Much of today's writing on children treats the child of any age as a problem or a set of problems to be solved, effectively reducing the child to a complex of biological and chemical factors, explainable in scientific terms, or regarding children as objects of adult control. In contrast, Martin Marty here presents the child as a mystery who invokes wonder and elicits creative responses that affect the care provided him or her. Drawing on literature as new as contemporary poetry and as old as the Bible, The Mystery of the Child encourages the thoughtful enjoyment of children instead of the imposition of adult will and control. Indeed, Marty treats the impulse to control as a problem and highlights qualities associated with children -- responsiveness, receptivity, openness to wonder -- that can become sources of renewal for adults. The Mystery of the Child represents a new tack for Martin Marty -- universally respected as a historian, theologian, and interpreter of religion and culture -- but displays the same incisive, erudite quality marking the fifty-plus books and thousands of articles that he has previously written. Marty's broad, thoughtful perspective will inspire readers to think afresh about what it means to be a child -- and to be a caregiver. This book is sure to claim a wide readership -- parents, grandparents, schoolteachers, theologians, historians -- engaging anyone wanting to explore more fully the profound realm of the child.

The first book to assess critically mystery in children's literature, this collection charts a development from religious mystery through rationally solved detective fictions to insoluble supernatural and horror mysteries. Written by internationally recognised scholars in the field, these thirteen original essays offer challenging and innovative readings of both classic and popular mysteries for children. This volume will be essential and stimulating reading for anyone with an interest in children's literature or in mystery fiction.

This is a book of clues... clues to the awe and immensity of God that will lead children to think about, rather than "learn" about, God. Instead of teaching in the traditional sense, it provides "clues" for a shared journey toward discovering the Divine Mystery at the core of the universe. The recent trend in Christian education has been to emphasize knowledge, and to make church school more fun and entertaining. But in our zeal to pass on the basics of the faith, we have often neglected to guide children into truly experiencing the full wonder of the almighty. We have taught them about religion, but we have not always helped them to establish a deep and meaningful relationship with God. This book approaches the mission from a different perspective - one that identifies and reaffirms the spiritual experiences young people are already having. Each chapter suggest numerous ideas for use in classes, as well as a "Time to Reflect" section for adults to recall and meditate on their own spiritual life as children. Teaching The Mystery Of God To Children is an essential resource for any parent or church school teacher who is interested in the spiritual development of their children. Subjects discussed include: The Bible Art Symbols Music Sounds Movement Words Poetry Nature Sacred Space Koans and Miracles Death Judy Gattis Smith is the author of more than a dozen books, including Teaching to Wonder, Planting Spiritual Seeds, and Developing a Child's Spiritual Growth through the Senses (Abingdon). She has also written three books for grandmothers, and she is a regular contributor to Episcopal Teacher magazine. Smith has led more than 200 workshops and seminars, and has been a keynote speaker at conferences throughout the United States.

"Hayden then goes one step further and guides the reader through the post-writing process, explaining manuscript preparation, cover letters, acquiring an agent, and methods of successful promotion. Writing the Mystery concludes each section with in-depth exercises that put the lessons of the chapter into practice. Also included is a special collection of interviews, featuring mystery major leaguers who discuss the craft and offer their own valuable advice for the aspiring author and professionals switching to the mystery genre."--Jacket.

When you purchase the Library Bound mystery you will receive FREE online eBook access! Carole Marsh Mystery Online eBooks are an easy, effective, and immediate way to read your favorite Carole Marsh Mystery on the go! Each web-hosted Online eBook is filled with the same exact pages as the book, plus additional features like pages that "flip"; with a fun sound as you read, a full chapter directory, full-screen and thumbnail viewing capabilities, and more! ´ Online eBooks allow readers to access their book anytime, from anywhere - by using a computer, tablet, or other device with Internet access. ´ They require NO additional access or hosting fees - When you purchase a library bound Carole Marsh Mystery book, you get unlimited access to the Online eBook version for FREE. ´ You don't need to download Online eBooks - they are available to you online 24/7! ´ Online eBooks are available exclusively from Gallopade, and are compatible with Macs, PC, iPad, and other devices with Internet access. This mystery takes boys and girls on a fabulous tour of the world's largest aquarium where they encounter Ralph and Norton (the world's largest fish!), a living coral reef, beluga whales, "jellies," a very friendly octopus, a "4-D" movie, and more as they try to solve a mystery that lands one character in "the tank!" Readers also learn what an aquarist is, the mission of an aquarium, how one operates, how fish are fed and cared for, plus there's lots of fun and humor. Make your visit to an aquarium a real experience by reading The Awesome Aquarium Mystery before or after your visit...and if you can't visit, the book and activities make a great "virtual" field trip! Classroom cartons are available so a whole class, a whole grade, or the whole school can read the book and learn together. Like all of Carole Marsh's Mysteries, this mystery incorporates history, geography, culture and cliffhanger chapters that will keep kids begging for more! This mystery includes SAT words, educational facts, fun and humor, built-in book club and activities. Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book: Grade Levels: 3-6 Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 4.7 Accelerated Reader Points: 2 Accelerated Reader Quiz Number: 105326 Lexile Measure: 700 Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: P Developmental Assessment Level: 38

Mysteries are among the most popular books today, and women continue to be among the most creative and widely read mystery writers. This book includes alphabetically arranged entries on 90 women mystery writers. Many of the writers discussed were not even writing when the first edition of this book was published in 1994, while others have written numerous works since then. Writers were selected based on their status as award winners, their commercial success, and their critical acclaim. Each entry provides biographical information, a discussion of major works and themes, and primary and secondary bibliographies. The volume closes with appendices and a selected, general bibliography. Public library patrons will value this guide to their favorite authors, while students will turn to it when writing reports.

Carolyn Wells's The Technique of the Mystery Story gets to the heart of a craft she defined despite coming to it late in her career. Wells offers a valuable framework for writers looking to follow in her footsteps or readers looking for access to the mind and process of a woman revered in her field, exploring the history of the genre, defining its many different forms, and illuminating the stylistic choices that keep a mystery tale running smoothly. This work begins with an argument for mystery as a legitimate literary art form, supported by numerous quotations from authorities. Then, moving through her topics in a systematic manner, she explains and illustrates the mystery-writing craft with excerpts from mystery works and quotations from literary critics and notable authors. This is essentially a mini-course in mystery story creative writing.