Esther Hershenhorn

In 1841 in Pennsylvania, Pippin Biddle, determined to get his three orphaned sisters out of the poorhouse, tries to earn a living as an itinerant painter, but he returns empty handed, only to find that he is not the only one in the family with artistic talents.

Fancy that

Zachary Pullen

Uses the alphabet to explain, explore, and examine the tools, techniques, and strategies that writers use, from specific genres of fiction and story elements to the mechanics of how to write, while quotes from famous authors provide examples of the writer's thought process.

A Writer's Alphabet

S is for Story

Lowell refuses to believe that a brewing storm will keep his resourceful Ozark relatives from celebrating his birthday. Five-year-old Lowell has been waiting all year for his birthday party. He is a member of a very large clan and is anticipating all the cousins, aunts, and uncles that will join his family in the big celebration. But the day threatens a rainstorm-a booming thunderstorm that is bound to cancel the party. Lowell's siblings and parents tell him not to get his hopes up as the day grows darker and darker. Just when Lowell is about to despair, all those relatives take heroic measures to travel to the party. Granny sums it up the best when she says, "Rain means nothing when it comes to one like you." This is a lovely book with charming illustrations that capture Lowell's moods perfectly.

There Goes Lowell's Party!

It was a very nice Sunday in the middle of spring, in the middle of breakfast, when Rudie Dinkins heard his mama say that Rudie's sitter, Mrs. Gittel, had the flu. With his mother's help Rudie cooks a batch of chicken soup using Mrs. Gittel's secret ingredient: sweet memories of their friendship! And soon Mrs. Gittel, the Chicken Soup Queen, is feeling good as new! Esther Hershenhorn's charming and poignant story accompanied by Rosanne Litzinger's warm, colorful illustrations will leave you craving your own tasty bowl of Chicken Soup by Heart in this heartwarming tale of friendship.

Chicken Soup By Heart

Fourth grade entrepreneur Howard J. Fingerhut competes with his classmates to win the H. Marion Muckley Junior Businessperson of the Year Contest and writes an advice book about the experience.

The Confession$ and $ecret$ of Howard J. Fingerhut

What is a first draft? What is a narrative? In S is for Story: A Writer's Alphabet, author and writing coach Esther Hershenhorn uses the alphabet to help explain, explore, and examine the tools, techniques, and strategies for those hoping to live the literary life. Writing terms and topics are explained using a two-tier format. C is for the Character, every story's star, the one for whom we cheer, we care, with whom we travel far. Specific genres, story elements (setting and plot), and the mechanics of how to write (including editing and revision) are covered, while quotes from famous authors provide examples of the writer's thought process. Budding writers of all ages will be inspired to put pen to paper (or fingers on keyboards)! Author, and writing coach, Esther Hershenhorn admits S is for Story is the book she wishes she'd owned as a little girl, dreaming of a writing career. She lives in Chicago, where she teaches Writing for Children at the University of Chicago's Writer's Studio and the Newberry Library. Zachary Pullen's character-oriented picture book illustrations have won awards and garnered starred reviews. He has been honored several times with acceptance into the prestigious Society of Illustrators' juried shows and Communication Arts Illustration Annual of the best in current illustration. Zak lives in Wyoming.

Without a sliver of doubt, language and literacy are to be revered by book lovers both young and old. But alas, the technology age is firmly upon us all—both young and old. Nearly 85% of American adults own cell phones and most of them send and receive text messages. Communication that began as text message acronyms, OMG and LOL, for example, have become commonplace on our screens for sure, but they’ve also worked their way into our language. In fact OMG (oh my god) and LOL (laughing out loud) are formally recognized in the Oxford English Dictionary! "Txtng Mama Txtng Baby" embraces this “newfangled” form of communication, most often referred to as “txtng.” After all, everyone seems to be doing it. No matter how the message is delivered, a loving, affirming relationship between Baby and Mama should be expressed. The text messages “O U QT” (Oh you, cutie) and “I

Esther Hershenhorn

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