Peter Leroy struggles to win the affections of the toothsome Patti Fiorenza while keeping his mother's hopes and his mother's boat afloat. Ella Leroy dreams of escaping the dreary routine of her 1950s wife-and-mom life. Without telling her husband, she enlists her son Peter and his locally-notorious girlfriend Patti in a scheme to buy a run-down clamboat and re-invent it as an elegant cruising vessel for summer people in the bayside town of Babbington, Long Island. But after they've bought the boat, Peter discovers that it is slowly sinking. "Raucous, wise, and great fun, this is simply not to be missed." Nancy Pearl, Booklist "The secret dreams and yearnings of a soul in the making, a fool for beauty." Frederic Koeppel, Memphis Commercial Appeal "Fascinating and sophisticated." Jennifer Reese, The New York Times Book Review "The best description of sex appeal anywhere, ever." Peter Jon Shuler

Peter Leroy constructs a plausible adult life for his grade school chum Matthew Barber, now living in Boston, where he is vice-president of a toy company by day, but becomes Bertram W. Beath, restaurant reviewer, when the sun goes down. Reservations Recommended is a satire of the critical mind; a dark commentary on contemporary culture; a story of midlife crisis; a morality play; and a book that matches bleakness against humor, seasoned throughout with B. W. Beath's hilariously acid reviews. We watch as Matthew Barber descends from a self-protective superiority into a species of madness, and into the dark night of the soul. "A brilliant satire." LA Life "A merciless sendup of contemporary American pretensions.' Janice Harayda, Cleveland Plain Dealer "Wonderfully readable . . . touching and intelligent." Richard Gehr, The Village Voice

Peter Leroy finally completes a junior-high-school science assignment, thirty years late, exploring along the way quantum physics, entropy, epistemology, principles of uncertainty and discontinuity, a range of life's Big Questions, and his memories of his intoxicating science teacher, Miss Rheingold. "Warm . . . thought-provoking . . . charming . . . delightful." Library Journal (starred review) "A book designed to leave its readers-and it deserves many of them-as happy as clams." Walter Satterthwait, The New York Times Book Review "Luminously intelligent fun." Time

Peter Leroy receives his sexual initiation at the hands of the Glynn twins, becomes a sketch doctor, listens to many tales about the night the Nevsky mansion burned, learns the value of hope, and discovers the love of his life. As is usual with Peter's recollections, we are never certain where memory ends and imagination begins-but we are certain that we are reading the work of a brilliant memoirist who reconstructs his past with wry humor, nostalgia, satire, and dazzling invention. "A witty and wildly digressive epistemological examination in the form of a childhood reminiscence." The New Yorker "Wholly engaging . . . a daring tour de force." Jonathan Baumbach, The New York Times Book Review "One of the more hilariously erotic pieces of writing since Lolita." Edward Hannibal, The East Hampton Star

Dogs are dangerous. And they are more dangerous to children than to adults. Not as dangerous of course, as kitchen utensils, drapery cords, five-gallon water buckets, horses, or cows. Not nearly as dangerous as playground equipment, swimming pools, skateboards, or bikes. And not remotely as dangerous as family, friends, guns, or cars.

Have you ever heard a fart that could save the day? In this New York Times bestselling kids book, every toot tells a funny tale! Over one million copies sold and countless giggles shared! Meet Walter, a fine dog with flatulence. Despite his distinctive trait, he's loved by his siblings Billy and Betty. But Father has had enough! On the brink of being sent to the dog pound, Walter’s unexpected asset turns into his superpower when burglars break in. With a heroic toot, he saves the day and earns his place in the family’s heart. This hilarious tale for children ages 4-8 (and adults who aren't afraid to laugh) features surreal illustrations by Audrey Colman and an absurdly comical storyline. Walter the Farting Dog is a timeless story about acceptance, love, and the incredible power of being oneself...farts and all. Recommended by parents, librarians, and kids who know a thing or two about funny business, Walter the Farting Dog is more than just a book—it's a shared memory, a giggle-inducing classic, and a beloved family treasure. Join Walter on his windy adventure, penned by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, and discover why this book has captured hearts for over two decades. Embrace the laughter and share this delightful read with the whole family!

Sarah Clark created a dog boarding kennel in the middle of nowhere that drew clients from as far away as 100 miles. Now she wants to tell you how you can succeed with your dog boarding business. In this new, expanded 2nd edition, she has added even more advice on understanding your local dog community, starting your business, and marketing your business. Dog boarding is one of the few fields where you can start and launch a successful business with a small cash outlay. Sarah understands that your resources may be limited, just as hers were, but that doesn't mean your dog boarding business can't be successful. In these pages you'll discover how to: Decide if this is the right business for you Design your kennel Implement your design Handle day-to-day operations Create a business with staying power How to Start Your Dog Boarding Business is an inside look at the details of running a pet boarding facility. Sarah takes you from sketching the possibilities where you are, to building your kennel, to running your business. If you are thinking about boarding dogs, this book is where to start! In her pet boarding business, Sarah boarded over 45 different dog breeds, in addition to countless mixed breed dogs. She has been a pet parent to a black Lab, three Golden Retrievers, two Cairn Terriers, two Rottweilers, a Samoyed, and a Shih Tzu. And three cats. Like dogs? Want to own your own business? If you answered yes to both questions, Sarah Clark may have your answer. From the reviews: "Excellent entry level book." "All around great information." "This book helps you avoid costly mistakes." Get your copy of How to Start Your Dog Boarding Business now!

Having more fun at work isn't a fantasy. It's a smart and savvy strategy to becoming a more creative, productive, and dynamic employee. Work Like Your Dog is an inspiring call to "come out and play" at work. Dogs seem to have endless energy and tackle tasks with enviable enthusiasm, and Matt Weinstein and Luke Barber believe that most people could take a course from their ca-nines. By learning to play more at their jobs, workers can "lick" difficult challenges, take pleasure from tasks previously dreaded, reduce their levels of stress, and recharge their creative side. People spend more time working, thinking about work, and traveling to and from work than all other waking activities combined. Employees are asked to do more for less--making their work lives more exhausting and less satisfying. More hours are far from the answer; honing a sense of frolic and fun is. This book is a launching pad for fifty fun lessons about frolicking your way to success: Don't be afraid of being the fool. Be prepared to take risks; your new experiences may well lead to new contacts or new accounts and, if nothing else, will make you feel wonderful. Celebrate every success, not just your own but your coworker's new account, brilliant idea, or anniversary. You'll help release tension, underscore positives, and keep people aware of challenges conquered. Use humor to solve problems. Create a swearing room, where you and coworkers vent frustrations. Use a joke to diffuse verbal abuse from a customer. Humor can help you stay focused on the most important aspects of your job and prevent the worst aspects from getting the upper hand. Why choose stress? Almost every situation can provoke either stress or laughter. If you choose the highway of humor, your job will be more enjoyable and you'll work more effectively. And many more suggestions, stories, and ideas to unleash your playful professional and keep you from barking up the wrong tree. Weinstein and Barber's advice comes from seminar attendees and hundreds of corporate clients, such as American Express, IBM, Federal Express, and AT&T. This book shares the wisdom from these employees and from twenty-plus years of helping people enjoy their way to success.

Following a tragic accident, Fletcher Carson joins the flagging war effort in Vietnam. Lost and lonely, he plans to die in the war. But after stumbling upon a critically injured yellow Lab, Fletcher unexpectedly finds a reason to live. He finds Jack. Fletcher and Jack are a team, and like the hundreds of other U.S. Military dogs and their handlers in Vietnam, they serve their country, saving countless lives. To the men, the dogs are heroes. But at the end of the war, the U.S. government announces that all the dogs serving in the war have been declared “surplus military equipment” and will not be transported home. Ordered to leave Jack behind, Fletcher refuses – and so begins the journey of two friends who will go to the ends of the earth to save each other. Based on the actual existence and abandonment of canine units in Vietnam, Finding Jack is more than just a story of man saves dog. It is a story of friendship and love, and a moving tribute to the forgotten heroes of a desperate war. And proof that sometimes it is dog that truly saves man.

Nick and Tesla are bright 11-year-old siblings with a knack for science, electronics, and getting into trouble. When their parents mysteriously vanish, they’re sent to live with their Uncle Newt, a brilliant inventor who engineers top-secret gadgets for a classified government agency. It’s not long before Nick and Tesla are embarking on adventures of their own—engineering all kinds of outrageous MacGyverish contraptions to save their skin: 9-volt burglar alarms, electromagnets, mobile tracking devices, and more. Readers are invited to join in the fun as each story contains instructions and blueprints for five different projects. In Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab, we meet the characters and learn how to make everything from rocket launchers to soda-powered vehicles. Learning about science has never been so dangerous—or so much fun!