Books with author Brian Jones

For the first time ever_a comprehensive biography of one of the twentieth-century's most innovative creative artists: the incomparable, irreplaceable Jim Henson. He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters he created: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were only part of his remarkable story. This extraordinary biography--written with the generous cooperation of the Henson family--covers the full arc of Henson's all-too-brief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, through the years of burgeoning fame in Washington D.C., New York, and London, to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fifty-three. Drawing on hundreds of hours of new interviews with Jim Henson's family, friends, and closest collaborators, as well as unprecedented access to private family and company archives--including never-before-seen interviews, business documents, and Henson's private letters--Brian Jay Jones explores the creation of the Muppets, Henson's contributions to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, and his nearly ten year campaign to bring The Muppet Show to television. Jones provides the imaginative context for Henson's non-Muppet projects, including the richly imagined worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth_as well as fascinating misfires like Henson's dream of opening an inflatable psychedelic nightclub or of staging an elaborate, all-puppet Broadway show. An uncommonly intimate portrait, Jim Henson captures all the facets of this American original: the master craftsman who revolutionized the presentation of puppets on television, the savvy businessman whose deal making prowess won him a reputation as "the new Walt Disney," and the creative team leader whose collaborative ethos earned him the undying loyalty of everyone who worked for him. Here also is insight into Henson's intensely private personal life: his Christian Science upbringing; his love of fast cars, high-stakes gambling, and expensive art; and his weakness for women. Though an optimist by nature, Henson was haunted by the notion that he would not have time to do all the things he wanted to do in life_a fear that his heartbreaking final hours would prove all too well-founded. An up-close look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture_and continues to beguile audiences worldwide.

Whoever said the life of a Princess was simple? Onika is the Princess of a beautiful kingdom in Africa and is eight months away from meeting her future husband. But Onika's life is about to change after she meets a Prince at her kingdom's annual festival. Onika ultimately has to decide: will she honor the promise she made to her parents and kingdom or will she disgrace them by following her heart. Onika doesn't want to bring shame to her family and kingdom, but she will soon find out the consequences of either decision are more serious than what she expected.Regardless of your age; this is a story that will captivate the emotions and imaginations of the whole family. This a uplifting story with romance, family, revenge, forgiveness and other surprises.

To Find A Friend is an east-to-read book about making friends. The main character, Gus, who was introduced in Brian Jones' first children's book, Think, Think, Think, discovers how easy it is to share his skateboard with a boy in the park. This simple act of sharing unites the two boys in a sudden friendship that is bound to last a lifetime. The obvious moral to this story is that it is better to give than to receive.

New York Times Bestselling AuthorDr. Seuss is an American icon. Whimsical and wonderful, his work defined our childhoods and those of our children. His silly rhymes are a bottomless well of magic; his illustrations timeless favorites that make us laugh. Yet Theodor Geisel had another side: a complicated man on an important mission, he introduced generations to the wonders of reading while teaching them about empathy and how to treat others well.

In the tradition of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, comes a nanotechnology thriller of a young orphan tossed around by the system and uncared for by the adults in charge. Having lost both of his parents, he is alone in a world of leering faces and cold eyes. Unfairly, he's had to grow up way more than he should, but even little boys have their limits. Now, after having been put into the care of Dr. Cambio's school for learning challenged children, Alex's troubles could finally be over - or only just begun.Since the death of her son, Judy had been filling her days with binge eating and soap operas. Life had become nothing but a gray, dreary trudge, and not even her cats could make her smile anymore. For two years, the medication had been the only thing keeping her from turning into a weeping mess lying on her floor. But, when her mother pressures her to get a job teaching children at Dr. Cambio's school, Judy finds something she hadn't had for a long time. Hope.What is the secret that Dr. Cambio is keeping at his school? What will it mean for Judy and Alex? How will either of them hope to stand against...Change In Our Time.

The Adventures of CrackerJack Series - Spaceship 1 Coloring Book CrackerJack NORTH AMERICAN informal adjective exceptionally good. "a crackerjack mechanic" noun an exceptionally good person or thing. One day, in an unnamed town, a kid was born with an amazing imagination. Somehow this kid became known as Crackerjack. Maybe it was a grandparent who gave the name, or a great great uncle. We don’t know. But we do know that Crackerjack has an amazing imagination. Crackerjack and friends (such as Kirsten Jack, Andrew Jack, Matthew Jack, Isaac Jack, Hanna Jack, or -insert first name- Jack) have amazing adventures. Sometimes a new refrigerator is delivered in a big box which with some scissors and crayons and markers becomes a rocketship. Sometimes a secret formula from standard kitchen items becomes “reducing fluid” or another mixture “enlarging fluid”. Sometimes dreams are so real that it’s hard to know what’s a dream and what is a reality. So join with us as we explore the magical world of Crackerjack and friends. Use colored pencils to personalize your book and make it colorful. Add you and your friend’s first names (just add Jack to the end of the first name - Mary becomes MaryJack.)