"The story of two friends, Frank and Harold, who do everything together and want to ride a roller coaster. But one of them is not tall enough. What are these friends to do?"--

Compelling stories have the power to generate infinite wonder: It's nearly impossible to imagine how the author began, and yet we sense there's much more beyond the final word. It's this mystery–a combination of inspiration and craft, smoke and mirrors–that makes writing feel momentous. But it can also feel overwhelming, causing us to become small, scared, not quite ready for the "big" rides, such as finishing that story, that novel, and finding the courage to share it with the world. In You Must Be This Tall to Ride, you'll find 20 works of fiction and nonfiction by acclaimed contemporary authors, each offering fresh perspective on ''coming of age'' (a story to which we can all relate), as well as exclusive personal essays and practical exercises.In their own words, these writers grant you a guided tour of craft with unparalleled access to the process behind their creation, including how to: • grow a story from the seed of an image or sentence • allow experiments with language to lead you to plot • turn even the most unlikely characters into heroes • transform raw anecdotes from your own life into compelling fiction and essay Join 20 writers as we grow up and down, taking a rollercoaster ride in stories. You'll not only begin to understand what makes the wheels of a story turn, you'll also gain the tools and strategies to transform lost characters and runaway plots into the greatest show on earth. So go ahead, step right up. Listen for the calliope music, and take your place in line. Your ride has just begun.CONTRIBUTORS: • Steve Almond • Aimee Bender • Kate Bernheimer • Ryan Boudinot • Judy Budnitz • Dan Chaon • Brock Clarke • Michael Czyzniejewski • Stuart Dybek • Michael Martone • Antonya Nelson • Peter Orner • Jack Pendarvis • Benjamin Percy • Andrew Porter • Chad Simpson • George Singleton • Brady Udall • Laura van den Berg • Ryan Van Meter

The Tall Book is a celebration of the tall-advantaged, which notes and explores the myriad benefits that come with living large--from the simple pleasures of being able to see over crowds at a parade, to the professional joys of earning more money, and having others perceive you as a natural leader. The Tall Book also offers well-researched explanations into the great unanswered questions of tallness, including: Why are people tall to begin with? How have tall people figured throughout history? Why are CEOs so tall? And how does tallness affect the dating game? Filled with illustrative graphics, charts, and piles of tall miscellanea and factoids, The Tall Book is a wonderful and much-needed exploration of life from on high.

Chitose's amped for this year's school festival and it's easy to see why. Not only are festivals a catalyst for creating couples, but Tomo's class is doing a maid café and Chitose's dying to get a photo with her! And when he finally works up the nerve to confess his love to Tomo, it looks like somebody got to her first! Will their last year of school together end in woe, or will their affection (and height) continue to grow?

Chitose's love life is shaken up when his chivalry earns him another girl's affection, but he still has the hots for his neighbor. Problem is, Tomo's been sending mixed signals lately…until she suddenly invites him over when nobody's home! And if he can keep his cool, he might just get to see his crush in a swimsuit before summer's over.

Chitose Oki has a huge crush on his nextdoor neighbor Tomo, but there's one small problem-his height. Back as kids, when his dream girl said she wouldn't marry him until he grew up, poor Chitose took that quite literally. These days, it's not just height-one embarrassing misunderstanding after another keeps them from seeing eye to eye. The truth is, they're both head over heels for each other, but it's a tall order to confess your feelings to the one you love.

A SURVIVAL GUIDE TO GROWING UP SHORT. Part science book, part memoir—a book for everyone concerned about looking (or feeling) different. When veteran journalist John Schwartz took a close look at famous height studies, he made a surprising discovery: being short doesn't have to be a disadvantage! Part advice book, part memoir, and part science primer, this fascinating book explores the marketing, psychology, and mythology behind our obsession with height and delivers a reassuring message to kids of all types that they can walk tall—whatever it is that makes them different. Short is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.