In Make Believe, Diana Athill, acclaimed author of Instead of a Letter and Stet, remembers her turbulent friendship with Hakim Jamal, a young black convert to the teachings of Malcolm X, whom she met in London in the late 1960s. Despite a desperately troubled youth, he became an eloquent spokesman for the black underclass, was Jean Seberg's lover and published a book about Malcolm X, before descending into a mania that had him believing he was God. A witness to his struggles, Diana Athill writes with her characteristic honesty about her entanglement with Jamal, Jamal's relationship with the daughter of a British MP, Gail Benson, and Jamal's, and separately Gail's, eventual murders.

In The Case for Make Believe, Harvard child psychologist Susan Linn tells the alarming story of childhood under siege in a commercialized and technology-saturated world. Although play is essential to human development and children are born with an innate capacity for make believe, Linn argues that, in modern-day America, nurturing creative play is not only countercultural—it threatens corporate profits. A book with immediate relevance for parents and educators alike, The Case for Make Believe helps readers understand how crucial child's play is—and what parents and educators can do to protect it. At the heart of the book are stories of children at home, in school, and at a therapist's office playing about real-life issues from entering kindergarten to a sibling's death, expressing feelings they can't express directly, and making meaning of an often confusing world. In an era when toys come from television and media companies sell videos as brain-builders for babies, Linn lays out the inextricable links between play, creativity, and health, showing us how and why to preserve the space for make believe that children need to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives.

Once upon a time Gina, the Goddess Queen of All-Souls, recorded her history in books for all worlds to enjoy. This is Gina's time. It's now 2013, and the right time for this Angel of Victory to share her story. During her adventures she travelled to many places, and worlds. One of the worlds Gina visits is called the IINN-E. Non-Believers say the IN doesn't exist. Some say the IN is a secret society and others say it's just a myth. Regardless; Gina's a Believer so the IN is connected to her life story. During Gina's time there are many Masters, Lords, Kings, and Queens at work, and play on many game boards. They play soul collection games. The Powers that Be play for real. Some players play for fun where only card, candy and toy souls are collected. Many do training exorcises on game boards to learn how to rule the IN. Some players want to be famous legends who rule, and others want to take over the world. Some players wanted all the fame, fortune, money, riches, and power for themselves. Once the games are over the losers soul cards are collected. Their wealth and possessions are spread to other teams. There are many game competitions on all the many levels. Winners of the IN's soul collection games are given honours, titles, riches, power and glory. Winners victories are celebrated, soul collection cards are made to honour them, and their history is recorded.

Recovering from a long illness, Boston businessman Carl Stanton is unable to accompany his fiancée Cornelia on a mid-winter trip to warm and sunny Jacksonville. Lonely, bored, and disappointed in Cornelia's lack of affection, Carl decides to answer an advertisement from the Serial-Letter Company, which promises real letters, delivering comfort and entertainment, from imaginary persons. Carl signs up for their love letter program, thinking he might have a bit of fun, and teach his fiancée a lesson in the process.

Marcus offers this animated history of the visionaries--editors, illustrators, and others--whose books have transformed American childhood and American culture.

Presents more than 100 ideas for constructing costumes using materials found at home.