Great Books

No child is too young to begin learning about the greatest love story of all-God's love for his people, as portrayed in the Bible. David R. Helm and Gail Schoonmaker collaborate to create a beautifully illustrated book of Bible stories especially for children, written with simplicity. Rather than simply retelling the most familiar short scenes from the Bible, this book presents the "big picture"-the unified story running through the Old and New Testaments. This delightful book will help children learn the Bible's whole story and begin to appreciate the fulfillment of God's promise to his people. The Big Picture Bible Story Book is perfect for parents to read to their children, and eventually, for children to read on their own. It is an excellent way to introduce them to a book that will guide them through all of life.

When children look at works of art they tell stories, share experiences, imagine, and explore. This book provides teachers with the skills, and freedom, to design rich and open-ended art experiences for young children. The author looks at the work of a variety of artists and offers guidance for using these artworks as taking-off points for conversations and creativity with a range of materials. She demonstrates that using fine art reproductions in the early childhood curriculum allows children to construct their own meanings, teaches diversity, fosters thinking skills, and encourages storytelling. The text includes lesson ideas, examples of activities, and photographs of children working and interacting with each other and with works of art. Based on the NAEYC and NAEA standards, this teacher-friendly resource provides numerous examples of open-ended arts experiences using reproductions of fine art from many different genres, periods, cultures, and sources. In addition, it provides art concepts to be used with children according to their developmental readiness and easy-to-implement lesson ideas designed to encourage teachers to create their own to fit in with their regular early childhood curriculum.

The fascinating Old Testament stories--from Adam and Eve to Jonah and the Whale--in the full-color comic-strip format that children love to read. Endorsed by clergy of all faiths. "It's not like homework. Kids love it ... and remember what they've read!" Every page in full color! Originally published in 1943--now available again, on high-quality paper, in hardcover. Praised by Hadassah Magazine, Laymen's National Bible Committee and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

One of the most popular animal stories of all time, Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty" was first published in 1877. Drawn from the original text and intended for even the youngest of horse lovers, "Black Beauty's Early Days in the Meadow" depicts the first few months of the horse's life as a foal frolicking in the meadow. Artist Jane Monroe Donovan renders the classic story in lush oil paintings that convey a pastoral world of green fields and shady trees, while tenderly capturing the special love between mare and foal. The perfect harmony of words and pictures proves once again that the simplest messages are often the strongest. Readers will relish the sweetness of life in the meadow and the companionship of family and friends.

The story of Jesus and the early Christian Church in the full-color comic-strip format that children love. "Since comics are the language of children, why not let God speak to them in their own tongue?" Every page in full color! "It's not like homework. Kids love it ... and remember what they've read!" Originally published in 1943. Now available again, in hardcover and on high-quality paper. Praised by Christian Life, Christian Herald, Laymen's National Bible Committee, Dr. William Ward Ayer and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

* A couple feels something moving inside their mattress. Is it alive? What is it? * A man's winning lottery ticket -- worth half a million dollars -- is somewhere in the town dump. Can he find it in the mountains of garbage? * A woman searches 20 years for the daughter she gave up for adoption. Where does she discover her daughter? Easy True Stories, by Sandra Heyer, presents 20 new stories in the True Stories tradition: human interest stories adapted from newspapers and magazines. The stories -- some humorous, some poignant, some astounding -- are told as simply as possible. Most stories are less than half-page long, and they are written almost exclusively in the present tense. Nine pre-reading drawings introduce each unit visually and ease students into reading. Easy True Stories can be used as a first reader for students who have some experience with English. The True Stories series also includes: **Very Easy True Stories*All New Very Easy True Stories*All New Easy True Stories* True Stories in the News, Third Edition*More True Stories, Second Edition*Even More True Stories*Beyond True Stories

* A three-year-old boy falls 18 feet into a gorilla cage and is saved by a mother -- a mother gorilla, that is! * A waitress finds a lottery ticket for a tip, instead of cash. And she wins six million dollars! Very Easy True Stories, by Sandra Heyer, presents 14 very low-level stories of high-level interest -- humorous, poignant, astounding -- and all true! Selected from newspapers and magazines, and adapted for the beginning student, the stories are told as simply as possible -- exclusively in the present tense. First, students see a series of captioned pictures so the meaning is clear. Then, students read the story in text form for real reading practice. Finally, students do exercises following each story to develop very basic reading skills as well as build pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary proficiency. Very Easy True Stories is an ideal first text for students with little or no experience with English.