The Boy Who Wanted To Rock

The idea for the book came about while I was working abroad on a theater show, with a fair bit of downtime. Before leaving, I'd been helping our son, Arlen, as he made first contact with a few instruments: keyboards and synthesizers, guitar, and a variety of tuned percussion instruments. It did not always go well. His intense love of music was matched by an equally intense desire for immediate results. This combination often led to a considerable amount of frustration. To help Arlen cope with this frustration, I decided to write a short rhyming story that would be similar in many ways to those found in his favorite picture books. My initial vision was for the book to encourage practice and sticktoitiveness, enshrining the many virtues of delayed gratification. Mercifully, I came to my senses and abandoned that idea as utter nonsense. It dawned on me that our boy's innocence and earnestness fueled a kind of rock power, that unnamed spark of creative joy that many of us in the music industry have chased in practice spaces and recording studios for decades. It's the very thing that makes a kid, a kid. Our five-year-old boy is Thoreau's "childlike mirthfulness" come to life. He dances like there's no one watching; he doesn't know any other way. He sings with abandon, and sometimes, he roars. In the end, I thought that if he learns something from the book, wonderful, but above all else, I wanted this book to help ensure that he never forgets how to roar.

Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you.

What kind will you be? A Country Star? A Singer? The leader of a Jazz Band? Join Luke (and Ralphie) as they imagine their way through the magic of music. From country, rap, and punk to disco, jazz, and rock you'll discover that all Rock Stars' dreams begin with just a little imagination. This book explores the many genres of music, it challenges the mainstream idea of fame and teaches little ones that their dreams may come in many different forms if they are open to exploring.

A sixteen-year-old from the Bronx, popular at school and "sort of" going steady, falls in love for the first time with another boy one exuberant summer.

Drooling fanatic, n. 1. One who drools in the presence of beloved rock stars. 2. Any of a genus of rock-and-roll wannabes/geeks who walk around with songs constantly ringing in their ears, own more than 3,000 albums, and fall in love with at least one record per week. With a life that’s spanned the phonographic era and the digital age, Steve Almond lives to Rawk. Like you, he’s secretly longed to live the life of a rock star, complete with insane talent, famous friends, and hotel rooms to be trashed. Also like you, he’s content (sort of) to live the life of a rabid fan, one who has converted his unrequited desires into a (sort of) noble obsession. Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life traces Almond’s passion from his earliest (and most wretched) rock criticism to his eventual discovery of a music-crazed soul mate and their subsequent production of two little superfans. Along the way, Almond reflects on the delusional power of songs, the awkward mating habits of drooling fanatics, and why Depression Songs actually make us feel so much better. The book also includes: • sometimes drunken interviews with America’s finest songwriters • a recap of the author’s terrifying visit to Graceland while stoned • a vigorous and credibility-shattering endorsement of Styx’s Paradise Theater • recommendations you will often choose to ignore • a reluctant exegesis of the Toto song “Africa” • obnoxious lists sure to piss off rock critics But wait, there’s more. Readers will also be able to listen to a special free mix designed by the author, available online at www.stevenalmond.com, for the express purpose of eliciting your drool. For those about to rock—we salute you!

Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.

So you want to be a rock star, huh? Well, first you'll need an awesome vintage electric guitar. Don't have one of those? That's okay. All you need to do is to close your eyes and strum with your right hand. Oh, and make a face like your stomach really hurts. Can't sing? No problem! Your voice doesn't need to be perfect. Just really loud. Perfect for young fans of Rock Band and the Disney pop stars, So You Want to Be a Rock Star will teach budding musicians all they need to know about becoming a bona fide rock star, and the interactive text will keep their parents rocking--and laughing--too!

An unlikely trio comprised of an Indian, a Tibetan monk, and Sir Richard Burton--the famous soldier and explorer--search for refuge in the Utah Territory in 1862, in this new novel by the Spur Award-winning author of "Stone Song".

Experience a day in the life of an eight-year old boy and his timeless adventure of true persistence. Billy will take it to the limit as he travels over the hills and far away to pursue his musical dreams. Adults and children of all ages are invited to walk this way and enjoy their unique connections to the characters and spirit of Rock on Billy.

A child reminds everyone to embrace their own special something in this joyful expression of self-love. When a drawing of a little girl comes to life, she boldly declares that she doesn't want to be erased, or put into a picture that doesn't feel like her true self. Instead, she decides to speak up in a powerful way. And she has some words of advice: embrace what you have, love yourself, and "rock what ya got." In this affirmation of self-identity and girl power, a child's memorable mantra offers a timeless lesson, reminding readers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities that it's okay to be yourself. Bold illustrations from Kerascoët (Malala's Magic Pencil) bring the engaging story to life.