Laugh along with this big-hearted collection of ridiculous stories and playful puns -- perfect for fans of Rob Elliott and Jon Scieska. A collection of twenty outrageously funny short stories for younger middle grade readers, Really Stupid Stories for Really Smart Kids is full of puns, "bad" jokes, and tall tales that will have you rolling on the floor with laughter. From "snowpeople" falling from the sky to a boy who only communicates through singing, there's a story for every fan of Alan Katz's signature humor.

Thomas Edison, world-class inventor. You might know that he devised the electric light bulb and the phonograph. But what about his development of train-controlling sticks? Or his airborne way to send pancakes to his Cousin Fran in Texas? You’re about to be treated to the Lieographical aspects of Thomas Edison’s life, in this funny, lighthearted, “all that didn’t happen” take on the man whose inventions transformed our daily existence. The book ends with a short—but true—account of Edison’s life—just enough to encourage kids to find out more on this important historical figure. But even if readers have already learned about Edison, the wacky stories in this tall-tales book will be even more enjoyable.

Babe Ruth, incredible ballplayer. You might know that he was widely considered baseball’s greatest hitter. But what about his feat of pitching to himself and blasting 25 straight home runs? Or his knack for removing kids’ spleens and kidneys despite not having any medical training? You’re about to be treated to the Lieographical aspects of Babe Ruth’s life, in this funny, lighthearted, “all that didn’t happen” take on this larger than life man. The book ends with a short—but true—account of Babe’s life—just enough to encourage kids to find out more on this important historical figure. But even if readers have already learned about the Babe, the wacky stories in this tall-tales book will be even more enjoyable.

Amelia Earhart, top aviator. You might know that her flight accomplishments were heralded across the globe. But what about the story of her teeth, which were so perfect that her dentist wanted to remove all of them to show his other patients? Or her refusal to read chapter nine in any book? You’re about to be treated to the Lieographical aspects of Amelia Earhart’s life, in this funny, lighthearted, “all that didn’t happen” take on this larger than life woman. The book ends with a short—but true—account of Amelia’s life—just enough to encourage kids to find out more on this important historical figure. But even if readers have already learned about Amelia, the wacky stories in this tall-tales book will be even more enjoyable.

A revolution in education is sweeping across America. Smart Schools, Smart Kids takes readers into dozens of pioneering schools across the country to describe successful programs and how they work, the problems they have encountered, and the results they have achieved. Innovative reformers are transforming every aspect of the "nineteenth-century factory-model school" into a new kind of public school capable of educating kids for twenty-first century challenges. Smart Schools, Smart Kids shows how. It is a book that is sure to be warmly welcomed by parents, teachers, administrators, and public officials alike who want to improve education for their own and for all of America's children. This nation can no longer afford to wait for change: Smart Schools, Smart Kids will make a real difference now. Book jacket.

HUNTING PARTY: Heris Serrano was destined for a life in the Regular Space Service - until a treacherous superior officer forced her to resign her commission. This was the end of everything that gave her life meaning. But her new life aboard a rich old lady's space cruiser is nothing like she expected and she is soon fighting for her life. SPORTING CHANCE: On her first cruise, Heris exposed a sinister 'hunting club', where one of the hunters was first in line to the throne. To avoid scandal, Lady Cecelia volunteered to take her nephew the Prince home. His behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, Cecelia suspects foul play and once again Heris must investigate. WINNING COLOURS Heris has at last been offered a chance for vindication and reinstatement in her beloved Fleet - and reconciliation with her family. But it means standing alone against the military might of an interstellar criminal cartel with only a few small ships ...

As you read Ten Real-Life Stories, you will meet a fascinating variety of people. The one thing they have in common is they are real. So are their stories. Here are a few of the people you will learn about: Vingo, a man released from prison, going home to a wife who may not want him. Richard, a little boy who “invented" a father to hide his embarrassment. Paul, so afraid of bullying that he betrayed a friend at school. Lupe, a "retarded" girl who wasn’t. Ben, whose mother would not allow him to fail. Marvel, who fooled everyone into believing she could read. Jean, who found that education could counter the hard blows of life.

Twenty years ago, Mr. Satterwhite received a letter from Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, suggesting that Mr. Satterwhite "share his writing with the rest of the world." At the time, he had to support his family, and he wanted to wait for the right moment. In his business career, Mr. Satterwhite has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, on NBC News, and in Newsweek magazine. Mr. Satterwhite has been in the poor, lower, middle, and upper classes. He is a futurist, having predicted many of the inventions of his generation, as well as what is coming in future generations. He is a humorist who loves to observe people from his favorite stuffed chair at the mall. He is a survivor who has said good-bye to multiple family members and friends. Ultimately, he likes to say that he is just a simple man who found God. This is his story about his incredible journey through loss, fear, and despair to a conclusion that will give the reader an uplifting message of joy, heaven, song, bravery, love and hope. It is now the right moment. Mr. Satterwhite has finally kept his promise to his father.

Interviews with the Disney artist who created Scrooge McDuck and many well-loved comic books Disney artist Carl Barks (1901-2000) created one of Walt Disney's most famous characters, Scrooge McDuck. Barks also produced more than 500 comic book stories. His work is ranked among the most widely circulated, best-loved, and most influential of all comic book art. Although the images he created are known virtually everywhere, Barks was an isolated storyteller, living in the desert of California and preferring to labor without public fanfare during most of his career. He created work of such exceptional quality that he was accorded the greatest autonomy of any Disney artist. He is the only comic book artist ever to receive a Disney Legends award. The influence of Barks's work on such filmmakers as George Lucas and Steven Spielberg and on such artists as Gottfried Helnwein has extended Barks's significance far beyond the boundaries of comics. After Barks's death at the age of ninety-nine, Roy Disney praised him for his "brilliant artistic vision." Carl Barks: Conversations is the only comprehensive collection of Barks's interviews. It ranges chronologically from the very first one (with Malcolm Willits, the fan who uncovered Barks's identity) to the artist's final conversations with Donald Ault in the summer of 2000. In between are interviews conducted by J. Michael Barrier, Edward Summer, Bruce Hamilton, and others. Several of these interviews are published here for the first time. Ault's friendship with Barks, ranging over a period of thirty years, provides an unusually intimate resource not only for standard q&a interviews but also for casual conversations in informal settings. Carl Barks: Conversations reveals previously unknown information about the life, times, and opinions of one of the master storytellers of the twentieth century. Donald Ault, a professor of English at the University of Florida, is the author of Narrative Unbound: Re-Visioning William Blake's The Four Zoas and Visionary Physics: Blake's Response to Newton. His work has been published in Studies in Romanticism, The Wordsworth Circle, Modern Philology, and The Comics Journal.

A survival guide for parents of teenagers, by the author of the bestselling Birth Order Book and Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours. Leman helps parents and teens make good decisions about peer pressure, sex, drugs, dating, and much more.