When they did need to find us, our meeting place outside the school building was 'the Big Tree.' 'Wait at the Big Tree,' they told us. It's where they dropped us off and picked us up. After all these years that tree still stands at the corner of Cresent Street and Newtown Avenue in Astoria Queens. The school is gone, the nuns are gone, our parents and most of the family are now gone. There are no sounds of bells ringing, no kids lining up on the block, but that tree is still there. The only remaining vestige of my school days. It's funny and maybe a bit symbolic given the sanctity of this particular ground; that in a city a tree would out last a building and our very way of life.In the sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking saga of the Sirianni family of New York City, author Fran Sirianni captures the zeitgeist of a generation that was born in the 1950s, questioned things in the 1960s, and came of age in the 1970s. Fran's first person narrative tells the story of her family's arrival in the United States and how they embraced the opportunity of the America Dream to build a life of prosperity. When tragedy strikes, the family comes together to carry on, despite the uncertainty of the times in which they live.Wait at the Big Treeis a story of family, of loss, and of the inevitable change that occurs as we all come into our own.

Snibbles and Big Tree are best friends! They have always hung out together, and Snibbles loves Big Tree very much. When Big Tree unexpectedly falls ill with woodworm, Snibbles is very upset and angry. The illness is a very bad one and Big Tree does not feel well and doesn't want to play for a long time. Poor Snibbles! He wants Big Tree to get better, but he feels as if there is nothing he can do. What can Snibbles and his friends do to help Big Tree through his treatment and recovery? This beautifully illustrated storybook describes the anger and emotion that many children encounter when a close relative or friend is diagnosed with a long-term illness, such as cancer. The story of Big Tree depicts how things are often out of your control and sets out effective strategies for dealing with these emotions. This story features loveable characters and vivid illustrations, as well as activities for children aged 5+ to complete with their parents or professionals in times of illness and loss.

How do you cheer up a friend? Kittens Max, Cantaloupe, and Melon love the Big Tree. In spring, they climb it. In summer, they stargaze on it. In autumn, they play in its leaves. It’s always been there. But now the Big Tree is sick. Really sick. And Melon and Cantaloupe’s parents have to cut it down. Max is sad to lose the Big Tree, but he’s even sadder for his friends. The Big Tree was in their yard for their whole lives—it was their friend. More than anything, Max wants to cheer them up. He thinks about it and thinks about it, and finally it comes to him: with some allowance money, some elbow grease, and a lot of beautiful potted plants, he can help them grow new and beautiful flowers in their sunny backyard! A sensitive and age-appropriate story about loss, friendship, and the power of kindness, THE BIG TREE is a perfect text for teaching beginning readers emotional intelligence, change acceptance, and the value of positive action. A touching and brightly drawn beginner comic from Ignatz Nominee Laura Knetzger, THE BIG TREE is heartfelt, tender, and warm. Comics-lovers can now share the fun with their kids, students, siblings, and younger friends who are learning to read! I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds. I Like to Read® Comics, like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterpart, are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers. We hope that all new readers will say, “I like to read comics!”

Eighteen-year-old Simon Peters wants to stand up for the truth about who he is. His love for Stephen is unwavering, but does he have the courage to defend it when his entire church community, including his eldest brother Paul, have ostracized him?

In the computer, I saw countless figures flashing, and the dazzling special effects of various skills complement each other. In the countless light, you can vaguely see that there is a huge ferocious dragon in the middle!

Focusing specifically on the stories of the Han Chinese (the largest ethnic group in China, numbering over a billion people), this collection presents more than 50 tales, both well known and obscure—from Monkeys Fishing the Moon and The Butterfly Lovers to Painted Skin and Dragon Princess. These are stories that will enchant listeners of all ages, while providing a glimpse into Chinese traditions and ways of thought. To further enhance cultural understanding, the tales are supplemented with historical and cultural background, notes on storytelling, crafts and games, recipes, proverbs, color photos, a map, a glossary, and more. In the past decades, the doors between China and the West have been flung open. Explosive economic growth and massive increases in travel and immigration have engendered curiosity and interest in this burgeoning nation. Yet modernization has a dark side too, threatening traditional Chinese culture, including stories and storytelling. This new gathering of stories from a variety of sources, captures the fading storytelling traditions of a vast and diverse country. Focusing specifically on the stories of the Han Chinese (the largest ethnic group in China, numbering over a billion people), the collection presents more than 50 tales, both well known and obscure—from Monkeys Fishing the Moon and The Butterfly Lovers to Dragon Princess and Painted Skin. These are stories that will enchant listeners of all ages, while providing a glimpse into Chinese traditions and ways of thought. Tales are organized into seven sections: Animal Tales; Tales of Magic, Love and Romance; Myths, Legends and Immortals; Moral Stories; How Things Came to Be; and Proverbial Tales. To further enhance cultural understanding, the stories are supplemented with historical and cultural background, notes on storytelling and other folk traditions, recipes, proverbs, color photos, a map, a glossary, and more. All grade levels.