Learning lessons, such as the importance of kindness instead of harshness or quality over quantity, is often easier through stories. Immersed in a world of talking animals, gods and goddesses, and well-turned phrases, readers will absorb important life lessons from more than a dozen of Aesop’s fables. Accompanying illustrations in beautiful color add to the magic of stories like “The Dog in the Manger.” As readers are introduced to new fables and read through old favorites, they’ll acquire an understanding of strong character traits to help them navigate successfully in friendships, family life, and treatment of themselves.

With laugh-out-loud humor anchored by spiritual truths, author Tim Schenck helps us maintain our spiritual sanity through the often-frenetic chaos of Advent and Christmas. Illustrated by popular cartoonist Jay Sidebotham, "Dog in the Manger" also explores the major characters of the season in new ways, including John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph and of course, Jesus. Thoughtful questions following each section make "Dog in the Manger" ideal for personal or group use.

A collection of animal fables told by the Greek slave Aesop.

One hundred twenty-six best-loved fables of Aesop.

With sweet, rhyming text and illustrations by bestselling illustrator Jane Chapman, Goodnight, Manger offers a unique twist on the classic Christmas tale, creatively weaving together comforting and familiar bedtime routines with the special magic and wonder of the manger story as Mary and Joseph try to lull baby Jesus asleep inside the noisy stable. Goodnight, Manger: Is perfect as bedtime reading for your little ones, especially during the holiday season Makes the Christmas story fun and accessible for young readers Helps kids think deeper about what being in the stable may have been like for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Can be read during Advent, the Christmas season, or celebrations of Jesus’s birthday Makes a great gift for baby showers, new moms, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and boys and girls 4-8 It's bedtime for Baby Jesus, but who knew a manger could be so loud? Mama, Papa, and all the animals try to get the baby to sleep, but between itchy hay, angels' joyful hosannas, and three kings bearing noisy gifts, it's just too loud. Until Mama finds a way for everyone to work together to shepherd Jesus into peaceful dreams under the twinkling stars. If you enjoy Goodnight, Manger, be sure to check out Goodnight, Ark as well!

Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.

The New York Times bestselling author of The Wait and “spiritual teacher for our times” (Oprah Winfrey) frankly and openly explores why men behave the way they do and what everyone—men and women alike—need to know about it. We hear it all the time. Men cheat. Men love power. Men love sex. Men are greedy. Men are dogs. But is this really the truth about men? In this groundbreaking book, DeVon Franklin dishes the real truth by making the compelling case that men aren’t dogs but all men share the same struggle. He provides the manual for how men can change, both on a personal and a societal level by providing practical solutions for helping men learn how to resist temptation, how to practice self-control, and how to love. But The Truth About Men isn’t just for men. DeVon tells female readers everything they need to know about men. He offers women a real-time understanding of how men’s struggles affect them, insights that can help them navigate their relationships with men and information on how to heal from the damage that some misbehaving men may have inflicted. This book is a raw, informative, and accessible look at an issue that threatens to tear our society apart yet it offers a positive way forward for men and women alike.

Jacob is a brave little dachshund who, after a long journey to the Middle East, finds himself part of a family of Bethlehem innkeepers. Besides being a companion for the innkeepers’ children, Jacob’s main task is to keep mice and rats out of the stable. One night after his curiosity and nose lead Jacob into the stable, he encounters two new humans and an extra donkey. Although he is alarmed at first, Jacob soon realizes that the humans are not threatening and settles in a corner to keep watch. It is not long before a bright light fills the stable and a special baby is born. Under the watchful eyes of Jacob, shepherds and wise men visit from afar. But when rats attempt to attack baby Jesus that night, Jacob chases them away, only to become injured. As he limps to the manger, Jacob receives a miracle that creates a special memory for the little dog—and a timeless Christmas legend. In this inspirational children’s book, a little dachshund who witnesses the birth of Jesus receives his own miracle after he saves the baby from danger.

Episcopal priest Tim Schenck offers good humor and spiritual direction for the journey through Lent and Easter. With keen observations and a clever wit, Schenck connects the mundane with the divine, from dust bunnies and egg hunts to foot washing and the Easter Vigil. Illustrated by popular cartoonist Jay Sidebotham, Dust Bunnies in the Basket challenges us to go deeper this Lent, to kick up some dust every now and then, to roll up our sleeves and get involved with the world and the people around us. This book is ideal for personal reflection or seasonal study groups and includes thoughtful questions at the end of each section.

Who is CHROO? ... He's quite possibly the richest dog in the world, the ever-present Corona-swilling BFF to celebrity heiress Upferra Quiquis (pronounced "quickie"). Chroo's been everywhere, knows everyone, and (unusual for a Chihuahua) boasts an impressive track record with large-breed females. In this screwball literary fantasy, the fun starts when Upferra (who isn't the dumb blonde everyone thinks) finds out she's inheriting vastly more than the billions expected. It turns out her father was one of eight trillionaires controlling the world's economy by playing a strange, secretive Game. She's inherited his seat in this Game and it's now literally her move. The problem is, she doesn't care to play. So, she, Chroo, and an ensemble cast of humans and animals work to take down the Game, thus restoring freedom to the entire world! CHROO brings readers along for a whirlwind global adventure. Those who like quirky tales will love the endless pop-culture and literary references, animal philosophy, and situational hijinks -- from the book's opening through its climax featuring an invasion of cross-dressing macaques (as told by a thespian cat in four pages of bona fide dactylic hexameter)! Who Would Enjoy Reading CHROO? Readers who enjoy well-crafted, literary prose; Readers who love plot-driven novels; Animal lovers -- especially dogs and cats (and perhaps most notably Chihuahua lovers); Those who appreciate humor, word-play, pop-culture and literary references, and a flirtation with meta-fiction at times; Readers who would appreciate a smart, complex female protagonist; Readers who might enjoy an ensemble-cast; Those who like quirky, mysterious, and adventurous tales with diverse international locations; Those who appreciate speculative, upmarket adult fantasy fiction (i.e., a world where a few select animals can talk to a few select humans, where the world run, in part, as a literal game, etc.). #weird #funny #chroo