In this compelling collection of short stories, bestselling author Michael Chabon explores adolescent desire, love, friendship and fatherhood – moving across this powerful emotional ground with subtlety and incisiveness. Written with wryness, whimsy, and intellectual depth, this is a collection of eleven wonderful stories of growing up and growing wise. In ‘S Angel’ a group of wedding guests is hijacked by a fast-talking real estate agent, but not before the bride herself disappears. ‘Smoke’ takes us to a baseball catcher’s funeral, where one of the mourners – a has-been pitcher – confronts the ruins of his career. In the hilarious title story, a graduate student plagiarizes a dissertation on the movement of clouds, only to find himself and his faculty advisor in a parlour game where each player must confess the worst thing he or she has ever done. The second part of the book ‘The Lost World’ is a series of stories about a young boy, Nathan Shapiro, who must face the wrenching emotions caused by his parents’ bitter divorce. Serious, yet shot through with wit, humour and compassion, these are unforgettable stories from one of America’s most celebrated writers.

From cities across the United States, design firms have been selected to showcase their work in DesignersUSA No. 2 Each of these cutting age design companies have provided its own unique statement of purpose. This volume serves to illustrate graphic design's unusual power that has come about due to the growing reliance of the modern world on visual communications to convey its messages.

Collins Easy Learning English Age 5-6 develops literacy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. Hours of fun activities — builds literacy skills — boosts confidence — develops a love of learning Collins Easy Learning English Age 5-6 gives support, practice and guidance for year-by-year school learning. Easy to use — clear guidance for parent and child. Easy to learn — colourful and engaging activities keep motivation levels high. Easy to remember — information and activities organised in clear, memorable chunks.

Collins Easy Learning First phonics Age 3-5 develops literacy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. Hours of fun activities builds literacy skills, boosts confidence, develops a love of learning. Collins Easy Learning First phonics Age 3-5 develops early literacy skills to get children ready for preschool. Easy to use — small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way. Easy to learn — every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing. Easy to remember — engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

Collins Easy Learning Numbers Age 3-5 develops numeracy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. Hours of fun activities builds literacy skills, boosts confidence, develops a love of learning. Collins Easy Learning Numbers Age 3-5 develops early numeracy skills to get children ready for preschool. Easy to use-small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way. Easy to learn-every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing. Easy to remember-engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

Collins Easy Learning Reading Age 3-5 develops literacy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. Hours of fun activities builds literacy skills, boosts confidence, develops a love of learning. Collins Easy Learning Reading Age 3-5 develops early literacy skills to get children ready for preschool. Easy to use-small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way. Easy to learn-every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing. Easy to remember-engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

Collins Easy Learning Shapes, colour and patterns Age 3-5 develops numeracy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. Hours of fun activities builds literacy skills, boosts confidence, develops a love of learning. Collins Easy Learning Shapes, colours and patterns Age 3-5 develops early numeracy skills to get children ready for preschool. Easy to use-small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way. Easy to learn-every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing. Easy to remember-engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

Collins Easy Learning Size and measurement Age 3-5 develops numeracy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. Hours of fun activities builds literacy skills, boosts confidence, develops a love of learning. Collins Easy Learning Size and measurement Age 3-5 develops early literacy skills to get children ready for preschool. Easy to use-small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way. Easy to learn-every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing. Easy to remember-engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

From the author of 'Blonde', 'The Falls' and 'We Were the Mulvaneys', this new novel takes in the themes of race, immigration, family and social mobility, and is Joyce Carol Oates at her storytelling best. 'The Gravedigger's Daughter' tells the tale of Rebecca Schwart, born in the late 1930s to an immigrant family from Nazi Germany, just as they are arriving to America. The family settles in a small, bleak town in upstate New York, where the only job the father can get is as the town gravedigger and caretaker of the cemetery. Soon the town's prejudice and the family's own emotional frailty results in unspeakable tragedy. In the wake of this loss, and in an attempt to put her past behind her, young Rebecca Schwart moves on, across America and through a series of listless marriages, in search of somewhere, and someone, to whom she can belong.

From the top of your head to the tips of your toes Learn all about health from a cool cat who knows! In this delightful book, Dr. Seuss' famous Cat in the Hat explains to young readers all the different ways to stay healthy. This title and others form part of a series of books that takes an off-beat look at nature and natural sciences through a fun combination of Seussian rhymes and zany illustrations. Aimed at early readers — from four to seven year olds — the books are designed to bridge the gap between concept books written for preschoolers and more formal non fiction titles that require fluent reading skills. By presenting the facts in a lively and rhythmic manner, they provide the critical foundation upon which complex facts and ideas can eventually be built.

From the top of your head to the tips of your toes Learn all about health from a cool cat who knows! In this delightful book, Dr. Seuss' famous Cat in the Hat explains to young readers all the different ways to stay healthy. This title and others form part of a series of books that takes an off-beat look at nature and natural sciences through a fun combination of Seussian rhymes and zany illustrations. Aimed at early readers — from four to seven year olds — the books are designed to bridge the gap between concept books written for preschoolers and more formal non fiction titles that require fluent reading skills. By presenting the facts in a lively and rhythmic manner, they provide the critical foundation upon which complex facts and ideas can eventually be built.

The first volume in a noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling author otherwise known as Darren Shan. Quick-witted and cocksure, young upstart Capac Raimi arrives in the City determined to make his mark. As he learns the tricks of his new trade from his Uncle Theo — extortion, racketeering, threatening behaviour — he's soon well on his way to becoming a promising new gangster. Then he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever. The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul. Nothing moves on the streets, or below them, without the Cardinal's knowledge. His rule is absolute. As Capac begins to discover more about the extent of the Cardinal's influence on his own life he is faced with hard choices. And as his ambition soars ever higher he will learn all there is to know about loss, and the true cost of ultimate power!

Master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a breathtaking collection of tales for younger readers that may chill or amuse, but that always embrace the unexpected: Humpty Dumpty's sister hires a private detective to investigate her brother's death. A teenage boy who has trouble talking to girls finds himself at a rather unusual party. A boy raised in a graveyard makes a discovery, and confronts the much more troubling world of the living.

A journalist bearing terrible news leaps from a still-moving train into a small town of wonderful, impossible secrets...The doomed crew of a starship follows their blind, mad captain on a quest into deepest space to joust with destiny, eternity, and God Himself...Now and Forever is a bold new work from an incomparable artist whose stories have reshaped America's literary landscape. Two bewitching novellas — each distinctly different, yet uniquely Bradbury — demonstrate the breathtaking range of his undimmed talent and the irrepressible vitality of the mind, spirit, and heart of America's preeminent storyteller.

Rule № 3: Don't stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty — especially if they learn of her Sight — and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens. Rule № 2: Don't speak to invisible faeries. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer. Rule № 1: Don't ever attract their attention. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires. Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything, Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.

Collins Easy Learning ABC Age 3-5 develops literacy skills. Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. — hours of fun activities; — builds literacy skills; — boosts confidence; — develops a love of learning Collins Easy Learning ABC Age 3-5 develops early literacy skills to get children ready for preschool; Easy to use — small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way; easy to learn — every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing; easy to remember — engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

Collins Easy Learning Counting Age 3-5 develops numeracy skills.Its colourful motivating activities make learning fun. Helpful tips and answers are included to help support learning. — hours of fun activities — builds literacy skills — boosts confidence — develops a love of learning Collins Easy Learning Counting Age 3-5 develops early literacy skills to get children ready for preschool. Easy to use — small chunks of information are easy to absorb and clear sign posting shows the way; easy to learn — every activity is highly practical allowing children to learn by doing; easy to remember — engaging and fun activities help children retain information.

«Where do creative people get their ideas? For most, the work of other top creative professionals provides inspiration and supplies a starting point for the creative process. Following its two successful predecessors, «The Big Book of Design Ideas 3» was created for that specific purpose. This volume features design examples from all sorts of projects — books, logos, packaging, posters, annual reports, among, many, many more — each specially selected for its potential to trigger an idea in the mind of the reader. A wide variety of techniques and styles, along with more than 700 illustrations, will spark creativity and lead the designer to a fully-developed original design. With a wealth of information and attention to detail, no designer can afford to be without «The Big Book of Design Ideas 3».»

«The Big Book of Logos 5» shows what's new and compelling in the world of logo design, providing endless inspiration for graphic designers in the critical idea-generating phase. This collection showcases effective logo design from around the world; the variety of styles and techniques on display cover the complete creative spectrum.»

When the stories of a vampire who is writing the biographies of his kin are mistaken for romances, the vampires publisher forces him to go to a romance conventionwhere he finds a romance of his own.