The inspiration for this story for 4-7 year olds, is the folklore and rich history of the author's native Kyrgyzstan, a country of breathtaking landscapes sometimes referred to as "an Asian Switzerland." Nazira is a former school teacher and host to children's music and cultural events. Maxat the Magician and his balloon adventure is illustrated throughout and is an exciting, humorous and educational story for young children.

Monsters + Humor + Fun = THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Alexander has just moved to a new town where he uncovers all sorts of monsters! He finds an old notebook with the word "DOOM" inscribed on the front cover. The Notebook of Doom, which Alexander now holds, contains top-secret information about the monsters! In this first book, Alexander goes up against spooky balloon goons--unique and twisted arm-waving balloon guys! This book is full of humor, engaging black-and-white illlustrations, and of course...monsters!

What could be more monstrous than giant vegetable monsters?! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!In this fourth book, Alexander is still on the look-out for monsters. Now he thinks they're at school.... The lunch menu is NOT normal -- instead of good-for-you meals, there's ice cream and pie every day. His whole class is crying. And his friend Rip goes missing. Alexander must battle giant meat-eating vegetables before the whole town becomes veggie dinner! Filled with humor, suspense, and zany black-and-white illustrations, this book will keep kids turning the pages!

Where is God in the universe if anywhere? Why did God make germs? Why should we be so special? Could the universe have been different? This is a book that brings home, in no uncertain fashion, the discrepancy between the universe envisaged by the ancient sages and prophets and that of modern scientific cosmology, where the possibility of divine intervention looks less and less likely. Butchins demonstrates with clarity how the scientific method may be used, despite certain drawbacks, in an attempt to verify objective truth. It describes how the effect of the Copernican Revolution in the seventeenth century has steadily undermined the basic structure of the three great monotheistic religions of our day, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, especially with respect to their eschatological concepts. The Eastern religions, being less anthropomorphic, are less affected. The theistic argument from design is shown to be powerful enough to have caused disagreement among present-day scientists, in spite of the strictures of Professor Dawkins. In general, the book attempts to make some sense of the structure of the universe in terms of our own consciousness; it behoves the reader to consider tha

When his view from the royal magician's balloon inspires the king to make a map of his kingdom, the magician fears unnecessary changes to the countryside and launches a counterplot using his balloon.

This book is about a young boy whose dreams to see the world come true in one unbelievable night when he takes off and travels to places, he has only heard about. He envisions meeting different people, seeing the wonders of the world, and making friends everywhere he visits. He and his magical balloon take off to see firsthand all the places, people, and adventure that his imagination can create during his fantastical trip around the world. This is a story that will have every child being able to share with Phillip each adventure and know that the world is a very special place that everyone should see.