No Ordinary Apple

On an otherwise ordinary day, Elliot discovers something extraordinary: the power of mindfulness. When he asks his neighbor Carmen for a snack, he's at first disappointed when she hands him an apple - he wanted candy! But when encouraged to carefully and attentively look, feel, smell, taste, and even listen to the apple, Elliot discovers that this apple is not ordinary at all. Lushly and humorously illustrated, No Ordinary Apple makes a traditional technique for training mindfulness a fun and enjoyable way for children to learn to slow down and appreciate even the simplest things.

Examines the distinct leadership roles of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during the war years and discusses the dynamics of their marriage.

It's the last day of school, and Elliot and his friends are celebrating with a pizza party--when they discover that the pizza is unlike any they've eaten before! In this follow-up to the popular No Ordinary Apple: A Story About Eating Mindfully, children will encounter not only a yummy way to be calm and present, but a fun new way to cultivate compassion and gratitude for everyone and everything we are connected to--through the very food we eat!

Gala and Honeycrisp. Pink Lady and Pacific Rose. King Luscious and Winesap. The names of apples are as juicy as the fruit itself. One of the most widely distributed fruits on the planet, apples have always meant something beyond food and drink—their seeds have been planted deep within the myths, religion, and art of nearly every culture. They are symbols of beauty, desire, and sin; signs of hidden poisons and healthy eating; emblems of computers, phones, and music. Exploring the symbolism, art, and literature of the apple, as well as its botanical background, Marcia Reiss follows this iconic fruit from its origins to its now-ubiquitous presence in our world. Journeying back to the apple’s germination in the mountains of Central Asia, Reiss travels along the Silk Road to Europe and the New World. She reveals that, from Charlemagne to Johnny Appleseed to the colonization of South Africa, where settlers were required to plant apple orchards that led to the development of new towns, apples have become a global commodity. In addition to delving into the latest debates about chemical sprays, Reiss looks at the rise of heirloom orchards and the hopes and fears of genetic developments. She also tells the parallel tale of apple cider, its decline during the Temperance Movement and its return as an artisanal alternative to wine. Beautifully illustrated with historic and contemporary images and containing a directory of popular and heirloom varieties, Apple is a book ripe for devouring.

The diaries in this collection include the writings of four young people between the ages of twelve and twentya boy growing up on a lake in Maine, a sea captain's daughter, a Shaker farm boy, and a daughter raised by a single mom. What can we discover from these diaries? Readers may be surprised, for example, by the technology available to Delmer Wilson in the Shaker community in 1887. Because all these diaries were produced during the writers' developmental years, teachers and young readers may find comments about school and growing-up issues to be of some interest. Young readers will also want to compare teenage life today with that of the past. Some teenage girls of today may find that their pastimes don't differ all that much from those of Ethel Godfrey in 1894. And, like Augusta Skolfield, how many of us have gazed up at a bright moon and thought about that same light shining on loved ones far away? Readers will find the personalities themselves of great interest. Nat Hathorne, f

In the nineteenth century, most American farms had a small orchard or at least a few fruit-bearing trees. People grew their own apple trees or purchased apples grown within a few hundred miles of their homes. Nowadays, in contrast, Americans buy mass-produced fruit in supermarkets, and roughly 70 percent of apples come from Washington State. So how did Washington become the leading producer of America’s most popular fruit? In this enlightening book, Amanda L. Van Lanen offers a comprehensive response to this question by tracing the origins, evolution, and environmental consequences of the state’s apple industry. Washington’s success in producing apples was not a happy accident of nature, according to Van Lanen. Apples are not native to Washington, any more than potatoes are to Idaho or peaches to Georgia. In fact, Washington apple farmers were late to the game, lagging their eastern competitors. The author outlines the numerous challenges early Washington entrepreneurs faced in such areas as irrigation, transportation, and labor. Eventually, with crucial help from railroads, Washington farmers transformed themselves into “growers” by embracing new technologies and marketing strategies. By the 1920s, the state’s growers managed not only to innovate the industry but to dominate it. Industrial agriculture has its fair share of problems involving the environment, consumers, and growers themselves. In the quest to create the perfect apple, early growers did not question the long-term environmental effects of chemical sprays. Since the late twentieth century, consumers have increasingly questioned the environmental safety of industrial apple production. Today, as this book reveals, the apple industry continues to evolve in response to shifting consumer demands and accelerating climate change. Yet, through it all, the Washington apple maintains its iconic status as Washington’s most valuable agricultural crop.

Asronian, false god, murderer, death bringer. He goes by many names and has many titles, but despite them all, the Myrmidon galaxy fears only one name, Orion, self-proclaimed God of Darkness. His will is unshakable; his power is unmeasurable; his revenge is undeniable. He is the destroyer of worlds and the breaker of families, and after two hundred years of isolation, he has returned from the shadows to claim his rightful place as the one true Creator. Only the most powerful of the Ashura Order can stand against him, and utilize both sides of Source Energy, gifted by the One Infinite Creator, to free the galaxy from Orion's eternal darkness.

A Wyoming rancher takes on a bloodthirsty bank robber in a novel from the USA Today-bestselling author and “masterful storyteller” (Publishers Weekly). Born to a family of hard-fighting Scotsmen. Sworn to a legacy of blood and honor. Duff MaCallister brings his own brand of justice to the new American frontier—in this explosive western saga from bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. Shooting Is The Only Way Out In a town like Chugwater, Wyoming, you know who your friends are, who your enemies are, and who your kill-crazy maniacs are. For Duff MacCallister, the last category belongs to Johnny Taylor and his gang. Duff has wrestled with this polecat before, and knows that his bite is worse than his smell. But when Taylor's gang tries to rob a bank--and Duff manages to shoot one and arrest Taylor's brother--the outraged outlaw raises a stink straight out of hell. First, he begins to randomly slaughter innocent townsfolk one by one. Then, he leaves a note on the bodies warning: "We will kill more of your citizens if you do not let my brother go." Now, he's kidnapped a woman as bait--lighting a fuse under Duff MacCallister that's bound to ignite the biggest, bloodiest showdown in Chugwater history. . .

An all-in-one set to implement a family meditation course, regardless of your tradition or level of experience. This three-volume set provides a complete curriculum for adults and children to learn about mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhist teachings together, either in the home, in partnership with other families, or with a local center. The Adult Study Guide (280 pages) offers thirty-six lesson plans including meditation practices, homework, readings, and reflection questions for group study. The Children’s Lesson Plans (296 pages), used in conjunction with the Adult Study Guide, provides step-by-step instructions for teachers on meditation exercises, stories, crafts, songs, and games. The Activity Book (136 pages) is a perfect companion to enhance the children’s education with over 50 coloring pages, puzzles, and other fun activities. This comprehensive curriculum for adults and children ages 3–12 has five units on meditation, kindness, ethics, character, and service. It is perfect for any family, Dharma center, yoga studio, or religious, educational, or community organization that wants to incorporate a mindfulness program for children and their families. To fully implement the Children's Lesson Plans some additional materials will be needed, such as inexpensive arts and craft supplies, download of children's songs, and children's storybooks, often available in libraries. Visit mindfulfamilies.net for more resources.

Once, there was a student who wanted to learn English… He did everything. He did grammar exercises, he looked at lists of vocabulary, he even tried reading books for native speakers. But nothing worked, and he couldn’t improve. Then, one day, he found a book just for him. It was full of fun, easy stories that made him laugh and cry, and he understood them perfectly. He flew through the stories, and his English grew with him. He had fun, and so he learned. You can find your happy ending, too. All you need to do is open this book. Easy Stories in English is a collection of 10 fairy tales that will make you fall in love with reading. Get lost in famous stories like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, with pictures and explanations of difficult vocabulary. With a scientifically-proven method and a variety of levels for every learner, this book will take your English from OK to Good and from Good to Great! Cover design by Geoffrey Bunting. Illustration by Lizzie Knott.