Grasshopper

In the mid twentieth century the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein famously asserted that games are indefinable; there are no common threads that link them all. "Nonsense," says the sensible Bernard Suits: "playing a game is a voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles." The short book Suits wrote demonstrating precisely that is as playful as it is insightful, as stimulating as it is delightful. Suits not only argues that games can be meaningfully defined; he also suggests that playing games is a central part of the ideal of human existence, so games belong at the heart of any vision of Utopia. Originally published in 1978, The Grasshopper is now re-issued with a new introduction by Thomas Hurka and with additional material (much of it previously unpublished) by the author, in which he expands on the ideas put forward in The Grasshopper and answers some questions that have been raised by critics.

“They have sent me here because of what happened on the pylon.” When Clodagh Brown writes these words at the age of nineteen, she believes that she is leaving behind the traumatic events of her youth. But Clodagh soon learns that you can never entirely escape your past. In the aftermath of the incident on the pylon--one of the great electrified structures that dot the English countryside like so many gargantuan grasshoppers--Clodagh goes off to university, moves into a basement flat arranged by her unsympathetic family, and finds freedom trekking across London's rooftops with a gang of neighborhood misfits. As she begins a thrilling relationship with a fellow climber, however, both Clodagh and the reader are haunted by the memory of the pylon and of the terrible thing that happened there--and by the eerie sense that another tragedy is just a footfall away.

A 2015 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Winner of the 2014 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction "Raunchy, bizarre, smart and compelling." --Rolling Stone “Grasshopper Jungle is simultaneously creepy and hilarious. Reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut’s in “Slaughterhouse Five,” in the best sense.” --New York Times Book Review In the small town of Ealing, Iowa, Austin and his best friend, Robby, have accidentally unleashed an unstoppable army. An army of horny, hungry, six-foot-tall praying mantises that only want to do two things. This is the truth. This is history. It’s the end of the world. And nobody knows anything about it. You know what I mean. Funny, intense, complex, and brave, Grasshopper Jungle brilliantly weaves together everything from testicle-dissolving genetically modified corn to the struggles of recession-era, small-town America in this groundbreaking coming-of-age stunner.

For use in schools and libraries only. Young children will make many amazing discoveries about creatures in their own backyards in this intriguing tale of a day in the life of a grasshopper.

How can grasshoppers help parents and feeding professionals teach anxious eaters about new foods? Marsha Dunn Klein, an internationally-known feeding therapist, provides the answer in this book--highlighting that most anxious eaters do not enjoy the sensations and varibility of new foods. In seeking to help them, she asks what you'd need to do to help yourself try a worrisome new food, such as a grasshopper. Drawing on her own experience trying grasshoppers while learning Spanish in Mexico, she personalizes the struggle of children to find new food enjoyment, providing a goldmine of practical, proven, and compassionate strategies for parents and professionals who work with anxious eaters. Learn how to: - find peace and enjoyment during mealtimes; - find ways to help anxious eaters fearlessly try new foods; - navigate the sensory variations in food smells, tastes, textures looks, sounds: and - help anxious eaters (and their parents) develop a more positive relationship with food. Because parents are absolutely central to mealtime success, the author incorporates parent insights throughout the book. Using encouragement, novelty, and fun, she invites everyone back to the table with a sensitive and pressure-free approach.

A little girl uses imagination and inventiveness to spread friendship through her community. But will she find a friend of her own? Whether it’s a supersonic sandwich maker or a twelve-tailed dragon, Sicily Bridges can make almost anything from materials she finds around her apartment complex. But when it comes to making friends, Sicily has yet to find the perfect fit. With a diverse cast of characters brought to life by illustrator Erika Medina, Sara de Waal’s whimsical debut emphasizes the power of imagination and finding companionship where you least expect it.

Work and play are both important, in this fresh, heartwarming take on a classic fable from Aesop. Full color.

Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus “Gloriously inventive.”—New York Times “Any youngster who enjoys critters and nature will appreciate this book.”—5 STARS, Youth Services Book Review Kids ages 4-7 will get lost in the imaginative world of this wordless picture book! In this colorful and moving portrait told from the up-close perspectives of a young girl and a grasshopper, a garden comes alive with creatures, plants, and surprises of nature. Grasshopper encourages young readers to: Explore nature around them with curiosity and imagination Respect nature and the creatures who call it their home While investigating and admiring the insects in her garden, a young girl discovers how her actions impact the little creatures she finds, like a caterpillar inside a pea pod. When she places the caterpillar on an anthill, the ants swarm it! When she captures a grasshopper, she discovers one of its legs has fallen off. To keep it safe from the ants, she places it in a jar—only for another curious creature to come investigate. As the day progresses, the girl learns the profound effect she can have on the natural world around her. An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

Grasshopper is a candid story about the life of an Outlaw Motorcycle Club member, told in vivid detail. Grasshopper, A.K.A. Bruce Wayne Harrison, story begins in 1955 when he was a young boy learning about life on an Indiana farm. His life changes as the admiration for his big brother Gary evolves, (still evident today) and the events that have separated them for the rest of their lives. You will enjoy the happy moments as well as be heart-struck by his suffering. As you walk in his shoes, you'll discover the patriotism that drove him to volunteer to fight for freedom in Vietnam and the memories that have plagued him ever since. Grasshopper lived the American dream but, like most of us, he didn't recognize it. Feeling with wind in your face and salt in your nose, you will understand what drives a man to romance the road on two wheels. Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster as you discover the forces that transformed Bruce Wayne Harrison into Grasshopper. For the first time ever the details of Grasshoppers life are made public. Finally understand what happens when a man is transformed from an average American boy in Indiana, into an Outlaw Boss in Tampa, Florida. Understand how one man filled the void in his heart, that most of us don't understand. Know what it's like to ride with the Brothers of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club. Finally, feel what it's like to..."

Who poops? Everyone poops! Where do we poop? On the potty! Sly, funny illustrations teach kids how every creature, big and small, poops--even grown-ups! Kids learn about how pets, animals in the wild, and animals underwater, poop. Whimsical illustrations raise the question of how unicorns, dragons, and aliens poop, too! Each page emphasizes that wherever animals may poop, humans poop on the potty. Have more fun with the downloadable app, including games and facts! - Available for iPhone and Android, smartphone and tablet. The perfect book to make parents and kids laugh during potty training!