Innocent. Invader. Lover. Thief. Sparrows are everywhere, in many guises. They are cherished pets, subject of elegies by Catullus and John Skelton, listed as ‘pretty things’ in Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book. They’re grimy, urban vermin with shocking manners, so reviled that during the 1950s Mao placed them on the list of 'Four Pests’ and ordered the Chinese people to kill them all. In many countries they are appallingly successful non-natives, attacking indigenous birds and ravaging ...

""A gripping, flawlessly researched, and overdue portrait of America’s trailblazing female journalists. Kim Todd has restored these long-forgotten mavericks to their rightful place in American history."" — Abbott Kahler, author (as Karen Abbott)of The Ghosts of Eden Park and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, SpyA vivid social history that brings to light the “girl stunt reporters” of the Gilded Age who went undercover to ex...

Before Darwin, before Audubon, there was Maria Sibylla Merian.An artist turned naturalist, Merian was born just 16 years after Galileo proclaimed that the Earth orbited the sun. But at the age of 50, she sailed from Europe to South America on a solo scientific expedition to study insect metamorphosis—an unheard-of journey for any naturalist at that time, much less a woman.When she returned, she produced a book that secured her reputation, only to have it savaged in the 19th...

Before Darwin, before Audubon, there was Maria Sibylla Merian.This work of narrative nonfiction introduces Maria Sibylla Merian, an artist turned naturalist known for her botanical illustrations and a true pioneer for women in science. Born just sixteen years after Galileo proclaimed that the earth orbited the sun, at the age of fifty she sailed from Europe to the New World on a solo scientific expedition to study insect metamorphosis—an unheard-of journey for any ...

From "Facts of Life" to "Living Single" to "Dancing with the Stars" to wife and mom, here's the Blessed Life of Kim Fields, veteran actress, TV personality, and star.Kim Fields has lived most of her life with people thinking they know her, which is understandable. From her first job on a Mrs. Butterworth syrup commercial at age 7, she has spent 40 years in the public eye. There were 9 years as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey on the classic sitcom The Facts of ...

From "Facts of Life" to "Living Single" to "Dancing with the Stars" to wife and mom, here's the Blessed Life of Kim Fields, veteran actress, TV personality, and star.Kim Fields has lived most of her life with people thinking they know her, which is understandable. From her first job on a Mrs. Butterworth syrup commercial at age 7, she has spent 40 years in the public eye. There were 9 years as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey on the classic sitcom The Facts of ...

The timelessness of Bridgeto Terabithia meets the wonder of Big Fish in this bittersweet, magicalstory, perfect for fans of Barbara O’Connor, Lisa Graff, and Dan Gemeinhart.When Sam’s dad dies in a car accident, Sam is shuttled offto the dusty town of Holler, Oklahoma, to live with a long-lost aunt. There heencounters a mysterious mangy cat who leads him to an unassuming tree thatturns out to be a portal—a passag...

Looking for a powerful, unique way to engage your staff or team? This parable from bestselling author Todd Whitaker offers a refreshingly different form of professional development.It is a beautifully designed short story about a veteran teacher who reconnects with a former student who manages the local grocery store which has fallen on hard times. They reunite and confront the separate and unique challenges that have knocked them off course. Through each other, they find their way...

Strength and sacrifice. Toughness and tenderness. Success and struggles. These elements—ever present in the world of sports—are also among the beautiful and challenging dichotomies at the heart of working motherhood.Tough as a Mother tackles motherhood in a whole new way, bringing all moms up close and personal with some of the biggest names in sports while showcasing the shared strengths—the Tough Mother Tenets—that empower us all.U.S. Soccer star Alex Morgan; Oly...

The essays in Augustine and Psychology, edited by Sandra Lee Dixon, John Doody, and Kim Paffenroth, relate St. Augustine to the modern theory and practice of psychology in several ways. The contributors analyze Augustine’s own examination of himself (and occasionally others) to see to what extent he himself was a “doctor” or practiced “therapy” in ways that we can recognize and appreciate; they find connections between his theories of memory and mind, and modern theories of the same; they ...

The study of Augustine's political teachings has suffered from a history of misreadings, both ancient and modern. It is only in recent years that the traditional lines of "Augustinian pessimism" have been opened to question. Scholars have begun to explore the broader lines of Augustine's political thought in his letters and sermons, and thus have been able to place his classic text, The City of God, in its proper context. The essays in this volume take stock of these recent develo...

Heaven's Postcards is a true story of a family's devastating loss of a child and the amazing events that followed. Through a series of astonishing signs and miracles, God assured this family their son, Zach, was in heaven walking beside the Lord. This heartfelt story will influence the way you view your daily life and inspire you to embrace the comforting promise of life after death.