The 1st installment in the New York Times best-selling A TWISTED TALE series asks: What if Aladdin had never found the lamp?  When Jafar steals the Genie's lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish.To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.   What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.   For more twisted adventures, try the other books in the A TWISTED TALE series: Once Upon a Dream by Liz BraswellAs Old As Time by Liz BraswellReflection by Elizabeth LimPart of Your World by Liz BraswellMirror, Mirror by Jen CalonitaConceal, Don't Feel by Jen CalonitaStraight On Till Morning by Liz BraswellSo This is Love by Elizabeth LimUnbirthday by Liz BraswellGo the Distance by Jen CalonitaWhat Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell                  ..

THE BOOK BEHIND THE THIRD SEASON OF GAME OF THRONES, AN ORIGINAL SERIES NOW ON HBO.     A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE: BOOK THREE     Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others--a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords.    "Of those who work in the grand epic-fantasy tradition, [George R. R.] Martin is by far the best. In fact . . . this is as good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien."--Time    "Long live George Martin . . . a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers."--The New York Times     "One of the best series in the history of fantasy."--Los Angeles Times                  ..

THE BOOK BEHIND THE SECOND SEASON OF GAME OF THRONES, AN ORIGINAL SERIES NOW ON HBO.    A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE: BOOK TWO     In this thrilling sequel to A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin has created a work of unsurpassed vision, power, and imagination. A Clash of Kings transports us to a world of revelry and revenge, wizardry and warfare unlike any we have ever experienced.    A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel . . . and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.                  ..

Welcome to the charming town of Lost River - and an enchanting and unforgettable Christmas...  When Oswald moves to the sleepy little town of Lost River he's not expecting to make friends - but one by one the eccentric inhabitants win his heart. There's his landlady Betty who's a force to be reckoned with, Roy who runs the local store and secretly nurses a broken heart, Patsy the little abandoned girl he takes under his wing and, most importantly, Jack the redbird who brings the sort of miracle that can only happen at Christmas...  'A wonderful book ...oozing with goodness and charm... Absurdly satisfying' Guardian  'A born storyteller' New York Times                  ..

Final words and heartfelt remembrances from bestselling author Pat Conroy take center stage in this winning nonfiction collection, supplemented by touching pieces from Conroy's many friends.    This new volume of Pat Conroy's nonfiction brings together some of the most charming interviews, magazine articles, speeches, and letters from his long literary career, many of them addressed directly to his readers with his habitual greeting, "Hey, out there." Ranging across diverse subjects, such as favorite recent reads, the challenge of staying motivated to exercise, and processing the loss of dear friends, Conroy's eminently memorable pieces offer a unique window into the life of a true titan of Southern writing.   With a beautiful introduction from his widow, novelist Cassandra King, A Lowcountry Heart also honors Conroy's legacy and the innumerable lives he touched. Finally, the collection turns to remembrances of "The Great Conroy," as he is lovingly titled by friends, and concludes with a eulogy. The inarguable power of Conroy's work resonates throughout A Lowcountry Heart, and his influence promises to endure.   This moving tribute is sure to be a cherished keepsake for any true Conroy fan and remain a lasting monument to one of the best-loved masters of contemporary American letters.   Praise for A Lowcountry Heart    "A fascinating look into the mind of one of the South's greatest authors . . . something to remember him by and cherish for years to come."--The Clarion-Ledger    "Fans of Conroy . . . will relish the chance to spend more time with him in this glowing valedictory to his life and writing . . . Eloquent, folksy, and sometimes brutally honest."--Publishers Weekly    "A moving and proper tribute to a true Southern icon."--The Florida Times-Union     "Elegant essays [that] will not disappoint."--The Washington Post    "Resplendent . . . As always, his storytelling, word choice and rhythm are gorgeous, almost lyrical."--USA Today                  ..

The powerful, moving story of a California teenager from an immigrant family who, finding himself in an increasingly hostile world, is turned from a carefree surfer's life towards a culture of fear and fanaticism   Fourteen-year-old Alireza Courdee contains multitudes. He is a straight-A student and an affable stoner; the high-achieving son of Iranian immigrants, and a Californian surf kid; Alireza, and just plain Rez. But when a terror incident shocks the nation - and then another, and another - Rez finds that the world has only one idea about the type of person he is; that his name and the colour of his skin make him an object of suspicion.   But there are new friends to shine a light into Rez's isolated, angry existence - Arash, a fellow Muslim student, and the beautiful Fatima. Little by little, Rez is drawn into a new circle, a circle as troubling as it is consoling - and which has a grim and glorious mission in mind for him.   Insightful, nuanced and timely, A Good Country is an unforgettable coming-of-age story which deftly captures a young man's alienation and search for identity in a flawed and violent world.                  ..

Discover what happens at the airport with Huckle and Sally Cat and Lowly Worm.             Rudolf von Flugel picks the children up in his aeroplane-car and whisks them off to the airport for a day of sightseeing.             Packed full of fun and with lots to spot on every page, this book is a high-flying delight.                  ..

In a world of dragons, song-spells, pipers and battles...  Patch Brightwater is in disgrace. Thrown in jail for playing a forbidden spell, he is no one's idea of a hero. But then he discovers a deadly truth - the evil Piper of Hamelyn is on the loose. With the help of Wren, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch must stop the Piper sparking the biggest battle of them all.  Three accidental heroes versus one legendary villain...an epic adventure is born.  A perfectly pitched fantasy adventure for readers aged 9+ and for fans of The Hobbit and How to Train Your Dragon.  It was a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month in 2018.                  ..

Ebenezer Scrooge is a lonely, miserly old man who hates Christmas, which he dismisses as "humbug". One Christmas Eve, however, he is visited by a series of ghosts who reveal to him the innocence he has lost, the wretchedness of his future and the poverty of the present, which he has so far ignored. This experience teaches Scrooge the true meaning of the holiday and leaves him a transformed man.  With its memorable cast of characters such as Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is the most heart-warming of seasonal tales, a timeless classic that continues to enchant readers around the world and a lesson in charity and hopefulness that is as powerful today as when it was first written in 1843.                  ..

A Big Hug series offers a gentle and direct approach to the emotional issues that children face. Written by a clinical child psychologist, these books encourage youngsters to share and discuss tough topics with family and friends. Friendship is Like A Seesaw compares friendship to the classic playground ride--there are ups and downs, but in the end it's all about balance. ..

Bearspotting is a dangerous business - you ought to take it seriously, you know. So here's what you need to know for starters - black bears are dangerous and black, brown bears are dangerous and brown. Although sometimes black bears can be a little brown, and brown bears can be a little black. Are you following? You really need to focus here. If you do, this guide will tell you all you need to know when walking in BEAR COUNTRY. Don't leave home without it. Are you ready? Good! Let's go ...   A Beginner's Guide to Bearspotting is the laugh-out-loud, essential guide for all would-be bearspotters. To be studied with due care and attention. Don't say we didn't warn you ...                  ..

Discover the Women's Murder Club's most terrifying case ever in this New York Times bestseller. As a terrible series of fires blazes through California, the heat begins to rage too close to home. A terrible fire in a wealthy suburban home leaves a married couple dead and Detective Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich Conklin searching for clues. And after California's golden boy Michael Campion has been missing for a month, there finally seems to be a lead in his case-a very devastating lead. As fire after fire consume couples in wealthy, comfortable homes, Lindsay and the Murder Club must race to find the arsonists responsible and get to the bottom of Michael Campion's disappearance. But suddenly the flames are raging too close to home. Frightened for her life and torn between two men, Lindsay must find a way to solve the most daunting dilemmas she's ever faced-at work and at home.                  ..

What does the future of work look like?   Every day, workplace decisions are made that directly impact and change the workforce of tomorrow. From the way we are managed to the rewards we receive, all aspects of our work life are determined by the changing dynamics of the workplace. Recent concerns about globalisation, productivity and the introduction of new technologies have raised questions about the future of the workforce and job security. But are these concerns really justified?   21st Century Workforces and Workplaces charts, explains and analyses the past five years, which has seen the rewriting of much of what we thought we knew about employment and how workplaces respond to pressure. The book also outlines what hasn't changed and, in doing so, distinguishes myth from reality.  Stephen Bevan, Ian Brinkley, Zofia Bajorek and Cary L. Cooper combine their considerable expertise to discuss the critical questions for any member of any workplace, including:  *         Are permanent, long-term jobs a thing of the past? *         Does work have to be a 'place'? *         How will future managers be selected, educated and developed? *         What is the future for trade unions?  *         Beyond pay, how will rewards evolve to incentivise workers alongside responsible capitalism? *         Are we seeing the end of retirement?   This book takes what we know and projects how the future labour market will develop. 21st Century Workforces and Workplaces asks what sort of work environments we want to see in 2025 and what we can do today to help bring about the necessary changes.                  ..

From atoms and X-rays to the Big Bang and the Internet, brilliant breakthroughs by successful scientists have changed the world. Dip inside this intriguing book to read the stories of 100 scientists and their amazing discoveries, including Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. With Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites where you can meet amazing scientists and try online activities.                  ..

Your little one will soon learn some essential first words and pictures with this bright board book. There are 100 color photographs to look at and talk about, and 100 simple first words to read and learn, too. The pages are made from tough board for hours of fun reading, and the cover is softly padded for little hands to hold ..

First 100 Animals is designed to introduce new words and concepts. Young children are introduced to Animals through bright photography and simple labels. ..