What would you do if you found yourself alone in a new and scary world?Would you set out to find your place in it? If you're not so brave, dear reader, fear not. Help has arrived.Meet Poopy McPooFace, the hero you didn't know you've been waiting for.The end is just his beginning...

A familiar story about first-day-of-school fears and the kind of friendship that helps you overcome them. For children ages 4 years and up. It's the first day of school and Max is terrified! But he's sure that Mr. Kalamazoo, his stuffed bear, will protect him. Only . . . not so much. Things get totally wild! Luckily, just when it looks like the day will be a complete disaster, a mysterious classmate opens her backpack . . .

'Every idiot who goes about with "Merry Christmas" on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding' Dickens's story of solitary miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who is taught the true meaning of Christmas by a series of ghostly visitors, has had an enduring influence on the way we think about the season. Dickens's other Christmas writings collected here include 'The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton'; 'The Haunted Man'; and shorter pieces, some drawn from the 'Christmas Stories' that Dickens wrote annually for his weekly journals. In all of them Dickens celebrates Christmas as a time of geniality, charity and remembrance. Edited with an introduction by MICHAEL SLATER

This celebrated and fully illustrated work brings Dickens into close focus as a key commentator on America. He turns his satiric pen on 19th-century American society during his visits in 1842 and 1867-68. This became what G.K. Chesterton called "Dickens's great quarrel with America." It became one of the most celebrated episodes in the history of Anglo-American cultural relations. This large format, fully illustrated book traces the history of Dickens's fascination with the young republic from his first glorious anticipations, through a period of bitter disillusionment, to a final reassessment and tribute to the nation. Michael Slater, doyen of Dickens scholars and his major modern biographer, argues that Dickens was a natural American, and that he experienced the same love/hate relationship with his own country. Dickens expressed many private opinions in his letters, and public views in his books, notably American Notes (1842) and Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-44). He comments on slavery, factories, social life, manners, and the Shakers. He caricatured the boastful, grasping, swindling Americans, taking his gleeful revenge. But he relented and his triumphal reading tour of 1867-68 posed a revealing contrast to his earlier attacks.

In the fog of London, lawyers enrich themselves with endless litigation over a dwindling inheritance. A sterling example of Dickens's genius for character, dramatic construction, and social satire, this novel was hailed by Edmund Wilson as a "masterpiece."

In a book that is part fairy tale and part thinly veiled autobiography, Dickens transmutes his life experience into a brilliant series of comic and sentimental adventures in the spirit of the great eighteenth-century novelists he so much admired. Few readers can fail to be touched by David's fate, and fewer still to be delighted by his story. The cruel Murdstone, the feckless Micawber, the unctuous and sinister Uriah Heep, and David Copperfield himself, into whose portrait Dickens puts so much of his own early life, form a central part of our literary legacy. This edition reprints the original Everyman preface by G K Chesterton and includes thirty-nine illustrations by Phiz.

This celebrated and fully illustrated work brings Dickens into close focus as a key commentator on America.He turns his satiric pen on 19th-century American society during his visits in 1842 and 1867-68. This became what G.K. Chesterton called "Dickens's great quarrel with America." It became one of the most celebrated episodes in the history of Anglo-American cultural relations.This large format, fully illustrated book traces the history of Dickens's fascination with the young republic from his first glorious anticipations, through a period of bitter disillusionment, to a final reassessment and tribute to the nation.Michael Slater, doyen of Dickens scholars and his major modern biographer, argues that Dickens was a natural American, and that he experienced the same love/hate relationship with his own country.Dickens expressed many private opinions in his letters, and public views in his books, notably American Notes (1842) and Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-44). He comments on slavery, factories, social life, manners, and the Shakers. He caricatured the boastful, grasping, swindling Americans, taking his gleeful revenge. But he relented and his triumphal reading tour of 1867-68 posed a revealing contrast to his earlier attacks.

A magnificent new biography of the man who gave us David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and Ebenezer Scrooge This long-awaited biography, twenty years after the last major account, uncovers Dickens the man through the profession in which he excelled. Drawing on a lifetime's study of this prodigiously brilliant figure, Michael Slater explores the personal and emotional life, the high-profile public activities, the relentless travel, the charitable works, the amateur theatricals and the astonishing productivity. But the core focus is Dickens' career as a writer and professional author, covering not only his big novels but also his phenomenal output of other writing--letters, journalism, shorter fiction, plays, verses, essays, writings for children, travel books, speeches, and scripts for his public readings, and the relationships among them. Slater's account, rooted in deep research but written with affection, clarity, and economy, illuminates the context of each of the great novels while locating the life of the author within the imagination that created them. It highlights Dickens' boundless energy, his passion for order and fascination with disorder, his organizational genius, his deep concern for the poor and outrage at indifference towards them, his susceptibility towards young women, his love of Christmas and fairy tales, and his hatred of tyranny. Richly and precisely illustrated with many rare images, this masterly work on the complete Dickens, man and writer, becomes the indispensable guide and companion to one of the greatest novelists in the language.

Dickens's treatment of women is a central aspect of his artistic achievement.Professor Slater examines the novelist's experience of women - as son, brother, lover, husband, and father, and as it affected the deepest emotional currents in his life. His perception of female nature and his conception of women's role in the home and outside it - and the ways in which these found expression in his art - are pivotal topics.Professor Slater has sifted the mass of legends and doubtful traditions about Dickens's private life to present a close examination of his relations with women, and of his views of woman's nature and the womanly ideal.This work offers the most detailed survey of women in the novels, and the most comprehensive attempted. It has been acclaimed internationally.This brilliant, classic and scholarly study provides the fullest treatment of a key subject. It is one of the essential works on Dickens's work and life.A substantial new introduction deals with more recent commentary.

The 1980's: it's the time of Dungeons & Dragons, banana clips, and Atari. Jonathan Schwartz is growing up in a family like no other. His sisters, Nadia, the dark genius, and Olivia, the gorgeous tease and temptress, manipulate Jon and his friends for their own entertainment. And his Holocaust survivor grandparents? Their coping techniques are beyond embarrassing. A disastrous visit to Jon's class by his grandmother unhinges his famous father, setting off a chain of events that threatens to send the dysfunctional Schwartz clan up in flames once and for all. Fun & Games is a heartbreaking and hilarious story of faith, family secrets, betrayal, and loss-but it's also a tale of friendship, love, and side-splitting shenanigans.

A page-turning account of the scandal that almost ruined Dickens and how the story disappeared from history Charles Dickens was regarded as the great proponent of hearth and home in Victorian Britain, but in 1858 this image was nearly shattered. With the breakup of his marriage that year, rumors of a scandalous relationship he may have conducted with the young actress Ellen "Nelly" Ternan flourished. For the remaining twelve years of his life, Dickens managed to contain the gossip. After his death, surviving family members did the same. But when the author's last living son died in 1934, there was no one to discourage rampant speculation. Dramatic revelations came from every corner-over Nelly's role as Dickens's mistress, their clandestine meetings, and even about his possibly fathering an illegitimate child by her. This book presents the most complete account of the scandal and ensuing cover-up ever published. Drawing on the author's letters and other archival sources not previously available, Dickens scholar Michael Slater investigates what Dickens did or may have done, then traces the way the scandal was elaborated over succeeding generations. Slater shows how various writers concocted outlandish yet plausible theories while newspapers and book publishers vied for sensational revelations. With its tale of intrigue and a cast of well-known figures from Thackeray and Shaw to Orwell and Edmund Wilson, this engaging book will delight not only Dickens fans but also readers who appreciate tales of mystery, cover-up, and clever detection.

Who's Got Your Back? These are four words spoken together as a phrase that holds a tremendous amount of truth and power. I am convinced that many have heard the phrase, yet have not grasped the full meaning and purpose behind it. How would you answer the question of who's got your back? A battle exists for you, your marriage and your family. Life is challenging at all ages and phases and we cannnot make it on our own. We need the support of others to know in our hearts that we are not alone. This is the strength that can enable one to continue to press on and face difficult situations and challenges. This book and the teachings is a journey for all, especially men, towards encouragement of one another, finding strength in God and discovering purpose within our lives. My prayer is that the depth and meaning of who's got your back, would impact you and your life. Your back can be covered.

Are you lifting up others in their time of need?Have tough economic times, physical and emotional challenges, or spiritual pain put you on "the stretcher"?Sometimes, even the most caring people are not sure how to help struggling friends or family. Inside this book, you'll find Biblical insights and practical ways to encourage and support those around you. You will also discover what to do when you are on the stretcher of life. Encouragement and caring are tremendous sources of strength and hope. Let this book guide you, your family, and your friends to the feet of Jesus.We can lift stretchers!

Based on the book, The Stretcher, this study teaches how to practically minister to hurting people through the biblical principles of encouragement and support. It will revolutionize the way you and your church deal with the issues that hurting people are facing. The following areas are addressed: The biblical background for the ministry of encouragement and support Reasons why people don't reach out for help How to make it through those difficult times when you are alone on a stretcher Begin to realize those true friendships in your life and how to affirm and strengthen them Understanding issues and where we can help Making Stretcher-Bearing work at your church