This delicious board book filled with sweet sayings will have readers gesturing their "chef's kiss" approval with every page turn. Of all the sweets I've ever made, you are my chef's kiss. With a sweet saying on every page, this yummy board book celebrates the joys of parent and child spending time stirring, whisking, making, and baking together. Sure to be a batch made in heaven with little ones who like helping in the kitchen!

This sparkling shark-tastic board book is a deep-sea twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!" Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Shark Swimming deep down in the dark An adventurous twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Shark is the fifth board book in the Twinkle, Twinkle series that's perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up and share.

The Christian concept of heaven flourished for almost two millennia, but it has lost much of its power in the last hundred years. Indeed today even theologians tend to avoid the topic. But heaven has always been a central tenet of the Christian faith, writes Jeffrey Burton Russell. If there is no heaven, no resurrection of the dead, the entire Christian story makes no sense. In this stimulating book, Russell sets out to rehabilitate heaven by forcefully attacking a series of ideas that have made belief in heaven, not to mention belief in God, increasingly difficult for modern people. Russell provides elegant and persuasive refutations of arguments ranging from the idea that science has disproved the existence of the supernatural, to the notion that biblical criticism has emptied the scripture of meaning. Along the way, as Russell looks at the ideas of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer, Mark Twain and Alfred Lord Tennyson, Marx and Freud, and a host of others, he sheds light not only on the history of Christian thought, but on the process of secularization in the West. One by one, Russell refutes these anti-religious ideologies, pinpointing the deficiencies of their reasoning. Throughout the book, Russell invites the reader, whatever his or her beliefs, to take the concept of heaven seriously both as a worldview in itself and as one with enormous influence on the world. It is a book that will be welcomed by thinking Christians, who often feel beleaguered by the forces of modernity and sometimes find it hard to defend their own beliefs.

This shiny board book is a magical twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!”

Twinkle, twinkle, unicorn,

sparkle with your magic horn.

Leaping over clouds so high,

like a diamond in the sky.

A magical twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Unicorn is the first book in a brand-new board book series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up with and share.

From the author of the beloved Itsy Bitsy board book series comes a fire fighting adventure all about fire trucks.

An action-packed yet adorable story, The Wheels on the Fire Truck is the first book in a new series that is perfect for parents and little ones who love things that go. Follow the fire truck around town as cuddly animal firefighters run the siren, hold on tight, and save the day!

A magical St. Patrick's Day twist on the popular nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider!"

The itsy bitsy leprechaun was hiding pots of gold.

Down came a rainbow, colorful and bold,

Out came his friends and they all began to look,

For the perfect four leaf clover hidden in this book!

The itsy bitsy leprechaun is ready for a St. Patrick's Day adventure as he searches for a lucky four-leaf clover. Little ones will love this magical twist on the classic nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider!"

This sleepy dino board book is a prehistoric twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!”

Twinkle, twinkle, dinosaur

how I like to hear you roar.

Stomping through the trees so high,

as your friends fly through the sky.

A roaring twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Dinosaur is the second book in a brand-new board book series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up with and share.

From the author of the beloved Itsy Bitsy board book series comes a silly and smelly adventure all about garbage trucks.

An action-packed yet adorable story, The Wheels on the Garbage Truck is the second book in a new series that is perfect for parents and little ones who love things that go. Follow the garbage truck around town as cuddly animal garbage collectors clean up the neighborhood!

A joyous Christmas nativity twist on the popular nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider!" The itsy bitsy angel sang joy to the world, sending good will to every boy and girl. Out came a Star to chase the clouds away, and three wisemen looked up and let the Star guide their way. The itsy bitsy angel is ready to rejoice with every boy and girl. Little ones will love this first Christmas twist on the classic nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider."

An adorable Valentine's Day twist on the popular nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider!"

The itsy bitsy sweetheart was loveable and kind,

Drawing new cards for his friends and Valentines!

Out came the markers, paints, and sticky glue,

The itsy bitsy sweetheart had lots of work to do!

The itsy bitsy sweetheart spreads holiday cheer as she makes Valentine's Day cards for her family and friends! Little ones will love this sweet twist on the classic nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider."

Keep the giggles going with the third book in the Laugh Out Loud series, Laugh Out Loud I Ruff Jokes. A family-friendly meme joke book, Laugh Out Loud I Ruff Jokes pairs hilarious animal photographs with irreverent, goofy memes that will give kids and parents laughing fits. Filled with snooty cats, laughing llamas, and silly critters who really know how to monkey around, I Ruff Jokes is a totally wacky way to get big laughs. Warning: Side-effects may include giggles, guffaws, chuckles, snorts, chortles, and possible milk-through-the-nose laughter.

The Christian concept of heaven flourished for almost two millennia, but it has lost much of its power in the last hundred years. Indeed today even theologians tend to avoid the topic. This stimulating book sets out to rehabilitate heaven by forcefully attacking a series of ideas that have made belief in heaven, not to mention belief in God, increasingly difficult for modern people. The author provides elegant and persuasive refutations of arguments ranging from the idea that science has disproved the existence of the supernatural, to the notion that biblical criticism has emptied the scripture of meaning. Along the way, as Russell looks at the ideas of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer, Mark Twain and Alfred Lord Tennyson, Marx and Freud, and a host of others, he sheds light not only on the history of Christian thought, but on the process of secularization in the West. One by one, Russell refutes these anti-religious ideologies, pinpointing the deficiencies of their reasoning.
"A marvelous overview of the many philosophical, literary, social, and even religious forces that have challenged the concept of heaven.... Russell's elegant and richly textured survey of heaven offers a first-rate history of a much-debated subject."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Believers and unbelievers alike will find much here to challenge their thinking.... Russell argues that, far from hiding dark realities behind pretty illusions, the great metaphors of Christianity--from the luminous New Jerusalem of Revelation to the heavenly chariot of African American spirituals--gesture toward realities too cosmic to fit within ordinary language."
--Booklist (starred review)
Patient, generous, eloquent, it delivers to the ordinary reader a brilliant analysis of the long battle for Christian ideas. Russell shrinks from nothing as he pierces the illusions surrounding skepticism and cynicism and how these biases have come to dominate our daily lives. Vitally important for those of us who struggle to articulate the richness of the faith they hold dear."
--Anne Rice

Mephistopheles is the fourth and final volume of a critically acclaimed history of the concept of the Devil. The series constitutes the most complete historical study ever made of the figure that has been called the second most famous personage in Christianity.In his first three volumes Jeffrey Burton Russell brought the history of Christian diabology to the end of the Middle Ages, showing the development of a degree of consensus, even in detail, on the concept of the Devil. Mephistopheles continues the story from the Reformation to the present, tracing the fragmentation of the tradition. Using examples from theology, philosophy, art, literature, and popular culture, he describes the great changes effected in our idea of the Devil by the intellectual and cultural developments of modem times.Emphasizing key figures and movements, Russell covers the apogee of the witch craze in the Renaissance and Reformation, the effects of the Enlightenment's rationalist philosophy, the Romantic image of Satan, and the cynical or satirical literary treatments of the Devil in the late nineteenth century. He concludes that although today the Devil may seem an outworn metaphor, the very real horrors of the twentieth century suggest the continuing need for some vital symbol of radical evil.A work of great insight and learning, Mephistopheles deepens our understanding of the ways in which people in Western societies have dealt with the problem of evil.

"Jeffrey Russell knows more about heaven than anyone except Saint Peter. In this sensitive inquiry, Russell examines the traditional Christian heaven in an ecumenical spirit. Expounding one perspective after another, he makes each vision pointed, clear, illuminating. Anyone interested in religion of any kind will prize this book. It is an exhilarating read."--Alan E. Bernstein, University of Arizona

""A History of Heaven" serves the important purpose of educating us in the fullness of the Christian tradition about the nature of the afterlife of the blessed regarded from every relevant point of view: theology, popular religious feeling, poetic metaphor and expression, devotion, and psychology of religious feeling. The wealth of Russell's knowledge is demonstrated on every page and is presented with a fluency and ease that are the marks of mature scholarship informed by genuine fresh enthusiasm."--Nancy F. Partner, McGill University

"This is a masterly synthesis of much of the ancient and medieval understandings of heaven through Dante, accenting both the commonalities and the divergences and debates within the traditions studied. It is the only in-depth treatment of its subject and should become a standard reference for scholars as well as the general reader. The style is engaging and accessible, and the author displays a magisterial grasp of his materials."--Marcia L. Colish, Oberlin College

"Jeffrey Russell's history of the concept of heaven is written with the same sensitivity and thoroughness that characterized his earlier work on Satan/Lucifer, but it is presented with a lyric intensity that is necessarily absent from the earlier work. In terms of comprehensiveness, respectfor diverse philosophical and religious traditions and influences, and awareness of the changing character of the concept over time, Russell has written the most useful and intelligent history of heaven to date."--Edward Peters, University of Pennsylvania

"Jeffrey Russell has written a remarkably comprehensive account of the Christian concept of heaven in the later ancient and medieval periods down to Dante. A History of Heaven makes a complex subject accessible to a wide range of contemporary readers, while it offers specialists in the Middle Ages the benefits of a lifetime devoted to the study of Western orthodoxy and dissent."--Brian Stock, University of Toronto

"Jeffrey Burton Russell once observed that an adequate general history of heaven had yet to be written for a contemporary audience. Students of the history of Christianity should rejoice that he has taken up the task with his customary gusto and learning. "A History of Heaven" provides a rapid, yet sure tour through the varied Christian ideas about heaven, commencing with their origins in Judaism and Greco-Roman religions down to Dante. Modern students, lacking the presence of a Vergil or a Beatrice, will find in this book a useful guidebook on their journey through the varied landscapes of heaven."--Thomas Head, Washington University-St. Louis

"Jeffrey Russell, renowned historian of evil and of Satan, has turned his pen to medieval conceptions of heaven. This is a work of love, not of duty. The preface and conclusion wax poetic on the hope of everlasting beatitude, on the yearning of medieval people for a state of bliss beyond time and space. The genius of Russell's book is to give that yearning historical texture, todifferentiate visions of hope over time--and to do so in a language both beginners and scholars can follow. Russell begins with the Hebrew Bible, focuses on the complex teachings of the early church, and leads the reader into the poetic vision of Dante. A wonderful achievement, a work of maturity and mastery."--John Van Engen, Director of The Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame

"Bold in its historical sweep and assured in its scholarly depth, "A History of Heaven" is vintage Russell--a wonderfully imaginative evocation of the celestial theme and a fitting complement to his four fine volumes on the history of the Devil."--Francis Oakley, Williams College