. And not a moment too soon!
Children of the Red King 1: Midnight for Charlie Bone
Jenny Nimmo
Children of the Red King 2: Charlie Bone and the the Time Twister
Jenny Nimmo In January, 1916, Henry Yewbeam picks up a mysterious glowing glass ball that comes rolling towards him while he is playing marbles. The ball is, in truth, a time twister that his nasty cousin Zeke has made sure Henry will find. The unsuspecting Henry gazes into the time twister and is transported far into the future where he meets Charlie Bone, his great nephew and reluctant student at Bloor's Academy where Henry's now ancient, but still nasty cousin, Ezekiel, lives. Charlie has to hide Henry from Ezekiel and from all the other members of the extended and malevolent Yewbeam and Bloor families while he figures out a way to send Henry back to 1916.
Children of the Red King 3: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy
Jenny Nimmo This semester at Bloor's Academy brings a few changes. There is a new art teacher, Mr. Boldova, and a new student named Belle, who lives with the Yewbeam aunts and seems to have strange power over them. Emma and Charlie soon discover Mr. Boldova's secret identity: He is the older brother of Ollie Sparks, the boy who lives in the attic of Bloor's Academy. Ollie had always been prying into matters that didn't concern him, so Ezekiel Bloor had made him invisible. When Charlie and his friends find him, Ollie is alone and hungry, so they promise to help him become visible again.
Children of the Red King 4: Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors
Jenny Nimmo Charlie Bone is back at Bloor Academy, where a new semester-and new powers-await him. But nothing is quite the same as Charlie left it. A mysterious student seems to be magnetic. One of the new teachers stands out-for all the wrong reasons. And before long, Charlie learns that his friend Billy has been locked behind a force field in the spooky Passing House.But when Charlie discovers the secret of the Castle of Mirrors everything changes. Sinister forces are at work, and only one of the endowed children can set things right again. But who?
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod 2: Ninth Grade Slays
Heather Brewer Freshman year stinks for Vlad Tod. Bullies still harass him. The photographer from the school newspaper is tailing him. And failing his studies could be deadly. A trip to Siberia gives ?study abroad? a whole new meaning as Vlad connects with other vampires and advances his mind-control abilities, but will he return home with the skills to recognize a vampire slayer when he sees one? In this thrilling sequel to Eighth Grade Bites, Vlad must confront the secrets of the past and battle forces that once again threaten his life.
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod 4: Eleventh Grade Burns
Heather Brewer It's another awful year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. Joss, a professional vampire slayer and Vlad's former friend, has moved back to town. The powerful vampire Dorian has an overwhelming desire to drink Vlad's blood. And his archenemy, D'Ablo, has brought Vlad's Uncle Otis to trial for crimes against vampires. So much for dating. When the tables turn on Vlad, he has just enough time to return to Bathory for his final good-byes.
Cirque du Freak 1: A Living Nightmare
Darren Shan From the Master of Horror comes the first gripping book in the twelve book New York Times bestselling Saga of Darren Shan. Start the tale from the beginning in the book that inspired the feature film The Vampire's Assistant and petrified devoted fans worldwide.
A young boy named Darren Shan and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a wonderfully gothic freak show featuring weird, frightening half human/half animals who interact terrifyingly with the audience. In the midst of the excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognizes that one of the performers— Mr. Crepsley— is a vampire!
Stever remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire— but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea. As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires.
This is the beginning of Darren's story.
Cirque du Freak 2: The Vampire's Assistant
Darren Shan Darren Shan was just an ordinary schoolboy until his visit to the Cirque Du Freak. Now, as he struggles with his new life as a Vampire's Assistant, he tries desperately to resist the one temptation that sickens him, the one thing that can keep him alive. But destiny is calling. The Wolf Man is waiting.
Cirque du Freak 3: Tunnels of Blood
Darren Shan Darren, the vampire's assistant, gets a taste of the city when he leaves the Cirque Du Freak with Evra the snake-boy and Mr. Crepsley. When corpses are discovered—corpses drained of blood— Darren and Evra are compelled to hunt down whatever foul creature is committing such horrendous acts. Meanwhile, beneath the streets, evil stalks Darren and Evra, and all clues point to Mr. Crepsley. Can they escape, or are they doomed to perish in the tunnels of blood?
Cirque du Freak 4: Vampire Mountain
Darren Shan Darren Shan and Mr. Crepsley embark on a dangerous trek to the very heart of the vampire world. But they face more than the cold on Vampire Mountain-the vampaneze have been there before them.
Will a meeting with the Vampire Princes restore Darren's human side, or turn him further toward the darkness? Only one thing is certain-Darren's initiation into the vampire clan is more deadly than he can ever have imagined.
Cirque du Freak 5: Trials of Death
Darren Shan The trials: seventeen ways to die unless the luck of the vampire is with you. Darren Shan must pass five fearsome Trials to prove himself to the vampires clan - or face the stakes of the Hall of Death. But Vampire Mountain holds hidden threats. Sinister, potent forces are gathering in the darkness. In this nightmarish world of bloodshed and betrayal, death may be a blessing...
Cirque du Freak 6: The Vampire Prince
Darren Shan Branded a traitor, betrayed by a friend, hunted by the vampire clan — Darren Shan, the Vampire's Assistant, faces certain death. Can Darren reverse the odds and outwit a Vampire Prince, or is this the end of thousands of years of vampire rule? Darren's initiation on Vampire Mountain draws to a stunning, bloody conclusion — but the Saga continues...
Cirque du Freak 7: Hunters of the Dusk
Darren Shan The pursuit begins....Darren Shan, the Vampire Prince, leaves Vampire Mountain on a life or death mission. As part of an elite force, Darren searches the world for the Vampaneze Lord. But the road ahead is long and dangerous-and lined with the bodies of the damned.
The Dark is Rising Sequence 3: Greenwitch
Susan Cooper Simon, Jane, and Barney, enlisted by their mysterious great-uncle, arrive in a small coastal town to recover a priceless golden grail stolen by the forces of evil — Dark. They are not at first aware of the strange powers of another boy brought to help, Will Stanton — nor of the sinister significance of the Greenwitch, an image of leaves and branches that for centuries has been cast into the sea for good luck in fishing and harvest.
Their search for the grail sets into motion a series of distubing, sometimes dangerous events that, at their climax, bring forth a gift that, for a time at least, will keep the Dark from rising.
The Dark Is Rising Sequence 5: Silver on the Tree
Susan Cooper The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. And Will Stanton — last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free — must join forces with this ageless master Merriman and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light. Drawn in with them are the three Drew children, who are mortal, but have their own vital part in the story. These six fight fear and death in the darkly brooding Welsh hills, in a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the British Isles, and that brings Susan Cooper's masterful sequence of novels to a satysfying close.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart 1
Stephanie Burgis A classic fantasy with terrific girl power (and chocolate), perfect for fans of Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George.
Aventurine is a brave young dragon ready to explore the world outside of her family's mountain cave . . . if only they'd let her leave it. Her family thinks she's too young to fly on her own, but she's determined to prove them wrong by capturing the most dangerous prey of all: a human.
But when that human tricks her into drinking enchanted hot chocolate, she's transformed into a puny human without any sharp teeth, fire breath, or claws. Still, she's the fiercest creature in these mountains—and now she's found her true passion: chocolate. All she has to do is get to the human city to find herself an apprenticeship (whatever that is) in a chocolate house (which sounds delicious), and she'll be conquering new territory in no time . . . won't she?
Praise for Kat, Incorrigible
Bank Street Best Books of 2012
A Spring 2011 Kids' Indie Next pick
A 2012 ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Book
A Top 40 Pick for the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
A Dragon's Guide 1: The Care and Feeding of Humans
Laurence Yep, Joanne Ryder Fans of How to Train Your Dragon will love this whimsical tale, the first in a series, by a Newbery Honor winner, featuring charming illustrations and pet "training tips" in each chapter.
Crusty dragon Miss Drake has a new pet human, precocious Winnie. Oddly enough, Winnie seems to think Miss Drake is her pet—a ridiculous notion!
Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encounters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Winnie's sketchbook is not what it seems. Somehow, her sketchlings have been set loose on the city streets! It will take Winnie and Miss Drake's combined efforts to put an end to the mayhem . . . before it's too late.
This refreshing debut collaboration by Laurence Yep, a two-time Newbery Honor winner and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner, and Joanne Ryder features illustrations by Mary GrandPré.
Praise for A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
*"Warm humor, magical mishaps, and the main characters' budding mutual respect and affection combine to give this opener for a planned series a special shine." –Booklist, Starred
"Aternately comical, suspenseful and sometimes sweetly emotional." –Kirkus Reviews
"With a black-and-white spot illustration opening most chapters, an engaging narrator, and a consistently fluid writing style, this title makes a fine dragon choice for readers." –School Library Journal
"In this series launch, Yep and Ryder conjure up a world where dragons and humans interact, and the results are heartwarming and quite funny." –Publishers Weekly
"A clever and amusing novel that imagines a magical world that nestles right up against our own and sometimes crosses over." –The Bulleting of the Center for Children's Books
Praise for A Dragon's Guide to Making Your Human Smarter
"Yep and Ryder keep the magic coming with their whimsical fantasy, enhanced by Grandpré's sweet drawings. The story positively vibrates with fun." —Kirkus Reviews
" Lighthearted episodes of unusual school lessons and field trips, illustrated by GrandPré's winsome spot art, are grounded by Miss Drake's more serious encounters with the goons...a gratifying development as this buoyant, fantastical series continues."—The Horn Book Review
From the Hardcover edition.
Dragonology Chronicles 1: The Dragon's Eye
Dugald A. Steer "Steer infuses the exciting story with the flavor of a nineteenth-century novel and incorporates dragon lore found in his earlier books. Dragon lovers will be well pleased." —-BOOKLIST
Adventure! Villains! And dragons, dragons, dragons! From the creators of the best-selling Dragonology series, this first volume of the Dragonology Chronicles finds Daniel Cook and his sister, Beatrice, studying with eccentric dragonologist Dr. Ernest Drake. Soon they're caught up in a race to find the stolen Dragon's Eye —- a jewel that has the power to reflect the true Dragon Master —- before it is stolen by the evil Ignatius Crook. Working with Dr. Drake (and many friendly dragons), can these young siblings foil Ignatius and recover the Dragon's Eye?
Dragons in a Bag
Elliott, Zetta
Dragons of Deltora 1-3: Dragon's Nest, Shadowgate, Isle of the Dead
Emily Rodda Welcome to the Shadowlands — the terrifying and mysterious domain of the evil Shadow Lord. He has gone there to refuel his dark sorcery, taking thousands of Deltoran hostages with him. They will become slaves to the darkness...unless they are saved. To rescue them, Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must find the three parts of the fabled Pirran Pipe, an ancient weapon that may be their only hope of combatting the Shadow Lord's sinister ambitions. But nothing can prepare them for the monsters and magic that lurk just beyond the light.
Dragons of Deltora 1: Dragon's Nest
Emily Rodda The evil Shadow Lord has been banished, but famine still stalks Deltora, and only monsters thrive. As the starving people weaken, Lief, Jasmine and Barda discover a terrible secret. The Enemy left the seeds of death behind him. Four vile creations of sorcery called the Four Sisters are hidden in the land. They are slowly killing it while the Shadow Lord gloats, awaiting his triumphant return. The companions must find the deadly Sisters and destroy them. Their only clue is a fragment of an ancient map. Their only hope of help lies with 7 unlikely allies — the last of Deltora's dragons
Dragons of Deltora 2: Shadowgate
Emily Rodda The Four Sisters, evil creations of the Shadow Lord, are poisoning Deltora and starving its people. Lief, Barda, and Jasmine have found and destroyed the first of the Sisters. Now they must find the second, hidden within the mountains that border the Shadowlands. And they know that only the Dragon of the Emerald can help them. The Shadow Lord is now aware of their quest. Deep in the Shadowlands, he plots their destruction. Hidden enemies and trickery await as the companions travel towards the Sister of the North and its terrible guardian in the dread place called Shadowgate.
Dragons of Deltora 3: Isle of the Dead
Emily Rodda In this third book of the "Dragons of Deltora" series, King Lief and his faithful companions continue the quest to destroy the evil Four Sisters. With the aid of the dragons that were awakened by the Belt of Deltora, two of the Sisters have been found and eliminated. Now, as they search for the Sister of the West, Lief and his friends must face a haunted lighthouse, a ghost ship, fleshbanes, and a sea monster on their way to the Isle of the Dead.
Dragons of Deltora 4: The Sister of the South
Emily Rodda "Sister of the South" is the action-packed conclusion to the "Dragons of Deltora" series. Lief and his companions return to Del, where they now know the evil Sister of the South resides. On their path to destroy the Sister, they must unravel the mystery of a dreadful plague, fight a horrid two-faced beast, and deal with dragons.
Echorium Sequence 3: Dark Quetzal
Katherine Roberts The breathtaking conclusion to the fantastical ECHORIUM SEQUENCE is now available in paperback!
The Singers on the Isle of Echoes are finally living in peace. But their harmony is threatened by a dark force. Frazhin, the evil sorcerer, has returned. This time, his devious scheme is to destroy the Echorium by changing time itself.
Only the spirited Kyarra, Frazhin's long-lost daughter, may be able to prevent the Echorium's downfall. With the help of the Dark Quetzal, an amazing boy-bird, Kyarra must rally all the forces of good. But will they be strong enough to thwart Frazhin's wicked plans once and for all?
Enchanted Forest Chronicles 1: Dealing with Dragons
Patricia C. Wrede Cimorene is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart. . . .
And bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon . . . and finds the family and excitement she's been looking for.
Fablehaven 1
Brandon Mull Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among the greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. But when the rules get broken, powerful forces are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and maybe even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most...
The Faerie War Chronicles 2: Purple Emperor
Herbie Brennan Henry Atherton, his faerie prince friend Pyrgus, and Pyrgus's fearless sister, Holly Blue, return in this fantastic adventure to save the Faerie Realm from the evil Hairstreak and his henchmen, Chalkhill and Brimstone. With the help of forest faeries, some silk mistresses, a sewer-dwelling creature of unknown dimensions, and additional creatures magical and otherwise, the three intrepid young friends find their way from exile back to the home they all would die to preserve and protect.
Green Knowe 1: The Children of Green Knowe
L. M. Boston L. M. Boston's thrilling and chilling tales of Green Knowe, a haunted manor deep in an overgrown garden in the English countryside, have been entertaining readers for half a century. Now the children of Green Knowe—both alive and ghostly—are back in appealing new editions.
The spooky original illustrations have been retained, but dramatic new cover art by Brett Helquist (illustrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events) gives the books a fresh, timeless appeal for today's readers.
Grey Griffins 3: Fall of the Templar
Derek Benz, J. S. Lewis The action-packed third installment of the legend of the GREY GRIFFINS!
The epic battle between the Grey Griffins and forces of evil continues, as Max, Harley, and Natalia face off against Morgan La Fey and Lord Sumner. The friends also struggle to find a way to save Ernie, who remains trapped in an enchanted coma, and Max must come to terms with his father's most wicked betrayal. The Grey Griffins and the Templar knights stage the last stand-off to save the world and the Land of Faerie....
Harry Potter 1: The Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
Harry Potter 2: Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter 3: The Prisoner of Azkaban
J. K. Rowling For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.
Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts."
Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.
Harry Potter 4: The Goblet of Fire
J. K. Rowling The paperback edition of the legendary, record-breaking, best-selling fourth Harry Potter novel.
Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.
Harry Potter 5: The Order of the Phoenix
J. K. Rowling In his fifth year at Hogwart's, Harry faces challenges at every turn, from the dark threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the unreliability of the government of the magical world to the rise of Ron Weasley as the keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Along the way he learns about the strength of his friends, the fierceness of his enemies, and the meaning of sacrifice.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp
Harry Potter: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
J. K. Rowling The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers' attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger's new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore.
Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot," "The Fountain of Fair Fortune," "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump," and of course "The Tale of the Three Brothers." But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.
This purchase also represents another very important form of giving: From every sale of this book, Scholastic will give its net proceeds to Lumos, an international children's charity founded in 2005 by J. K. Rowling. Lumos is dedicated to ending the institutionalization of children, a harmful practice that affects the lives of up to eight million disadvantaged children around the world who live in institutions and orphanages, many placed there as a result of poverty, disability, disease, discrimination and conflict; very few are orphans. Lumos works to reunite children with their families, promote family-based care alternatives, and help authorities to reform their systems and close down institutions and orphanages. www.wearelumos.org
Horse Guardian 8: Sobekkare's Revenge
Angela Dorsey An ancient treasure is unearthed from an Egyptian cave, and one of the artefacts carries a terrible curse, a fatal illness that attacks horses. When Jumana discovers her family's prized horses are missing, she follows their tracks into the desert, only to find them with a very strange girl who asks her to undertake a very strange task: stop the curse by returning the artefact to the cave before all the world's horses are afflicted.
The Hypnotists
Gordon Korman Is it a gift . . . or is it a curse? Jax Opus can use his color-changing eyes to make people do things they don't want to do. (Only his color-blind best friend, Tommy, seems immune.) At first, Jax doesn't know what he's doing — temporarily hypnotizing friends, foes, and strangers. But then his power pushes things way too far, and his secret isn't a secret any longer.
Soon Jax finds himself meeting Dr. Elias Mako, who wants him to join a special institution that will teach him how to use his powers. But what will his powers be used for? That's the big question for Jax as his hypnotic abilities draw him into a conspiracy that will have him racing against time and a mysterious mastermind to save his best friend, his parents, and the entire United States.
From #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Gordon Korman comes a fast, fun, and fantastic adventure about a kid who can make other people do what he wants — and who's wanted big-time because of it.
The Imaginary Veterinary 1: The Sasquatch Escape
Suzanne Selfors When Ben Silverstein is sent to the rundown town of Buttonville to spend the summer with his grandfather, he's certain it will be the most boring vacation ever. That is, until his grandfather's cat brings home what looks like . . . a baby dragon?
Amazed, Ben enlists the help of Pearl Petal, a local girl with an eye for adventure. They take the wounded dragon to the only veterinarian's office in town — Dr. Woo's Worm Hospital. But as Ben and Pearl discover once they are inside, Dr. Woo's isn't a worm hospital at all — it's actually a secret hospital for imaginary creatures.
After Ben accidentally leaves the hospital's front door unlocked, a rather large, rather stinky, andvery hairy beast escapes into Buttonville. Ben and Pearl are tasked with retrieving the runaway creature, and what started out as an ordinary summer becomes the story of a lifetime.
Suzanne Selfors delivers a wild journey filled with mythical creatures and zany adventures that are anything but imaginary.
This book includes bonus writing, art, and science activities that will help readers discover more about the mythological creatures featured in The Sasquatch Escape. These activities are designed for the home and the classroom. Enjoy doing them on your own or with friends!
Ink Trilogy 1: Inkheart
Cornelia Funke Now a major motion picture! The international bestseller, with movie art featured on the cover and a photo insert of the cast—including Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren!
One cruel night, Meggie's father, Mo, reads aloud from INKHEART, and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of fiction, landing instead in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie's in the middle of the kind of adventure she thought only took place in fairy tales. Somehow she must master the magic that has conjured up this nightmare. Can she change the course of the story that has changed her life forever?
"Beguiling...the story seems to have been sprinkled with some magical fairy dust."—The New York Times Book Review
Ink Trilogy 3: Inkdeath
Cornelia Funke The masterful conclusion to the epic, award-winning, bestselling INKHEART trilogy by internationally acclaimed author Cornelia Funke.
The Adderhead—his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo—has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay—Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrends. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?
Janitors 1
Tyler Whitesides The janitors at Welcher Elementary know a secret, and it's draining all the smarts out of the kids. Twelve year-old Spencer Zumbro, with the help of his classmate Daisy Gullible Gates, must fight with and against a secret, janitorial society that wields wizard-like powers.
Tyler Whitesides
Keys to the Kingdom 2: Grim Tuesday
Garth Nix Arthur Penhaligon's magical adventures continue as he faces a new grave danger — in the form of an enemy named Grim Tuesday. More amazing fantasy from best-selling author Garth Nix.
Arthur doesn't think he will ever have to return to the strange house that nearly killed him on Monday — the house that contains an entire world. But Tuesday brings new challenges — in the form of an enemy named Grim Tuesday, who threatens the well-being of both Arthur's family and his world. Arthur must retrieve the Second Key from Grim Tuesday in order to save everything — an adventure that will include stealing a Sunship, surviving a very weird work camp, befriending a bearlike spirit, fighting the voidlike Nithlings, and traveling to the scary Far Reaches for the ultimate showdown.
The Last Kids on Earth 1
Max Brallier "Terrifyingly fun! Delivers big thrills and even bigger laughs."—Jeff Kinney, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead in this very funny post-apocalyptic graphic novel for middle-grade readers.
Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack's loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack's crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it?
Told in a mixture of text and black-and-white illustration, this is the perfect book for any kid who's ever dreamed of starring in his or her own comic book or video game. And then grab the sequel, The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade, now a New York Times bestseller!
League of Princes 1: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Christopher Healy Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You've never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change.
Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, the princes stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it's up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.
Christopher Healy's Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a completely original take on the world of fairy tales, the truth about what happens after "happily ever after." It's a must-have for middle grade readers who enjoy their fantasy adventures mixed with the humor of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Witty black-and-white drawings by Todd Harris add to the fun.
Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme 2: The Thief Queen's Daughter
Elizabeth Haydon Long ago, in the Second Age of history, a young Nain explorer by the name of Ven Polypheme traveled much of the known and unknown world, recording his adventures. Recently discovered by archaeologists, a few fragments of his original journals are reproduced in this book. Great care has been taken to reconstruct the parts of the journal that did not survive, so that a whole story can be told…
On his first day on the job as Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, King Vandemere sends young Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme—known as Ven—on a secret mission within the walls of the Gated City. His quest? To discover the origin of a mysterious artifact given to the king's father. The king warns Ven to take care—because once you enter the Gated City, you might never be allowed to leave.
Within its walls, all sorts of exotic merchandise not found anywhere else in the world can be bought or sold. But not only merchandise. Dreams, wishes, memories…even childhood…can be sold—or stolen. The Gated City is ruled by the powerful Raven's Guild, and the guild is ruled by the Queen of Thieves.
Ven and his friends enter the Gated City ready for adventure. But when one friend is kidnapped and it is revealed that they are traveling in the company of the runaway daughter of the Queen of Thieves herself, their adventure turns deadly. For the ruthless Thief Queen will stop at nothing to get her daughter back….
Lowthar's Blade 3: The True Blade of Power
R. L. LaFevers With the evil warlord Mordig on the loose from prison, Kenric must find a way to gain the trust of the goblin king in order to use his goblin fire to make the one-and-only sword that will work against the warlord's spells, in the conclusion to the fantastical Lowthar's Blade trilogy. Reprint.
Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff 1: You Wish
Jason Lethcoe On his eleventh birthday, sad, orphaned Benjamin Bartholomew Piff accidentally adheres to all of the wishing rules—and, in wishing for the mother lode of limitless wishes, he unknowingly sets into a motion a chain of events that threatens to disrupt the balance between the magical realm of wishes and curses. Before long, Benjamin has been recruited by the Wishworks Factory director himself to fight the evil henchmen of the Curseworks Factory. In the process, Benjamin will reclaim his original wish—giving new credence to the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for . . . "
Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff 2: Wishful Thinking
Jason Lethcoe Benjamin Bartholomew Piff thought all of his wishes had finally come true—he's traded in his soggy cot at Pinch's Home for Wayward Boys for a Feathered Funicula at the Wishworks Factory. He's even been named manager of Kids' Birthday Wishes (ages 3–12)—and he can't wait to settle in to his new (and improved!) life. But when Ben slips briefly and reveals his identity, his spoiled cousin Penelope Piff figures out his new job. She quickly learns how to get in on the sweet life of magic, but her wishes are anything but sugar and spice and everything nice. This is one Penny that brings nothing but bad luck! Will Ben and his friends be able to save Candlewick and the Wishworks Factory from Penny's conniving clutches—before she destroys it completely?
Myth-O-Mania 3: Say Cheese, Medusa!
Kate McMullan That story about Perseus whacking off the head of the horrible snaky-haired Gorgon, Medusa? Oh, please. He got turned into a hunk of stinky cheese- gorgon-zola, of course!
Oliver Nocturne 2: The Sunlight Slayings
Kevin Emerson A compelling new take on contemporary fantasy & vampire stories with a new kind of hero, torn between dark and light, on a quest to discover the truth about his origins and his significance.
Oliver Nocturne finds himself reunited with Emalie's cousin, Dean, who has returned as a zombie. Dean has information on something that is shaking up the vampire community - vampire children are mysteriously being turned to dust. Oliver and Dean reconnect with Emalie, and the three of them set out to solve the mystery and in the process encounter the Fallen Brotherhood, a human group fighting against vampires. And the Brotherhood has some news for Oliver ....
Oz 1 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum One of the true classics of American literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over four generations. Originally published in 1900, it was the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful out of such familiar items as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old-fashioned hokum to express that universal theme, "There's no place like home." Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, as their Kansas house is swept away by a cyclone and they find themselves in a strange land called Oz. Here she meets the Munchkins and joins the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City, where lives the all-powered Wizard of Oz.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 1: The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: Lightning Thief, The
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 2: The Sea of Monsters
Rick Riordan After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson—a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends.
But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia—only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name…the Bermuda Triangle.
Now Percy and his friends—Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson—must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family—one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 3: The Titan's Curse
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical.
In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth—a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 4a: The Demigod Files
Rick Riordan How do you handle an encounter with Medusa on the New Jersey interstate? What's the best way to take down a minotaur? Become an expert on everything in Percy's world with this must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Complete with interviews, puzzles, games, and original short stories by Rick Riordan.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5: The Last Olympian
Rick Riordan All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows.
In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.
Pip Bartlett 1: Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures
Maggie Stiefvater, Jackson Pearce From bestselling authors Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce comes an exciting new series full of magical creatures, whimsical adventures, and quirky illustrations.
Here's a list of things Pip Bartlett can talk to:
Miniature Silky Griffins
Bitterflunks
Basically, all magical creatures
Here's a list of things she can't talk to (at least, not very well):
Basically, all people
Because of a Unicorn Incident at her school (it was an accident!), Pip is spending the summer with her Aunt Emma at the Cloverton Clinic for Magical Creatures. At first, it's all fun, games, and chatting with Hobgrackles, but when Fuzzles appear and start bursting into flame at the worst possible places, Pip and her new friend Tomas must take action. Because if the mystery of the Fuzzles isn't solved soon, both magical and unmagical creatures are going to be in a lot of trouble.
Pit Dragon Chronicles 1: Dragon's Blood
Jane Yolen Dragons are trained to fight to the death, and two determined teens help free them in this spellbinding saga.
Training a dragon to be a fighting champion is the only way to freedom for fifteen-year-old Jakkin.
Prydain Chronicles 1: The Book of Three
Lloyd Alexander Taran, The Assistant Pig-Keeper, longs to be a hero.
He begins his journey with a strange assortment of companions on a dangerous mission to save his beloved land, Prydain. Packed with action, humor, romance, and gallantry, Taran's adventures chronicle his beloved Prydain and his battle with the forces of evil.
Prydain Chronicles 2: The Black Cauldron
Lloyd Alexander In the imaginary Land of Prydain, where "evil is never distant," it has become imperative that the Black Cauldron, chief implement of the diabolical Arawn, be destroyed. In this cauldron Arawn has created his terrible army of deathless warriors from the stolen bodies of the slain. For each of those chosen to journey to Arawn's domain, the quest has a special meaning, and to Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, the adventure becomes a glorious opportunity to wear his first sword and prove himself a man among men.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Ratbridge Chronicles 1: Here Be Monsters!
Alan Snow Entertaining antics and skullduggery abound in the book that inspired Laika Studio's animated film The Boxtrolls, in theaters September 26, 2014!
Welcome to Ratbridge. But beware—for there is skulduggery afoot. Young Arthur has fallen foul of the appalling outlaw, Snatcher, and is trapped alone in the town with every way home sealed. Meanwhile Snatcher and his men are working tirelessly in secret on a fiendish and dastardly plan to destroy the entire town.
With the help of some friendly boxtrolls and cabbageheads, some quirkly townspeople, and the rats and pirates from the Ratbridge Nautical Laundry, can Arthur thwart Snatcher's evil plans and find his way home?
Rowan of Rin 2: Rowan and the Travelers
Emily Rodda The secret enemy is here.
It hides in darkness,
fools beware!
A mysterious danger threatens Rowan's village, Rin. But who is the enemy? And what is the strange spell that is putting all the townspeople to sleep?
The Travelers, a roaming people who are friends of Rin, might be able to help, but Rowan isn't sure he can trust them. Especially since they tell him that to find the answers to Rin's problems, Rowan must go to the legendary, noxious Pit of Unrin, from which no living thing has ever returned.
Sammy Keyes 1: Hotel Thief
Wedelin Van Craanen Readers follow a young, feisty sleuth through her saucy first-person narrative. Sammy is unpopular at school and on the outs with authority.
Sammy Keyes 4: Runaway Elf
Wendelin Van Draanen And this new adventure is Wendelin Van Draanen's most complex and compelling yet! It's Christmastime in Sammy's hometown of Santa Martina, but some people are being very, very naughty. Pranksters dressed as wise men sabotage the Christmas Parade. In the ensuing chaos, some thugs dognap a prize Pomeranian. Then the Pom's owner blackmails Sammy into finding the dog so she won't have to pay the ransom. Sammy doesn't have to check her list twice to know that these people belong in the naughty column!
But in the course of her search for the doggone dog, Sammy also comes across some characters who are harder to figure: a runaway elf, an embittered old biddy, a puffed-up policeman, and a sneaky Secret Santa. Still, someone's got that dog and whoever it is had better watch out—'cause Sammy Keyes is nosing around...and she's willing to be pretty naughty herself to make sure the bad guys pay.
Seventh Tower 1: The Fall
Garth Nix Bestselling author Garth Nix's amazing Seventh Tower series is back—now with a great new look!
Tal has lived his whole life in darkness. He has never left his home, a mysterious castle of seven towers. He does not see the threat that will tear apart his family and his world. But Tal cannot stay safe forever. When danger strikes, he must desperately climb the Red Tower to steal a Sunstone. He reaches the top...and then he falls into a strange and unknown world of warriors, iceships, and hidden magic. There Tal makes an enemy who will save his life—and who holds the key to his future.
The Sisters Grimm 1: The Fairy Tale Detectives
Michael Buckley In excellent condition
Starcatchers 1: Peter and the Starcatchers
Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson Aboard the ship Never Land, a boy named Peter is bound for servitude in the court of King Zarboff the Third. Peter befriends Molly and helps her keep a secret treasure she is transporting, but will they succeed in keeping the cargo away from the pirate Black Stache?
The Chronicles of Narnia 1: The Magician's Nephew
C. S. Lewis How Aslan created Narnia and gave the gift of speech to its animals.
The Chronicles of Narnia 2: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis How Aslan, the noble lion, freed Narnia from the spell of the White Witch.
C. S. Lewis They open a door and enter a world
Narnia ... a land frozen in eternal winter ... a country waiting to be set free.
Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia — a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change ... and a great sacrifice.
The Chronicles of Narnia 3: The Horse and His Boy
C. S. Lewis How a talking horse and a boy prince saved Narnia from invasion.
The Chronicles of Narnia 4: Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis How good Prince Caspian and his army of Talking Beasts conquered the Telmarines.
The Chronicles of Narnia 5: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
C. S. Lewis Narnia ... where anything can happen (and most often does) ... and where the adventure begins.
The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his first voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, their cousin Eustace, and Caspian to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World.
C. S. Lewis How King Caspian sailed through the magic waters to the End of the World.
The Chronicles of Narnia 6: The Silver Chair
C. S. Lewis How captive Prince Rilian escaped from the Emerald Witch's underground kingdom.
The Chronicles of Narnia 7: The Last Battle
C. S. Lewis How evil came to Narnia and Aslan led his people to a glorious new paradise.
The Dark Is Rising Sequence 1: Over Sea, Under Stone
Susan Cooper On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that — the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their very lives in peril.
The Dark Is Rising Sequence 2: The Dark Is Rising
Susan Cooper In this book, Will Stanton begins to have strange experiences on his eleventh birthday, just before Christmas. He soon learns he is one of the Old Ones, a guardian and warrior for The Light. He learns that he must help find the four Things of Power for The Light in order to battle the forces of The Dark. The first of these Things of Power is the Circle of Six Signs. This book is the key book for the main character, Will Stanton. It is in this book that he collects the six signs which become the Circle of Signs, one of the Things of Power, by finding the additional five mandala (he has been given one earlier) and uses the completed Circle to ward off the forces of The Dark. "You are the seventh son of a seventh son, Will Stanton. You step through time. One by one, the Signs will call to you. You will gather them and gain the power of the Light. You are the Sign-Seeker."
The Last Dragon Chronicles 1: The Fire Within
Chris D'Lacey 'David ran a hand through his mop of brown hair. Dragons. It was certainly different from his last set of lodgings, where all you got were spiders and the occasional mouse. "It's perfect," he said.' When David arrives at Wayward Crescent he has no idea what lurks inside the Pennykettle house. Only when he's given his own special dragon does he begin to unlock their mysterious secrets, and to discover the fire within...
The Last Dragon Chronicles 2: Icefire
Chris D'Lacey Life isn't exactly normal lodging at the Pennykettles - not when you're surrounded by hundreds of clay pottery dragons. Fate seems to be dictating an unusual course for David when his university tutor sets him a writing project on the existence - or not - of dragons. The tantalizing prize - a fully-funded research trip to the Arctic - seems just within his grasp. David starts to research the subject and soon discovers a connection between dragons and the Arctic just as it begins to snow. Is it only a coincidence? Or could deeper forces be at work? As David starts to uncover more about the dragons, he finds himself drawn down a path from which there is no going back to a time when dragons really did exist, and their secrets were guarded by the polar bears of the Arctic. If David is going to have any chance of winning the research trip, he has to open his mind to the legend of dragons and the mysterious secret of Icefire.
The Last Dragon Chronicles 3: Fire Star
Chris D'Lacey Another fantastic adventure in NY TIMES bestselling author Chris d'Lacey's dragon saga!
In the thrilling third book in Chris d'Lacey's popular series, David Rain is faced with a perilous task. ICEFIRE's evil sibyl Gwilanna is back, this time determined to resurrect the dragon Gawain on the ice cap of the Tooth of Ragnar. Can David and his friends stop her before it's too late?
The Princess Tales 1: The Fairy's Mistake
Gail Carson Levine While Myrtle was in the village, Rosella went out to her garden to pick peas for dinner, As she worked, she sang, Oh, May is the lovely month. Sing hey nonny May-o! Oh, June is the flower month. Sing hey nonny June-o! And so on. While she sang, gems dropped from her mouth. It still felt funny, but she was getting used to it. Except once. She popped a pea in her mouth as she sang, and she almost broke a tooth on a ruby.
The Princess Tales 3: Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep
Gail Carson Levine "Hilarious subersion of fairy tale motifs, used to great effect in Ella Enchanted...is honed to perfection in this pair of stories, which kicks off the Princess Tales series." Publishers Weekly
The Spiderwick Chronicles 1: The Field Guide
Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi After their parents' divorce, the Grace kids - twins Jared and Simon and their older sister Mallory - move with their mom to the decaying old mansion belonging to their ancient great-aunt Lucinda, who has been sent off to an asylum. But before they can even unpack, Jared begins to notice that they're not alone in the house. There's something living there with them. His investigations eventually lead to an old book filled with pictures of fantastic creatures - Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You - and an even bigger mystery - the disappearance of his great-great-uncle and Lucinda's father, Arthur Spiderwick.
The Spiderwick Chronicles 2b: The Seeing Stone, Book 2 (Troll Trouble)
Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black
The Spiderwick Chronicles 2c: The Seeing Stone, Book 3 (Great Escape)
Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black Book Description Publication Date: 2007 This is a Special Edition of THE SEEING STONE, Volume 3, with Exclusive Lost Chapter; includes map of the Spiderwick estate and surrounding areas. Show More Show Less
The Spiderwick Chronicles 4: The Ironwood Tree
Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black First a pack of vile, smelly goblins snatch Simon. Then a band of elves try to entrap Jared. Why is the entire faerie world so eager to get their hands on Spiderwick's Guide? And will the Grace kids be left alone, now that the Guide has mysteriously disappeared? Don't count on it.
At school, someone is running around pretending to be Jared, and it's not Simon. To make matters even worse, now Mallory has disappeared and something foul in the water is killing off all the plants and animals for miles around. Clues point to the old abandoned quarry, just outside of town. Dwarves have taken over an abandoned mine there. And the faerie world's abuzz with the news that a creature with plans to rule the world has offered them a gift to join with him — he's given them a queen...
The Unicorn's Secret 1: Moonsilver
Kathleen Duey Heart Trilby has no family. She lives a hard and lonely life in the dusty village of Ash Grove — until she finds a scarred, skinny mare in the forest. Against the wishes of her guardian, mean-spirited Simon Pratt, Heart adopts the mare and names her Avamir. Heart is thrilled when she realizes Avamir is in foal. But when the colt is born weak and disfigured, Simon decides to sell Heart's beloved horses to be slaughtered by the town's soapmaker. Can Heart find a way to protect them — and the only love she has ever known?
The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates 1: Magic Marks the Spot
Caroline Carlson Pirates! Magic! Treasure! A gargoyle? Caroline Carlson's hilarious tween novel The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot is perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society.
Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors, and she already owns a rather pointy sword.
There's only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags.
But Hilary is not the kind of girl to take no for answer. To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary sets out in search of her own seaworthy adventure, where she gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous—and unexpected—villain on the High Seas.
Written with uproarious wit and an inviting storyteller tone, the first book in Caroline Carlson's quirky seafaring series is a piratical tale like no other.
Zoey and Sassafras 1: Dragons and Marshmallows
Asia Citro A New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017 Selection
A Mighty Girl Book of the Year
Illinois Monarch Award Nominee 2018-2019
Florida SSYRA Book Award Nominee 2018-2019
Washington OTTER Award Nominee 2018-2019
With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure — the brand new series Zoey and Sassafras has something for everyone! Easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page make this series perfect for a wide range of ages.
In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it's up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what's wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it's too late?
Each story in the Zoey and Sassafras series features a new magical animal with a problem that must be solved using science. There isn't a set formula for each book; Zoey sometimes needs to run experiments, while other times she needs to investigate a mystery, and yet other times she needs to do research. Zoey models how to keep a science journal through her handwritten entries in each story. Each story is complete with a glossary of the kid-friendly definitions for scientific terms used. The series highlights child-led inquiry science and the topics covered align with both Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
www.mrsbenton.com


text:
from prompt_toolkit.application import get_app
from prompt_toolkit.enums import DEFAULT_BUFFER, SEARCH_BUFFER
from prompt_toolkit.filters import has_focus, is_done, renderer_height_is_known
from prompt_toolkit.layout import Float, HSplit, Layout, VSplit, Window, WindowAlign
from prompt_toolkit.layout.containers import ConditionalContainer, FloatContainer
from prompt_toolkit.layout.controls import BufferControl, FormattedTextControl
from prompt_toolkit.layout.dimension import Dimension
from prompt_toolkit.layout.margins import ConditionalMargin, PromptMargin
from prompt_toolkit.layout.menus import CompletionsMenu
from prompt_toolkit.layout.processors import (
    ConditionalProcessor,
    HighlightSearchProcessor,
)
from prompt_toolkit.lexers import PygmentsLexer
from prompt_toolkit.widgets import SearchToolbar

def create_layout(buffer,
                  lexer=None,
                  reserve_space_for_menu=8,
                  get_prompt_tokens=None,
                  get_bottom_toolbar_tokens=None,
                  extra_input_processors=None,
                  multiline=False,
                  wrap_lines=True):
    """
    Creates a custom `Layout` for the Crash input REPL

    This layout includes:
        * a bottom left-aligned session toolbar container
        * a bottom right-aligned side-bar container

    +-------------------------------------------+
    | cr> select 1;                             |
    |                                           |
    |                                           |
    +-------------------------------------------+
    | bottom_toolbar_tokens      sidebar_tokens |
    +-------------------------------------------+
    """

    input_processors = [
        ConditionalProcessor(
            # Highlight the reverse-i-search buffer
            HighlightSearchProcessor(),
            has_focus(SEARCH_BUFFER)),
    ] + (extra_input_processors or [])
    lexer = PygmentsLexer(lexer, sync_from_start=True)
    sidebar_token = [
        ('class:status-toolbar', "[ctrl+d]"),
        ('class:status-toolbar.text', " Exit")
    ]

    def _get_buffer_control_height(buf):
        # If there is an autocompletion menu to be shown, make sure that our
        # layout has at least a minimal height in order to display it.
        if reserve_space_for_menu and not get_app().is_done:
            buff = buffer
            # Reserve the space, either when there are completions, or when
            # `complete_while_typing` is true and we expect completions very
            # soon.
            if buff.complete_while_typing() or buff.complete_state is not None:
                return Dimension(min=reserve_space_for_menu)

        return Dimension()

    search_toolbar = SearchToolbar()
    buf_ctrl_window = Window(
        BufferControl(
            buffer=buffer,
            search_buffer_control=search_toolbar.control,
            input_processors=input_processors,
            lexer=lexer,
            preview_search=True
        ),
        height=lambda: _get_buffer_control_height(buffer),
        wrap_lines=wrap_lines,
        left_margins=[
            ConditionalMargin(
                PromptMargin(get_prompt_tokens),
                filter=multiline
            )
        ]
    )
    in_out_area = VSplit([
        HSplit([
            FloatContainer(
                HSplit([buf_ctrl_window]),
                [
                    Float(
                        xcursor=True,
                        ycursor=True,
                        content=CompletionsMenu(
                            max_height=16,
                            scroll_offset=1,
                            extra_filter=has_focus(DEFAULT_BUFFER)
                        )
                    ),
                ]
            ),
            # reverse-i-search toolbar (ctrl+r)
            search_toolbar,
        ])
    ])
    bottom_toolbar = VSplit([
        ConditionalContainer(
            Window(
                FormattedTextControl(get_bottom_toolbar_tokens),
                height=Dimension.exact(1)
            ),
            filter=~is_done & renderer_height_is_known
        ),
        ConditionalContainer(
            Window(
                FormattedTextControl(lambda: sidebar_token),
                height=Dimension.exact(1),
                align=WindowAlign.RIGHT
            ),
            filter=~is_done & renderer_height_is_known
        )
    ])
    return Layout(HSplit([in_out_area, bottom_toolbar]))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub