A kooky kid is banished to another planet in this hilarious adventure about a futuristic world where different is dangerous, imagination is insanity, and creativity is crazy! Norbert Riddle lives in the United State of Earth, where normal means following the rules, never standing out, and being exactly the same as everyone else, down to the plain gray jumpsuits he wears every day. He's been normal his whole life -- until a moment of temporary hilarity when he does a funny impression of their dictator, Loving Leader . . . and gets caught! Now, Norbert's been arrested and banished to planet Zorquat 3 in the Orion Nebula, where kids who defy the rules roam free in the Astronuts camp. Norbert has been taught his whole life that different is wrong, but everyone at Astronuts is crazy, creative, and insane! Norbert wants nothing more than to go back to earth where things are awful but at least they're familiar. But he soon realizes that being different could be better -- and maybe the crazy farm is exactly where he belongs after all.

We must declare war on the disease of hyperefficiency and reembrace the American virtues of laziness, indolence, and sloth. . . . Workers of the world unite! . . . Take a vacation! . . . You have nothing to lose but your health insurance." --You Know You Need a Vacation If . . . You Know You Need a Vacation If . . . is a compelling read for the 80 percent of the workforce who feel they are overworked and for the more than 35 percent of employees who annually forfeit their vacations. If you begin using your cell phone before leaving your driveway, or if you have no idea what your house looks like in daylight, this book is for you. Joey Green and Alan Corcoran offer more than 250 additional telltale signs that you're, indeed, in need of some downtime. In the spirit of workplace-humor sensations like The Office, Dilbert, and Office Space, You Know You Need a Vacation If . . . advises taking a vacation if: * You dial 9 for an outside line-from home. * You've paid $35 for missing a dentist appointment. * The only church you attend is in turbulence at 35,000 feet. * You stay five-hours late at the office "to avoid rush hour traffic.

The Crossover meets War Horse in this novel about an urban kid's redemption through the grit of polo. Take a ride on this hero's journey amid city streets and an uncertain future. Troy is a kid with a passion. And dreams. And wanting to do the right thing. But after taking a wrong turn, he's forced to endure something that's worse than any juvenile detention he can imagine -- he's been "sentenced" to the local city stables where he's made to take care of the horses and learn to play polo. The greatest punishment has been trying to make sense of things after his mom died. Troy's also figuring out which friends have his back, which kids to cut loose, and whether he and Alisha have a true connection. Laced with humor and beating with heartache, this novel will grip readers, pull quickly, and take them in an unforgettable ride. Set in modern Philadelphia, Christine Kendall's stunning debut lets us come face-to-face with the challenges of a loving family that helps turn hardships into a horse of a different color.

A James Patterson Presents Picture Book Kids can imagine a world where they're in charge -- and ask the grown-ups for help when they need to -- in this adorable and imaginative picture book. The kids have some excellent ideas: turning the Grand Canyon into a ball pit, replacing all the sidewalks with trampolines. But running the world is a tough job. After the kids build a massive house of candy and then immediately eat all of their own furniture, they begin to have second thoughts. Will the kids give the adults one more chance to run the world?

You Know You've Reached Middle Age If . . . is a requiem to retirement. For boomers celebrating their official entry into middleagedom or those just on the cusp, Joey Green and Alan Corcoran offer hundreds of humorous defining moments that even the youngest at heart can't dispute.

After more than 30 years weathering stares and severe public and professional stigma, growing up in the working class of Depression Era Pittsburgh, and trying desperately to enter the new burgeoning field of television, the author experienced a miracle. Born without feet or one hand, new advances in medical science provided artificial legs which gave him a normal height, a natural appearance and gait, and permitted him to enjoy a previously unknown, life altering public anonymity. Being out of the spotlight of public stigma brought him peace. He never shared his story, and held his secrets fiercely. He has never seen himself as being different, nor defined himself in dramatic terms. An experienced, serious and driven educator and television executive, outdoorsman, sailor, carpenter, fisherman, he has formed his reality. His survival is a triumph, his life a victory. He doesn't understand that his accomplishments are remarkable. ..".it is truly inspirational...it will help other people to have a greater appreciation of the issues you so eloquently describe by your experiences." Dr. Anthony Grieco, NYU Medical School "The book provides any reader, casual or otherwise, deep insights into the life of a person born very different physically and later transformed into yet another physical being. That makes the story unique, in a class of its own. I come away from it with a much deeper understanding of the impact of handicapping conditions on a person's development. Not a tear or moment of heartache is left out. What this man went through in his rise above adversity is inspirational in every respect." Don Ferguson, Dean Emeritus, School of Education, New Mexico State University "What I so admire is the lack of self pity. It is one painful step forward after another, instead of railing at the world. The author gives us a metaphor for many people's life. And the memoir holds a happy ending after all the difficult decisions he had to make." Diane H. Schetky, M.D., retired psychiatrist and poet.

The Bob Newhart Show is one of the best-loved sitcoms to come out of the '70s. Joey Green, author of The Partridge Family Album pays loving tribute to the show with more than 60 photos, interviews with cast members, a history of how the show came to be, an episode guide, a trivia quiz, and more. Indispensable to old followers and new fans alike, this is the first and only viewer's guide to The Bob Newhart Show.