Eight folktales tell stories of romance, danger, and adventure in the ancient Scottish Highlands In Scotland during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, traveling monks or harpers called seanachies passed down many legends. They would wander from village to village, where local families would take them in and give them food and shelter. In exchange, the seanachies would delight the families with stories they had heard on their journeys. Heather and Broom contains eight seanachie stories from the Scottish Highlands, including the tales of the woman who tricked the fairies, the young lairdie with a heart of gold, and the daughter of the magical seal king. The collection gives the reader a taste of the poetic, lively culture of the Celtic imagination.

In this definitive history of a unique tradition, Tyler D. Parry untangles the convoluted history of the "broomstick wedding." Popularly associated with African American culture, Parry traces the ritual's origins to marginalized groups in the British Isles and explores how it influenced the marriage traditions of different communities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. His surprising findings shed new light on the complexities of cultural exchange between peoples of African and European descent from the 1700s up to the twenty-first century. Drawing from the historical records of enslaved people in the United States, British Romani, Louisiana Cajuns, and many others, Parry discloses how marginalized people found dignity in the face of oppression by innovating and reimagining marriage rituals. Such innovations have an enduring impact on the descendants of the original practitioners. Parry reveals how and why the simple act of "jumping the broom" captivates so many people who, on the surface, appear to have little in common with each other.

Every child has a voice -- if we take the time to listen. In this appealing, energetic picture book, two kids with different challenges and strengths find they are just what the other needs to navigate classroom life. Tyson does everything fast -- so fast he often disrupts the class. His teacher is always saying, "Too fast, Tyson!" And often he ends up playing all alone. Suze, the new girl, is nonverbal with special needs. Sometimes her classmates don't know what those needs are. But Tyson understands. Taking the time to interpret her cues, Tyson forms a special friendship with Suze, and teaches his classmates what it means to listen and understand others. Claudia Dávila's bright, energetic art captures the joy of moving at your own speed and connecting with a friend who can ride alongside.

"You pull your wand from the folds of your cloak, and its glowing blue end illuminates the door in front of you--the entrance to the banned books section. You watch as the copper snakes twist and turn around the lock that keeps students like you out. But you've been left with no choice. Your barn owl hoots softly upon your shoulder as you raise your wand to the knob and whisper the unspoken words. Kids on Brooms is a collaborative role-playing game about taking on the life of a witch or wizard at a magical school you all attend- a place full of mystery, danger, and thrilling adventure. From dealing with strict professors to facing down mythical beasts, players will get the opportunity to ride brooms, brew potions, and cast powerful magic as they uncover the incredible secrets their school and its inhabitants hold. Built using the ENnie Award-Winning Kids on Bikes framework, it is a rules-light, narrative-first storytelling game perfect for new players and gaming veterans alike!"--Back cover.

Parenting can be such an overwhelming job that it’s easy to lose track of where you stand on some of the more controversial subjects at the playground (What if my kid likes to rough house—isn’t this ok as long as no one gets hurt? And what if my kid just doesn’t feel like sharing?). In this inspiring and enlightening book, Heather Shumaker describes her quest to nail down “the rules” to raising smart, sensitive, and self-sufficient kids. Drawing on her own experiences as the mother of two small children, as well as on the work of child psychologists, pediatricians, educators and so on, in this book Shumaker gets to the heart of the matter on a host of important questions. Hint: many of the rules aren’t what you think they are! The “rules” in this book focus on the toddler and preschool years—an important time for laying the foundation for competent and compassionate older kids and then adults. Here are a few of the rules: • It’s OK if it’s not hurting people or property • Bombs, guns and bad guys allowed. • Boys can wear tutus. • Pictures don’t have to be pretty. • Paint off the paper! • Sex ed starts in preschool • Kids don’t have to say “Sorry.” • Love your kid’s lies. IT’S OK NOT TO SHARE is an essential resource for any parent hoping to avoid PLAYDATEGATE (i.e. your child’s behavior in a social interaction with another child clearly doesn’t meet with another parent’s approval)!