In this playful and engaging new story from innovative picture book maker Richard Byrne, Elphie is lining up with the other elephants to start the long march to the watering hole at the back of the book. As the littlest elephant, he has to go last. But Elphie reallly wants to go first and heenlists the help of the reader to help him move up the queue. He almost manages it until the biggest elephant shuffles everyone back to their proper positions just as they arrive at the watering hole. But the watering hole is already occupied by a very, very big and very, very selfish elephant.Elphie's resourcefulness saves the day and on the long march home, the other elephants decide that Elphie should go . . . *SPOILER ALERT* . . . you'll just have to read the book to find out!
Forget the 10,000 hour rule— what if it’s possible to learn the basics of any new skill in 20 hours or less? Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of practicing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct complex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the methods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard keyboard, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the simple techniques he teaches: Define your target performance level: Figure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better. Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcomponents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first. Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice. Create fast feedback loops: Getting accurate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve. Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chainsaws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.
Gordon Korman’s uproarious, outrageous, and all-too-familiar summer camp adventure is BACK! Rudy Miller really isn’t into the whole camping thing. So when his parents send him to Camp Algonkian “for his own good” all he wants to do is go home. Rudy teams up with his cabin-mate Mike for a series of carefully planned — yet hilariously bungled — escape attempts. Unfortunately, their counsellor (and nemesis) Chip is as determined to keep them there as they are to get away. Rudy and Mike spend their days plotting, playing chess, and working off punishments for their failed escapes. Hmmm, maybe it isn’t such a bad way to spend the summer after all . . .
From the time Neil Armstrong took his first small steps and said his first words, he wanted to travel in space. Although everyone told him it was impossible, he never gave up. Tom Saunders' lilting lyrics tell the story of Armstrong's life, right up to the 'small step' and 'giant leap'. Brought to life by the award-winning illustrator Cynthia Nugent, his story will inspire children and their parents alike.
One night, when Ethan reaches under his bed for a toy truck, he finds this note instead: "Monsters! Meet here for final test." Ethan is sure his parents are trying to trick him into staying under the covers, until he sees five colorful sets of eyes blinking at him from beneath the bed. Soon, a colorful parade of quirky, squeaky little monsters compete to become Ethan's monster. But only the little green monster, Gabe, has the perfect blend of stomach-rumbling and snorting needed to get Ethan into bed and keep him there so he falls asleep—which as everyone knows, is the real reason for monsters under beds. With its perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this silly-spooky prequel to the award-winning I Need My Monster and Hey, That's MY Monster! will keep young readers entertained.
Beautiful Jeanie had resigned herself to knowing that the cancer had spread, and there was nothing more they could do. She knew the signs and understood her life on earth was drawing to an end. All earthly matters were dealt with including re-homing arrangements for her beloved little dogs. Everything had been settled, and all was in order. Then as she sat in the doctors office waiting for her final appointment, something completely unexpected happens. She meets an oddly familiar stranger who reaches out to her with an expression of charity and generosity. He offers her a place to stay that would provide her with the comfort and solitude that she longed for so she could peacefully pass through her final days. At the time, Jeanie accepted the strangers offer; she did not know that there was more to come. In a matter of days, she had a reason to hope. Her health was improving. Perhaps it was a miracle. She had to know more about this wonderful stranger, and as the story unfolds, we learn that Jeanie is about to live an extraordinary life.
The #1 New York Times bestseller. Over 20 million copies sold! Translated into 60+ languages! Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights. Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field. Learn how to: make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy); overcome a lack of motivation and willpower; design your environment to make success easier; get back on track when you fall off course; ...and much more. Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.
The instant international bestseller 'This charming book will save you more time than it takes to read.' Adam Grant 'A must-read. This book will transform how you approach your workday.' Greg McKeown 'Read this book!' Jake Knapp High achievers most definitely approach their workday differently. This book gives access to the secrets and strategies they've found for making things work. From Wharton Professor Adam Grant's trick to get into flow when he starts work, Google's Executive Productivity Advisor, Laura Mae Martin, and her inbox shape-shifting, to Cal Newport's multiple kaban boards, this isn't your typical productivity book. You know the basics and have heard the swallow-the-frog platitudes. Time Wise goes deeper and unveils some of the more counterintuitive but effective methods that boost your productivity. Some of the high achievers featured, along with their personal strategies, include Adam Alter setting systems instead of goals, Rita McGrath who consults her own personal board of directors, Jake Knapp who focuses on the one important thing of the day and Oliver Burkeman's approach to beating the to-do list. This book will allow you to master the superpower of using your time wisely to achieve success in business, life and beyond.
Serephione Granzeus is your average three-year-old girl...or so she thinks, until she meets Lou, the super-fluffy Holy Guardian White Tiger. Memories of her past life as a Japanese businesswoman come flooding back to her, and she realizes she’s part of a fantasy book she read before, but as the villainess. Yet her past life isn’t all that she remembers; she can recall her life as the original Serephione, and her sadness, and her pain... After making a contract with Lou, she comes up with a plan to change the plot and avoid the villainess’s dark fate: become an adventurer and avoid everyone from the book! But the more she diverges from the plot, the more unpredictable the other characters become. How will she keep everyone from learning her secrets and spoiling her plans?
True inspiration from a true inspiration "...vibrant and instructional ... fresh, original and devoid of the usual sound bites and transatlantic psychobabble of many books of this genre..." —The Independent on Sunday It's not always easy to embrace life, to get up and go, to follow your dreams and make things happen... imagine how much more difficult it must be to achieve your dreams after suffering from cancer as a teenager and losing your leg. But that's exactly what Marc Woods did. Marc overcame his challenges and went on to become a four times Paralympic Gold medalist. It's that determination and dedication that Marc shares with us in this powerful book. His inspiring story is the motivation we all need to start being the best we can be. This fully updated Second Edition includes a new chapter on Resilience. "Personal Best is a truly inspirational book, written with great honesty, compassion and humility. Marc's ability to overcome adversity and triumph in so many diverse areas is an example to us all." —Sarah, The Duchess of York "Marc has a remarkable story and is an absolute inspiration." —Roger Daltrey Personal Best will help you to: Set specific, measurable and achievable goals Learn to forge supportive teams and communicate with those around you Find role models and follow their example Learn to ignore other people's prejudices and not let them hold you back Deal with change—both change that you chose and change that you don't Manage stress both at home and at work Marc Woods is a five-time Paralympian. He has won 12 Paralympic medals as well as 21 other medals from championships around the world. He was a member of the British Olympic Athletes Commission and a founding member of the British Athletes Council. He works extensively with individuals, teams and global businesses, encouraging them to develop best practice within their given areas of interest. Approximately 25,000 people each year watch him deliver his motivational presentations.
