The birth of a nation follows the lives of two white families divided by, and enduring, the American Civil War, and includes elaborate cameos of historical events such as the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

One seemingly ordinary autumn afternoon transforms into an exhilarating adventure for a young girl named Brisa. Happenstace reveals to her an unseen creature trapped beneath the surface of gentle flowing brook. Tricked by a cunning witch and cursed, Naj has existed in his watery prison for an eternity. On this fateful day, fortune turns his way as Brisa becomes his only hope for freedom. Two new friends put their heads together to find a way to free Naj. The matter of a magic pearl held by a most wicked witch with presents a lofty challenge. It must be stolen from the witch if Naj is to be free. Armed with an indomitable spirit, a group of new found friends and a few of the witch’s own magic objects Brisa sets off to find the witch’s lair and steal the pearl.

In training to be a scribe like his father, thirteen-year-old Joel longs for a different life. He is an artist, but drawing is not allowed in Israel. Like King Solomon, Joel understands the languages of animals, but few believe in such a power or understand its value. How can he find a life that will allow him to be himself and still find a place in his world, ancient Jerusalem? Jerusalem: a city without cats—impossible? Yet such is the case. Wise King Solomon sits upon Israel’s throne, and the temple of God crowns Mount Zion—but still, no cats! Then a passing caravan leaves behind it Ta-Muit, who determines that Joel will be its new master (if cats may be said to accept masters). Mischief quickly follows, ending with Joel standing before Solomon himself, awaiting the king’s justice, not only for Ta-Muit, but for himself. But that’s not the end of the adventure . . . Joel and the Egyptian Cat occurs three thousand years ago, but it tells a timeless tale of sons versus fathers, individuals against conformist societies, and young people at war with themselves as they grow into adulthood. Despite the conflicts he faces, Joel will succeed, but not without the help and understanding of his family, his king, and—that mischief maker Ta-Muit, the Egyptian cat.

THE STORIES: LILY. In a small town during World War One, two sisters are banished for the infidelities of a married man. LIVING IN THIS WORLD. The haunting story of one woman's journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape. BLACK CLOUD MORNING NEW Y

What does it mean to 'kiss and part'? This collection of previously unpublished short stories from a stellar list of contemporary women novelists is a literary celebration of the spirit of place. Each contributor shares one thing in common - they have all stayed at a small cottage in the village of Clifford Chambers near Stratford-upon-Avon, courtesy of a trust set up to provide women writers with ‘a room of one’s own’, as Virginia Woolf put it. Clifford Chambers was the home of the Jacobean poet Michael Drayton, who incorporated the phrase ‘Kiss and part’ into a sonnet. Each of the ten short stories in this collection takes this as its theme and the result is wonderfully eclectic mix of storytelling of the highest quality. All royalties go the Hosking Houses Trust to further encourage women’s writing. Contents List Preface ‘Kiss and Part’ by Michael Drayton Introduction by Margaret Drabble Buck Moon Marina Warner ‘A Merrie Meeting’ Salley Vickers The Incumbent Elizabeth Speller ‘Colossal Wreck’ Maria McCann The Visitation Maggie Gee And the River Flows On Joan Bakewell The Creature Jill Dawson The Turn Catherine Fox The Fabric of Things Jo Baker ‘Place of Dreams’ Lucy Durneen The Writers Afterword by Sarah Hosking Acknowledgements of Photographs

`This is a clear, jargon-free analysis of current National Curriculum and National Literacy strategy documents, combined with sensible and creative suggestions for implementing them... The activities are imaginative, consistent and true to the author′s ideal of a full and empowering critical literacy for all children′ - Times Educational Supplement, Friday Magazine A Practical Guide to Teaching Reading in the Early Years meets the needs of student teachers on undergraduate and postgraduate teacher training courses. It addresses the English National Curriculum for Teacher Training as well as covering the curriculum requirements for young children. It will also be relevant to others who work in early years environments and who are concerned with developing reading in considered and knowledeagable ways.