Hugging's the way to start the day, but Wally's friends are scared of his hugs! Wally is a young boa constrictor who loves hugs. His parents give him hugs to begin and end the day, and he hugs them back just as tightly. However, Wally's classmates at school don't seem to love hugs as much as he does and are scared of getting hugs from Wally, since boa constrictors squeeze so hard! How can Wally show them that his friendly hugs are nothing to be afraid of?

A bright barnyard tale from the author of Duncan the Story Dragon about facing your fears (and a pair of shears), and learning that a hug from your mama can make just about anything seem possible. Wally does not need a haircut. His hair is perfectly fine. Sure, it trips him up a tad and gathers a bit of greenery. But Wally does NOT want a haircut. He doesn’t even want one after his mama and their barnyard friends show off their own fun new ’dos. But when his unruly hair holds him back from the hoedown, he might have to reconsider. "Full of terrific vocabulary that is not watered down for the audience, and the brightly painted, full-page illustrations are appealing and comical. Full of alliteration, rhyme, and onomatopoeia, this humorous and cheerful picture book will be a fun read-aloud for the younger crowd."--School Library Journal

Soon to be a show on Hulu! Rights to develop Wild Cards for TV have been acquired by Universal Cable Productions, the team that brought you The Magicians and Mr. Robot, with the co-editor of Wild Cards, Melinda Snodgrass as executive producer. In 1946, an alien virus that rewrites human DNA was accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It killed ninety percent of those it infected. Nine percent survived to mutate into tragically deformed creatures. And one percent gained superpowers. The Wild Cards shared-universe series, created and edited since 1987 by New York Times #1 bestseller George R. R. Martin ("The American Tolkien"—Time magazine) along with Melinda Snodgrass, is the tale of the history of the world since then—and of the heroes among the one percent. Ranging from New York and New England to ravaged Africa and New Orleans, encompassing war, devastation, and stubborn hope, Suicide Kings advances the story of the Wild Cards, and their struggle to be fully human in a world that fears and mistrusts them. The Wild Cards Universe The Original Triad #1 Wild Cards #2 Aces High #3 Jokers Wild The Puppetman Quartet #4: Aces Abroad #5: Down and Dirty #6: Ace in the Hole #7: Dead Man’s Hand The Rox Triad #8: One-Eyed Jacks #9: Jokertown Shuffle #10: Dealer’s Choice #11: Double Solitaire #12: Turn of the Cards The Card Sharks Triad #13: Card Sharks #14: Marked Cards #15: Black Trump #16: Deuces Down #17: Death Draws Five The Committee Triad #18: Inside Straight #19: Busted Flush #20: Suicide Kings The Fort Freak Triad #21: Fort Freak #22: Lowball #23: High Stakes The American Triad #24: Mississippi Roll #25: Low Chicago #26: Texas Hold 'Em At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The Providence and Grace of God is author Karen Jo Smith's love letter to the Lord. It presents a story of faith that began in a shelter for battered women, where she discovered the miraculous grace of God. When she found herself in the shelter, she asked God to reveal himself to her through his love and he did! Words are insufficient to describe the reality of the miracles that she has been so privileged to experience at the very hands of God. In this collection of true stories, she recounts the many acts of kindness that she has experienced through God's grace. Her touching tales of God's miraculous love in the face of so many challenges have truly uplifted her spirit and have provided her with a life purpose. She has made a humble attempt to glorify God by writing about her challenges and struggles. She has also come to know that through prayer and a strong faith in Jesus, all things are possible. It is the desire of her heart that you know that no matter how far you think you have fallen, and no matter how unworthy you may feel, God truly loves you. Her stories encourage you to take a leap of faith and simply trust in The Providence and Grace of God.

The third Shard of the sword Excalibur is calling Ariane. From a really, really long way away.

When Jessie Strick visits a small Ohio city she is tracking a Cleveland mob boss in order to kill him. Frustrated with her search she attacks the tyrant Mayor who is a Mafia cohort and cripples him. Arrested for attempted murder she hires a reluctant alcoholic lawyer. They instantly bond to fight city hall. It's election year and Jessie thinks if she challenges the mayor the mob boss will have to show up. Her campaign gathers support when the Mayor thugs are killed and Jessie gets credit. On election day there is short lived jubilation as Jessie wins then is shot and by a rogue FBI planted killer. Peggy thinks the mayor ordered it and gets a gun and kills him. Earlier Jessie confessed to Peggy that she killed the mobster for revenge. She also robbed him for a million cash that was intended for the mayor and gave it to Peggy. Peggy flees to Costa Rica. In a few months she learns Jessie's killer was a hit man for a Mexican cartel and that she with held info that could have saved Jessie's life. She now has a choice... enjoy the money and shut up... or go home and confront the FBI lies and go to prison. She decides she is duty bound to protect her client even if she is dead. She goes home.

The Civil War is finally over, and the survivors have returned to their lives to try to rebuild. There was very little time for rest and relaxation. Nothing can be truer for the people of the small country town of Mystic. However, something has come to Mystic with the survivors...a game called Base Ball. For many years the people of Mystic have indulged themselves in various kinds of stick-and-ball games...everything from cricket to rounders, to something called Muffin Ball, but none of the games were ever popular enough to become organized...until Base Ball. As the residents of Mystic struggle establish their own Base Ball club, they discover that Base Ball is taking over the nation by storm. With a faithful group of town leaders, a retired Judge, and several veterans, Mystic finds that it is ahead of the storm, instead of getting caught up in it. As the town team forms, and a simple league with other small towns is established, the Mystic town folk enjoy watching their very own team playing this “city game” their way...making mistakes, fumbling over the bases, and arguing with...everyone, the people of Mystic become a true base ball town. Then when captain of the Drummers contacts the Mystic team with a request to come to Mystic to play a fun exhibition game on the Fourth of July, the initial thought was one of reservation...the Drummers were a traveling team of colored players. To the people of Mystic, a town that sided with the Northern Union forces, the prospect of playing a colored “barnstorming” team was cause to celebrate a game that changed the town of Mystic forever.