It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but Leyland Scott is down in the dumps. It’s his first Christmas since losing his mom, it’s possible his job of over twenty years is about to be axed, and he just can’t find it in himself to care about anything really. Except for one thing—Lynette who works at the coffee shop. She’s the only bright spot in his day. Lynette is fairly new in town, having made the move to the big city a few months ago to find herself. She’s struggling to make ends meet but she’s determined to prove she can make it. During that short time, she’s become interested in Leyland, who frequents the coffee shop. And when he finally asks her out, she’s skeptical at first but agrees, only to discover she’s happy she did. The two have a common concern when they hear the wildly enthusiastic, if a bit (all right, a lot) out of tune Christmas carols being belted out by an underdressed kid wearing angel wings and no shoes. It’s freezing outside, with snow covering the ground, but the boy appears unfazed and continues merrily singing his heart out in front of passersby. No one knows who the kid is, but Harold, as they end up naming him, seems to know them all. Normally not a religious man, Leyland has a change in spirit. The angel boy seems to deliver a message, letting him know this is his opportunity for a fresh start. He’s told when one door closes, another door opens. Perhaps God, with the help of Harold, has opened that door. If that’s true, Leyland is ready to go through it with Lynette. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Maybe it’s also time for a new beginning for them both.

Harold is an angel - one of heaven's brightest stars. But when the other angels gather for choir practice, he hides because he doesn't think he can sing very well. With God's help and the support of his fellow cherubs, Harold discovers his singing voice and starts practicing every chance he gets. Soon, God offers him the greatest honor imaginable. Hark! It's Harold the Angel peeks behind the curtain at an overlooked aspect of the Christmas story. It's a lyrical tale of discovering talents, and how sometimes, when we lack confidence, all we need is a little practice and polish to shine. Read along and sing along with the whole family!

Meet Harold. He is short, chubby, and a bit clumsy, and oh yeah, he's an angel. Harold is very different from all the other angels, and this makes him unsure of himself. It makes him feel worthless. In this adventure, we find Harold wanting his angelic singer voice. God gives Harold a list of chores that he must complete in order to receive his angelic singing voice. With Harold's clumsy attempt to complete his chores, he messes up more than he helps. This makes him feel like he can't do anything right, that he cannot be used. But by the end of his quest to get his singing voice, something unexpected happens. Something that gives Harold his biggest chore yet. Does Harold complete his final chore without messing up? Would he receive his angelic singing voice? And more importantly, would Harold overcome his fear of being different?

Highly accessible treatment covers cons cell structures, evaluation rules, programs as data, recursive and applicable programming styles. Nearly 400 illustrations, answers to exercises, "toolkit" sections, and a variety of complete programs. 1990 edition.

An intimate portrait of the diverse music-making at the center of Amish faith and life. Singing occurs in nearly every setting of Amish life. It is a sanctioned pleasure that frames all Amish rituals and one that enlivens and sanctifies both routine and special events, from household chores, road trips by buggy, and family prayer to baptisms, youth group gatherings, weddings, and “single girl” sings. But because Amish worship is performed in private homes instead of public churches, few outsiders get the chance to hear Amish people sing. Amish music also remains largely unexplored in the field of ethnomusicology. In Why the Amish Sing, D. Rose Elder introduces readers to the ways that Amish music both reinforces and advances spiritual life, delving deep into the Ausbund, the oldest hymnal in continuous use. This illuminating ethnomusicological study demonstrates how Amish groups in Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio—the largest concentration of Amish in the world—sing to praise God and, at the same time, remind themselves of their 450-year history of devotion. Singing instructs Amish children in community ways and unites the group through common participation. As they sing in unison to the weighty words of their ancestors, the Amish confirm their love and support for the community. Their singing delineates their common journey—a journey that demands separation from the world and yielding to God's will. By making school visits, attending worship services and youth sings, and visiting private homes, Elder has been given the rare opportunity to listen to Amish singing in its natural social and familial context. She combines one-on-one interviews with detailed observations of how song provides a window into Amish cultural beliefs, values, and norms.