Books with author Joseph Sherman

In 1815, there werent any computers. Electricity hadnt yet been discovered as a way to make things run. Calculating sums of numbers had to be done by hand. One mistake would mean adding everything up all over again. But English scientist Charles Babbage was planning to change all that. He planned to use his knowledge of mathematics and engineering to build a machine that would be able to work out the most complicated sums instantly. But someone would have to give it the right program to follow. Women werent supposed to know mathematics in his day. But Ada, Countess of Lovelace, was one of the best mathematicians. She became the first computer programmer. And Charles Babbage could become the father of computingif only he could overcome the biggest problem of all. It wasnt the lack of electric power. It wasnt the lack of modern equipment. Before he could succeed, Charles Babbage had to conquer himself.

People of all ages love to watch the escapades of tricksters. In modern times, we watch Bugs Bunny, Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote even Ace Ventura and Bart Simpson. But these contemporary characters have roots in antiquity. The trickster is a universal archetype, found in every culture: Anansi among the African people, Coyote in the American Southwest, Raven in the Pacific Northwest, Rabbit in the American South, the leprechaun in Ireland, Fox in South America.

Someone once observed that A Jew is composed of 28 percent fear, 2 percent sugar, and 70 percent nerve. Certainly, the Jews have needed every bit of that nerve over centuries of persecution. The struggle and triumph of Jewishness, author Josepha Sherman observes, is reflected in the vast body of Jewish folklore, which emphasizes ethical behavior and survival through cleverness, kindness, and above all, humor.

She was a sweet little rag doll named Raggedy Ann. Her rag doll brother was a cute little fellow named Raggedy Andy. They became the leading characters in some of the best-loved children's books, and they have remained well-loved for almost a hundred years. But where did such successful and happy dolls begin? The answer lies in the story of Johnny Gruelle. He didn't think of writing children's books at first. Johnny started out drawing sports pictures and cartoons. He and his wife, Myrtle, had a little girl. Johnny told her stories about her rag doll. Pretty soon, the doll was named Raggedy Ann. But no one knew that there would be great sorrow ahead. No one knew that the little rag doll would help Johnny and his family when they needed it most.