When a nonprofit organization called Save the Girls pairs a fourteen-year-old Sudanese refugee with an American teenager from Richmond, Virginia, the pen pals teach each other compassion and share a bond that bridges two continents.

An insightful and honest memoir of post-communist Russia. A compelling story of what it was like to grow up in modern Russia, a magnificent but often misunderstood country, battered by media headlines. A personal journey that turned a Russian into a Westerner - a tale of every immigrant who suffers from a lost sense of belonging. Jana Bakunina tells the story of her childhood in the Soviet Union from the early days of perestroikato the collapse of the USSR, offering a unique insight into the lives of ordinary Russians. Bird's Milkreveals a period of turbulent political and economic changes but also a heart-warming world of bliniand pelmeni, weekends spent at the family dachaand summer camps on the Black Sea. With her background in economics and finance, Jana Bakunina has much to say about the current climate in Russia, but she also tells a personal story, featuring Bulgakov and Tolstoy, her grandmother's cooking and the Russian rock scene. Her childhood was in many ways traditional, but with Gorbachev's reforms and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union, new horizons opened up. Bird's Milkis a tale of growing up, struggling to belong and make sense of what it means to love one's country, whilst being something of an outsider both at home and abroad.

There is a story about Kara and dragons. When she was four, she came down with vermillion fever. Her parents, thinking there was no cure, left her in a cave to die. A month, later she walked back into her parents’ home as healthy as if she had never been sick. It is said that a mother dragon lived in that cave, and she nursed young Kara back to life. Now, eleven years later, the only reminder of Kara’s illness is a small scar on her cheek. Of her contact with the dragon, there is more. Her eyes, which once were blue, are now green. And she can call down birds, which many believe is a sign that she can also call down dragons, for the two are distant cousins. Only Kara has her doubts. How can a beast as huge and terrifying as a dragon be related to a sweet, gentle bird? But could this explain why the king has sent for her? Does he think she has power over dragons? For Kara, the answer to this question means life or death—not only for her, but for all the dragons.

Before Audubon, there was Buffon’s Histoire naturelle, g�n�rale et particuli�re, originally published in thirty-six volumes between 1749 and 1778. All the World’s Birds comprises selections from the original, which explored all flora and fauna, and features the beautiful full color illustrations by Fran�ois-Nicolas Martinet. Now this seminal work appears in a handsome, slipcased edition which marks the first publication of Buffon’s writings in one volume with Martinet’s beautiful yet scientifically precise engravings, originally published separately. These wondrous eighteenth century depictions of birds are among the earliest scientific attempts to depict birds in all their detail, and these plates are a milestone in the development of ornithological art. This monumental volume is perfect for any bird lover.

Expand your bird knowledge with this gorgeous encyclopedia of nearly 400 bird species around the world, unique for its inclusion of both their physical and mythological characteristics. If you’re a nature lover who thrives on bird videos and photography, go beyond the scope of standard field guides with this comprehensive reference. Each entry of The Complete Language of Birds provides not only the bird’s name and physical qualities, but also its history, symbolic meanings, and hidden properties from mythology, legends, and folklore. Within the pages of this colorful volume, you’ll find: Beautiful illustrations and descriptions of common and unusual birds Notes on the surprising properties and powers of birds Discussions of the symbolism and mythological significance of each bird species Dive into an unusual dimension of historical and arcane knowledge with the study of birds. A collection of fun and interesting facts about birds gathered from science and culture, the stunning illustrations and lively descriptions make this an engaging guide you’ll return to again and again. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including dream interpretation, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, flower meanings, and the stories behind signs and symbols. Also available in the series: Complete Book of Dreams, Complete Language of Flowers, Complete Language of Herbs, Signs & Symbols of the World, Complete Guide to Astrological Self-Care, and Complete Language of Food.