"The essence of a poem" writes Shirley Russak Wachtel in this poetry collection spanning over thirty years, "is the middle of things." This notion is beautifully illustrated as, in a variety of poetic styles including rhyme, free verse, pantoume, and haiku, she illumines life's "ordinary" activities. Whether it is contemplating a red cardinal in her own backyard, emptying the sand from the pockets of her son's shorts, making a tuna fish sandwich, or watching the swollen backs of old women receding in the distance, these lyrical discoveries explore the supreme beauty in life's smallest, most precious, moments.
PRAISE for IN THE MELLOW LIGHT
"These poems by Shirley Russak Wachtel are crisp as April's morning air. They are crisp with human detail even as they connect us with the wide world of nature. Wachtel has a great heart, and she has the ability to let us see this great heart, her marvelous perceptions, through her poetry, her art. Praise "
-Emanuel di Pasquale, author of Cartwheel to the Moon (Cricket Books, 2003), Writing Anew: New and Selected Poems (Bordighera, 2007), winner of the Chelsea Award for Poetry and The Raiziss/dePalchi Fellowship for translations from the Italian (sponsored by Academy of American Poets).
"Shirley Russak Wachtel's poetry is grounded in the everyday of middle-class America, old Little League T-shirts, dogs dreaming of running through high grass, the slow, steady passage of days in a suburban neighborhood. What makes her poetry so effective is the realization of the miraculous hiding within the commonplace...matched effectively by Wachtel's skillful use of refrain. Overall, Wachtel's poetry reminds one of a walk along the beach--it is to be savored for the rhythmic music of the surf as well as for the beautiful treasures one often discovers deposited by the tide, waiting to be discovered."
-Mathew V. Spano, PhD, author of over sixty poems, featured in dust of summers (Red Moon Press, 2007); Baseball Haiku: The Best Haiku Written About the Game (Norton, 2007); and The Poets of New Jersey: From Colonial to Contemporary (Jersey Shore Press, 2006).

As the son of a diplomat, Howie Rocket has already seen plenty of places in the world. But when his dad, Moses, receives a curious letter from a friend, Howie is sent on a dizzying search for a stolen treasure, the elusive Lovely Precious. Along with Moses and his friend, Eric Dutch, Howie flies to the world's most enchanting cities, visiting such popular sites as the Eiffel Tower, the canals of Venice, and even the Great Wall of China. Just as the clues get more confusing, and the Lovely Precious seems more elusive than ever, Howie receives the shock of his life. All the pieces of the puzzle come together when he finds himself in Krinkelstein, the homeland of his parents, and the place where the mystery began. To add to the fun, at the end of each chapter, you will find a picture of a featured site and a translation of popular phrases, just in case you want to start your own world adventure!

The first time Brad Sureshot met Tom Ole Tunda he looked up. And up. And up. And then he looked up some more. After Brad was done looking up, he could only say one word. The word was "Wow." That's what most kids said the first time they met Tom, the tall newcomer to the Courtside Sparks, boys' basketball team. Brad, the son of two coaches and self-confessed "basketball brain," seemed happiest of all because the smiling, soft-spoken Tom just might be the one to lead the boys to their first championship. But while practicing in the gym one day, suddenly Tom disappears. The only clues are a broken shoelace, a magazine, and a scent that "smells like summer." Although he is puzzled, Brad is determined to find his friend as he follows a trail which leads from his small town deep into the heart of Africa. Join Brad, his friends Chris, Harvey, Ursula, and his eccentric Aunt Aggie as they try to put together the clues which will help them discover where and who Tom really is. As an added bonus, after each chapter you will find instructions on basketball skills both boys and girls can enjoy.

Everyone in class 4-11 knows that classmate, Charlie Wonder, is the best cook in town. But when the whole class suddenly comes down with a mystery illness right after eating Charlie's "Strawberry Surprise" cake, guess who gets the blame! As the kids try to discover the answer to this "delicious dilemma," they find themselves embroiled in several adventures. "CHARLIE WONDER--CHEF-DETECTIVE" is a fast-paced mystery, which will mystify and excite you as you explore the clues. As an added treat, at the end of each chapter, Charlie will share his special recipes with you. Help him figure out "who did it?" while enjoying treats you can make yourself. Then, celebrate with the class and Charlie's own "Celebration Brownies"!