When Eli the jewelry-maker is commissioned to make a special necklace for the queen, he and his young helper overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to complete the task.

This well-known tale is vividly brought to life by the wonderful illustrations of Olga Dugina and Andrei Dugin.

From the Stonewall Honor–winning author of Like a Love Story comes a revelatory novel about the enclosed world of privilege and silence at an elite boarding school and the unlikely group of friends who dare to challenge the status quo through their writing. Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart, Kathleen Glasgow, and Jandy Nelson, with crossover appeal for readers of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and Curtis Sittenfeld’s Prep. Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of tension with her roommate, Sarah. But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story. Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah. Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms. And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin. At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born—and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?

A volcanic mountain range in the northeastern part of Somalia, Guban is also a name given to the surrounding habitat by Somali nomads. Literally translating to "burnt" in English, Abdi Latif Ega uses it as a metaphor for the entire nation and its people. In the world of Guban there is a parade of human characters wielding and being wielded by their societal circumstances and individual proclivities. Set against the backdrop of East Africa, the novel explores the clash of modernity, urban civilization and the traditional, more egalitarian life of pastorialists, that still populate the region. A truly kaleidoscopic tale of the Somali revolution, the novel deftly interlocks stories of all strata of society-interlopers, interlocutors, diplomats, camel herders, revolutionaries, military personnel, and clan leaders, to name but a few. Documenting both the brutality of the national dictatorship and the international pressures of this cold war driven world. Guban brings together the immediacy of journalistic reportage with the imaginative expansiveness of the novel.

The Adventures of Shāh Esmāʿil recounts the dramatic formative years of the Safavid empire (1501–1722), as preserved in Iranian popular memory by coffeehouse storytellers and written down in manuscripts starting in the late seventeenth century. Beginning with the Safavids’ saintly ancestors in Ardabil, the story goes on to relate the conquests of Shāh Esmāʿil (r. 1501–1524) and his devoted Qezelbāsh followers as they battle Torkmāns, Uzbeks, Ottomans, and even Georgians and Ethiopians in their quest to establish a Twelver Shiʿi realm. Barry Wood’s translation brings out the verve and popular tone of the Persian text. A heady mixture of history and legend, The Adventures of Shāh Esmāʿil sheds important light on the historical self-awareness of late Safavid Iran.

This book situates the picturebook genre within the widespread international phenomenon of crossover literature, examining an international corpus of picturebooks — including artists’ books, wordless picturebooks, and celebrity picturebooks — that appeal to readers of all ages. Focusing on contemporary picturebooks, Sandra Beckett shows that the picturebook has traditionally been seen as a children’s genre, but in the eyes of many authors, illustrators, and publishers, it is a narrative form that can address any and all age groups. Innovative graphics and formats as well as the creative, often complex dialogue between text and image provide multiple levels of meaning and invite readers of all ages to consider texts that are primarily marketed as children’s books. The interplay of text and image that distinguishes the picturebook from other forms of fiction and makes it a unique art form also makes it the ultimate crossover genre. Crossover picturebooks are often very complex texts that are challenging for adults as well as children. Many are characterized by difficult "adult" themes, genre blending, metafictive discourse, intertextuality, sophisticated graphics, and complex text-image interplay. Exciting experiments with new formats and techniques, as well as novel interactions with new media and technologies have made the picturebook one of the most vibrant and innovative contemporary literary genres, one that seems to know no boundaries. Crossover Picturebooks is a valuable addition to the study of a genre that is gaining increasing recognition and appreciation, and contributes significantly to the field of children’s literature as a whole.

Madonna: singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, not to mention one of the most renowned cultural icons of the last three decades. Since her first, eponymous album, over thirty years ago Madonna has sold a remarkable 300 million records worldwide, making her the top-selling female recording artist of all time. Madonna is famous for continuously reinventing both her music and her image. By pushing the boundaries of mainstream popular music with both her lyrical content and the imagery in her music videos she achieved extraordinary popularity. Morgan offers a richly illustrated, comprehensive account of the artist's phenomenally successful career shedding new light on her videos, books, tours, fashion, charity work and every other aspect of her life. Praise for Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed: 'A gorgeous collection offering a fascinating insight into Monroe's personal life' Women & Home 'A touching portrayal of the star in her more private moments' Empire 'The most authoritative book on the star to date' Choice

What does it mean to teach English creatively to primary school children? How can you successfully develop pupils’ engagement with reading and writing skills? Teaching English Creatively demonstrates the potential of creative teaching to develop children’s knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes. Underpinned by theory and research, it also offers informed and practical support to both students in initial teacher education, and practising teachers who want to develop their teaching. Illustrated by examples of children’s work, this book explores the core elements of creative practice in relation to developing engaged readers, writers, speakers and listeners. Creative ways to explore powerful literary, non-fiction, visual and digital texts are offered throughout. Key themes addressed include: meaning and purpose play and engagement curiosity and autonomy collaboration and making connections reflection and celebration the creative involvement of the teacher. Stimulating and accessible, with contemporary and cutting-edge practice at the forefront, Teaching English Creatively includes a wealth of innovative ideas to enrich literacy practice. Written by an experienced author with extensive experience of initial teacher education and English teaching in the primary school, this book is an essential purchase for any professional who wishes to embed creative approaches to teaching in their classroom.

Profiles the often-controversial pop star, from her childhood in suburban Michigan to her high-profile life in England.