Public Birds

Each essay illuminates the life of a single species and its relationship to humans, and how these species can help us understand birds in general. A dedicated birdwatcher and teacher, Gedney finds wonder not only in the speed and glistening beauty of the Anna's hummingbird, but also in her nest building. He acclaims the turkey vulture's and red-tailed hawk's roles in our ecosystem, and he venerates the inimitable California scrub jay's work planting acorns.

From the New York Times bestselling author Janet Skeslien Charles and based on the true story of Jessie Carson—the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France—this is “a moving tale of sacrifice, heroism, and inspired storytelling immersed in the power of books to...

"Glorious...one of the best memoirs I've read in years...a tragicomic gem about family, class, race, justice, and the spectacular weirdness of Wichita. [McDermott] can move from barely controlled hilarity to the brink of rage to aching tenderness in a single breath." -- Marya Hornbacher, New...

The much-anticipated sequel to the book Danielle Page, author of Dorothy Must Die, says is "inventive, gorgeous, and epic--Grey dazzles." Everything in Echo's life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light that is said to bring...

Step into a world of magic, mystery, and timeless adventure. This collection of classic fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm features beloved stories including Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, and more unforgettable tales of courage, cleverness, and transformation. From enchanted towers to hidden...

A Birds’ Christmas Story is heartwarming Victorian novella about about Carol Bird, born on Christmas Day, who is sickly but generous. Bedridden by age ten, she devotes her energy to planning a heartfelt Christmas celebration for the impoverished “Ruggles” children living nearby, and...

Modern society is awash in words. An auditory tidal wave cascades from our televisions, radios, media players, and the Internet. Today’s distracted worshippers often feel spiritually shortchanged when the Scriptures are spoken without passion and power. This lively and encouraging resource is...

The series that began with the book Danielle Paige, author of Dorothy Must Die, called “inventive, gorgeous, and epic” comes to its thrilling conclusion. “Catnip for fans of Cassandra Clare.” —BookPage.com on The Girl at Midnight The sides have been chosen and the battle lines...

In Persian Women and Their Creed, missionary Mary R. S. Bird offers a vivid eyewitness account of the lives, beliefs, hardships, and daily experiences of women in nineteenth-century Persia. Drawing on years of close contact with Persian women, Bird records religious customs, family life, social...

Notes to Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn't Share in Public is a "mortifying memoir" from best-selling author and tv/film writer Pamela Ribon. Miserably trapped in small-town Texas, with no invention of the Internet in sight, Ribon spent countless hours of her high school years writing letters to her (often unrequited) crushes. The big question is: Why did she always keep a copy for herself? You'll come for the incredibly bad poetry, you'll stay for the incredibly bad poetry about racism.

Maverick environmental writers William J. Kelly and Chip Jacobs follow up their acclaimed Smogtown with a provocative examination of China’s ecological calamity already imperiling a warming planet. Toxic smog most people figured was obsolete needlessly kills as many there as the 9/11 attacks every day, while sometimes Grand Canyon-sized drifts of industrial particles aloft on the winds rain down ozone and waterway-poisoning mercury in America. Vivid, gonzo prose blends first-person reportage with exhaustive research and a sense of karma, describing the horror of "Cancer Villages", spellbinding "peasant revolts" against cancer-spreading plants, and much more....

The New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the “captivating, richly drawn” (Woman’s World) The Paris Library returns with a brilliant new novel based on the true story of Jessie Carson—the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France. 1918: As the...

Dive into the whimsical world of Grimm with three enchanting tales full of adventure, mischief, and charm. In Brother Lustig, laugh along with jolly pranks and wandering pockets. The Dwarfs reveal that even tiny boots can carry big attitudes. And The Three Birds invite readers to discover...

From tuberculosis to bird flu and HIV to coronavirus, these infectious diseases share a common origin story: human interaction with animals. Otherwise known as zoonotic diseases for their passage from animals to humans, these pathogens—both pre-existing ones and those newly identified—emerge...

A step-by step guide to public speaking with confidence. Do you need to give a speech or want to become a public speaker? Give Your Speech is full of practical tips and advice that you can immediately implement to become a better speaker. You can learn to speak better, speak more and make money from your efforts.