Offers invitation ideas, decoration tips, and other advice for planning birthday and anniversary parties, bridal showers, baby showers, retirement parties, and other celebrations.

"A vintage version of 'Gossip Girl' meets bigger hair." —The Skimm "DiSclafani’s story sparkles like the jumbo diamonds her characters wear to one-up each other. Historical fiction lovers will linger over every lush detail." —People From the bestselling author of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls comes a story of lifelong female friendship – in all its intimate agony and joy – set within a world of wealth, beauty, and expectation. Joan Fortier is the epitome of Texas glamour and the center of the 1950s Houston social scene. Tall, blonde, beautiful, and strong, she dominates the room and the gossip columns. Every man wants her; every woman wants to be her. Devoted to Joan since childhood, Cece Buchanan is either her chaperone or her partner in crime, depending on whom you ask. But when Joan’s radical behavior escalates the summer they are twenty-five, Cece considers it her responsibility to bring her back to the fold, ultimately forcing one provocative choice to appear the only one there is. A thrilling glimpse into the sphere of the rich and beautiful at a memorable moment in history, The After Party unfurls a story of friendship as obsessive, euphoric, consuming, and complicated as any romance.

Let the celebration begin! Whether you want to throw the best birthday bash ever or you’re dreaming up a just-for-fun sleepover extravaganza with your friends, Faithgirlz! has you covered. Packed full of creative and crazy-fun ideas, this book contains everything you need to know to plan fifteen great get-togethers from start to finish. From holiday parties to secret garden soirees, cookie bake-offs for a cause to “glamping” slumber parties, you and your BFFs will get detailed how-tos and plenty of tips for designing cute crafts, décor, munchies, and more. Plus, clever ideas throughout show you how to turn every day into a special occasion! Have a blast from invitation to gracious goodbye—all on a crafty girl’s budget.

In late October 1846, the last wagon train of that year's westward migration stopped overnight before resuming its arduous climb over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, unaware that a fearsome storm was gathering force. After months of grueling travel, the 81 men, women and children would be trapped for a brutal winter with little food and only primitive shelter. The conclusion is known: by spring of the next year, the Donner Party was synonymous with the most harrowing extremes of human survival. But until now, the full story of what happened, what it tells us about human nature and about America's westward expansion, remained shrouded in myth. Drawing on fresh archaeological evidence, recent research on topics ranging from survival rates to snowfall totals, and heartbreaking letters and diaries made public by descendants a century-and-a-half after the tragedy, Ethan Rarick offers an intimate portrait of the Donner party and their unimaginable ordeal: a mother who must divide her family, a little girl who shines with courage, a devoted wife who refuses to abandon her husband, a man who risks his life merely to keep his word. But Rarick resists both the gruesomely sensationalist accounts of the Donner party as well as later attempts to turn the survivors into archetypal pioneer heroes. "The Donner Party," Rarick writes, "is a story of hard decisions that were neither heroic nor villainous. Often, the emigrants displayed a more realistic and typically human mixture of generosity and selfishness, an alloy born of necessity." A fast-paced, heart-wrenching, clear-eyed narrative history, A Desperate Hope casts new light on one of America's most horrific encounters between the dream of a better life and the harsh realities such dreams so often must confront.

The first in a hilarious young graphic novel series about Pizza and Taco. Two best friends, lots of toppings...but only one of them can be the BEST, right? Fans of Narwhal and Jelly will eat this book up...and be hungry for more! Best friends are the BEST! But WHO is the BEST? Is it Pizza or Taco? The question is debatable! They both love water slides. They both are friends with Hot Dog and Hamburger. In fact, maybe they should have a debate and get their friends to VOTE for who's the best! Can their friendship survive the race for top spot on the popularity food chain? Cast your VOTE! This graphic chapter book will tickle the funny bones of kids ages 5-8 and bolster their reading confidence. oung graphic chapter books are also a great step on the way to longer chapter books and graphic novels. Readers will devour all the books in the series: Pizza and Taco: Who's the Best? Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever! Pizza and Taco: Super-Awesome Comic! Pizza and Taco: Too Cool For School Pizza and Taco: Rock Out!

There are only two things Jelly likes about the new house on Rosemary Street: the old apricot tree and the creek over the back fence. One night, Jelly and her cousins spot something in the creek's dark waters. At first they think it's a bird, but it isn't...it's a baby angel with a broken wing.

INCLUDING BRAND NEW SHORT STORY ‘Compelling, addictive...brilliant’ B A Paris It was just a party. But it turned into a nightmare.

In this charming story from the blockbuster chapter-book series, Jack meets his cousin, an acrobat! In The Circus Lesson, Jack’s new babysitter is awesome, but a bit crazy. Pizza for dinner, juggling lessons and sleeping outside – with no tent! But will Jack let his worrying get in the way of having fun? From the Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin comes this fantastic and beloved first chapter-book series. Every story follows Jack, a friendly, everyday kid who loves playing with his best friend, Billie. Created to help build emotional literacy, every book in the Hey Jack! series explores a particular emotion – such as worry, happiness, excitement or disappointment – in a relatable way for young readers. Whether it’s about friends, family or feelings, there’s no challenge Jack can’t figure out! With more than ten million books in print around the world, best-selling author Sally Rippin has helped a generation of readers love learning to read. Every Hey Jack! book is carefully designed with short chapters, decodable vocabulary and lots of illustrations, and there are no mountains of text or super-tricky words to intimidate the early reader. And there’s plenty of stories in the series to explore! For more wonderful series by Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin, check out the Billie B Brown and School of Monsters series. Readers will love other books in the Hey Jack! series: The Winning Goal The Scary Solo The Robot Blues The Fire Truck The Big Mess The Class Party and many more!

In book 11 of the Tales of Sasha series, Verdant Valley prepares for an approaching snowstorm. Can Sasha help all the creatures find a safe haven? Sasha and her friends are preparing for the winter solstice celebration. But word arrives from the King and Queen that a snowstorm is on the way. Will it ruin the festivities?

Tons of party games, including popular "minute-to-win" challenges! What's the secret to the best parties? Games--and the sillier, the better! Get your guests out of their chairs and into the fun with activities guaranteed to keep everyone laughing, including: Cookie Face (Who can walk the farthest with a cookie on his forehead?) Two Truths and a Lie (Which one is the lie?) Improv in a Bag (Teams come up with a skit using household items.) Mummy Wrap (A race to make the fastest toilet-paper mummy.) Human Bowling (Just like it sounds!) And many more, including scavenger hunts, truth-or-dare ideas, holiday games, and do-it-yourself challenges. The Everything Big Book of Party Games is packed with tons of games for groups of all levels and sizes and for a variety of occasions, from kids' birthday celebrations to holiday parties to vacations and more. With this book in hand, you'll have all you need to throw parties to remember!