Many musical moods are reflected in this captivating collection of seven elementary piano solos written in the Romantic style. Lyrical melodies arching above rich harmonies encourage the shaping of expressive musical phrases. Carefully chosen dynamic markings help less experienced students develop finesse within the phrases. Grown-up titles and introspective melodies make this collection suitable for teenage and adult beginners too.

Harp

PEN/Hemingway Award Winner: A “gorgeous” novel weaving together stories of Poland past and present in one whimsically romantic epic (Chicago Tribune). On the eve of World War II, in a small Polish village, a young man nicknamed the Pigeon falls in love with a girl fabled for her angelic looks. To build a place in Anielica’s heart, he transforms her family’s modest hut into a beautiful home. But war arrives, cutting short their courtship and sending the young lovers off to the promise of a fresh start in Krakow. Nearly fifty years later, the couple’s granddaughter, Beata, repeats this journey, seeking a new life in the fairy-tale city of her grandmother’s stories. But instead of the rumored prosperity of the New Poland, she discovers a city full of frustrated youths, caught between its future and its past. Taken in by her tough-talking cousin, Irena, and her glamorous daughter, Magda, Beata struggles to find her own place in the world. But unexpected events—tragedies and miracles both—change lives and open eyes. “A whimsical debut,” (New York Times Book Review) A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True weaves together two remarkable stories, reimagining half a century of Polish history through the legacy of one unforgettable love affair. This magical, heartbreaking novel “rings hauntingly, enchantingly, real” (National Geographic Traveler). “With a touch of Marina Lewycka and a dash of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, this is storytelling that gets under your skin and forces you to press copies into your best friends’ hands.” —Elle (UK) “Funny and romantic like all the best true stories.” —Charlotte Mendelson, author of When We Were Bad

Long Long Time Ago Part 2 is a continuation from the first movie and tracks Singapore’s growth after independence, when foreign companies set up industries in the country and created employment opportunities for the people. With a farming license inherited from her father, Zhao Di works hard to get the farm going and establishes her independence in the household. Zhao Di’s growth and independence parallels Singapore’s gradual shift from agriculture to modernization and the bright future she has ahead of her. Despite the wonderful times they had growing up in a kampong, it’s not long before Zhao Di and family must bid a fond farewell to their beloved kampong and look forward to their new lives in the HDB flats.

Short-listed for the 2001 Silver Birch Award, How did we get to be US? Who are WE? This story for the younger reader, set in the period some 50,000 years ago when an almost explosive change in people's behaviour occurred, addresses these questions. From this period on, people, the Cro-Magnon or Homo sapiens sapiens who are considered to be our ancestors, became what we term human. This recreated story presents a sister and brother in a sequence of events that fits what little is known about that time. Learn to create fire, shape tools, partner with wolves and develop into thinking, creative persons who can influence the world around them. Discover what effect a few curious and reasoning people can have on their society. A devoted grandfather and reader of stories to grandchildren, Henry Shykoff has created a classic adventure for the younger reader, answering the question, "How did we get to be human?" "This is an intriguing story that vividly brings to life an exciting moment in human evolution. Full of struggle and adventure, this highly readable tale is as entertaining as it is informative." - Linda McQuaig, Author and Journalist

From an original new voice in fiction comes this warm-hearted debut. Pasulka reimagines half a century of Polish history through the legacy of one couple's profound love affair.

The wildest, craziest ideas emerging from the depths of our swirling imaginations are closer to the truth than anything in our so called “reality’ could ever be. The first instinctive and instantaneous feeling arising from the center core of our being is always the most accurate and astute account of a situation that we can get. Believing in these two concepts has made it possible to write down the words for the following short stories. These stories are a series of events that may or may not have really happened. Instead of trying to validate them, I would prefer to view them as a set of lessons of sorts. The theme that runs through each story is what is important. What worked for mankind, and clearly what did not. It matters not the particular characters or the actual circumstances. We have all experienced violence and negative thinking. How will these lessons effect the future? That is the only question capable of making a difference. Our past is undeniably linked to our future. If we decide not to fill anymore of history with separate and harmful acts, then perhaps it will be helpful to carry the memory of our recent past with us, allowing it to serve as a painful reminder. Hopefully, our grandchildren and great grandchildren will once again live as brothers and sisters. My sincere hope is that the future upon our Mother Earth can be enjoyed with balance, wholeness, and connection. With Hope, Promise, and Light! Jill Marie West