This is a book for kids (and their parents) who are heartbroken about Santa Claus. "You might think there is no more magic in the world. But the truth is much more interesting." You see, Saint Nicholas didn't HAVE magic-- he was an opening for magic. But he was never supposed to be the only one.The story got twisted, you see. Real magic was never about presents or a man in a red suit-- real magic is wilder and deeper than that. You might call it love, or kindness, or human goodness. The question is, will you become part of true magic? Will you bring more kindness and courage into the world? Will you join the Secret Society of Saint Nicholas?

In The Anatomy of a Calling, Lissa Rankin, MD, makes a simple yet revolutionary claim: We are all, every single one of us, heroes. We are all on what Joseph Campbell calls "a hero's journey;" we are all on a mission to step into our true nature and fulfill the assignment our souls were sent to Earth to fulfill. Navigating the hero's journey, Dr. Rankin argues, is one of the cornerstones of living a meaningful, authentic, healthy life. In clear, engaging prose, Dr. Rankin describes her entire spiritual journey for the first time--beginning with what she calls her "perfect storm" of events--and recounts the many transformative experiences that led to a profound awakening of her soul. Through her father's death, her daughter's birth, career victories and failures, and an ongoing struggle to identify as both a doctor and a healer, Dr. Rankin discovers a powerful self-awareness. As she shares her story, she encourages you to find out where you are on your own journey and offers wisdom and inspiration in the form of "Hero's Guideposts" along the way. Dr. Rankin weaves in lessons on trusting intuition, surrendering to love, and learning to see adversity as an opportunity for soul growth. Much more than a memoir, The Anatomy of a Calling guides you to make a powerful shift in consciousness and reach your highest destiny.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! AS HEARD ON NPR MORNING EDITION AND ON BEING WITH KRISTA TIPPETT “Katherine May opens up exactly what I and so many need to hear but haven't known how to name.” —Krista Tippett, On Being “Every bit as beautiful and healing as the season itself. . . . This is truly a beautiful book.” —Elizabeth Gilbert "Proves that there is grace in letting go, stepping back and giving yourself time to repair in the dark...May is a clear-eyed observer and her language is steady, honest and accurate—capturing the sense, the beauty and the latent power of our resting landscapes." —Wall Street Journal An intimate, revelatory book exploring the ways we can care for and repair ourselves when life knocks us down. Sometimes you slip through the cracks: unforeseen circumstances like an abrupt illness, the death of a loved one, a break up, or a job loss can derail a life. These periods of dislocation can be lonely and unexpected. For May, her husband fell ill, her son stopped attending school, and her own medical issues led her to leave a demanding job. Wintering explores how she not only endured this painful time, but embraced the singular opportunities it offered. A moving personal narrative shot through with lessons from literature, mythology, and the natural world, May's story offers instruction on the transformative power of rest and retreat. Illumination emerges from many sources: solstice celebrations and dormice hibernation, C.S. Lewis and Sylvia Plath, swimming in icy waters and sailing arctic seas. Ultimately Wintering invites us to change how we relate to our own fallow times. May models an active acceptance of sadness and finds nourishment in deep retreat, joy in the hushed beauty of winter, and encouragement in understanding life as cyclical, not linear. A secular mystic, May forms a guiding philosophy for transforming the hardships that arise before the ushering in of a new season.

You’re totally awesome—let these creative exercises, cool prompts, and fun activities help remind you why. When’s the last time you felt good—really good—about yourself? Between the unrealistic standards of social media, to the Photoshopped images of celebrities in the media, and the constant voice in our head saying we have to be faster, better, and smarter in our personal lives, at work, and everywhere in between, it’s easy to lose sight of your self-worth. Sometimes, we all need a kick in the butt to remind us just how awesome we are. I’m Awesome. Here’s Why… is that kick. With prompts, exercises, lists, and activities, I’m Awesome: Here’s Why will help remind you of all the reasons why you are unique, cool—and yes, awesome. Through fun prompts and writing exercises like listing ten things you’re proud of, drawing your idea of the perfect Friday night, creating your own personal affirmations to read out loud, and delivering an acceptance speech for an award of your choice, you’ll learn to celebrate what makes you, you. Loving yourself can take practice, but there is no shortage of things to love. Let I’m Awesome. Here’s Why… help you discover each and every one.

The #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan is now a major motion picture streaming on Disney+ This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself. Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope. The One and Only Ivan features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective). This acclaimed middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom. Plus don't miss The One and Only Bob, Katherine Applegate's return to the world of Ivan, Bob, and Ruby!

From divinely miserable to damned happy: A tale of reckoning, personal redemption, and love-over-dogma epiphany. As a child, Katherine North had a terrible secret: she couldn't feel Jesus in her heart. For the daughter of Christian missionaries, this was a problem indeed. She embarked on a most unexpected spiritual journey, one that transformed her from a terrified kid into a joyful heathen mystic. Holy Heathen is the origin story of trailblazing life coach Katherine North. From growing up as a "Third Culture Kid" in an evangelical mission in Japan to discovering feminism at Bryn Mawr College, she grapples to find the true meaning of belonging when she doesn't fit in anywhere. Katherine reckons with a lifetime of nightmares and odd spiritual encounters that lead her away from religion but toward a vocation helping others find healing. Her path spans continents, featuring an unlikely acting career in Japan on the stage, a stint in Chicago amongst a gang of mid-nineties Beat-era revivalists, marriage and divorce, church and sex, abortion and motherhood, healing and earthquakes, spiritual awakening-and finally, the call within her that she'd forever yearned for.

Katherine Carrier's usual life suddenly becomes unusual when she discovers she is a wizard. She is put into the Academy for Wizards-In-Training, an academy beyond belief. There she meets her long-lost brother and many other friends, including the immortal Sebastian. Katherine, who once believed she was an orphan, discovers by a mysterious "Phantom" and Mr. Smith's will that she has a father, which is a celebration, but not when he's trapped in the Jotori Cave! Soon she is thrown into a Quest for all kinds of things; facing evil loninons, beautiful unicorns, and Dark Wizards in the dungeon. Katherine also discovered a mysterious "it" called The Beast. Desperate to discover who . . . or what this Beast is, she asks around, but no one will even tolerate his name. Deep down, Katherine knows all of these are connected in some way. She won't rest till she finds out what is going on in the Land of Drockoni. And now, within a sit on a chair and an opening of a book, you can find out, too!