This book explores fictional representations and narrative functions of animal characters in animated and live-action film and television, examining the ways in which these representations intersect with a variety of social issues. Contributors cover a range of animal characters, from heroes to villains, across a variety of screen genres and formats, including anime, comedy, romance, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Aesthetic features of these works, along with the increased latitude that fictionalized narratives and alternative worlds provide, allow existing social issues to be brought to the forefront in order to effect change in our societies. By incorporating animal figures into media, these screen narratives have gained the ability to critique actions carried out by human beings and explore dimensions of both the human/animal connection and the intersectionality of race, culture, class, gender, and ability, ultimately teaching viewers how to become more human in our interactions with the world around us. Scholars of film studies, media studies, and animal studies will find this book of particular interest.

Lyrical, inspiring, and affecting text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings! Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom. Although there aren't many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet. Soon Sylvia learns how to fly-how to dance-and how to dare to dream. Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author's note, and a further reading list.

Lyrical, inspiring, and affecting text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings! Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom. Although there aren't many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet. Soon Sylvia learns how to fly-how to dance-and how to dare to dream. Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author's note, and a further reading list.

What does it mean to be a good neighbor? From Central Park to Broadway to Times Square, Walter the French Bulldog is on a mission of kindness in this hilarious dog adventure story from ABC's Good Morning America's Eva Pilgrim. Walter's heart is full of kindness, but this little dog's efforts to help his neighbors don't go as planned. Journalist Eva Pilgrim's charming narrative and Jessica Gibson's vibrant illustrations make Walter Does His Best a wonderful way to introduce kids ages 4-8 to new adventures in kindness. This beautiful jacketed hardcover encourages children to look for opportunities to be kind affirms that everyone makes mistakes appeals to kids' enjoyment of animals celebrates authors of color can be read aloud for story time or enjoyed as an independent read introduces kids to New York City landmarks in a fun, colorful way! Join Walter for a jaunt through Central Park, inside a Broadway theater, onto subway cars, through the Rockefeller Center gardens, and all the way to Coney Island as he tries his very, messy best to be a good dog--and learns that what matters most is the love you share with others every day.

Kids love music. They're natural singers and dancers, and they improvise every time they play. They were born for jazz! And Welcome to Jazz was made for them. A follow-up to Welcome to the Symphony - with over 70,000 copies in print - Welcome to Jazz is also written by music educator Carolyn Sloan, and uses Symphony's ingenious, interactive picture-book-and-sound-chip format. Structured around the iconic song "When the Saints Go Marching In," Welcome to Jazz narrates the story of jazz and discusses what the audience is hearing as the band begins to play. Best of all, the sound chips actually demonstrate what's happening - what vocal scatting sounds like, how to pick out a swing beat, and the tones of different instruments, from the trumpet to the clarinet. And in the end, kids can sing along with the band in a traditional call-and-response verse.

A retelling of the classic nursery rhyme. Join the charming woodland animals as a twinkly star guides them home to bed.

Someday, Maybe is an inventive and inspiring picture book that imagines the exciting jobs, discoveries, and innovations that children dream of for their futures. With self-driving cars and commercial launches to space, the future has arrived! And so have the jobs of the future, from intergalactic rock bands with riffing robots to doctors with X-ray glasses. Children have always dreamed of what they will grow up to become, and with Someday, Maybe the possibilities are whole lot more out of this world. Join a group of intrepid young innovators while they dream about where the future will take them in this imaginative picture book.

Tell your egg-stra special little peep that they make you very hoppy with this punderful Easter book for babies and toddlers! Filled with adorable baby animal illustrations, a heartfelt message, and charming puns all ages can enjoy, Somebunny Loves You is a sweet story families will love to read and share together. Put some spring in your step with this Easter book for kids, shower love on your little one, and start a new holiday tradition. It's an egg-straordinary way to celebrate Easter and springtime and includes a bonus seek and find hidden inside! The perfect book gift for: Fans of I Love You Like No Otter Babies and toddlers ages 0-3. Made just for their little hands! Easter basket stuffer Farm book and baby animal lovers Baby showers Valentine's Day Birthdays and more!Somebunny loves you. Psst... that bunny is me! You're my favorite peep. You fill my heart with glee.

Lorelei Peters had everything she had ever dreamed of. Amazing friends, a sexy boyfriend, and a job that she absolutely loved. Dillon Brockwell was all she had ever wanted. Handsome, successful, and he loved her as much as she loved him. Life was going along the way it was supposed to, until someone from Dillon's past shows up and shatters everything to pieces. Can Lorelei and Dillon get through all the craziness and make it down the aisle? Or will lies of omission be enough to derail them forever.