Books with author Catherine Liu

This is a Level 1 Reader book: 2-4 simple sentences per page, kindergarten - 1st grade vocabulary, large type, lots of colorful pictures on every page. Old legends tell us about the griffin, sphynx, basilisk, kraken and other monsters. Are these half-lions and half-eagles, half-roosters and half-dragons scary... or funny? How did people of old times imagine a seahorse, or a sea lion? Are there real monsters? We'll meet a few real-life monsters, from the giant squid, huge saltwater crocodiles, and ever-hungry barracuda to some of the most venomous creatures on Earth that happen to be small - lionfish, sea snake, and cone snail. Not every monster is huge! I would rather run into a giant squid than a cone snail!

Table of Contents i. The Black Cat - edgar allen poeii. The Fall Of the House Of Usher - edgar allen poeiii. Silence: A Fable - edgar allen poeiv. The Masque of the Red Death - edgar allen poev. THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO - edgar allen poe v. The Pit and the Pendulum - edgar allen poe vi. The Premature Burial - edgar allen poevii. Eleonora - edgar allen poe viii. The Devil in the Belfry - edgar allen poe ix. The Oblong Box - edgar allen poex. The Angel of the Odd - edgar allen poe xi. The Man that was Used Up - edgar allen poexii. The Sphinx - edgar allen poexiii. Bon Bon - edgar allen poe

Each heartbeat leads Joss closer to a shocking truth that will change everything.Joss Olstad wins the fight to switch from her private school to a public high to “find her pieces” she lost when the Indian artist father she never knew died. There, Joss struggles with a slutty friend, who flirts with her new love; Indian Culture Club girls who press her on her past, as well as her stoner mother’s lies back at home. Armed only with her handmade heart boxes that hold private messages, Joss’s search for identity leads her to a scary industrial section of Queens, and a shocking family secret that changes everything.

our kid has fallen in love with unicorns - great! Capitalize on this lucky turn of events to introduce your young unicorn lover to the major eras of European history all through the lens of what people knew about unicorns in ancient times, in the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, Renaissance, and the Age of Reason. Yes, it's all real history, with dates, origins of every unicorn legend, pictures from dusty medieval manuscripts, pages from old science books, historical unicorn paintings, and more. This book is not for unicorn sceptics.It is written from the standpoint of truths about unicorns that every kid knows and every grownup forgets. As kids we are well aware what unicorns look like. We know that they are gentle, noble in spirit and always ready to offer you their support and friendship. But when we grow up, short of becoming outright unicorn deniers, we behave like we've never seen a unicorn! And that's the problem with many historical anecdotes and legends about unicorns, as well as supposedly factual sources, such as medieval bestiaries or reports by Ctesias, Pliny the Elder, Albertus Magnus and others, where a unicorn is mixed up with a donkey, or a goat, or a rhinoceros, or portrayed as a ferocious forest bully constantly chasing elephants and lions.So, as we present all these historical sources to our young reader, we don't hesitate to point out blatant mistakes and glaring omissions in their narratives. We practice our critical thinking!Along with history materials, the book features comic-book-style pages reasserting our firm belief in unicorns and making fun of grownups so lost in their unicorn denial.Of course, along with misconceptions and fictional reports, European history offers inspiring material for unicorn lovers.Many great men - from Julius Caesar to Leibniz - believed in unicorns. There are some striking legends about them. Did you know that it was a unicorn who saved India from Genghis Khan's invasion? In Christian writings of the Dark and Middle Ages the unicorn became a symbol of Christ, and as Christian influence elevated the ethical code and the status of women through charity, chivalry, and courtly love, the unicorn also became a symbol of loyalty in marriage and selfless love. It's not hard at all to narrate this cultural history of unicorns in a language accessible to 2nd graders and up. Our kids' love for unicorns opens a unique door for learning history, and discussing our heritage and values - with respect and a healthy dose of humor.

This book closely follows the gospel stories of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection from the Annunciation through Pentecost. It has the dual goal of introducing young readers to the gospel narratives and teaching them to appreciate and interpret works of art portraying gospel-based stories and allegories. The heritage of Christian art is a vital part of the history of Europe and the Western world. Whether our families are Christian, non-Christian, or secular, our cultural education is incomplete without a knowledge and appreciation of art inspired by Christian concepts and symbolism.Each mini-chapter of this book consists of two parts:1. Event NarrationEach story from Jesus' life is narrated, directly quoting newer, easy-to-read gospel translations and partially summarizing events to keep the narration compact. The narration carefully avoids any "preachy" or interpretative elements suggesting this or that theological or denominational angle. 2. Illustrations and Art CommentaryEach event is illustrated with one or two paintings - great works of European art from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. The Art Commentary section - draws the attention of a young reader to the stylistic features of each painting, - teaches them to spot Christian symbolism and interpret the emotions of characters,- presents glimpses of art history and teaches the reader to recognize historical art styles, such as medieval Gothic art, Renaissance, Mannerist, Baroque, Academic, Pre-Raphaelite, and realistic art styles.The reading level of this book is about age 9 and up. Whenever the narration includes any theological terms (such as Annunciation, Ascension, Messiah) or art terms (such as foreground, perspective, composition) I provide a definition.

This is activity material for ages 8 and up, and a book for independent reading with the core vocabulary at 2nd-3rd grade level (US), or around reading level 4. When I was in the 3rd grade, I found in our attic an old British tabloid with a spread laying out the basics of palmistry, or palm reading. I promptly learned the 2 pages by heart, and the next day in school my meteoric rise to popularity began. Friends and foes, and their grandmas lined up to have their palms read. While my family humorously dismissed my new-found talent, some kids and family friends were in awe and authentically grateful. Fast forward some decades: I didn't become a fortune teller, and have never even visited a "psychic," but those 2 magazine pages gave me something that lasted beyond a few months of fortune-telling stardom. It was my first experience of learning a knowledge system on my own, and applying it in real life. It was also the first time I was thinking on my own about people's psychological and behavioral traits and comparing my observations with the interpretations drawn from that system.Later I invested time into studying palmistry for real, with Indian palmists, and comparing it with the Western system. It was purely a hobby: I have never used this art as a basis for any real-life decisions, or practiced it as a commercial pursuit. Recently it occurred to me that my son and any kid - boy or girl - may enjoy playing with the palmistry system, and may be able to reap the same benefits I did as a child. Afte r all, quite randomly, I ended up having an expert-level training in something I don't use: I'd better share it before I forget everything!This book is based on the actual traditional Indian system of palmistry. I have not added anything from outside that system. My only contributions are: - avoiding any gloom and doom in the interpretations of the lines and signs; - avoiding any references to class or social status, as well as any fixation on 'wealth'; - avoiding any grownup content if you know what I mean; - focusing on empowering content - such as finding and growing your talents, developing self-confidence, making good choices, and so on. I don't offer any judgement regarding whether palmistry works or not - it's up to my readers to decide! My readers and I make sure we respect both those who believe in esoteric arts (as long as they are not charlatans), and those who don't. We don't laugh at other people's beliefs. The way I present the palmistry system is straightforward, with no unnecessary humor or simplification, just like I would teach an adult (so as an adult you may enjoy it too!) We'll start by drawing a strong line between the fortune-telling activity of modern-day psychics/clairvoyants (we'll learn a new word - 'charlatans'!) and the traditional system of palmistry with a history going back thousands of years to ancient India. Then I will lay out the theory, and we'll practice using my hand, and then the hands of my best friend Katie, and of my son Eric. Along the way we'll learn a few random facts from history, culture, and mythology. Here are the benefits of playing with this book: • It's an activity that requires no toys, supplies, or guidance; • It will prompt kids to think about their own and their friends' traits of character, behavior and its consequences from a non-didactic angle - just exploring a mysterious ancient art rather than being told what behavior works and what doesn't; • It can help a kid learn about the talents, careers and achievements of family members and friends; • It will help kids develop critical thinking in distinguishing real expertise from charlatanism, and learn their family's position on esoteric arts; • It may boost a kid's social popularity, just as it did mine!

This book is fantasy-fiction-style educational activity material for the young fans of Harry Potter, Descendants, Sofia the First, and other books and films of the magic fantasy genre.Does your kid want to go to a "real" magic school, like Harry Potter and other characters of fantasy fiction? Well tell him/her: You can take a course of real magic at home, with this real magic school textbook! And luckily for you and me, I am the author of a number of textbooks written for my courses at one of the best magic schools of Middle Earth, the North Landing Academy of Magic Arts.Even though I graduated from North Landing, I'll never send my son there. The place is infested with dragons, something large is crawling in the underground vaults every time the castle floods during the full moon, and the food is not as great as fantasy fiction authors want you to think. No. My baby stays here, and I'll homeschool him in magic. So should you. If your kid is new to magic training, advise him/her to start with my Invincible Magic Book of Spells. In Star Magic we build on the ideas first introduced in Invincible Magic.The spells in this book use only safe everyday objects and substances you have at home (like milk, sugar, paper, tree leaves, rocks, etc.); absolutely no use of fire, or any ingredients or items you may not have in your kitchen at the moment (like rosewater, or sage, or a crystal ball).These spells are not based on any witchcraft, New Age, or religious lore. Any esoteric concepts mentioned in this book are introduced in the context of the history of ideas (like ancient Egyptian mythology), or popular culture (like Zodiac signs, or palm-reading). This book will help kidsdevelop imagination and engage in fantasy play, which is vital for their intellectual and emotional development;learn a few scientific facts (What causes tides?), some history (Stonehenge), brush up some geometry (horizontal-vertical, parallel-perpendicular, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional) and more.develop their interest in reading, and grow their reading fluency with an easy, 1st-2nd grade core vocabulary (reading levels 3-4).Have you ever wondered if ABRACADABRA is a real magic word? Well, once your child reads this book, they'll have a definitive answer to this question, as well as to many other questions, like:What is Ouroboros?What is the meaning of the word Zodiac?How do solstices and equinoxes happen?How to make your own sundial?Which runes did Vikings use for magic?What are the names of the stars in Orion's Belt?When was the hourglass invented?How do fortune-tellers read your palm?Which constellation is Aldebaran in?How do you make a Möbius strip?How do you say "Forever Grateful," or "Let there be light" in Latin?How to find North, South, East, and West by the sun?What is the difference between Astronomy and Astrology, Chemistry and Alchemy?Which stars were considered the most powerful in the ancient world?What's so strange about the Uffington white horse?What is the infinity sign?...And more!

Your kid has fallen in love with unicorns - great! Capitalize on this lucky turn of events to introduce your young unicorn lover to the major eras of European history all through the lens of what people knew about unicorns in ancient times, in the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, Renaissance, and the Age of Reason. Yes, it's all real history, with dates, origins of every unicorn legend, pictures from dusty medieval manuscripts, pages from old science books, historical unicorn paintings, and more. This book is not for unicorn sceptics.It is written from the standpoint of truths about unicorns that every kid knows and every grownup forgets. As kids we are well aware what unicorns look like. We know that they are gentle, noble in spirit and always ready to offer you their support and friendship. But when we grow up, short of becoming outright unicorn deniers, we behave like we've never seen a unicorn! And that's the problem with many historical anecdotes and legends about unicorns, as well as supposedly factual sources, such as medieval bestiaries or reports by Ctesias, Pliny the Elder, Albertus Magnus and others, where a unicorn is mixed up with a donkey, or a goat, or a rhinoceros, or portrayed as a ferocious forest bully constantly chasing elephants and lions.So, as we present all these historical sources to our young reader, we don't hesitate to point out blatant mistakes and glaring omissions in their narratives. We practice our critical thinking!Along with history materials, the book features comic-book-style pages reasserting our firm belief in unicorns and making fun of grownups so lost in their unicorn denial.Of course, along with misconceptions and fictional reports, European history offers inspiring material for unicorn lovers.Many great men - from Julius Caesar to Leibniz - believed in unicorns. There are some striking legends about them. Did you know that it was a unicorn who saved India from Genghis Khan's invasion? In Christian writings of the Dark and Middle Ages the unicorn became a symbol of Christ, and as Christian influence elevated the ethical code and the status of women through charity, chivalry, and courtly love, the unicorn also became a symbol of loyalty in marriage and selfless love. It's not hard at all to narrate this cultural history of unicorns in a language accessible to 2nd graders and up. Our kids' love for unicorns opens a unique door for learning history, and discussing our heritage and values - with respect and a healthy dose of humor.

This is an activity book for kids and teens, teaching traditional Gypsy-style fortune telling with playing cards. Great for fun with friends and guaranteed to bring you popularity among your classmates!We provide a list of traditional card meanings and teach you to interpret 3, 9, and 10-card spreads.Why playing cards? Why not Tarot cards?The esoteric Tarot cards used for divination, as well as Tarot interpretation techniques were invented only at the end of the 18th century by the French fortune teller Etteilla. For 400 years until then, since cards first appeared in Europe, the fortune telling was done only with regular playing cards. They are a much older tradition.Our focus is not on the esoteric aspect of divination but on the storytelling you do as you learn to connect clues offered by cards into a narrative and predict the outcome of potential events. Narratives like this - whether they touch real life events or stay in the realm of play and fantasy - help you to work through cause and effect scenarios, sort out your feelings, take responsibility for your actions, and consider the motivations and feelings of people in your life.Have fun playing a fortune teller! This engaging activity will help you get in touch with your intuition and come up with valuable insights about the reasons and motivations behind people's behavior.

The Truth About Lies, Liars, and Lying is a 33-page independent reading book for kids ages 7-10. It is reading level 4.The book is colorful, heavily-illustrated, humorous, and informative. I wrote it to help my son and any kid 7-years old and up to grasp the concept of a lie, and explore its nature and consequences in an entertaining format without lecturing, finger pointing, or gloom and doom.The goal is to help the kid make a new step toward critical thinking and the ability to analyze their own and other people's motives and behavior.We'll briefly look at different types of lies - from white lies, fibs, exaggerations and bluffs to disinformation, cover-ups, half-truths and perjury. We'll ponder over what our conscience is and whether legal things are always moral. We'll establish the four main reasons people lie, and find out where the custom of crossing fingers when lying comes from.We'll meet some liars from the animal kingdom, and condemn their behavior.If you think blue jays and squirrels are innocent sweet balls of fur and feathers, you are in for a shock. And any kid will agree that a cuckoo belongs behind bars!We'll also spend a couple pages wondering why kids occasionally lie, offer some helpful ideas, and laugh together at the classic kid lies. We'll make sure we distinguish between lying and pretend play, such as imaginary friends, Santa, and the Tooth Fairy.Finally we'll spend a lot of pages studying every method under the sun to detect a lie, such as analysing a liar's word choice and body language, and asking the right questions. Sometimes you can help a person confess: We'll learn how!We'll also look into lie detectors and whether they work. And, since we are on that subject, we'll find out how spies beat polygraph tests. What else? Pinocchio, of course, and lies in advertising. Also, stories of famous con artists, including the one who sold the Brooklyn Bridge.We'll also touch on US law: The oath, The Fifth and Sixth Amendments, why people take the Fifth, and what Miranda rights are.LIke any kid, I fibbed when I was little, but I also felt bad about it, and eventually figured out it was not worth the stress, the effort, and the embarrassment. I hope sharing these bits of information about lies, liars and lying will help our kids embrace the easier way - being consistently and happily honest

A classic Russian fairy tale in English, adapted for kids who have started to read independently. This is a Level 2 Reader: 4-6 simple sentences per page,1st-2nd grade vocabulary, large type, lots of colorful pictures on every page. Beautiful Princess Vasilisa the Wise is under a spell: She will be a frog for three years.Prince Ivan's dad, the King, orders him to shoot an arrow and wherever it hits the ground, Ivan will find his bride. The arrow flies into a dark forest, and ends up in a bog.Instead of a princess, Ivan marries a frog.But soon it becomes clear that his wife is not an ordinary frog. She turns into a princess to accompany Prince Ivan to a royal feast. Ivan dreads that Vasilisa will turn back into a frog. While she is dancing at the feast, he runs home, finds her frog skin and burns it.Unfortunately, this happens one day too early and his enchanted princess wife turns into a bird and flies away.Ivan looks for Vasilisa in faraway lands, and finally finds her and defeats the spell.The lessons of the fairy tale are honor, patience, loyalty, compassion, and being true to your word.

Good thoughts. Good words. Good deeds. Paridun knows what the Wise Lord expects of him, but on the night of the feast of Mehregân, Paridun's bad choices hurt and anger everyone in his village. Desperate to prove he is worthy of their trust, he asks to drink haoma. The bitter juice judges the person who drinks it, giving them strength if they are of good mind, or striking them dead if they are not. But when Paridun drinks the haoma, he is changed in a way no one expected, and he must save not only himself, but his people as well.