Lives West

During the 19th century, Japan severely limited contact with the rest of the world, although it was not the total isolation sometimes presumed. The government was quite aware of what was happening in the rest of the world. The Japanese also left a window open to Europe, in the form of a small and highly restricted Dutch presence on an artificial island in Nagasaki harbor - a presence that lasted more than 200 years.

Nat Love: The Life and Legacy of the Former Slave Who Became the Wild West’s Most Famous Black Cowboy chronicles the colorful life of Nat Love and the legends that sprung up around him over time. You will learn about Nat Love like never before.

This is the diary . . . of a fly. Even though she's little—just like her best friends, Worm and Spider—Fly wants to be a superhero. And why not? She walks on walls, sees in all directions at once, and can already fly! Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 New York Times bestsellers Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Spider, reach hilarious heights with their story of a little fly who's not afraid to dream big. Really big.

Burt catches himself a lot more than a fish when he and his trusty boat, the Tidely-Idely, put out to sea. A whale of a tale!

Malusi, affectionately nicknamed Songololo by his grandmother Gogo, goes to the city to go shopping with her. Set in South Africa, Daly's text captures the warmth and tenderness shared by grandmother and child.

Norvin, a boy who closely resembles a shark, uses his talents to scare away all the swimmers at Caramel Cove, except for one female shark in love. Help!

Celebrate the slips and slides and swims and glides of delightful penguins in poetry and song.

Introducing Setting Healthy Boundaries, a thought-provoking guide designed to help you reclaim your sense of self-worth. With practical guides, you’ll be guided through the process of establishing and maintaining boundaries with grace and confidence while also fostering self-respect and healthy relationships.

Told through creative language play, and with depth and whimsy, this story reminds children of their own agency and the power they have to direct their own path. An enduring message of strength and perseverance that is both universal and personal, and one that audiences will be drawn to over and over again.

It is often said that life is a journey, and it’s true. But sometimes it’s hard to know which path to follow, when signs point in so many directions. Peter H. Reynolds once again encourages listeners to observe, to wonder, and to consider diverging from the well-worn path—to pursue their dreams.

One day down on the farm, Duck got a wild idea. "I bet I could ride a bike," he thought. He waddled over to where the boy parked his bike, climbed on, and began to ride. At first he rode slowly and he wobbled a lot, but it was fun! Duck rode past Cow and waved to her. "Hello, Cow!" said Duck. "Moo," said Cow. But what she thought was, "A duck on a bike? That's the silliest thing I've ever seen!"And so Duck rides past Sheep, Horse, and all the other barnyard animals...

A modern classic that no child should miss. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers.But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work.

Owen’s fuzzy yellow blanket is his favorite possession. Everywhere Owen goes, his blanket goes with him. Upstairs, downstairs, in-between. Inside, outside, upside down. Everywhere! Owen’s parents are in despair—soon Owen will begin school, and he can’t take Fuzzy with him then. Whatever can be done? Performed by Sarah Jessica Parker.

The kids in room 207 don't know how lucky they are to have a nice teacher like Miss Nelson - until their misbehavior causes her disappearance, and they get Miss Viola Swamp for a substitute.

Two's Company, Three's a Pack-A Story About Dogs, Life and Loss is a heartwarming and humorous tale of the dynamic within a canine/human pack. Surprising similarities between the strength of human and animal bonds are realized as the pack grows in size and age.

Kai Frazier is a mother raising her 10-year-old daughter, Michaela... alone. Happily married for over 10 years, never dreaming she would have to build a new life for the two of them–she now faces difficult and unwanted decisions.

Born in Jamaica and arriving in the United States as a young teen, Ferron S. Johnson faced numerous challenges that could have derailed his dreams. This is an author who defied all odds to create a better future for himself and those around him. However, instead of succumbing to the hardships, he used them as fuel to drive his determination and resilience.

Song Hawkins is a beautiful, tough, but lonely New York City businesswoman who thinks she's met the man of her dreams in Cable Jordan, the superintendent of a West Virginia coal mine. But soon after they impulsively marry, Song realizes they're in big trouble. She can't imagine life outside of New York, and Cable has no intention of leaving his beloved town of Highcoal. Song's visit to the little mining community only makes things worse. It looks like the marriage is over. But in a shocking turn of events, Song realizes it's up to her to put on the red helmet of the new coal miner.

Isabel Morales is a successful Chicago sculptor hiding a brutal family history - one not even her husband knows. After decades of turning her back on her past, she’s forced to return to Appalachia when she receives news of her estranged mother’s death. But going back means revisiting the traumatic childhood she escaped - and the family that cast her out when she needed them most.

Christina Phillips, grieving after a personal tragedy, leaves California for Istanbul, hoping the exotic sights and sounds and smells of the ancient city will help her heal. But when she finds herself being stalked by a young Kurdish woman and threatened by a driver who seems to know all about her family and her life, she must correct old injustices by unraveling family secrets before tragedy strikes once again.