Favor Johnson lives on a small farm in the hills of Vermont. He keeps to himself, surrounded by dozens of animals, chickens, geese, and his one constant friend, a hound named Hercules. Then one Christmas Eve Hercules' life is saved by Favor's new neighbor, a doctor, and Favor's whole life -- as well as the life of everyone in his village -- is changed forever. This delightful story of Favor Johnson, Hercules, Doctor Jennings, and the mysterious house-to-house delivery of homemade fruit cak...

Grandmas are wise beyond their years and often give us memories to cherish for the rest of our lives. Helping Santa: My First Christmas Adventure With Grandma is the story of one of those enchanting moments. Told there is no Santa by his older sister, the narrator recalls rushing off to consult with his Grandma who, he was sure, would be straight with him. After roundly and immediately declaring the idea that Santa might not exist to be wholly and absolutely ridiculous, she challenges him ...

A boy is sure he has the world's best father, an outdoorsman who shows him the hiding places of ground-nesting birds and teaches him to paddle a canoe and handle a rifle safely. Never point your gun at anything you don't intend to shoot, his father tells him, and don't kill anything you don't intend to eat. When he's eight years old, he is finally allowed to go to hunting camp with his father. They climb through dark woods to the icy-cold camp, where Dad starts a fire in the stove. A few m...

Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw.In this book, Bert Dodson shares his complete drawing system-fifty-five "keys" that you can use to render any subject with confidence, even if you're a beginner.These keys, along with dozens of practice exercises, will help you draw like an artist in no time.You'll learn how to:• Restore, focus, map, and intensify• Free your hand action, then learn to control it• C...

Draw with Confidence and Creativity!New in paperback! Creativity occurs in action. It is not a trait; it is something you do. To be creative, you need to engage in the art-making process. When you are "in the flow," you shift out of the future and into the present, making connections, generating variations and surrendering to the process. This ten-year edition of Keys to Drawing With Imagination is a course for artists in how to take something, do something to it a...

Right fielder Alfie Maples is mystified by the newest member of the Peach Street Mudders. As far as Alfie can see, Roberti Frantelli can barely catch a ball or hit. Then Coach Parker asks Alfie to show the newcomer the ropes. Alfie is flattered and teaches Roberti all he can -- but begins to suspect that the coach plans to start Roberti in his position in the next game! Who is this strange new player, and can Alfie continue to help him play his best?

Mudders' catcher Rudy Calhoun is having a bad season behind the plate until, at a yard sale, he buys a used catcher's mask that greatly improves his playing.

Does drawing ability seem restricted to the 'gifted' where others would appear afflicted with picture dyslexia or a crippling lack of confidence in drawing? This book (now with large images for tablets) might help those wishing to learn to draw.Designed to help build confidence in drawing, this book begins at the beginning, not with an exercise on how to draw a potted plant. Preliminary chapters explore the underlying causes of picture dyslexia with questionnaires into handedness a...

Pen and ink is one of the most enjoyable art forms. Although pen marks are permanent, you can usually work around your mistakes. This eBook article, of about 6,000 words, explores the various techniques of pen and ink, as well as shows how this art medium can be combined with color. Besides noting art materials, it includes tips for sketching, doodling, drawing outdoors and even sketching on trips. Photos of some of the author's drawings are also included.

Through 46 daily exercises which make up a complete 6-week course, you will keep your artistic skills sharp and your imaginations fertile by doing One Drawing A Day. Each spread in the book features a beautiful drawing by one of 8 professional illustrators, with a description and comments by the illustrator as well as a companion exercise. Each exercise includes suggestions for various mediums or mixed-media solutions, advice on how to approach and execute the drawing, as well as professio...

It can happen at any moment - A powerful light effect. A telling gesture. A unique posture.When you're struck by am image or impression you want to use in your art, you must record it - quickly! - before it's gone. But what's an artist to do when there's no time for a carefully rendered drawing or even a good photo? Some quick field sketching, that's what!This book will revolutionize the way you sketch. David Rankin reveals the simple secre...

Overcome the obstacles to your artistic expressionImproving your artwork can be as simple as learning how to trust your eyes. Your Artist's Brain shows you how to portray even the most complex subjects by focusing on what you really see - not what you think you see.Expert art instructor Carl Purcell shows you how to overcome dependency on the "intellectual brain" and listen carefully to the more observant "artist's brain."W...