Books with author M. J. Patrick

When words in verse are paired with the awesomeness of nature, something magical happens! Beloved former U.S. Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis curates an exuberant poetic celebration of the natural world in this stellar collection of nature poems. From trickling streams to deafening thrunderstorms to soaring mountains, discover majestic photography perfectly paired with contemporary (such as Billy Collins), classics (such as Robert Frost), and never-before-published works.

Named one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews!Named one of the top Children's Books of 2012 by the New York Public Library!"Add a little natural wonder to your poetry shelves. Because if we’re talking about the best possible compliment to your eyes and ears alike, few have as many perks and grand moments as this." —School Library Journal starred review"Out of a windless August night/A luna moth in ghostly lightBeat softly on my window screen/Tick-tick-ticking-all silver green.She whispered secrets in my ear--/I am but a stranger here.The stars are scrawled across the sky/By ghostwriters, the Moon and I.You will not see me here tonight--/I have a thousand stars to write."What could be better than cuddling up with your child and this book on your lap and allowing your imaginations to soar with the words and images? Lovingly selected by U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and paired with vibrant animal photography, this collection of poems is an exuberant celebration of the animal kingdom and a beautiful introduction to this genre of literature. Designed for family sharing but targeted to ages 4-8, this dynamic, fresh, yet still classic collection of animal poems is a must-have for the family bookshelf.Featured poets include J. Patrick Lewis, Dorothy Aldis, Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, Jack Prelutsky, Elizabeth Madox Roberts, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and many more.Divided into chapters that group the poems by theme for extra resonance, the collection is a mix of old and new, classics, and never-before-published. A foreword from Lewis, sets the scene for helping children appreciate this gift of language and this visual feast for the eyes. Chapters include: Welcome to the World (birth of animal young) Big Ones (large animals--elephants, hippos, rhinos, bears) Little Ones (small animals--worms, insects) Winged Ones (birds and other flying creatures) Water Ones (aquatic animals--fish, dolphins, crabs) Strange Ones (curious creatures--armadillos, centipedes) Noisy Ones (loud animals--lions, hyenas) Quiet Ones (silent or still animals--hens, rabbits, snakes) Last Thought (a reflection on the world we share with animals)Releases simultaneously in Reinforced Library Binding: 978-1-4263-1054-6 , $28.90/$33.00 CanNational Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

"This book has its place with other great books about war from soldier’s perspective, Das Boot (Buchheim), All Quiet on the Western Front (Remarque)." "What shines through magnificently is the love of the brotherhood of the Marines who never lost faith in each other." The Cross of Gallantry is a story about Vietnam that is told at two levels – a personal journey for two young Americans, and a portrayal of the gross mistakes made by politicians and the Pentagon’s civilian leadership.The personal story is about Frank O’Brian and Mike Morgan, two middle class Americans who join the Marine Corps in 1967 and go to Vietnam where they are thrown into the middle of bloody combat operations on the DMZ. Their story begins when they meet on a Greyhound bus, headed to Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island. It continues through Marine Infantry Training Regiment (ITR) and their visits home to say goodbye to family and friends, finally entering the pipeline of replacement with thousands of other young Americans headed for Vietnam. They are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) for the 3rd Marine Division. They join the battle-hardened Marines of Charlie Company, a brotherhood of veterans where most have earned at least one Purple Heart for combat wounds. Their story continues through a landing, search and destroy operations, building bunkers along the DMZ, crossing minefields, being hit with friendly fire, and engaging in close combat firefights.Their personal experience reflects on the overarching story of every troop involved in the Vietnam War. Four major military planning mistakes made in Washington and implemented in Vietnam had a deadly impact on American troops. First, the original strategy of the generals of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was offensive -- to win the war -- was ignored by President Johnson when he chose to adopt the political-military strategy promoted by Defense Secretary McNamara and his team of “whiz kids.” They devised a defensive strategy, a “war of attrition”, based on obtaining a “10-to 1 kill ratio.” Second, the Pentagon orders the construction “McNamara’s Wall” – across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an “impenetrable” bunker system built across the entire DMZ.The third fatal mistake was the initiation of Operation Ranch Hand, the defoliation of the DMZ with Agent Orange. Air Force planes sprayed millions of gallons of the deadly poison on the vegetation across the DMZ.Finally, the M-16 rifles provided to combat units in Vietnam by the Pentagon jammed repeatedly. Gene Stoner, the designer of the M-16 and its manufacturer, Colt Manufacturing Company, warned the Pentagon that the Improved Military Rifle (IMR) propellant or gunpowder should be used in the ammunition for the M-16. The “whiz-kids” and Army Ordnance over-ruled Stoner and Colt, which caused the cause weapons to jam. Frank, Mike, Charlie Company, and the entire 3rd Marine Division struggled, fought, suffered, survived, and died in the hell created by these mistakes imposed by Washington. The Cross of Gallantry takes you into the combat units, on the ground in search and destroy operations, the futility of building bunkers, the tragedy of friendly fire casualties, and the insanity behind a foreign war of attrition.The political-military strategy was never designed to “win” the war in Vietnam, but combat troops still won countless battles. The Cross of Gallantry tells the stories of Marines who struggled, fought and died as brothers on the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967-68.For a longer description please visit www.thecrossofgallantry.com

It's all about us! Join former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis on a lyrical journey through the United States to experience the wonders of America's people and places through 200+ inspiring poems and stunning photographs.Celebrate the gift of language and the vibrant culture of the United States with this collection of classic and never-before-published poetry. Poems are arranged by region, from coast to coast, and among them you'll find works by Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, Robert Frost, Naomi Shihab Nye, Walt Whitman, and more. From the familiar to the surprising, subjects include people, places, landmarks, monuments, nature, and celebrations. Designed for sharing, but geared to younger readers, this beautifully illustrated treasury is a must-have for the whole family.

Baltimore City, 1960. Jane Harty suffers from bouts of klutziness that leads to a brain tumor diagnosis at the age of ten. Pulled out of school early, Jane is feeling discouraged and lonely. In the first hours of the morning, she is awakened by sobs of grief and anger that mirror her emotions. Peering from her second-story window, she is astonished to find an incredible transformation of the boarded-up house across the street; it is now a beautiful Victorian mansion, surrounded by well-maintained gardens. Is it real? Jane vows to help a kindred spirit.

"This book has its place with other great books about war from soldier’s perspective, Das Boot (Buchheim), All Quiet on the Western Front (Remarque).""What shines through magnificently is the love of the brotherhood of the Marines who never lost faith in each other."The Cross of Gallantry is a story about Vietnam that is told at two levels – a personal journey for two young Americans, and a portrayal of the gross mistakes made by politicians and the Pentagon’s civilian leadership.The personal story is about Frank O’Brian and Mike Morgan, two middle class Americans who join the Marine Corps in 1967 and go to Vietnam where they are thrown into the middle of bloody combat operations on the DMZ. Their story begins when they meet on a Greyhound bus, headed to Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island. It continues through Marine Infantry Training Regiment (ITR) and their visits home to say goodbye to family and friends, finally entering the pipeline of replacement with thousands of other young Americans headed for Vietnam. They are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) for the 3rd Marine Division. They join the battle-hardened Marines of Charlie Company, a brotherhood of veterans where most have earned at least one Purple Heart for combat wounds. Their story continues through a landing, search and destroy operations, building bunkers along the DMZ, crossing minefields, being hit with friendly fire, and engaging in close combat firefights.Their personal experience reflects on the overarching story of every troop involved in the Vietnam War. Four major military planning mistakes made in Washington and implemented in Vietnam had a deadly impact on American troops. First, the original strategy of the generals of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was offensive -- to win the war -- was ignored by President Johnson when he chose to adopt the political-military strategy promoted by Defense Secretary McNamara and his team of “whiz kids.” They devised a defensive strategy, a “war of attrition”, based on obtaining a “10-to 1 kill ratio.” Second, the Pentagon orders the construction “McNamara’s Wall” – across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an “impenetrable” bunker system built across the entire DMZ.The third fatal mistake was the initiation of Operation Ranch Hand, the defoliation of the DMZ with Agent Orange. Air Force planes sprayed millions of gallons of the deadly poison on the vegetation across the DMZ.Finally, the M-16 rifles provided to combat units in Vietnam by the Pentagon jammed repeatedly. Gene Stoner, the designer of the M-16 and its manufacturer, Colt Manufacturing Company, warned the Pentagon that the Improved Military Rifle (IMR) propellant or gunpowder should be used in the ammunition for the M-16. The “whiz-kids” and Army Ordnance over-ruled Stoner and Colt, which caused the cause weapons to jam. Frank, Mike, Charlie Company, and the entire 3rd Marine Division struggled, fought, suffered, survived, and died in the hell created by these mistakes imposed by Washington. The Cross of Gallantry takes you into the combat units, on the ground in search and destroy operations, the futility of building bunkers, the tragedy of friendly fire casualties, and the insanity behind a foreign war of attrition.The political-military strategy was never designed to “win” the war in Vietnam, but combat troops still won countless battles. The Cross of Gallantry tells the stories of Marines who struggled, fought and died as brothers on the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967-68.For a longer description please visit www.thecrossofgallantry.com

Baltimore City, 1960. Jane Harty suffers from bouts of klutziness that leads to a brain tumor diagnosis at the age of ten. Pulled out of school early, Jane is feeling discouraged and lonely. In the first hours of the morning, she is awakened by sobs of grief and anger that mirror her emotions. Peering from her second-story window, she is astonished to find an incredible transformation of the boarded-up house across the street; it is now a beautiful Victorian mansion, surrounded by well-maintained gardens. Is it real? Jane vows to help a kindred spirit.

Of the original Gilded Age, historian Richard Hofstadter wrote: “There is no other period in the nation’s history when politics seems so completely dwarfed by economic changes, none in which the life of the country rests so completely in the hands of the industrial entrepreneur.” The era of William Jefferson Clinton’s ascent to the presidency was strikingly similar—nothing less, Clinton himself said, than “a paradigm shift . . . from the industrial age to an information-technology age, from the Cold War to a global society.” How Bill Clinton met the challenges of this new Gilded Age is the subject of Patrick J. Maney’s book: an in-depth perspective on the 42nd president of the United States and the transformative era over which he presided.Bill Clinton: New Gilded Age President goes beyond personality and politics to examine the critical issues of the day: economic and fiscal policy, business and financial deregulation, healthcare and welfare reform, and foreign affairs in a post-Cold War world. But at its heart is Bill Clinton in all his guises: the first baby boomer to reach the White House; the “natural”—the most gifted politician of his generation, but one with an inexplicably careless and self-destructive streak; the “Comeback Kid,” repeatedly overcoming long odds; the survivor, frequently down but never out; and, with Hillary Rodham Clinton, part of the most controversial First Couple since Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.Maney’s book is, in sum, the most succinct and up-to-date study of the Clinton presidency, invaluable not merely for understanding a transformative era in American history, but presidential, national, and global politics today.

The Bill of Rights is an extraordinary collection of original documents, carefully introduced and put into context by historian John Patrick, that traces the origins of the Bill of Rights back to England's Magna Carta and its legal traditions through to present day controversies over freedoms of speech, religion, bearing arms, assembling, and more. Examples of challenges to the Bill of Rights include:* The Sedition Act of 1798, which made it illegal to express criticism of the U.S. government * The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II * George W. Bush's Executive Order of November 13, 2001, expanding the government's authority against individuals when terrorism is suspected.

The Supreme Court of the United States is an illustrated A-to-Z guide that covers virtually all aspects of the U.S. Supreme Court, including biographical articles on all of the Justices, summaries and analysis of key decisions of the Court, articles on legal terms and statutes associated with the day-to-day operations of the court, the history of the Court, and essays on major Constitutional issues. The second edition includes new articles on major cases decided since the publication of the first edition in 1993, including Clinton v. City of New York (1998, concerning the Line Item Veto Act), Agonstini v. Felton (1997, concerning the separation of church and state), and Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (1997, regarding the government regulation of mass-media communications). There are also new general articles on African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Women in the Judicial branch. Illustrations include portraits, cartoons, and Supreme Court memorabilia. Articles are cross-referenced with suggestions for further reading listed at the end of each article as we as at the end of the book. An extensive list of Supreme Court-related websites now supplements the further reading.

In the not too distant and grim future, a band of survivors must face the demons of their past and the terrors of their present. The tenants of family, humanity, and faith will be tested as they navigate the world that has fallen apart around them. Set amongst the rolling counties of Kentucky's Bluegrass region, a story unfolds as the lives of ordinary people are turned upside down and they are forced to find the strength and love they need to stand against the endless river of time and the darkness of civilization brought to ruin.