A lighthearted story about the consequences of rash decisions and the importance of problem solving, responsibility, and acceptance for kids ages 4-8. Told in rhyming couplets, The Barefoot King recounts the story of a young king named Creet who rules a land where people walk around with bare feet. Easily distracted, one day King Creet stubs his toe on a rock and is shocked by the pain. Never wanting to experience that discomfort again, the king decides to cover his whole kingdom in leather, with unfortunate consequences. This short and playful story helps parents discuss concepts of acceptance, awareness, and responsibility with kids. Seeing the consequences of King Creet's decision, kids will learn to navigate challenges in their own lives and the opportunities for growth that obstacles provide. A short "reader's guide" accompanies the story, aiding parents and teachers in discussions of how to handle life's bumps with conscious breaths and mindful steps.

embittered, shell-shocked veteran of First World War trench horror embarks on a titanic quest to address social and economic evils of post-war Liverpool dockland, wages a bitter and violent struggle against unions and shipowners

A fascinating narrative excursion into a bizarre episode in 19th century Ethiopian and British imperial history, featuring a remote African despot and his monstrous European-built gun. Towards the end of 1867, Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia burnt his own capital, took his vast mortar a named 'Sevastopol' and began a retreat to the mountain stronghold of Mekdala. For months thousands of his followers struggled to build a road for the great gun, levelling the soil of the high plains, hacking out a way down into mile-deep gorges. At the same time, a hostile British force, under General Napier, was advancing from the coast. It was the climax to the reign of one of the most colourful and extraordinary rulers in African history. Discovering traces of the road in the highlands, and drawing on years of involvement with Ethiopia, Philip Marsden recounts the story of Tewodros. From his spectacular rise - from camel-raider to King of Kings - Twewodros was a man who combined a sense of Biblical destiny with personal charisma and military genius. He restored the fortunes of the ancient Christian kingdom, introduced reforms to his army and to the church, and dreamed of an alliance with the great powers of Europe. But as his reforms stalled and the British Foreign Office lost his letter to Queen Victoria, Tewodros's behaviour became more and more violent and erratic. When he imprisoned the British consul, years of negotiation culminated in one of the most bizarre - and expensive - campaigns of the Victorian age. 'The Barefoot Emperor' is history at its most thrilling and dramatic. Using narrative skills proven in such acclaimed books as 'The Bronski House' and 'The Chains of Heaven', Philip Marsden recreates scenes and characters of glittering intensity - and the intriguing paradoxes of a central figure grappling not only with his own people and his own demons, but with the seductive and unstoppable approach of the modern world.

2022 Pura Belpré Honor Book NYPL Best Book of 2021 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Selection NPR Best Book of 2021 Based on a true story, the tale of one girl's perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican Revolution. "Wrenching debut about family, loss, and finding the strength to carry on."—Booklist, starred review "Blazes bright, gripping readers until the novel's last page."—Publishers Weekly, starred review "Vital and perilous and hopeful."—Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna's mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left—her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito—until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none. Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: "They're like us barefoot peasants and indios—they're not meant to go far." But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border—a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality. "Dobbs' wrenching debut, about family, loss, and finding the strength to carry on, illuminates the harsh realities of war, the heartbreaking disparities between the poor and the rich, and the racism faced by Petra and her family. Readers will love Petra, who is as strong as the black-coal rock she carries with her and as beautiful as the diamond hidden within it."—Booklist, starred review

When the fussy young prince turns his nose up at his royal breakfast, the king and queen decide to hit the road. The whole royal family embarks on a madcap global adventure to Mexico, India and beyond in search of something the prince will eat.

They danced through the castle til quarter past four, When the King cried, Enough! My feet are too sore!

Make math fun with this clever STEM twist on "The Princess and the Pea"! Numbers scattered throughout engage arithmetic whizzes with the story. Discover the hidden "mathematical" pattern by adding the digits together, then quiz yourself with the counting questions at the end!