Front porches, family cars, playgrounds, swimming pools: from such familiar haunts of childhood, these stories look out on the world through young eyes and hearts. Wise beyond their years - or soon to be - Ruthie, Omar, J.J., and the other kids in these stories veer in and out of touching distance to hard lessons about trust, love, and mortality. However engaged or aloof, grownups are always nearby. Far-from-perfect emissaries to the realm of adulthood, they pose questions for children even as they offer answers.

In "Break Any Woman Down," Dana Johnson explores race, identity, and alienation with unflinching honesty and vibrant language. Hip and seductive, her stories often feature women discovering their identities through sexual and emotional intimacy with the men in their lives.

In the title story, La Donna is a black stripper whose white boyfriend, an actor in adult movies, insists that she stop stripping. In "Melvin in the Sixth Grade," eleven-year-old Avery has a crush on a white boy from Oklahoma who, like Avery, is an outsider in their suburban Los Angeles school. "Markers" is as much about a woman's relationship with her mother as it is about the dissolution of her relationship with an older Italian man.

Dana Johnson has an intuitive sense of character and a gift for creating authentic voices. She effortlessly captures the rhythmic vernaculars of Los Angeles, the American South, and various immigrant communities as she brings to life the sometimes heavyhearted, but always persevering, souls who live there.

Experience the same fun and excitement of Superkid Academy at home. This fun-filled, interactive Bible study is perfect for home and small group study. This package includes easy-to-use lesson book and high-energy praise and worship.

YOUR CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE ALL OF THIS AND MORE WHY God has a plan for them Following God's plan brings ENDLESS BLESSINGS Who God designed them to be How to find true riches IN EVERDAY LIFE What their future HOLDS WITH GOD BY THEIR SIDE How to be successful IN EVERYTHING THEY DO This Program: Is easy to teach Is fun for the whole family Builds character Has a variety of lessons and activities Is developed for ages 5-12 Includes: 65 complete lessons Supply lists for activities Stories to read Science Labs Food Fun Lessons from history

YOUR CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE ALL OF THIS AND MORE! WHY God has a plan for them Following God's plan brings ENDLESS BLESSINGS Who God designed them to be How to find true riches IN EVERDAY LIFE What their future HOLDS WITH GOD BY THEIR SIDE How to be successful IN EVERYTHING THEY DO This Program: Is easy to teach Is fun for the whole family Builds character Has a variety of lessons and activities Is developed for ages 5-12 Includes: 65 complete lessons Supply lists for activities Stories to read Science Labs Food Fun Lessons from history