“Don Easterling is a great coach, but he is also an outstanding speaker for any occasion - if you haven’t heard him you should - he is terrific!” - Jim Valvano “Don Easterling is not only one of the greatest swim coaches ever, he is one of the finest storytellers and writers I have ever known. He is a national treasure, a man of superb wit, spirit and charm. He is motivator par excellence, my mentor and dearest friend who has enriched my life and that of so many others. These stories are a must read for all who treasure the values and lessons of life that we all cherish.” - Mark Bernardino, Head Swim Coach University of Virginia “As his athlete, fellow coach and friend, I have been clearly inspired by Coach Easterling’s passion for story telling and his gift of finding the words to motivate us all.” - Beth Harrell, Head Swimming Coach North Florida University “I remember vividly receiving my first Christmas Story in 1990. It came none too soon. Christmas training of my freshman year in college was tough and a heart warming, inspirational and entertaining story was certainly welcomed. Your Christmas stories have delighted for decades. In the busy world we live in: They remind us that reflection inspires & heals; They teach us to find joy in the little things; They truly remind us how to get in the Christmas spirit. The art of story telling is one of many arts that you have mastered. Nothing gets us in the spirit like your stories. They are timeless and will be enjoyed by many for generations to come.”- David Fox, Goldman Sachs, Olympic Gold Medalist “As Coach Don tells his story you follow along with your own story because he has taken you back to a time forgotten until the echoes come flooding back. When the story is read and I have a couple of laughs and wipe away the tears, I carefully fold the story back up and place it safely back in its’ envelope and I take a moment to say, “Thanks Coach”.” - Doug Russell, 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist

Give the gift of holiday spirit with this classic picture book that celebrates how one Christmas tree brings joy to a whole forest of critters! Christmas is here and Mr. Willowby's tree has arrived. There's just one big problem: The tree is too tall for his parlor! He cuts off the top so it will fit, and soon the top of that tree is passed along again and again to bring holiday cheer to all the animals in the forest. Kids will love watching the tree move from home to home, and families will appreciate the subtle message of conservation and recycling, as the tree top spreads joy to all. This heartwarming story is the perfect way to start the yuletide season, and a warm addition to any family's festive holiday traditions.

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time.

Get in on the Christmas cheer with Dr. Seuss’s iconic holiday classic starring the Grinch and Cindy-Lou Who—guaranteed to grow your heart three sizes! Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot...but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT! Not since “’Twas the night before Christmas” has the beginning of a Christmas tale been so instantly recognizable. From the Grinch and his dog, Max, to Cindy-Lou and all the residents of Who-ville, this heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit will warm even the coldest and smallest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays, and his story is perfect for readers young and old.

Go on a festive and fun-filled adventure with Larry in the hilarious Christmas novelty edition of the USA Today bestselling series, Don't Push the Button! 'Tis the season for gift-giving and kids will adore this new addition to the creative and interactive series that has touched the lives of over half-a-million readers. Don't Shake the Present! is the perfect stocking stuffer, holiday gift for kids, and present for 1 year old girls and boys celebrating their first Christmas ever! Kids and parents alike will return to this wacky holiday book time and again. Larry the lovable monster has received a present, and he's desperate to know what's inside. He needs your help to figure it out. But whatever you do... DON'T SHAKE THE PRESENT! Hi, I'm Larry. This is my present. I REALLY want to open it, but I'm not allowed.

You may have watched hundreds of episodes of The Simpsons (and its sister show Futurama) without ever realising that they contain enough maths to form an entire university course. In The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets, Simon Singh explains how the brilliant writers, some of the mathematicians, have smuggled in mathematical jokes throughout the cartoon's twenty-five year history, exploring everything from to Mersenne primes, from Euler's equation to the unsolved riddle of P vs. NP, from perfect numbers to narcissistic numbers, and much more. With wit, clarity and a true fan's zeal, Singh analyses such memorable episodes as 'Bart the Genius' and 'Homer3' to offer an entirely new insight into the most successful show in television history.

Written for everyone who loves and is simultaneously driven crazy by the holiday season, Christmas: A Candid History provides an enlightening, entertaining perspective on how the annual Yuletide celebration got to be what it is today. In a fascinating, concise tour through history, the book tells the story of Christmas—from its pre-Christian roots, through the birth of Jesus, to the holiday's spread across Europe into the Americas and beyond, and to its mind-boggling transformation through modern consumerism. Packed with intriguing stories, based on research into myriad sources, full of insights, the book explores the historical origins of traditions including Santa, the reindeer, gift giving, the Christmas tree, Christmas songs and movies, and more. The book also offers some provocative ideas for reclaiming the joy and meaning of this beloved, yet often frustrating, season amid the pressures of our fast-paced consumer culture. DID YOU KNOW For three centuries Christians did not celebrate Christmas? Puritans in England and New England made Christmas observances illegal? St. Nicholas is an elf in the famous poem "The Night Before Christmas"? President Franklin Roosevelt changed the dateof Thanksgiving in order to lengthen the Christmas shopping season? Coca-Cola helped fashion Santa Claus's look in an advertising campaign?