Through centuries of storytelling, giants have evolved into monstrous fairy tale creatures with unique powers. This book explores many stories about giants and discusses their place in history as well as in today’s society.

A prequel to the bestselling Merlin Saga starring Shim, a young giant who must embark on a dangerous adventure when he's shrunk to the height of a man's knee. * “An excellent jumping-in point for new readers as well as pleasurable reading for established fans…Simply delightful.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review Read it before you see it! The Merlin Saga is soon to be a major motion picture! Shim has only ever known a world of peace. Unusually big and strong even for a young giant, he lives on the magical isle of Fincayra, immersed in nature as well as tales of wizards, merfolk, and dragons. Suddenly that world explodes in chaos. A terrible attack forces Shim and his mother to flee—and take a hazardous journey to reach the only person who could possibly help them, the mysterious Domnu. But when a wager goes horribly wrong, Shim shrinks down to a tiny fraction of his size. Now only as tall as a man’s knee, he finds himself lost in a deadly swamp. Worse yet, he has forgotten something important, something truly essential. But what? As small as he is now, Shim must find giant-size courage. He embarks on a perilous quest to discover what happened, what secret he forgot, and what it really means to be a giant. Combining his trademark passion, adventure, and spiritual depth, T. A. Barron tells the origin story of this beloved character from his highly acclaimed, international bestselling series, The Merlin Saga. As the prequel to the Saga, this story is as big as a giant... and as magical as Merlin.

Ken Follett’s magnificent historical epic begins as five interrelated families move through the momentous dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage. A thirteen-year-old Welsh boy enters a man’s world in the mining pits. . . . An American law student rejected in love finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House. . . . A housekeeper for the aristocratic Fitzherberts takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert herself crosses deep into forbidden territory when she falls in love with a German spy. . . . And two orphaned Russian brothers embark on radically different paths when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription, and revolution. From the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty, Fall of Giants takes us into the inextricably entangled fates of five families—and into a century that we thought we knew, but that now will never seem the same again. . . .

The fourth installment in the beloved Fairy Tale Reform School series where the teachers are (former) villains Reform or relapse? Things at Fairy Tale Reform School are great. Rumpelstiltskin has been ousted, and everyone is buzzing about the fact that Beauty and Prince Sebastian (aka the Beast) have joined the teaching staff. Everyone, that is, except Gilly, who can't seem to focus on anything but Anna. How is it that her beloved sister somehow went bad and joined up with Rump? And why doesn't anyone seem to care? Sure, the Royal Court says they're working on it, but they've got exactly nothing to show for it. But when new-kid Jack joins FTRS with tales of his own family being snatched by Rump, Gilly knows she's in good company. Jack wants answers, just like Gilly. And if the Royal Court can't get the job done, then maybe it's time to break some rules... This series is perfect for read-alongs between parents and kids and engaging reluctant readers.

Veraktalis the Dark Sorcerer has discovered a mystic force he believes will unshackle the wrathful demons Christ chained to the bottomless pit. His plan is to annihilate mankind, causing Christ to abandon the earth, thus freeing all evil from the judgment of God. Standing in the way of those wicked schemes is the paladin, Navarro Silvinton; the silver elf prince, Zakili Terishot; and the barons daughter, Candace Veldercrantz. They face an uphill struggle against deceit and prejudice, an assassin warlord and his army, a fictitious curse, and an onslaught of mighty giants and blood-thirsty monsters. A budding romance between Navarro and Candace confuses the already complicated events. With the fate of mankind at stake, they strive to overcome a threat they can only defeat with the power of Jesus Christ. The odds seem insurmountable, but with God all things are possible.

All students can benefit from a deeper understanding of how our language works. Playing With Language shows elementary school educators (K–6) how to think about, talk about, and manipulate language out of context. This cognitive skill set, known as metalinguistic awareness, is an important component of reading ability. This practical guide scales activities and teaching suggestions to students’ age, linguistic background, and individual strengths and challenges. The authors offer suggestions for introducing metalinguistic concepts like phonological, semantic, and syntactic awareness with fun activities like games, songs, rhymes, and riddles. The book also identifies and explains research that supports using metalinguistic teaching with diverse students and English learners to build skills in multiple areas, including reading comprehension and decoding ability. Teachers will find that students introduced to language play become continually engaged with language, finding real-world examples with wonder and delight. Book Features: Compiles information on all forms of metalinguistic awareness (MA), spanning different linguistic units and developmental reading levels.Contains personal anecdotes and classroom-testedÊinstructional recommendations for encouraging language play. Presents research on how individual language skills affect reading ability.Offers suggestions for full lesson plans with small groups or whole classes of children, as well as ideas for infusing MA activities into everyday exchanges and book choices.