With Papa off to sea and Mama despondent, Ida must go outside over there to rescue her baby sister from goblins who steal her to be a goblin's bride.

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It is March 1913, and the grand old city of Moscow is stirring herself to meet the beginning of spring. Change is in the air, and nowhere more so than at 22 Lipka Street, the home of English printer Frank Reid. One day Frank's wife Nellie takes the train back to England, with no explanation, leaving him with their three young children. Into his life comes Lisa Ivanovna, a country girl, untroubled to the point of seeming simple. But is she? And why has Frank's accountant Selwyn, gone to such lengths to bring them together? And who is the passionate Volodya, who breaks into the press at night? Frank sees, but only dimly, that he is a rational man in Moscow, a city where love, and friendship, power and politics, are at their most unfathomable.

Paul Kennedy's international bestseller is a sweeping account of five hundred years of fluctuating economic muscle and military might among the great powers of the world. Kennedy begins with Europe's dramatic return to the forefront of world domination at the expense of China and the Muslim world and brings us up to modern times, with both on the brink of remarkable recovery. Along the way he explores world wars and civil wars, destructive ideologies, the paranoia of superpowers and the inherent problems of a united Europe. He persuasively demonstrates the interdependence of economic and military power, showing how imbalance between the two has historically led to spectacular political disaster. Erudite and brilliantly original, 'The Rise and Fall of Great Powers' is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the politics of power.

Max is sent to bed without supper and imagines sailing away to the land of Wild Things, where he is made king.

Small Pig likes to eat, to sleep and to run. But most of all he likes nice, soft mud. Everything is fine on the farm until the farmer's wife cleans up everything — even Small Pig's mud puddle. Then he runs away to the city — sure that since it is so dirty he will find a puddle there. Illustrated.

Written to be read aloud by two voices — sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous — here is a collection of irresistible poems that celebrate the insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the book louse. Funny, sad, loud, and quiet, each of these poems resounds with a booming, boisterous, joyful noise. In this remarkable volume of poetry for two voices, a companion to I Am Phoenix, Paul Fleischman verbally re-creates the Booming/boisterios/joyful noise of insects. The poems resound with the pulse of the cicada and the drone of the honeybee. Eric Beddows's vibrant drawings send each insect soaring, spinning, or creeping off the page in its own unique way. Paul Fleischman has created not only a clear and fascinating guide to the insect world — from chrysalid butterflies to whirligig beetles — but an exultant celebration of life.

As Grasshopper sets out to follow a road, he meets some unusual characters.

While his mother and father are away, a little elephant goes to visit his uncle. And what a time they have Uncle Elephant makes wishes come true, tells amazing stories, and trumpets the dawn. The visit is perfect, except for one thing-it ends much too soon.

London is poised on the brink of World War II. Timid, scrawny Willie Beech — the abused child of a single mother — is evacuated to the English countryside. At first, he is terrified of everything, of the country sounds and sights, even on Mr. Tom, the gruff, kindly old man who has taken him in. But gradually Willie forgets the hate and despair of his past. He learns to love a world he never knew existed, a world of friendship and affection in which harsh words and daily beatings have no place. Then a telegram comes. Willie must return to his mother in London. When weeks pass by with no word from Willie, Mr. Tom sets out for London to look for the young boy he has come to love as a son.

In 1957, Harper published its first I Can Read title, Little Bear, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Large type, simple vocabulary, chapter-like divisions, and decorative pictures made Little Bear perfect for emerging readers.

Frog and Toad enjoy each other's company as they spend their days together, but sometimes they find that it is nice just to be alone.

«Two very good friends are back in «a quintet of tales loosely set around the seasons — one for each with a bonus Christmas number. Another winner for (Frog and Toad) fans young and old». Booklist. ALA Notable Children's Book. Three-color illustrations.»

Little Bear meets Emily, a human girl, and her doll. Once again Little Bear proves himself to be as wistful and tender a little creature as exists in the child's library.

When little 'scaredy cat' Annie disappears, it's another baffling case for detectives Wizard, Tubby, Skinny, and Snitch. One of the funniest of the author's easy-to-read stories about the youthful 'private eyes.

'Short, original fables with fresh, unexpected morals poke subtle fun at human foibles through the antics of animals... The droll illustrations, with tones blended to luminescent shading, are complete and humorous themselves.' Association of Library Service to Children, ALA.

When a mouse learns that he is to be the main ingredient in the weasel's mouse soup he concocts four tales to delay its preparation.

Wizard's private eyes don't want any girls in their clubhouse. But a funny little man double-crosses the boys with a message in code. Then Marigold and her girlfriends get to show just how much the private eyes really need them.

One evening Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. But there wasn't any moon, and Harold needed a moon for a walk in the moonlight. Fortunately, he had brought his purple crayon. So he drew a moon. He also needed something to walk on. So he drew a path... And thus begins one of the most imaginative and enchanting adventures in all of children's books. The creative concept behind this beloved story has intrigued children and kept them absorbed for generations, as page by page unfolds the dramatic and clever adventures of Harold and his purple crayon.

The best of friends From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other — just as best friends should be.

Frog and Toad are always together. Here are five wonderful stories about flowers, cookies, bravery, dreams, and, most of all, friendship.