Easy, low-cost, and fun activities combine with quips, humor, cartoons, and sage advice that any senior will find useful and amusing in this volume. Many of the activities work for distance grandparenting as well.

Gough, Feehan, and Lyons have taken everything learned from their research on developing GrandFamily Resource Collections and leading grandfamily programming in several states and put it in this easy to use guide. They share the successes and failures of existing programs so other librarians can hit the ground running rather than trudge through a time-consuming and costly period of trial-and-error. It’s a lot more efficient to learn from someone else’s mistakes than to make your own. The target population, grandfamilies, and most specifically, grandparents raising grandchildren have become a statistically-significant group worthy of attention in many communities but library practitioners may not have explored further due to a lack of resources and money. Special features include: List of Web resources (government agencies, support groups, etc.) List of grants and funding opportunities Sample grant applications List of possible community partners for the library Sample surveys or some tactic for getting to know the needs of one’s target population Sample marketing plans Sample promotional materials Sample activity sheets Sample release forms, etc. With this practical and comprehensive guide, your library will be ready to jumpstart or easily expand a stellar program for the grandfamilies in your community.

Hundreds of ways for kids 8 to 12 to celebrate Christmas including tree decorating, baking cookies and treats making fun & easy holiday crafts ‘Tis the season to bake, craft, and celebrate! This kid-approved big book of Christmas ideas was created by the editors and Test Kitchen chefs at Good Housekeeping and is filled with super fun projects, recipes and activities that will keep kids enchanted (and busy!) all season long. Three chapters highlight holiday essentials —celebrating (Plan a Christmas movie marathon!), crafting (Discover creative gift wrapping and make a gift for everyone on your list!), and dozens of simple sweets. (Cookies for Santa Claus? We’ve got you covered!) Inside the ultimate holiday playbook for kids you'll find: Festive traditions from around the world to share with friends and family (Why do we decorate trees? What’s the story behind St. Nick?) Super-fun activities (Plan a Christmas movie marathon! Make your own advent calendar! Go on a holiday scavenger hunt! Create a Christmas time capsule with the family! ) Cute crafts you can make all on your own like DIY ornaments, garlands, and stockings. Recipes for yummy holiday treats—cookies, cakes, and of course, hot chocolate! This jam-packed book will keep you and your kids entertained this holiday and for many more to come.

Bake your best batch yet with 100+ holiday cookie recipes from the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen that will come out perfect every time There’s nothing better than a warm-from-the-oven cookie, especially during the holidays. The experts at the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen bake a thousand delightfully festive holiday cookies every year making sure they’ll all turn out perfectly in any home kitchen. This special recipe collection offers a crunchy or chewy, or chocolatey cookie for everyone and it will inspire you to take your own baked goods to the next level! Inside, you’ll find: 100 cookie recipes perfect for every occasion—from small to big batches Good Housekeeping favorites like Linzer Stars, Holiday Spritz Cookies, Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Fruitcake Crisps and more The secrets of hosting the ultimate cookie swap, including wrapping and shipping hacks Fun and entertaining info on traditional holiday cookies around the world Helpful decorating tips, like how to flood icing, creative flourishes for gingerbread houses Whether you're baking a small batch for the family, a big batch for a cookie exchange, or simply putting a few out with milk for Santa, these cookies will make your holiday festivities a little sweeter.

The races of man; elf, human, dwarf and halflings face a darkness that they can not comprehend. Molloch the dark god, has planned for thousands of years to seize Oren, but the great god EL has stopped him time and time again. Now the inhabitants of Oren have turned their backs on EL and a new window of opportunity for Molloch to seize Oren has arise. EL will not abandon Oren to the dark one without a fight, as he has a plan as well. EL has kept the elves of Shaggar safe for thousands of years, but there hearts have turned from him placing Oren in jeopardy. A lone half-elf, shunned by his people must fight against prejudice and hate to become the instrument of his god. Geric of the House of Joda must survive the trails of his youth and lead his people back into the light of EL. Shante Hartas, High Guardian of the city of Shaggar has other plans, as he secretly worships Molloch leading the great city into darkness under his rule. Raven Mercury a human warrior, fights to change his familys station in life from commoner to noble. Raven proves himself by winning the annual tournament granting him a chance to train at the legendary school of Ascension. The ancient dragon, Dragmyre is raising an army to begin his conquest of the world of Oren. Dragmyre has collected his generals to lead his army, and with the world unaware victory seems sure. Until a fateful night when Raven finds out the truth; the school is not what it seems. Will he hold too the noble intentions he has of being a knight or take his rightful place as a general in the Dragon Horde. With the world hanging in the balance, Geric Joda and Raven Mercury are thrust into the battle for Oren. Molloch is gathering his force on two fronts, preparing to seize all that EL holds dear. Two warriors will decide the future of Oren the half-elf and the human, will they unite in time to save a world or choose a darker path. All will be decided in.... Blackstarr: The Chronicles of Morgan Sparrowhawk

These titles were originally published individually by Warner Books, Inc.

Azria is a mage of Miz, trained to wield the magic her country is famous for. When her estranged mother, alleged pirate Captain Apzana of the Hen & Chick, shows up on her 16th birthday offering her adventure, Azria leaves the life she knows for the promise of riches, renown and danger at her mother’s side. But more mysteries than answers surface when Apzana reveals why she's called on Azria after years of absence: the treasure of the Marauders’ Island, an island sunk into the Sapphire Sea generations ago by the infamous mage Iyzani. If Azria can raise the island, the score of a thousand shores will be theirs for the taking and she'll secure her place among her mother’s crew. But when Iyzani emerges from the shadows to stop them, Azria must summon her power and navigate the waters of revenge and ambition. A YA novel laced with coconut wine, salt, and magic!