Books with author Michael Hale

This beautiful and informative picture book follows a single tree through the fall season, from the end of summer to winter’s first snowfall. A great read-aloud for home and the classroom by the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and Red: A Crayon’s Story.Wonderfall follows a single tree through the changing of the seasons. People, animals, and vehicles pass in front of the tree, celebrating holidays, playing in its leaves, and getting ready for winter. Fifteen combined words (thankful + fall = thankFALL, plentiful + fall = plentiFALL) underscore the themes and concepts of the season, while the main attraction—the beautiful tree—drops acorns, loses leaves, and provides food and a home for a pair of scurrying squirrels. Two full spreads at the back of the book offer additional information about the animals featured in the book, as well as the science behind squirrels, acorns, and saplings.

Ingenuity and surprise rule in this funny and colorful companion to Red: A Crayon’s Story written and illustrated by Michael Hall, the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. The crayons are ready to tell the thrilling tale of Frankencrayon. The costumes are made, the roles are cast, the pages are all set—but then disaster strikes. Someone has scribbled on the page! Hideous! Horrifying! The story can’t go on! Try as they might, the crayons can’t erase the scribble, and this picture book must be canceled. Until the crayons playing the title role of Frankencrayon think of a solution, that is. Michael Hall breaks borders and invites readers behind the scenes with his irresistible, clever style and bold artwork. A book about seeing beauty in unexpected places and the magic of storytelling.

Poets from Shakespeare to Walter de la Mare to Jack Prelutsky have written about fairy folk. Sometimes they canbe benefactors and helpers; ofttimes, tricksters; but always, creatures of sublime beauty and wonder. Here, in a sparkling collection, are Michael Hague's favorite fairy poems, illuminated by pictures from this master painter of fantasy. His fanciful artwork has never looked more otherworldly or beautiful.

It is glorious to be a pirate king--especially in this full-bodied collection of eleven classic stories and poems by such masters as Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, J. M. Barrie, Washington Irving, and John Masefield. In his dramatic illustrations Michael Hague takes readers to a faraway world filled with adventure, excitement--and danger.Imagine that you are an orphaned boy watching a trio of fierce pirates burying treasure on a deserted beach. Or a nervous skipper on a long ocean journey, hoping against hope that a dreaded pirate captain is finally captured. Or a reformed pirate who has taken up knitting and then has a memorable slip from his peaceful ways.Hush--the moon is shimmering on the blue-black sea, and a ragged ship sails silently into sight. Slip aboard--no walking the plank for you! With Michael Hague at the helm, you just might glimpse such legendary characters as Long John Silver, Captain Hook--even Captain Kidd himself!--in this heady mixture of tales from the time when pirates ruled the seas.

Tate's younger brother Indy is probably the best skateboarder in Spokane. He's also really smart though he couldn't care less about school. But when Indy clashes with his father one too many times and drops out of school, it's up to Tate to win his brother back from the seedier elements of Spokane. Can Tate convince Indy to come home, finish his high school degree, and return to skating Under the bridge with their crew?Michael Harmon's fast-paced and highly charged novel captures the enduring bond between brothers and their struggle for survival on the gritty streets of Spokane.

Simon Nye's TV series, The Durrells, is based loosely on Gerald Durrell's Corfu Trilogy and in particular his much-loved bestseller, My Family and Other Animals. These books in turn are based somewhat loosely on actual events. The real-life Durrells went to Corfu at the urging of Lawrence Durrell, who was already living on the island with his wife, Nancy Myers. Their intent was to keep the family together as his mother, Louisa, was drinking heavily and recovering from a breakdown; 'We can be proud of the way we brought her up', Larry said, only half-jokingly, of the family's subsequent Corfu sojourn. Michael Haag's book covers the background to the Durrell family's years in Corfu, including their time in India, where all the children were born, and where their father, a brilliant civil engineer, had died. It recalls the real-life characters the Durrells encountered on Corfu, notably the biologist and poet Theodore Stephanides, and the taxi driver, Spiros Halikiopoulos. And Haag tells the story of how the Durrells left Corfu, including Margo's return intent on joining the Greek resistance, and Leslie's romance in England with the family's Corfite maid and friend, Maria Kondos. Further chapters cover what happened to the family in later life; here, Lawrence and Gerald Durrell's biographies are well known, but little has previously been written of Margo, Leslie and Louisa. Haag has fascinating stories to tell of them all.

Travel to Vietnam soon?Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 95 million, ranked 14 on the list of most populous countries. The country has a long history of influence with China. Replete with rich cultural history, quiet and contented lifestyle and great job opportunities, Vietnam is a melting pot of cultures with cultural and historical influences from China, France, India, Japan, and many other countries from the across the globe, in general, and from Asia, in particular.Whether you want to visit Vietnam as a traveller or want to settle down there, this book will be immensely useful to know a lot about the country including:Its rich history dating back to the Palaeolithic ageIts culture, language, and customs picked up from other cultures and given a Vietnamese twistThe various religions practiced Lifestyle, housing, weather, and transportationJobs, cost of living, and other pertinent detailsAnd much more...Backed by a society that believes in collectivism and overall goodness for everyone in the community, Vietnam is a great country to visit or even in which to settle down. Armed with the information given in this book, you will be able to manage the differences in cultures and lifestyle without much ado appreciating the beauty of your own culture and country while being open-minded about imbibing and learning about new countries and cultures.What are you waiting for? Let's start learning about Vietnam today!

With this stunning treasury, we welcome one of the most respected children's book illustrators to the Sterling list: Michael Hague. Originally published individually, these four beloved Christmas carols are now gathered together in one beautiful volume. Michael Hague has created an enchanted world filled with animals celebrating Noel, from a dandified bunny dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh to bears, rabbits, and chipmunks awaiting their hot bowls of figgy pudding. This book will bring holiday joy to the entire family! Includes:Jingle Bells * We Wish You A Merry Christmas * O Christmas Tree * Deck the Halls

Recess. A swing set. An argument. A resolution! Michael Hall’s transformative Swing is a celebration of friendship, joy, and kindness. Readers of all ages will look forward to seeing how four unlikely friends navigate their differences. A surprising and standout picture book from the acclaimed and bestselling creator of Red: A Crayon’s Story and Perfect Square. It’s recess! Four letters (O, V, E, and L) race to the playground to claim the swings. In several pages of recess banter and bullying, one letter is told it’s too round, one is from the wrong end of the alphabet, and one is a vowel and therefore not welcome.What does it take to save the day? Kindness . . . and a heavenly and joyful swing. And what do the letters—friends now because of their shared experience—spell when they finally come back to Earth? LOVE. A story about sharing, acceptance, and kindness, this transcendent and colorful picture book will keep readers guessing while also introducing the letters of the alphabet. Swing is for anyone who loves to hop on a swing and fly to the sky.