«The forerunner to «The Lord of the Rings», «The Silmarillion» fills in the background which lies behind the more popular work, and gives the earlier history of Middle-earth, introducing some of the key characters. «The Silmarillion» is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkiens World. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in «The Lord of the Rings» look back, and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The tales of «The Silmarillion» are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.»

«The second of a two-book set that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkiens epic tale of war, «The Silmarillion». This second part of «The Book of Lost Tales» includes the tale of Beren and Luthien, Turin and the Dragon, and the only full narratives of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin, itself the finest and most exciting depiction of a battle that Tolkien ever wrote. Each tale is followed by a commentary in the form of a short essay, together with texts of associated poems, and contains extensive information on names and vocabulary in the earliest Elvish languages. This series of fascinating books has now been repackaged to complement the distinctive and classic style ofe black cover A-format paperbacks of «The Hobbit», «The Lord of the Rings», «The Silmarillion» and «Unfinished Tales».»

In a companion volume to Nightmares, poet and artist again collaborate to elicit feelings of exquisite terror. Horn Book. Prelutsky's rhymes are as lethal, lithe, and literate as ever, and Lobel wrings every atmospheric ounce out of them. School Library Journal.

Who ate Mrs. Meech's blueberry pie? Mrs. Meech calls on private eyes Wizard, Skinny, Tubby, and Snitch to help her find out When this book was first published, The Horn Book praised its real humor, suspense, and definite characterization, which achieve a result that is irresistible. Now reissued in bright full color, Crosby Bonsall's lively mystery will keep beginning readers laughing as the four clubhouse detectives search for clues.

Someone has stolen the great gray beast. The King calls in Big Max, the world's greatest detective. But the clues are very puzzling. Could this be too big a mystery even for Big Max?

«The first of a two-book set that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, «The Silmarillion». «The Book of Lost Tales» stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor for the Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called «The Silmarillion». Embedded in English legend and English association, they are set in the narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriol to the lonely Isle where the Elves dwelt; from them he learned their true history, the «Lost Tales of Elfinesse». In the Tales are found the earliest accounts of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of the geography and cosmology of Tolkien's invented world. This series of fascinating books has now been repackaged to complement the distinctive and classic style of the 'black cover' A-format paperbacks of «The Hobbit», «The Lord of the Rings», «The Silmarillion» and «Unfinished Tales».»

This cartoon guide to US history begins in the English colonies and continues to the present day. The book presents such milestones in US history as the House of Burgesses, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Civil War, the Great Depression, the labour and civil rights movements, American expansion and the Gulf War. Larry Gonick is the author of The Cartoon History of the Universe.

Each month is gay, each season nice, when eating chicken soup with rice.

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.»