Lester and artist Munsinger . . . team up again for another rib-tickling, off-the-wall tale. Booklist Murdley Gurdson is a spectacularly accident-prone boy. He falls into wastebaskets He drops only the most valuable vases. Worse yet: Whatever happened, it was usually his fault. One day, as Murdley is taking a walk, a bird lays an egg above him and it splats on his head. How could that really be Murdley s fault? Turns out, it sort of is. Munsinger s hilarious illustrations help make this silly story about cause and effect as lighthearted as it is useful. This read-aloud favorite is now part of a fun hardcover series about life lessons. Includes downloadable audio "

It just isn't Noodle's fault that his mom forgot to remind him to turn in his library book. Or that he didn't finish his homework. Luckily he learns not to blame others, but instead to take responsibility for his actions.

Shame is one of the most destructive of human emotions. If you suffered childhood physical or sexual abuse, you may experience such intense feelings of shame that it almost seems to define you as a person. In order to begin healing, it’s important for you to know that it wasn’t your fault. In this gentle guide, therapist and childhood abuse expert Beverly Engel presents a mindfulness and compassion-based therapeutic approach to help you overcome the debilitating shame that keeps you tied to the past. By following the step-by-step exercises in this book, you’ll gain a greater understanding of the root cause of your shame. And by cultivating compassion toward yourself, you will begin to heal and move past your painful experiences. Recent studies show that trauma survivors, particularly those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from abuse, can greatly benefit from incorporating elements of self-compassion into their treatment. Furthermore, the practice of self-compassion has been shown to decrease PTSD symptoms, including, self-criticism, thought suppression, and rumination. This book is based on the author’s powerful and effective Compassion Cure program. With this book, you will develop the skills needed to finally put a stop the crippling self-blame that keeps you from moving on and being happy. You’ll learn to focus on your strengths, your courage, and your extraordinary ability to survive. Most of all, you’ll learn to replace shame with its counter emotion—pride.

Mary Beth is the older sister of three younger brothers whom she has been given the job of watching over and keeping out of trouble. Be prepared to laugh about this realistic fiction dealing with the antics and mischief that the boys are always getting into, which they constantly blame on Mary Beth. The three boys are continually testing her patience and last nerve throughout the story. How will Mary Beth deal with her brothers and get herself out of trouble with Mom? You'll have to read the book to find out for yourself!

Scalawag has been an outstanding cat all year (at least, according to him). Any troublesome incidents that Santa may or may not have heard about to the contrary can be fully explained. So, Scalawag sets out to write Santa a series of letters in anticipation of Christmas, clearing up any potential misunderstandings, and of course, expressing his Christmas gift wish -- a Catman and Robin video game! But when one incident involves the Christmas tree catching on fire, and Miss Violet (Scalawag's ever-loving, nurturing, and forgiving caretaker) ending up in the emergency room, Scalawag gets a new perspective on things. He writes one last letter to Santa asking him to forget about the video game, and instead asks him to bring a different gift . . . one that expresses the true warmth and spirit of Christmas. 40 pages. Picture book measures 9-3/4'' wide x 10'' high. Full-color throughout. Sturdy hardcover binding with dust jacket. Norma Lewis lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with a cat coincidentally named Scalawag. He did not inspire the cat-astrophic shenanigans described in this or any other book, but she knows he could and lives in fear that he will. This is Norma's fifth book for children. Olivia Beckman worked for years in graphic design and magazine layout until one day her little inner bird whispered to her that it was time to focus on the type of illustration that inspired her to study the Fine Arts in the first place -- children's art! She feels very lucky to illustrate children's books -- and especially loves drawing people doing everyday activities, animals with fluffy fur, and mischievous cats.

Cooking projects provide a highly motivating, real-life application for learning. This child-friendly recipe is based on a piece of children's literature. Read the book, and then collaborate to make this delicious food to enjoy together.

An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical-and not so typical-middle-grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes, and his annoying older sister. In addition, he speculates about professional wrestling for animals, wonders why no one makes scratch-and-sniff fart stickers, designs the ultimate roller coaster (complete with poisonous spiders), and deconstructs the origins of a new word, snarpy. A playful layout and ingenious graphics extend the wry humor that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.