With that, neither of them said anything for a few moments and both realized the song had ended. Looking at each other they imagined an audience applauding to that musical exchange. Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton would have been jealous had they been there in the audience. They were perhaps busy that morning playing somewhere or maybe even rehearsing for their groundbreaking concert in Carnegie Hall that would take place a few weeks later in January. It was the first time a jazz ensemble had been allowed to perform at Carnegie. Colin and Piper didnt know it, but theres had just been an opening act for themselves, music, and jazz. It would be a good year for improvisation, that year 1938, a

Sumie Kawakami is an experienced and intelligent reporter who manages to get her subjects to bare their souls and share their anxieties in a book I found hard to put down. ” —Jeff Kingston, The Japan Times "Kawakami presents a frank portrait of Japanese women today, via these compulsively readable, expertly crafted essays. Further kudos should go to Yuko Enomoto for her seamless translation.” —Suzanne Kamata, author of Losing Kei “A tartly written, stereotype-blasting and beautifully made book.” —Roland Kelts, author of Japanamerica “Refreshingly intense” —Colleen Mondor, Bookslut "Smart and lively and thoughtful and moving, like a good Studs Terkel without encyclopedic pretensions." —Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, author of the best-selling A Series of Unfortunate Events “Full of rich details of contemporary Japan ... in the end readers should understand why Madame Butterfly no longer exists. Or perhaps never existed at all.” —Todd Shimoda author of The Fourth Treasure and 365 Views of Mt. Fuji "An eye-opening, detailed look at the private, intimate lives of Japanese women ... This is an intelligent and authoritative work, covering everything from adultery to sex volunteers and the role of fortune tellers in Japanese romance. It is at once illuminating and entertaining, credible and so engrossing you will find it difficult to put down." — Robert Whiting, author of Tokyo Underworld, The Meaning of Ichiro and You Gotta Have Wa Sumie Kawakami’s Goodbye Madame Butterfly is an intimate look at the sex lives of Japanese people from a female perspective. This groundbreaking work of nonfiction will shatter the myth of the pliant, coy Japanese woman and replace her with a complex, erotic, sexually charged and fiercely independent woman who struggles to find her place in a male-dominated society.

A captivating and child-friendly look at the extraordinary journey that monarch butterflies take each year from Canada to Mexico; with a text in both English and Spanish. Rhyming text and lively illustrations showcase the epic trip taken by the monarch butterflies. At the end of each summer, these international travelers leave Canada to fly south to Mexico for the winter--and now readers can come along for the ride! Over mountains capped with snow, to the deserts down below. Children will be delighted to share in the fascinating journey of the monarchs and be introduced to the people and places they pass before they finally arrive in the forests that their ancestors called home.

Robert Smith’s first book entitled My Bunny Rabbit Adventures features his father’s repertoire of 1960s bedtime stories about the bunnies who lived in the woods next door. One of the bunnies from those original stories called Hector is featured in this subsequent book, which is a novel about Hector’s life and times from the age of two when he first met Robert, the storyteller, to when his first child reaches this impressionable age. It therefore covers Hector’s circle of life. You will discover how Hector grew up, what happened to him, what he became, how he coped with the good and bad things that came his way, what he learned from his experiences and from those of others, and finally, how he matured into a grown-up rabbit with a family of his own. The reader will learn about, and gain a better understanding of both their and other peoples’ feelings, challenges, and fears and how to deal with them and how to respect and treat others. The novel includes some interesting true stories and facts as part of the story line, which you may find interesting and useful and, hopefully, just utterly amazing too! This book is therefore an ideal first novel for children.

From the creator of The Rabbit Listened comes a gentle story about the difficulty of change . . . and the wonder that new beginnings can bring. Change and transitions are hard, but Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! demonstrates how, when one experience ends, it opens the door for another to begin. It follows two best friends as they say goodbye to snowmen, and hello to stomping in puddles. They say goodbye to long walks, butterflies, and the sun...and hello to long evening talks, fireflies, and the stars. But the hardest goodbye of all comes when one of the friends has to move away. Feeling alone isn't easy, and sometimes new beginnings take time. But even the hardest days come to an end, and you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Don't Let Stage Fright Sabotage Your Next Big Performance, Presentation or Competition You'll never achieve your full potential as a performer, public speaker, or athlete until you find your way beyond stage fright. The stakes are that high. Goodbye Butterflies' breakthrough DIY stage fright solution offers genuine hope to musicians, actors, dancers, and other performers, as well as public speakers, athletes, and even casual sufferers who become anxious in front of others. Developed by veteran educator, professional musician, and noted stage fright authority Dr. David Lee Fish, Goodbye Butterflies leads you step by easy step towards freedom from your nervousness using the same exclusive READ method he developed for his popular online course (goodbyebutterflies.com). Let Dr. Fish show you how to: calm your nerves unleash your talent enjoy the spotlight While helping you find the way beyond your stage fright, Goodbye Butterflies reveals why it's almost impossible to tackle your anxiety head-on. You'll also learn why getting nervous isn't your fault and doesn't mean you're somehow broken. In addition, you'll uncover the deep danger lurking beneath your nervousness. As an important extra, the approach at the heart of Goodbye Butterflies will help you achieve a state of flow to achieve peak performance when you perform, speak, or compete. No other method offers that. A large bonus section includes instructions on how public speakers and athletes can also benefit from Goodbye Butterflies and profiles famous stage fright sufferers, including Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Adele, Katy Perry, and Lorde. Praise for Goodbye Butterflies Having spent the last 30+ years in the entertainment industry as a director, producer, writer, actor, sportscaster and voice-over artist, I'm all too familiar with the nemesis known as stage fright. Working through Dr. Fish's Goodbye Butterflies has helped me better understand this unwelcome guest, who often shows up unannounced. It can be managed and put in its place with the proper perspective, which helps release the artistic flow that is necessary to share the performance that rings true to the audience - be it one person or millions. Mel Fair (Halloween, Super 8, Scandal, Justified, Weeds) Goodbye Butterflies is an essential weapon in the arsenal of any serious performer and anyone else whose career depends on persuading, entertaining, or motivating others. And that's EVERYONE! Dr. Fish is revolutionizing entertainment & public speaking. What Dale Carnegie is to "winning friends & influencing people," he is to performance. DO THIS!!!" Pat O'Connor (artist manager & CEO - POC Media, Inc.)

Embark on a Journey Through the Heart: Embrace Healing in the Midst of Loss When the world seems to crumble with the departure of a loved one, "Goodbye, Butterfly: Understanding Loss with Love" offers a tender embrace, a guide through the tender journey of grief. Like a trusted companion, it holds your hand, assuring you that amidst the cascade of emotions, there lies a path of love, remembrance, and renewal. In the delicate pages of this book, you'll navigate the nuances of goodbyes, uncovering what loss really means and the whirlwind of feelings that come with it. As you turn each page, you'll find solace in understanding that your tears are not signs of weakness but precious droplets in the ocean of healing. Together, we explore the myriad beliefs about where our loved ones have gone, and how to hold them in our hearts with eternal warmth. Remembering With Love is more than a chapter; it is a promise. A promise that your memories, brimming with affection, can transform aching absence into a celebration of life lived and love shared. It's Okay to Cry speaks softly to your soul, granting permission to express your sorrow and to discover the healing power of reaching out for a comforting hug. Talking About Feelings lights the way for open hearts and shared stories, making this more than a personal journey. It's a passage that connects us to others, binding us in the universal experience of loss. As you reach out to friends, the support found will emerge as beams of light during the darker days.And then, a new dawn in Growing From Grief. Here, the book gently nudges you to witness your own evolving strength, recognizing that every ending is also a chance to cherish new beginnings. Complete with meaningful activities and ample resources, this book becomes a treasured keepsake--a lantern in the night, guiding you back to a hopeful horizon. Laced with comfort and understanding, "Goodbye, Butterfly" is an invitation to journey through grief with compassion and to bravely step forward without leaving love behind. This book is not only a resource but also a friend in the most challenging of times.

Have you ever been the "new kid" at your school? Can you say... SCARY?! Well, you can relate to Jasmine Jones! She is a 3rd grader that is extremely nervous about transferring to a new school. She just knows this will be the worst day ever! However, as the day goes by she realizes that each friend she meets shares a common interest with her. This makes her first day experience better than she expected!

The seven kids who bonded in Mr. Terupt's fifth-grade class are now in eighth grade, reunited with their beloved teacher, and vow to make the year as memorable as possible. Jeffrey, Alexia, Anna, Danielle, Luke, Peter, and Jessica are thrilled to have their beloved teacher, Mr. Terupt, back for the school year--this time as their biweekly adviser. They still rely on him for guidance in all things, school and life. When Mr. Terupt reveals what his plan is after the school year ends, the students hatch bucket-list type projects to show their appreciation for him in order to make the school year important, memorable, and way bigger than just the group. Will the gang stick together down to the final project? Will their friendships endure after the difficult goodbye?