On a farm somewhere in Italy, a black cat named Nero reigns supreme. There's not one animal on the farm that doesn't do exactly as Nero orders, even the dog. In this irresistible and warmly-told book, where humans seem simple and animals complex, Nero stops at nothing to get what he wants in life. But as time passes, even Nero begins to learn the lessons of life. Full color.

The World through Children's Books is a valuable and easy-to-use tool for librarians, teachers and others who seek to promote international understanding through children's literature. The annotated bibliography, organized geographically by world region and country, contains nearly 700 books representing 73 countries. Sponsored by the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY).

Presents hundreds of clever cat names to please even the fussiest pussycat. Plus there are amusing drawings on every page as well as informative tips, such as how to train a cat to actually come when he's called!

When her stepfather dies, Lois Cayley finds herself alone in the world with only twopence in her pocket. Undaunted, the intelligent, attractive, and infinitely resourceful young woman decides to set off in search of adventure. Her travels take he...

This is the fourth volume sponsored by the United States Board on Books for Young People, following Children's Books from Other Countries (1998), The World Through Children's Books (2002), and Crossing Boundaries (2006). This latest volume, edited by Linda M. Pavonetti, includes books published between 2005 and 2009. This annotated bibliography, organized geographically by world region and country, with descriptions of nearly 700 books representing more than 70 countries, is a valuableresource for librarians, teachers, and anyone else seeking to promote international understanding through children's literature. Like its predecessors, it will be an important tool for providing stories that will help children understand our differences while simultaneously demonstrating our common humanity.

Part fun- and information-filled almanac, part good book guide, the Children's Book-a-Day Almanac is a new way to discover a great children's book--every day of the year! This fresh, inventive reference book is a dynamic way to showcase the gems, both new and old, of children's literature. Each page features an event of the day, a children's book that relates to that event, and a list of other events that took place on that day. Always informative and often surprising, celebrate a year of literature for children with The Children's Book-a-Day Almanac.

A wide-ranging, surprising, and eloquently argued book that offers a pragmatic and erudite look at the innate human inclination toward nepotism—from ancient Chinese clans to families like the Gores, Kennedys, and Bushes. • “Fascinating and well-researched.” —Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Code Breaker and Steve Jobs Nepotism is one of those social habits we all claim to deplore in America; it offends our sense of fair play and our pride in living in a meritocracy. But somehow nepotism prevails; we all want to help our own and a quick glance around reveals any number of successful families whose sons and daughters have gone on to accomplish objectively great things, even if they got a little help from their parents. Bellow explores how nepotism has produced both positive and negative effects throughout history. As he argues, nepotism practiced badly or haphazardly is an embarrassment to all (including the incompetent beneficiary), but nepotism practiced well can satisfy a deep biological urge to provide for our children and even benefit society as a whole. In Praise of Nepotism is a judicious look at a controversial but timeless subject that has never been explored with such depth or candor, and a fascinating natural history of how families work.

Cooper Glover and Will Carter wake up in a hut in Vietnam with no recollection of how they got there. They soon find themselves trapped in the chaotic web of the CIA's Black Ops division. The deeper they dive into the world of undercover CIA officers, the more they question the motives of their superiors and whether or not they are responsible for the very problems in America they claim to be combating. They eventually take on a protégé, Miguel Cortez, an orphan with ties to the same Mexican drug cartel doing business with the CIA. All three embark on a path of redemption spanning decades. Keeping them under the company's thumb is their mysterious handler, Adam Truman. Truman proves he is willing to stop at nothing to control his officers, going after their loved ones, and even their very sanity to bend them to his will. When Coop and Carter are no longer willing to toe the company line, they rage against the machine. Coop goes to desperate lengths to protect his family from becoming collateral damage while Carter dives deep into the underworld they inhabit, becoming a more successful criminal than an officer. Miguel follows their influence and escapes the company for the world of Hollywood fixers, rubbing elbows with rockstars, before being forced to pay a debt to his former employer. All three men are placed in close proximity to events that change the course of human history. Cruel fate, a relentless Adam Truman, and the continuous fallout from the chain of events they find themselves trapped in, impact not only their lives, but the entire world.

While the first decade after the fall of the Berlin wall was marked by the challenges of unification and the often difficult process of reconciling East and West German experiences, many Germans expected that the "new century" would achieve "normalization." The essays in this volume take a closer look at Germany's new normalcy and argue for a more nuanced picture that considers the ruptures as well as the continuities. Germany's new generation of writers is more diverse than ever before, and their texts often not only speak of a Germany that is multicultural but also take a more playful attitude toward notions of identity. Written with an eye toward similar and dissimilar developments and traditions on both sides of the Atlantic, this volume balances overviews of significant trends in present-day cultural life with illustrative analyses of individual writers and texts.

"What's a penguin to do, living at the South Pole, all dressed up with no place to go? What good is that natty tuxedo if there's no occasion to wear it? Well, these are no dumb penguins. They invite the Opera Ship from Old Vienna down for their amusement, and who are its illustrious passengers? You guessed it - none other than The Three Tenors, performing that South Pole favorite, Verdi's La Traviata, starring José Carreras as Alfredo, Placido Domingo as the disapproving father, and Luciano Pavarotti in the heartbreaking role of the tragic and tender Violetta. Some lucky penguins!