A tragicomic novel about nostalgia, addiction, and 1970s action figures. The Toy Collector is a wickedly funny portrait of a young man who sells stolen pharmaceuticals to finance his growing addiction to memorabilia. An orderly at a Times Square hospital, he buys his toys at exorbitant prices, searching the familiar tacky plastic in a perverse effort to avoid adulthood. As the story switches from the make-believe world he creates with his childhood friends-populated by Scrunch-Em, Grow-Em Dinosaurs and toy robots-to the grown-up pleasures of sex, drugs and alcohol, James falls in and out of love, and stumbles through New York City in search of dubious redemption.
Introducing "Sweet Dreams Delight: 30 Bedtime Short Stories" – a whimsical collection crafted to transport young readers into a world of enchantment and imagination before drifting into the land of dreams. This delightful anthology, filled with thirty captivating tales, promises to make bedtime a cherished adventure for every little dreamer. Each short story within this magical compilation is carefully tailored to captivate young hearts, offering a delightful blend of fantasy, friendship, and valuable life lessons. From talking animals and mystical lands to courageous little heroes and bedtime wonders, every narrative is a small, enchanting journey that encourages creativity and sparks the imagination. As the sun sets and the stars twinkle in the sky, "Sweet Dreams Delight" becomes the perfect companion for winding down. The 30 carefully curated bedtime short stories promise to ignite smiles, spark conversations, and create memories that will linger in young minds long after the final page is turned. With its charming narratives and colorful characters, this collection is designed to bring families together during the quiet moments before sleep. Immerse your little ones in tales of joy, whimsy, and bedtime delight, fostering a love for storytelling and planting the seeds of a lifelong appreciation for literature. "Sweet Dreams Delight: 30 Bedtime Short Stories" is not just a book; it's an invitation to embark on a journey of shared imagination, creating a nightly ritual that both children and parents will cherish. So, snuggle up, open the pages, and let the magic of these short stories weave a tapestry of sweet dreams and lasting memories for your little ones.
Introduce kids to the planets and solar system in this fractured fairy tale retelling of the classic The Three Little Pigs. Parents and children alike will adore this out-of-this-world story, which is set in outer space! GREEP BOINK MEEP! The three little aliens are happily settling into their new homes when the Big Bad Robot flies in to crack and smack and whack their houses down! A chase across the solar system follows in this humorous and visually stunning book from Margaret McNamara (How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?) and Mark Fearing (The Book that Eats People). The endpapers even include a labeled diagram of all the planets.
"Mary's new in town and worried about starting classes at a new school. So her mom called the Helper Hounds--and that is why Sparkplug, the wildly handsome, wickedly smart, world famous Helper Hound is on the scene."--
This volume focuses on tin toys manufactured from World War I through to the 1970s, telling a story of toy-making impacted by focuses as divergent as changes in technology and the outbreak of war.
Presents a unified treatment of HRI-related issues, identifies key themes, and discusses challenge problems that are likely to shape the field in the near future. The survey includes research results from a cross section of the universities, government efforts, industry labs, and countries that contribute to HRI.
