Books with author John Manders

A wacky tall tale about how musicians first learned to play together. All the musicians in the kingdom are so awful that the king sends his men-at-arms to round up musicians and feed them to the royal crocodiles. Pipe and drum player Piffaro heads for the border, collecting other refugee musicians on the way. Their jam session on the road is so bad that the horse pulling the wagon figures out a way to make them all play the same music at the same time—a system of lines and hoofprints. (In fact, there was a time before musical notation was devised, but that’s the only part of this story that is true!) Includes afterword.

Three grizzled cowboys—Dwight, Darryl, and Dub—are stuck out on the range at Christmastime, roping steers and wrestling longhorns. Reminiscing about their childhood Christmases, they try to make the cowboy camp feel festive—and it's no surprise that a cactus decorated with tin cans, and cows dressed as reindeer, don't fill them with holiday cheer! But a surprise is in store for the Circle D dudes when Santa pays a visit to the cowboy campfire! Illustrated by award-winning artist John Manders, this deluxe hardcover gives consumers what they expect from Golden Books: a high-quality book at a great value, ready for gift-giving.

Three grizzled cowboys—Dwight, Darryl, and Dub—are stuck out on the range at Christmastime, roping steers and wrestling longhorns. Reminiscing about their childhood Christmases, they try to make the cowboy camp feel festive—and it's no surprise that a cactus decorated with tin cans, and cows dressed as reindeer, don't fill them with holiday cheer! But a surprise is in store for the Circle D dudes when Santa pays a visit to the cowboy campfire! Illustrated by award-winning artist John Manders, this deluxe hardcover gives consumers what they expect from Golden Books: a high-quality book at a great value, ready for gift-giving.

There can be only three in the Freaky Joe Club Those are the rules, set down by Freaky Joe himself in the big red book, slightly chewed on one corner and wrapped in a locked bicycle chain. The newest chapter of the Freaky Joe Club consists of Conor, Timmy, and Jack, and their mission is to solve crimes and fight evil in Ship's Cove, Texas -- if they can only convince anyone that there is evil in Ship's Cove. When bicycles start disappearing all over Ship's Cove, the Freaky Joe Club has its first case. Why would anyone steal a bunch of bicycles? How can a crime buster be taken seriously if he has to ride a pink Magical Baby Katie bicycle? And most of all,... WHO IS FREAKY JOE?

The Terracotta Army is one of the greatest, and most famous, archaeological discoveries of all time. 6,000 life-size figures of warriors and horses were interred in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of China — each is individually carved, and they are thought to represent real members of the emperor’s army. This is the remarkable story of their creation, the man who ordered them made, their rediscovery and their continuing legacy as a pre-eminent symbol of Chinese greatness. The First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was king of the Chinese state of Qin and the first man to unite China into a single empire. On his death in 210 BC, he was buried in a giant mausoleum near modern-day Xi’an. In 1974 local farmers found the first of the Terracotta warriors. But most of the mausoleum is yet to be opened, including the burial chamber itself. The story of the First Emperor and the Terracotta Army is a fascinating one, not least for the discoveries yet to be made.

The name Attila the Hun has become a byword for barbarism, savagery and violence. His is a truly household name, but what do we really know about the man himself, his position in history and the world in which he lived? This riveting biography reveals the man behind the myth.In the years 434-454AD the fate of Europe hung upon the actions of one man, Attila, king of the Huns. The decaying Roman empire still stood astride the Western World, from its twin capitals of Rome and Constantinople, but it was threatened by a new force, the much-feared Barbarian hordes. It was Attila who united the Barbarian tribes into a single, amazingly-effective army. He launched two violent attacks against the eastern and western halves of the Roman empire, attacks which earned him his reputation for mindless devastation, and brought an end to Rome's pre-eminence in Europe.Attila was coarse, capricious, arrogant, ruthless and brilliant. An illiterate and predatory tribal chief, he had no interest in administration, but was a wily politician, who, from his base in the grasslands of Hungary, used secretaries and ambassadors to bring him intelligence on his enemies. He was a leader whose unique qualities made him supreme among tribal leaders, but whose weaknesses ensured the collapse of his empire after his death.

There can only be three in the Freaky Joe Club Those are the rules, set down by Freaky Joe himself in the big red book, slightly chewed on one corner and wrapped in a locked bicycle chain. The newest chapter of the Freaky Joe Club consists of Conor, Timmy, and Jack, and their mission is to solve crimes and fight evil in Ship's Cove, Texas -- if they can only convince anyone that there is evil in Ship's Cove. When the Imagination Railroad competition comes to the Edith R. Hammerrocker Elementary School, the Freaky Joe Club is determined that their team, the Sea Dragons, will triumph over their archrivals, the Sharks -- even though it's tough to beat the Sharks at anything. Will the Sea Dragons find out why Conor has disappeared? Who is Ralfaella Luderino, and why is she so interested in an old team called the Mermaids? And who exactly are these Mermaids anyway? And most of all... WHO IS FREAKY JOE?

Attila the Hun is a household name---a byword for mindless barbarism. But to most of us the man himself, his world, and his significance are all unknown. In this stunning historical narrative, John Man reveals the real Attila.For a crucial twenty years in the early fifth century, Attila held the fate of the Roman Empire and the future of all Europe in his hands. The decaying imperium, dominating the West from its twin capitals of Rome and Constantinople, was threatened by barbarian tribes from the East. It was Attila who created the greatest of barbarian forces. His empire briefly rivaled Rome's, reaching from the Rhine to the Black Sea, the Baltic to the Balkans. In numerous raids and three major campaigns against the Roman Empire, he earned himself an instant and undying reputation for savagery.But there was more to him than mere barbarism. Attila's power derived from his astonishing character. He was capricious, arrogant, and brutal---but also brilliant enough to win the loyalty of millions. Huns thought him semi divine, Goths and other barbarians adored him, educated Westerners were proud to serve him. Attila was also a canny politician. From his base in the Hungarian grasslands, he sent Latin and Greek secretaries to blackmail the Roman Empire. Like other despots, before and since, he relied on foreign financial backing and knew how to play upon the weaknesses of his friends and enemies. With this unique blend of qualities, Attila very nearly dictated Europe's future.In the end, his ambitions ran away with him. An insane demand for the hand of a Roman princess and assaults too deep into France and Italy led to sudden death in the arms of a new wife. He did not live long enough to found a lasting empire--- but enough to jolt Rome toward its final fall.In this riveting biography, John Man draws on his extensive travels through Attila's heartland and his experience with the nomadic traditions of Central Asia to reveal the man behind the myth.

The story of the caterpillar and the butterfly has been told many times but a recurring theme has been about the clumsy caterpillar metamorphosing into a beautiful butterfly. The story is about struggle and ignominy eventually culminating in glory and success. This story offers a slightly different take and attempts to convey to a child that every phase of life has its share of joys and should be enjoyed to the hilt. Life is about living in the present and making sure that you don't lose sight of the present in your quest for the future. Most children are often in a hurry to grow up as they believe that adulthood is synonymous with independence and happiness. Yet when they grow up they still look back at their childhood as their wonder years. If only they had understand the virtues of childhood when they were children they would have enjoyed it more.This theme is brought alive through the story of Twisty, a caterpillar who lives her life in agony and regret that she cannot fly and travel the world like her mother. She gets a dose of reality when she gets to visualize the life of a butterfly, albeit in her dreams. It brings home the lesson that a adult life is not as rosy as it looks and that a child should try and enjoy the fun and carefree days of her childhood.

The Terracotta Army is one of the greatest, and most famous, archaeological discoveries of all time. 8,099 life-size figures of warriors and horses were interred in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of China - each is individually carved, and they are thought to represent real members of the emperor's army. This is the remarkable story of their creation, the man who ordered them made, their rediscovery and their continuing legacy as a pre-eminent symbol of Chinese greatness. The First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was king of the Chinese state of Qin and the first man to unite China into a single empire. He built the first Great Wall and brought a single written script to the whole country. He was an inspired and ruthless ruler, but one also beset by paranoia and a desire for immortality. He is still considered the founding father of the modern state of China. On his death in 210 BC he was buried in a giant mausoleum near modern-day Xi'an. Legends of the treasures contained therein still tantalize the imagination today. In 1974, local farmers digging a well for water broke through into the burial mound and found the first of the Terracotta warriors. Further excavations have revealed the full splendour of the buried army. But the majority of the mausoleum is yet to be opened, including the burial chamber itself - myth tells us that amongst the treasures yet to be uncovered is a vast map of the First Emperor's kingdom with rivers marked with channels of flowing mercury. The story of the First Emperor and the Terracotta Army is a fascinating one, not least for the discoveries yet to be made.

The people of the first nomadic empire left no written records, but from 200 BC they dominated the heart of Asia for 400 years. They changed the world. The Mongols, today’s descendants of Genghis Khan, see them as ancestors. Their rise cemented Chinese unity and inspired the first Great Wall. Their heirs under Attila the Hun helped destroy the Roman Empire. We don’t know what language they spoke, but they became known as Xiongnu, or Hunnu, a term passed down the centuries and across Eurasia, enduring today in shortened form as ‘Hun’. Outside Asia precious little is known of their rich history, but new evidence reframes our understanding of the indelible mark they left on a vast region stretching from Europe and sweeping right across Central Asia deep into China. Based on meticulous research and new archaeological evidence, Barbarians at the Wall traces their epic story, and shows how the nomadic cultures of the steppes gave birth to a ‘barbarian empire’ with the wealth and power to threaten the civilised order of the ancient world.

Acclaimed nonfiction author Jim Murphy now turns his hand to spinning yarns. Fergus O’Mara, a resourceful Irish lad, is especially clever at avoiding work. On his way to an evening of fun, he encounters the dreaded Night-Demon. Fergus keeps on walking, but this demon means business, and our hero will have to work hard to get himself out of a “grave” situation.With haunting humor and high spirits, Jim Murphy and John Manders have created a suspenseful tale that’s scary enough for a Halloween read-aloud and funny enough to be enjoyed at any time. Author’s note.