Yuri's Brush with Magic by Maureen Wartski is an intelligent novel for preadolescents. Featuring Japanese folktales told in a contemporary setting, Wartski's adventure novel explores the complexity of family relationships and how generations-old misunderstandings can cause rifts that affect the children--and how to heal those rifts. Nine-year-old Tammy is worried--her mother lies in a coma and her father is overwhelmed. Out of nowhere her great-aunt, "Mean Yuri" Hamada, appears to whisk Tammy and her older brother, Ken, off to Emerald Isle. Ken plots to return home by impeding Yuri's resolve with acts of extreme brattiness. But Tammy is captivated by Yuri's storytelling, the way her brush brings old Japanese folktales to life on her canvas, her aunt's past. She's as concerned about a buried nest of loggerhead turtle that may not hatch. Wartski skillfully blends these subplots with themes of renewal and transformation.

Inspiring life wisdom from people of all ages—based on the This I Believe radio program The popular This I Believe series, which has aired on NPR and on Bob Edwards' shows on Sirius XM Satellite and public radio, explores the personal beliefs and guiding principles by which Americans live today. This book brings together treasured life lessons of people from all walks of life. Whether it's learning the power of saying hello or how courage comes with practice, their intimate reflections will inspire, move, and encourage you. Filled with the valuable insights distilled from a wide range of personal experiences, This I Believe: Life Lessons is a perfect gift—for others or for yourself. Includes extraordinary essays written by "ordinary" people who share the story of an important lesson they have learned about life Shares a wide range of beliefs and experiences from a diverse group of contributors, including a physician, a roller derby queen, a corporate executive, and a homeless person Based on the popular This I Believe radio series and thisibelieve.org website No matter what your age or circumstances, this book will give you valuable food for thought and important new insights on how others have learned from life's challenges.

A Library Journal Best Reference Book of 2022 This book represents the culmination of over 150 years of literary achievement by the most diverse ethnic group in the United States. Diverse because this group of ethnic Americans includes those whose ancestral roots branch out to East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Western Asia. Even within each of these regions, there exist vast differences in languages, cultures, religions, political systems, and colonial histories. From the earliest publication in 1887 to the latest in 2021, this dictionary celebrates the incredibly rich body of fiction, poetry, memoirs, plays, and children’s literature. Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 700 cross-referenced entries on genres, major terms, and authors. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about this topic.

Sei's first journey abroad in this other world is to Zaidera and she's trying her hand at making magical amulets! She's also over the moon about her engagement to Albert. While busy with wedding preparations, Sei overhears how one of the members of First Prince Kyle's delegation to Zaidera is now bedridden with an unknown illness. Naturally, Sei can't just stand idly by, and, with that, her trip to Zaidera is hurriedly assured. However, upon her arrival, Kyle informs Sei that no one is sick and to make matters worse, the port has been closed, so they're now stuck abroad!

Oriland Magic Star will show you how to create mesmerizing action origami - fabulous variations of the one and only Magic Star of Oriland! The Magic Star is a star-like shaped polyhedral torus that can be rotated, so its surface constantly transforms with sections squeezing in the center and straightening at the 'equator', while you see the changing pattern of folds and colors that has a mesmerizing effect! Watch Oriland Magic Star in action in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjfYLS1lc5U Do-It-Yourself - fold these fantastic action models, originally designed by Yuri and Katrin Shumakov, and experience the mystery of The Oriland Magic Star firsthand! On 90 pages of this book there are 360 detailed step-by-step colorful vector- and photo-diagrams with thorough written instructions and photos of examples of completed projects that will guide you through folding the 6 original origami designs including the one-piece Magic Star and modular Magic Stars. In each article, there are recommendations on paper type and size with indication of the size of the completed model, as well as suggestions on color schemes to get rainbow, hypnotic rings, chess, yin-yang effects on your Magic Stars. The designs are intermediate and complex level of folding and are a good challenge for the experienced folder and the expert alike. Folding the modules is easy, though the assembly of the star might be challenging, but the result is oh! how satisfying! Have a creative and fun time with this book making mesmerizing Oriland Magic Stars! Happy folding!For more details on this book and the model menu, please visit our website at http://www.oriland.com/store/books/oriland_magic_star/main.php Action Origami Series: Volume 1 (this book): http://www.amazon.com/dp/1497383994/ Volume 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500603619/

The black star has been averted, but Ayden and his friends are not out of danger yet. When he and Merlin realize that Ayden’s reputation as a curse breaker does more harm than good, they decide to travel, only to be captured by assassins the next morning. They have gained the attention of powerful people, and they will have to be clever and vigilant not to become pawns. What begins as a quest to clear up a misunderstanding and uncover the disappearance of a missing wizard, soon becomes an adventure of peril and magic, which will test Ayden’s abilities, Merlin’s wisdom, and an immortal prince’s bravery. They will face monsters, deadly traps, powerful foes, and even more dangerous allies.

Raine, Ly’Tana and the others escape Brutal’s trap, but with dire consequences. Kel’Ratan has been grievously injured, and Rygel must take him to safety to save his life. Yet, they are not out of danger. A monstrous storm called the Wrath of Usa’a’mah has halted their flight from Khalid and they must seek shelter within a remote monastery or die under the storm’s power. But High King Brutal has allied himself with the deadly assassins, the Shekinah Tongu. The secretive clan has sworn out a Blood Oath against Rygel in retaliation for his leaving their brothers in the forest to die. With their hellish hounds and Brutal’s dark wizard, Ja’Teel, they track Raine and Ly’Tana through the devastation left by the storm. Raine leads them into the west, toward Ly’Tana’s home of Kel’Halla, with Brutal’s menace confronting them at every turn. As he finds himself falling in love with the exotic Ly’Tana, Raine is plagued by a mysterious voice in his head. Is he going crazy? In Raine, Ly’Tana discovers the one man she cannot live without. However, an evil entity has targeted Ly’Tana, bent on her destruction. How can Raine, Rygel, Kel’Ratan and her griffin bodyguard, Bar, keep her safe from its vast, unseen power? Hunted by Brutal and his evil allies, Raine, Ly’Tana and their friends discover a new, and very strange, force dogging their trail – a pack of enormous, cunning wolves. Mysterious wolves who call to Raine in the night, and bring alive the secret he’s kept hidden, even from himself. Taunted by nightmarish visions, Raine is forced to confront his own dark demon – the beast within himself. Who will catch Raine and Ly’Tana first? Brutal and his pets – or the wolves? Thus begins the second novel of the Saga of the Black Wolf series.