This entertaining collection of short stories contains something for everyone. The stories include the unlikely, the bizarre, the embarrassing and the plain revolting. Meet: David who is embarrassed about his home-made fairy underpants until he discovers their hidden powers Monty Quayle and his admirers with their monstrous unwanted Valentine cards the giant flea which terrorises the London Underground Lucy Beck and her battle with a typewriter that answers back and many more...
Connie Willis has won more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other science fiction author. Now, with her trademark wit and inventiveness, she explores the intimate relationship between science, pop culture, and the arcane secrets of the heart. Sandra Foster studies fads—from Barbie dolls to the grunge look—how they start and what they mean. Bennett O'Reilly is a chaos theorist studying monkey group behavior. They both work for the HiTek corporation, strangers until a misdelivered package brings them together. It's a moment of synchronicity—if not serendipity—which leads them into a chaotic system of their own, complete with a million-dollar research grant, caffé latte, tattoos, and a series of unlucky coincidences that leaves Bennett monkeyless, fundless, and nearly jobless. Sandra intercedes with a flock of sheep and an idea for a joint project. (After all, what better animal to study both chaos theory and the herd mentality that so often characterizes human behavior?) But scientific discovery is rarely straightforward and never simple, and Sandra and Bennett have to endure a series of setbacks, heartbreaks, dead ends, and disasters before they find their ultimate answer. . . . Praise for Bellwether “One of science fiction's best writers.”—The Denver Post “Connie Willis deploys the apparatus of science fiction to illuminate character and relationships, and her writing is fresh, subtle, and deeply moving.”—The New York Times Book Review “Keen social satire touched with genuine humanity . . . Connie Willis's fiction is one of the most intelligent delights of our genre.”—Locus “A sheer pleasure to read . . . Sprightly, intelligent fun.”—Publishers Weekly
Another hilarious picture book from actor Max Greenfield, author of I Don't Want To Read This Book and This Book Is Not a Present, dedicated to introverts of all ages, about the horrors of reading aloud. Nobody in the world actually enjoys reading aloud, do they? Impossible! After all, any number of terrible things could happen: you might come across a word you don't know how to pronounce. Or get distracted by a volcano eruption and lose your place. Even worse, you might accidentally hear the sound of your own voice! Actor Max Greenfield (New Girl, The Neighborhood) and New York Times bestselling illustrator Mike Lowery, the duo behind I Don't Want To Read This Book and This Book Is Not a Present, are back with another side-splitting picture book that's sure to have kids shouting for repeat read-alouds.
Warning: Laughter is contagious! The animal friends dare the reader to make them laugh, but the ladybug and the bunny are sure that they won't laugh, no matter what. The monkey and the crocodile think it's impossible to make them laugh too. And the same goes for the bear and the wolf. Still, readers can go ahead and try . . . but will they succeed? Kids will giggle and chuckle as they find ways to make the animals laugh in this seriously funny sound book that includes seven big laughs.
You gotta pee… You gotta pee… Oh where, oh where could the women’s public bathroom be? Women’s bathrooms pretty much always have a lineup, no toilet paper, and tiny stalls. Who designs these things? It is a very familiar scene that we as women experience all too often… which is why we created this book, Don’t Laugh, A Woman’s Playbook to the U-R-In Line for the Women’s Public Bathroom… Again! This is a lighthearted look at this problem and what women can do to decrease their stress and to support their sisters at this time. So the next time U-R-In line, imagine for a moment connecting with other women. You turn to your neighbour and begin a conversation—Have you read...? Do you know the song…? Have you practiced the dance…? Oh you haven’t? You must… Read the book, have a laugh, sing a ditty, and learn the dance… although we’re pretty sure you already know it. Our goal is to make the world a happier place, one pee at a time. Live, love, laugh… just not too hard while U-R-In Line.
Do you find yourself threatening, repeating your instructions, or raising your voice in an attempt to get your children to obey? Are you discouraged because it seems you just can’t reach the heart of your child? Through personal experience and the practical application of Scripture, Ginger Hubbard encourages and equips moms to reach past the outward behavior of their children and dive deeply into the issues of the heart. Ginger’s candid approach will help moms move beyond the frustrations of not knowing how to handle issues of disobedience and into a confident, well-balanced approach to raising their children.
When life is funny, make some jokes about it. Billy Plimpton has a big dream: to become a famous comedian when he grows up. He already knows a lot of jokes, but thinks he has one big problem standing in his way: his stutter. At first, Billy thinks the best way to deal with this is to . . . never say a word. That way, the kids in his new school won’t hear him stammer. But soon he finds out this is NOT the best way to deal with things. (For one thing, it’s very hard to tell a joke without getting a word out.) As Billy makes his way toward the spotlight, a lot of funny things (and some less funny things) happen to him. In the end, the whole school will know -- If you think you can hold Billy Plimpton back, be warned: The joke will soon be on you!