Best known for the ever popular Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and the Caldecott Medal winner The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton wrote and illustrated stories that have been entertaining children, parents, and grandparents for more than sixty years. Many of her books—with themes that honor a simple way of life and celebrate heroes who endure through determination and by adapting to change—have become classic American tales. With an introduction by Barbara Elleman, author of Virginia Lee Burton: A Life in Art,this handsome collection commemorates four of Burton’s most popular stories, each featured complete and unabridged. Their appeal today, as strong as when the books were first published, is a tribute to one of America’s most innovative illustrators, designers, and writers of stories for children.

When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D. J. can’t help admitting, maybe he’s right. When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, isn’t so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two jobs and a big secret. Why her college-football-star brothers won’t even call home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league. When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D. J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say.

A boiled-down gem of a Marías story about how Elvis (in Acapulco to film a movie) and his hard-drinking entourage abandon their interpreter in a seedy cantina full of enraged criminals after insults start to fly. When the local kingpin demands to be told what the Americans are saying, Elvis himself delivers an even more stinging parting shot – and who has to translate that?

The murdered woman could have been her double. When reporter Meghan Collins sees the sheet-wrapped corpse in a New York City hospital, she feels as if she's staring into her own face. And Meghan has troubles enough already without this bizarre experience. Nine months ago, her much-loved father's car spun off a New York bridge. Now, investigators are saying that there's no trace of his car in the river, and they suspect he faked his own death. With frightening speed, links start to appear between Meghan's father and her dead lookalike. Meghan may be in danger herself, but she's determined to find the truth to the mystery. In a nightmare journey spiraling from New York to Connecticut to Arizona, Meghan finds that the truth can sometimes be deadly. Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0671888587 here.

Let #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen sweep you away to an island paradise of passion and temptation. They met in the most terrible of circumstances. She was lost, terrified, and in grave danger. He was wounded, wary, and unable to ignore the lovely girl who needed his help. Ten years have passed since that bleak day, and now Serena Spaulding is independent, successful, and unwilling to be strong-armed into anything. Even when the strong arms are attached to a devastatingly handsome man—the very same one who rescued her all those years ago. All he knew was her name . . . and that he had to see her again. Gideon Brandt has never stopped searching for Serena. And the moment she walks back through the gates of his tropical estate, he is flooded by desire—and overcome with the longing he has endured for a decade. Finding her has taken years, and convincing her that true love is worth the risk could take even longer. But from their first electric kiss, Gideon just knows: If it takes a lifetime to win Serena’s trust, it will be a lifetime pleasurably spent. Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Slow Summer Burn, Blue Lines, and After the Kiss.

The fifth book in the internationally bestselling Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage, featuring the funny and fantastic adventures of a wizard apprentice and his quest to become an ExtraOrdinary Wizard.New York Times Bestselling Series“In Sage’s most thrilling book yet, a new host of characters appear, giving the complex plot even more sparkle.” —VOYA (starred review)“Once again, Sage’s tale combines humor, adventure, and inventive storytelling and is sure to please her many fans.”—ALA Booklist“Syren is Sage at her best; it’s full of fun, adventure, humor, irony, friendship, loyalty and nonstop action” —School Library JournalIn this epic Magykal installment, Septimus ends up on a captivatingly beautiful island, one of seven set in a sparkling sea. He's stranded there with his badly injured dragon, Spit Fyre, along with Jenna and Beetle. There are some strange things about the island, including a Magykal girl named Syrah, a cat-shaped lighthouse that has lost its Light, and an eerie presence that sings to Septimus—can he escape the persistent call? Trouble is also brewing for Lucy and Wolf Boy, who have become entangled with some nefarious sailors at sea, and for Milo Banda, Jenna's father, who is harboring a mysterious treasure chest in his ship's hold.Charismatic storyteller Angie Sage continues Septimus Heap's Magykal journey with more laugh-out-loud adventures, more enchanting charms and spells, and an ever-deepening understanding of the interior life of a young hero.

Latome’s universe is stagnant and without direction. When peer pressure forces Latome to intervene in his universe, the results are not as expected.Short Story5,100 words +/-A post-apoc short/novelette, from "Envisioning". A young angel finds her place in a broken land with broken dreams. Sometimes, the truth hurts more than it enlightens.

The dimensions are in chaos, magic is illegal, and water is a rare commodity. Kyrin is running from the law. As a magic user, she’s marked for death, and as a run-away from the Shadowmere, she’s hunted as a weapon. Shifting between dimensions is all that’s kept her alive.The dimensions are in chaos, magic is illegal, and water is a rare commodity. Kyrin is running from the law. As a magic user, she’s marked for death, and as a run-away from the Shadowmere, she’s hunted as a weapon. Shifting between dimensions is all that’s kept her alive.On the brink of being caught by the Shadowmere, Kyrin stumbles into a dimension devoid of the drought and seemingly untouched by the wrath of the Consortiums. In this dimension she finds a people innocent of the evils of the universe and naïve to the worlds surrounding them.Lord Alric has ruled over his kingdom for 15 years under the direction of their god, Sithias. Before his time, the gods fought, and evil was removed from the lands. It isn’t until Kyrin arrives that he’s even considered that evil may still be among them, or that the long-dead use of magic may still be around.

Talents, kids with supernatural powers, are taken from their families and forced into government research facilities called State Schools. At one such school, a group of Talents must work together to stop a dangerous experiment that’s already killed two of their peers and threatens others. If they’re caught they face Detention, and Detention at a State School has a whole different meaning.In the world of the Talent Chronicles, kids born with supernatural powers are taken from their families and forced into government research facilities called State Schools. At one such school, a dangerous experiment has killed two young inmates and threatens others. Ethan, a shape-shifter, is reluctantly recruited by his best friend Karen, a telepath, and Elle, the unique Talent he has a crush on, to thwart the faculty's plans. If they’re caught they face Detention, and Detention at a State School has a whole different meaning."Impulse Control" is a short story of approximately 12,000 words and contains some strong language. Concerned parents are encouraged to read for suitability before downloading this title for tween/younger teen readers.

Danny thought his biggest problem was being a downtown kid trapped in farm country. Then he found out about the Were-Squirrels. The back alleys of Toronto have not prepared him for this.In a Japan that never was ... Yamabushi Kaidan is a mountain monk with tremendous fighting ability and spiritual powers, Yumi is a brilliant but untested warrior, fighting for her village and her independence, and Kaidan's apprentice Akio is a gifted healer with a courageous heart, but can their combined prowess save the village of Kyuusai from the onslaught of the Smoke Dragon, an evil never before seen in the Autumn Valley?The Smoke Dragon is a Ditmar and Aurealis Awards finalist.The Adventures of Yamabushi Kaidan continue in The Mist Ninja.

This is the story of Marcus: bonded out of jail where he has been awaiting trial for murder, he is sent to the Hebert plantation to work in the fields. There he encounters conflict with the overseer, Sidney Bonbon, and a tale of revenge, lust and power plays out between Marcus, Bonbon, BonBon's mistress Pauline, and BonBon's wife Louise.

Short Stories and poems. Humor ,young adult, ghost, romance, and thriller, these range across various genres. Salt 'n Pepper provides tasty reading snacks when there is no time for a full meal.The short stories and poems in Salt 'n Pepper do not need a long description. Simply taste them and see. 'The Jenuine Junkyard Dog' is forty pages, the longest short story in the collection.

The Wild Dada Ducks members cause all sorts of mischief around their junior high school, but although the boys are not bad, they like to pretend that they are true dadaists with unintentional and irrational behavior.

NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid team is tracking an asteroid when, without explanation, it changes direction and heads for earth. When they inspect the impact sites, they discover that the meteorite fragments are not what they expect.NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid team is tracking asteroid 2027 UX25 when, without explanation, it changes direction and heads for earth. When they inspect the impact sites, they discover that the meteorite fragments are not what they expect.The press has nick-named the asteroid ‘Hachiman,’ after the Shinto god of war and patron god of the samurai, an omen of things to come.Hachiman does not behave like an asteroid should. It fragments and impacts across the globe. The global environments changes: diseased plankton in the Atlantic Ocean, silicon-based killer organisms in northern Russia, and green-house gasses spike globally. ---------This short story is an Avar-Tek Event, an event that develops the technology or characters in the Angel Series. The first Angel Series book is due to be published in 2013.

There was an Old Lady who swallowed -- all sorts of things. But how did the animals feel about that?Ten years ago two children went missing and were presumed to be victims of a satanic ritual. Police charged the antisocial brother of one of the victims with the crime, but the real culprit's still on the loose. The approaching anniversary prompts the killer to strike again, but there's a private investigator who's beginning to ask the right questions about what happened a decade earlier. The killer discovers that he's being hunted, and decides to do whatever it takes to stay hidden. Lincoln Pierce always wanted to be a private detective, but his life didn't end up the way he expected. His daughter's debilitating disease forced him to make some questionable decisions, and he's been paying for them ever since. He's determined to make the most of a bad situation, and has started looking into a case that could change his entire career, if he doesn't get killed in the process.

Cheryl Oliphant doesn’t do well in social situations. The fourteen year old girl’s best friend, Nicolena, is a four-foot, South American tree boa and her parents are getting divorced. On the plus side, Cheryl just met Teddy Rasmussen who offered her a sympathetic ear plus an inch-thick slice of apricot, sour cream loaf.Jen, Delcie and Tanner, three teens spending their summers in a small Wisconsin lake town, encounter a boy with a tie to an old abandoned lake house. But, as they discover, he is no mere boy, and a trusted family member holds secrets about a decades old murder. The teens are in real danger, and the ancient secret must be brought to light. Some secrets lie buried for good reasons, as they learn, Together, as they work to solve the mystery with the help of an old family friend, they face increasing threats from a supernatural agency that defies belief.Terror lies thick in the deep Wisconsin pines, and horror lies just across the lake...

A descendant of Ceres, goddess of the harvest, was dumped a year ago by her fiance. Bad idea, be careful around a goddess! Now he wants to reconcile but nothing is simple where goddesses are concerned. Or is it?This short story was the inspiration for the novel Earth Legend. In it, a descendant of Ceres, goddess of the harvest, was dumped by her fiance. Not a good idea if your fiancee is a goddess! Now, a year later, he wants to reconcile but nothing is simple where goddesses are concerned. Or is it?

Tobacco plantation owner Alvin Tolle is confronted with a split-second decision that will affect the rest of his life.All of my books are drawn from the American frontier in the 1800s. This story is about one man at the forefront of dealing with racism and slavery in North Carolina.Runaway is a snippet from my hard copy novel "The Carolinian," available at Amazon.The inspiration for my stories draws from my novels and family tales of settlers who journeyed to the American frontier in the 1800s. Their accounts, passed down through the generations, paint pictures of courageous and adventurous people—a hearty lot—who had perseverance, self-reliance, and, despite dangers and fears of the unknown wilderness, overcame their misgivings. Most were not famous or widely celebrated, yet they carved out homes, farms, and a life on the frontier, and, in the process, created a great nation. They are heroes in my eyes.From my research, I better understand the plight of early Native Americans. They were ultimately swept aside by the oncoming tide of settlers, despite being fierce and resourceful. There came a time for compassion by the conquering invaders. Too many times, it did not occur. Unavoidably, the stain remains a part of America’s legacy.Thank you for reading my short stories and novels.Richard PuzHere are other books for your review ~Novels in the Six Bulls Series ~Six Bulls-The OhioansRafting from Ohio to Missouri down the big rivers of America, pioneers load their families and possessions on flatboats, seeking a new life on the American frontier. Adventures abound during their exciting and dangerous trip.The CarolinianAbraham learns how to be a man during the Battle of New Orleans and applies those principles on his tobacco plantation in North Carolina. Shunning slavery, he moves his family west. Their adventures produce a riveting account of pioneer life in the wilds of a new country, while battling the ever-present Hooker, the slaver.AvengeThe theft of prized horses sets a young man on a journey of adventure. On the trail of the last outlaw, he roams the vast wild American frontier, following the murder and rapist, as they clash in an epic battle of wits. Only one can survive.Short Stories ~AbrahamYoung raw-recruit Abraham is exposed to the terror of war during the Battle for New Orleans. A frontiersman provides the wisdom to help him become a hero.Arkansas StormPioneers on flatboats are towed by a steamboat when they run into a storm that threatens their lives and the loss of all they own.Beanblossom CreekChief Black Hawk’s men are on the warpath and Captain Custis Cauley and his militiamen are waiting. The battle that follows is epic.Captain Jonathan BuzzardBrazen and courageous, the captain takes on the five outlaws threatening a pioneer’s family—exciting and action packed!Danny BoyWhimsical and humorous, a riverbank tavern is the setting for pioneers quenching their thirst after their long wagon train journey to Indiana. It’s a roaring good time, until a fight breaks out to enliven the evening.NewtoniaSettlers on the frontier are caught between warring armies as the Civil War rages. In the midst, human compassion is extended.SmokePrairies are one of God’s greatest gifts, but these can also be deadly. Pioneers take desperate measures to save everything they have created.Sourdough Wind MineThieves steal gold ore and come face to face with the “enforcer.” Deep underground in the mine, the encounter plays out among flying bullets in the darkness.StainThe government’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 is being implemented and farmer James Stinson and his family are in the cross hairs. This is one of many tragic stories about Indian displacement in the 1800s and remains a stain on American history. Roaring RiverBushwhackers ambush two men, killing one. The survivor leads a posse to track down the band of killers, leading to an epic battle.Three BellsSettlers prepare for war with Chief Black Hawk and his warriors on remote farms in Indian. What happens one fateful night changes them forever.

"Faith by Thomas D. Demus" is a modern adaptation of the story of Thomas Didymus (better known as "Doubting Thomas"), as told through the perspective of a bridge operator who endures the most unimaginable tragedy a father can experience. In lieu of payment for the book, I ask that you make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House.Many, if not all, have felt loss, and yet, amidst the pain, we feel alone. We seek out certain people, a favorite song, a beloved book, words that touch the outer edges of our grief so that, while it does not relieve our pain, at least we feel the love of companionship. As for me, I channeled my suffering, and the love at its root, into this book. "Faith by Thomas D. Demus" is a modern adaptation of the story of Thomas Didymus (better known as "Doubting Thomas"), as told through the perspective of a bridge operator who endures the most unimaginable tragedy a father can experience. In the novella, Thomas struggles to survive through all the doubt, fear, and anger that coincide with his sudden loss. In lieu of payment for the book, I ask that you make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House. My goal is to raise one million dollars so that families facing similar circumstances as the characters in the book receive top-notch healthcare for their children without losing the loving support of their families by their sides. Thank you and God bless.

A Day in the Life of Kayla Green is a short, young adult comedy, about a young girl dealing with the eccentricities of her family over the course of her first date.Roman Meister, title character of the novel The Mighty Roman, is a study in power -- its uses and abuses. In this scene, the mighty behemoth puts on a display of raw physical power for the awed young sub-minor-leaguers whom he manages in the indy Cal-Hairy (Cal-Heri) League. May Roman power be exercised wisely!