What is this life if not an accumulation of days, days of doubt, days of splendor, days of awe--days that leave us breathless with wonder, stupefied with uncertainty, saturated with gratitude. In these brief, incisive essays on life in the opening years of the 21st century, novelist and children's author Steven Schnur reflects upon what it means to be human in a world fast losing touch with its humanity, discovering even in the midst of terrorism and war countless reasons to celebrate and rejoice. With wry wit, a keen ear for the music of language, and a sharp eye for nature's inestimable gifts, the author focuses his attentions on the raw material of daily life--the change of seasons, the growth of children, the morning headlines, the imminence of death--artfully awakening his readers to the minor miracles that underlie even the most quotidian events and the powerful feelings they evoke. Spend a moment in the company of these deft meditations on the richness of the human spirit and you will come away delighted, enlightened, and renewed. Days of Awe is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

" The Shadow Children "

"Schnur's novel is poignant and haunting. Etienne's direct, first-person narrative draws readers into his world, one of pleasure and puzzlement, action and reflection. The fantasy elements are smoothly integrated into the story, and add a unique slant to a frequently covered topic. A thought-provoking addition to the World War II literature."--"School Library Journal"

" Beyond Providence"

"To a cast of passionate, fully realized characters, Schnur adds a compelling sense of place and time and several surprising subplots. With lyrical prose and metaphorical imagery, it's a novel that grows on readers with each turn of the page."--"Kirkus Reviews"

" The Koufax Dilemma"

"Danny's usually warm relationship with his mother and coach, and his mixed feelings for his mother's boyfriend and his dad's new family are portrayed in a believable way. His struggles with faith, family, and team loyalty make this novel an appealing account of family caring and compromise, as well as a satisfying sports story."--"Children's Literature"

" Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic"

"Schnur and Evans round out the year, producing another visually and verbally entrancing title following "Autumn, Spring, " and "Summer." Evans makes hand-colored linoleum blocks whose strong and supple graphic line sets off her rich colors. Schnur's deceptively simple acrostics trace the alphabet and the season. With this latest entry Schnur and Evans complete a most satisfying quartet that can be read with pleasure the whole year round."--"Kirkus Reviews"

"That dream again-the clanging, clattering donkey, the gypsy peddler, the storm-then waking in a pool of sweat, panting, panic-stricken, disoriented, still hearing the sound of his own terror-filled voice shouting "Mama " as lightning flashed and cold rain coursed down his tear-streaked face, soaking his hair, his shirt, his shoes. He was lost His heart raced, his breath came in spasmodic gulps. There was no Mama. Mama was dead And somehow it was his fault "No, it was just a dream, just a terrible dream. He was not that child, not anymore, not now as he peered through the steamy summer darkness seeking reassurance. Where was he? His sleep-saturated brain told him he was floating on a cloud surrounded by fluttering, filmy waves, flickering lamps, twinkling dots of distant light, and just there, almost directly overhead, a great white beacon drawing him upwards. Was this heaven? Was that beacon Mama? Don't be silly It was the moon, and there, her back turned to him, lay Evie, and beyond her Papa and Mama Vera and the girls, all sleeping soundly on the crowded fire escape."-from the Prologue to "Sleepy Hollow." Plagued by feelings of guilt over the death of his mother, intimidated by the foreignness and pace of life in America, the young immigrant protagonist of this novel set in New York City's Lower East Side at the turn of the last century, finds unexpected redemption in the landscape and language of a literary classic from his adopted home.

On a crisp autumn day two centuries ago, a barefoot, bent old man hurries along a country lane in New England carrying an old pair of shoes stuffed with wild apples. Concealed in his coat and pants pockets, in his shirt and under his shapeless hat are many other treasures he has discovered that bright fall day, treasures nature leaves for all to find--if one has the eyes and the heart to see and value them. The Apple Gatherer has both. Living simply, he has uncovered the deepest secrets of the woods and has learned to live in harmony and contentment with nature. the young narrator of this gentle tale of awakening to the glories of the natural world, but that ain't the half of it. The woods, son. There's riches there in every season. And to prove it, he pulls from his pockets, shirt, and hat a dazzling array of such riches. In the end the young narrator gains a new appreciation not only of nature but of the passage of time. of Walden, Henry David Thoreau, The Apple Gatherer will leave its young readers awestruck by the splendor and mystery that exist all around them.

" The Shadow Children "

"Schnur's novel is poignant and haunting. Etienne's direct, first-person narrative draws readers into his world, one of pleasure and puzzlement, action and reflection. The fantasy elements are smoothly integrated into the story, and add a unique slant to a frequently covered topic. A thought-provoking addition to the World War II literature."--"School Library Journal"

" Beyond Providence"

"To a cast of passionate, fully realized characters, Schnur adds a compelling sense of place and time and several surprising subplots. With lyrical prose and metaphorical imagery, it's a novel that grows on readers with each turn of the page."--"Kirkus Reviews"

" The Koufax Dilemma"

"Danny's usually warm relationship with his mother and coach, and his mixed feelings for his mother's boyfriend and his dad's new family are portrayed in a believable way. His struggles with faith, family, and team loyalty make this novel an appealing account of family caring and compromise, as well as a satisfying sports story."--"Children's Literature"

" Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic"

"Schnur and Evans round out the year, producing another visually and verbally entrancing title following "Autumn, Spring, " and "Summer." Evans makes hand-colored linoleum blocks whose strong and supple graphic line sets off her rich colors. Schnur's deceptively simple acrostics trace the alphabet and the season. With this latest entry Schnur and Evans complete a most satisfying quartet that can be read with pleasure the whole year round."--"Kirkus Reviews"

What is this life if not an accumulation of days, days of doubt, days of splendor, days of awe--days that leave us breathless with wonder, stupefied with uncertainty, saturated with gratitude. In these brief, incisive essays on life in the opening years of the 21st century, novelist and children's author Steven Schnur reflects upon what it means to be human in a world fast losing touch with its humanity, discovering even in the midst of terrorism and war countless reasons to celebrate and rejoice. With wry wit, a keen ear for the music of language, and a sharp eye for nature's inestimable gifts, the author focuses his attentions on the raw material of daily life--the change of seasons, the growth of children, the morning headlines, the imminence of death--artfully awakening his readers to the minor miracles that underlie even the most quotidian events and the powerful feelings they evoke. Spend a moment in the company of these deft meditations on the richness of the human spirit and you will come away delighted, enlightened, and renewed. Days of Awe is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

When letters begin sliding off the pages of the books in Mrs. Popham's library, her elementary school embarks on an adventure in creativity that forever changes the way the students think about reading and writing. With classes suspended, everyone from the principal to the janitor gathers together to confront the mysterious problem and decide what to do about the mountain of type heaped upon the library floor. Julius suggests pasting each of the countless letters back in place, Rodney treats them like autumn leaves, several girls take to wearing them on their cheeks, and little Leonard laments the disappearance of his two favorite books, the ones he borrows every Friday. In a sudden burst of inspiration, the bewildered Mrs. Popham invites the students to create their own books from the scattered letters, precipitating an explosion of interest in the library, in books, and in the limitless creativity of the school's most colorful characters. Reading will never be the same in Mrs. Popham's library.