It’s time to go bananas! A determined monkey spies a banana tree across the water. What happens next is an inventive romp, as the resourceful monkey attempts to grab a snack, with some hilarious consequences. Full of energy, surprise, and strong visual storytelling, this practically wordless picture book will entice even the most reluctant reader. The Monkey Goes Bananas is fast-paced, delicious fun that’s sure to leave young readers hungry for another read. Praise for The Monkey Goes Bananas "This predominantly wordless picture book delivers a substantial helping of slapstick." --Kirkus Reviews "There is a slapstick element to the humor (the monkey is flung around with some regularity), which will resonate with readers as they turn each page to see what the monkey will try next. Throw in an opportunistic shark with an empty belly, and the pieces are in place for a laugh-out-loud story that should earn plenty of repeat readings." --Booklist "Kids will jump right into this rip-roaring flip book–paced tale." --School Library Journal

Unlucky Bastard is the story about an adolescent boy growing up on the west side of Chicago surrounded by negative influences. He has to learn to cope with having very little and needing a lot, such as food, clothing, and oftentimes stability in housing. At the early age of ten years old, he became aware of the destructive world in which he must adapt to and somehow navigate his way to some level of success. This story does not exclusively belong to Chris, but many youth growing up in inner cities across this country. Chris finds himself entrenched in high-level, organized criminal activity at a very young age, hopelessly destined to spiral downward til reaching rock bottom at a maximum-security-level prison. Come with the author on this death-defying journey that will ultimately lead to a path of spiritual awaking and redemption. Unlucky Bastard may reflect many other young black males' story, but this author uses his experience to try to help others to put into proper perspective the horrific thing that continues to happen in the urban community.

What does it mean to be church? Is it spending an hour on Sunday with people who look, think, and act much as we do? Or is it something more incarnational that seeks out those who are different, the ones living on the margins? For centuries Christians have presumed that we are to take the gospel to the poor. Instead, Wendy McCaig invites us to receive the gospel from the poor. Through a series of encounters with incarcerated, homeless, and impoverished individuals, Wendy McCaig experienced the mysterious power of Christian hospitality that turns strangers into family. Her gift for storytelling brings this mysterious transformation to life. Inspired by the dreams of a homeless mother who wanted to help her neighbors, McCaig started a ministry that empowers formerly homeless individuals to live out their dreams. Together these dreamers are transforming their city one person, one community, and one church at a time. Her true stories of the least, the lost, and the forgotten in her community will show you the Good News becoming reality in the midst of injustice in ways that will inspire you and deepen your faith. These twenty stories-within-a-story about what ordinary people can do when they come together across racial, economic, and geographic divides to fight poverty will expand your vision of what it means to be the church. With your eyes opened to the needs and gifts of your neighbors, you too can begin to dream God-sized dreams for a hurting world. And as you pray "thy kingdom come on earth," you will be inspired to live in such a way as to make it happen in your own community.

Im quite certain that before you fi nish this book, you will not like me. I do not fl atter myself for I have discovered looking back on my life, I made many poor decisions. Nevertheless, Ive been told by many is that war veterans, addicts and those who face deadly disease and those who have lost all hope can benefi t from what Ive learned. You, my friends, like I continue striving to do, can persevere even when it seems the road before you leads to nothingness.

Hear that voice inside your head? The one that nitpicks all your new ideas? That's your monkey. This hypercritical little critter loves to make you second-guess yourself. It stirs up doubt. It kills your creativity. But it can be stopped. And acclaimed author Danny Gregory is here to show you how. After battling it out with his own monkey, he knows how to shut yours down. Gregory provides insight into the inner workings of your inner critic and teaches you how to put it in its place. Soon you'll be able to silence that voice and do what you want to do—create. Now follow his lead and Shut Your Monkey.

Unpolished Angel By: Sarah King Growing up, Sarah King lived in a cramped apartment with her parents, five brothers, and four sisters. Her parents were alcoholics and moved the family to North Carolina when she was four. She was subjected to physical and sexual abuse from neighbors and relatives starting at a very young age. Sarah's parents left her and some of her siblings with relatives for a while but eventually came back and brought the children to live with them in Chicago. Once again Sarah found herself poverty stricken and she began eating out of dumpsters. While still a child, she turned to prostitution. As she grew up, she became involved in more illegal activities and eventually turned to drugs. And later, while being a mother and grandmother, she still battled her addiction problem. Unpolished Angel is the harrowing tale of Sarah's struggles in life. She knows she would have never pulled through any part of her life if God wasn't with her. Jesus held her hand, and He carried her through so much. She gives all her praise to Him.

I was nineteen years old when I met the demon for the first time. The cunning and baffling of its character defects captivated me, and held me hostage for years. I became an addict whose life spiraled outta control! It was a monster, cleverly camouflaged in a puff of smoke I called, “the devil’s love potion.” Trapped in a world of crushed dreams, false hope, and unmanageability, I was weakened and defeated by the intrusion of my new best friend. Blinded by the realities of my addition, I hit bottom over and over again. I had gone completely insane, and at the brink of suicide, when a final cry to God brought me back from hell.