In high summer meadows, nestled in the moors, near old castles, or behind the kitchen stove--these are the places where the Little People may be found. Make the acquaintance of White Ladies and Red Caps, Church Grims and Hobgoblins, English Fairies, Leprechauns, Sirens, Hey-Hey Men, and all of their strange and mythical kin. Become wise in the ways of these magical creatures, some beautiful and benevolent, others cunning, menacing, or morose. Featuring more than 80 new illustrations Praise: "Rationalists, materialists, be forewarned: the ancient forces governing earthly incident and momentum lie neither in our heads nor our economics, but, rather, in the revelations from A Field Guide to the Little People."--The New York Times

Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri turns her satirical eye on her own life in this hilarious new memoir... Most twentysomethings spend a lot of time avoiding awkwardness. Not Alexandra Petri. Afraid of rejection? Alexandra Petri has auditioned for America’s Next Top Model. Afraid of looking like an idiot? Alexandra Petri lost Jeopardy! by answering “Who is that dude?” on national TV. Afraid of bad jokes? Alexandra Petri won an international pun championship. Petri has been a debutante, reenacted the Civil War, and fended off suitors at a Star Wars convention while wearing a Jabba the Hutt suit. One time, she let some cult members she met on the street baptize her, just to be polite. She’s a connoisseur of the kind of awkwardness that most people spend whole lifetimes trying to avoid. If John Hodgman and Amy Sedaris had a baby…they would never let Petri babysit it. But Petri is here to tell you: Everything you fear is not so bad. Trust her. She’s tried it. And in the course of her misadventures, she’s learned that there are worse things out there than awkwardness—and that interesting things start to happen when you stop caring what people think.

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the international bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles with the first instalment in the adventures of the Grace children. After finding a mysterious handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they've just moved into, the Grace children - Jared, Simon and Mallory - discover that there's a magical and maybe dangerous world existing parallel to our own - the world of faerie. The children want to share what they know, but the faeires will do everything possible to stop their secrets being revealed . . .

BIRDERS WILL DELIGHT in this field guide parody which hovers over the forefront of ornithological discovery. Thirty-two fabulous new species are depicted in this volume, which features tongue-in-bill descriptions, observation hints, and range maps, as well as remarkable full-color illustrations. The reader will never look at our feathered friends in the same way after encountering these "freakquent" flyers.

Reveals an ancient race of Little People, the catalyst for the emergence of the first known civilizations • Traces the common roots of key words and holy symbols, including the scarlet biretta of Catholic cardinals, back to the Little People • Explains how the mounds of North America and Ireland were not burial sites but the homes of the Little People • Includes the Tuatha De Danaan, the Hindu Sri Vede, the dwarf gods of Mexico and Peru, the Menehune of Hawaii, the Nunnehi of the Cherokee as well as African Pygmies and the Semang of Malaysia All cultures haves stories of the First People, the “Old Ones,” our prehistoric forebears who survived the Great Flood and initiated the first sacred traditions. From the squat “gods” of Mexico and Peru to the fairy kingdom of Europe to the blond pygmies of Madagascar, on every continent of the world they are remembered as masters of stone carving, agriculture, navigation, writing, and shamanic healing--and as a “hobbit” people, no taller than 31/2 feet in height yet perfectly proportioned. Linking the high civilizations of the Pleistocene to the Golden Age of the Great Little People, Susan Martinez reveals how this lost race was forced from their original home on the continent of Pan (known in myth as Mu or Lemuria) during the Great Flood of global legend. Following the mother language of Pan, Martinez uncovers the original unity of humankind in the common roots of key words and holy symbols, including the scarlet biretta of Catholic cardinals, and shows how the Small Sacred Workers influenced the primitive tribes that they encountered in the post-flood diaspora, leading to the rise of civilization. Examining the North American mound-culture sites, including the diminutive adult remains found there, she explains that these stately mounds were not burial sites but the sanctuaries and homes of the Little People. Drawing on the intriguing worldwide evidence of pygmy tunnels, dwarf villages, elf arrows, and tiny coffins, Martinez reveals the Little People as the real missing link of prehistory, later sanctified and remembered as gods rather than the mortals they were.

Originally published: New York: Arcade Pub.: Distributed by Little, Brown and Company, c1998.

A thorough reference to the many deities, magical beings, mythical places, and ancient customs of the Norse and Germanic regions of Europe • Explores the legends and origins of well-known gods and figures such as Odin, Thor, Krampus, and the Valkyries, as well as a broad range of magical beings such as the Elf King, the Lorelei, the Perchten, dwarves, trolls, and giants • Draws upon a wealth of well-known and rare sources, such as the Poetic Edda and The Deeds of the Danes by Saxo Grammaticus • Examines folktales, myths, and magical beliefs from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and England The legends of the Norse and Germanic regions of Europe--spanning from Germany and Austria across Scandinavia to Iceland and England--include a broad range of mythical characters and places, from Odin and Thor, to berserkers and Valhalla, to the Valkyries and Krampus. In this encyclopedia, Claude Lecouteux explores the origins, connections, and tales behind many gods, goddesses, magical beings, rituals, folk customs, and mythical places of Norse and Germanic tradition. More than a reference to the Aesir and the Vanir pantheons, this encyclopedia draws upon a wealth of well-known and rare sources, such as the Poetic Edda, the Saga of Ynglingar by Snorri Sturluson, and The Deeds of the Danes by Saxo Grammaticus. Beyond the famous and infamous Norse gods and goddesses, Lecouteux also provides information on lesser-known figures from ancient Germanic pagan tradition such as the Elf King, the Lorelei, the Perchten, land spirits, fairies, dwarves, trolls, goblins, bogeymen, giants, and many other beings who roam the wild, as well as lengthy articles on well-known figures and events such as Siegfried (Sigurd in Norse) and Ragnarök. The author describes the worship of the elements and trees, details many magical rituals, and shares wild folktales from ancient Europe, such as the strange adventure of Peter Schlemihl and the tale of the Cursed Huntsman. He also dispels the false beliefs that have arisen from the Nazi hijacking of Germanic mythology and from its longtime suppression by Christianity. Complete with rare illustrations and information from obscure sources appearing for the first time in English, this detailed reference work represents an excellent resource for scholars and those seeking to reconnect to their pagan pasts and restore the old religion.

Fusing ancient Western spirituality, energy work, and psychology, The Great Work is a practical guide to personal transformation season by season. Learn to be truly holistic by incorporating key physical, emotional, and energetic practices into your life at times when the natural tides are in harmony with your process. The Great Work captures the core essence of each festival with eight key themes that span the annual cycle—a cycle that reflects human development and experience. Discover how Yule can alleviate a painful childhood, how Beltane can facilitate conscious relationships, and how Mabon can assist with determining your life's purpose. Find guidance through daily journal questions, elemental meditations, and the author's unique energy-healing technique of Hynni. With this invaluable resource for your journey of inner alchemy, you'll develop an intimate connection with the earth's impulse to create balance and harmony. Praise: "Tiffany Lazic weaves together psychology, myth, meditation and keen observation of the natural world, creating an invaluable and original resource for healing work of all kinds. Inviting and accessible to all readers."—Elizabeth Cunningham, author of The Maeve Chronicles "The Great Work presents inspiring insights and practical exercises that help unlock the alchemical mysteries at the heart of the Eightfold Path, and which facilitate a deep connection with the cycles of nature as they reveal their transformational powers in all of us."—Jhenah Telyndru, author of Avalon Within

Fairies have been revered and feared, sometimes simultaneously, throughout recorded history. This encyclopedia of concise entries, from the A-senee-ki-waku of northeastern North America to the Zips of Central America and Mexico, includes more than 2,500 individual beings and species of fairy and nature spirits from a wide range of mythologies and religions from all over the globe.