Books with author Christopher James

History is dramatic -- and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in this compelling series aimed at young readers.Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.

Mythology has always detailed the exploits of flawed gods and heroes, but I find the monsters more interesting because they are often misunderstood and subsequently scorned. Monsters are symbols of the oppressed in this world, and they need a voice to express their perspectives. We cannot hear their voices because the authors, through their silence, have denied many monsters’ perspectives. However, the monsters are the protagonists now and I share their experiences through The Story of Typhon and Echidna ©, which details the conjectural lives of the Greek monsters in their youth. (There are 70 completed written and illustrated pages). Plus, this is probably the first ever story from the point of view Echidna, Typhon and their children. This set of stories is an origin tale and I have the sequels written, but they are still awaiting illustration. This compilation of seven interconnecting children’s stories has an overarching theme about not judging others by their appearances. Some sub-themes that appear are learning how to play without hurting others, accepting others who are disfigured, teaching life lessons to siblings, helping the disabled, and building the confidence of those with body image insecurities. This story also details a scenario in which children may grow up without a father figure. Much of my work (children's books, novels, poems, screenplays) focuses on the increasingly relevant PTSD that victims of bullying experience. I often detail the perspectives of those who are persecuted and treated as monsters, whether they are creatures, insects, beasts, plants, or people. Since I consider myself an insect advocate, my writing encourages people to have more empathy and respect for insects, the little monsters who live among us giants. My primary goal as a writer is to prove that benevolent monsters can be just as gorgeous as those who are within the norm of modern aesthetics. If people accept this idea of monstrosity, society may one day see the extinction of bigoted eyes. As for how my illustrations were created, I hand drew the images, inked them with Sakura pens, scanned them into my computer and used Corel Painter 12 to touch up lines as well as color the layers. The goal of my drawing style is to be simple and expressive because I want these images to resemble the innocence of a child’s drawings. Without being too complex, these images should invite children to replicate the pictures through their own drawings. Although I used gradients for the backgrounds, I chose to not shade the characters so they would stand out more to a child’s eye.The Story of Typhon and Echidna also has a Facebook fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/TheStoryOfTyphonAndEchidna?ref=hlThere may be a few subtle mistakes here and there, but keep in mind that this is my first children's book and I will edit them when I get a chance.Also, the two ants on the covers are Squishy (green) and Squeaky (blue) and will be getting their own series as well.

This pan-Arctic Inuit legend, which tells the story of a friendly giant, is lightheartedly retold, featuring sweeping illustrations. Inukpak was big, even for a giant. He loved to walk across the tundra, striding over the widest rivers and wading through the deepest lakes. He could walk across the Arctic in just a few days. But being so big, and travelling so far, Inukpak was often alone. Until one day when he came across a little hunter on the tundra. Thinking that the hunter was a little boy alone on the land, Inukpak decided to adopt him. And so, from the shoulder of one of the biggest giants to ever roam the Arctic, this hunter experiences the world from Inukpak's perspective.

Two cousins are thrust into a parallel reality when they travel through time and fire in the first book of the alternative history Fireball Trilogy, from critically acclaimed Tripods author John Christopher.Simon and his cousin Brad hadn’t wanted to spend the summer together. And the quiet London suburb where Simon lived was the last place they expected anything unusual to happen. Then the fireball came. The huge whirling ball of light was like nothing the boys had ever seen before—and they felt compelled to investigate. They awoke in a world where everything had changed. It’s still England...but an England terrifyingly different from the one they had left behind. They passed through the fireball, and now they will have to learn to survive in the fascinatingly strange world on the other side…

Long ago, the Tripods--huge, three-legged machines--descended upon Earth and took control. Now people unquestioningly accept the Tripods' power. They have no control over their thoughts or their lives. But for a brief time in each person's life--in childhood--he is not a slave. For Will, his time of freedom is about to end--unless he can escape to the White Mountains, where the possibility of freedom still exists. The Tripods trilogy follows the adventures of Will and his cohorts, as they try to evade the Tripods and maintian their freedom and ultimately do battle against them. The prequel, When the Tripods Came, explains how the Tripods first invaded and gained control of the planet.

Penguin reissues a classic work of science fiction from the author of The Death of Grass - now with a new introduction by Hari KunzruOne year the UK suffers a terrible, harsh winter: rivers freeze solid, food and fuel run low, the whole of Europe lies under snow. As months pass and the arctic weather remains, it becomes clear that the world's climate has changed permanently. Now, humanity must adapt to survive in the brutal new conditions.As the northern hemisphere nations fall into chaos and barbarism, with packs of men roaming like wolves through the frozen wastelands, citizens flee south to Africa and South America. Journalist Andrew Leedon is one of the lucky ones who escaped in time - swapping London for the white refugee slums of habitable Nigeria. Horrified by conditions and determined to act, Leedon makes a desperate plan to return and reclaim the dangerous wilderness of his abandoned country...The World in Winter is part of the Penguin Worlds classic science fiction seriesThe World in Winter has also inspired a concept album by Simon Eltringham, available now on iTunes