Books published by publisher Sterling, 2008

Any child who can make a stick figure can learn to create funny cartoons—and this enjoyably illustrated guide tells them exactly how. Written by professional cartoonist Art Roche, it gives kids lots of hands-on opportunities to turn their creative ideas into delightfully drawn reality. Roche encourages budding artists to develop a personal vision, rather than trace or copy someone else's style; he also includes plenty of information that other children's how-to books overlook, including advice on writing jokes, composing panels, and getting published.

Originally published in 1885, A Child’s Garden of Verses has served as a wonderful introduction to poetry for each new generation. Stevenson’s beloved poems celebrate childhood in all its complexity and joy, from the sunny pleasures of “At the Seaside,” to the imaginative musings of “Foreign Lands” to the playful, ever-popular “My Shadow.” Of the many available editions, Gyo Fujikawa’s is one of the sweetest and most personal. Illustrated in 1957, it was her very first book—and she evokes a simpler, more innocent time that should profoundly appeal to today’s audiences. It is a gift that every child will treasure.

Welcome the second book in the Folktales of the World series! Engaging, inspirational, and above all entertaining, these legends come from Native American peoples across the U.S. Richly illustrated with original art, they capture a wide range of belief systems and wisdom from the Cherokee, Cheyenne, Hopi, Lenape, Maidu, Seminole, Seneca, and other tribes. The beautifully retold tales, all with informative introductions, range from creation myths to animal fables to stirring accounts of bravery and sacrifice. Find out how stories first came to be, and how the People came to the upper world. Meet Rabbit, the clever and irresistible Creek trickster. See how the buffalo saved the Lakota people, and why the Pawnee continue to do the Bear Dance to this very day.Stefano Vitale’s art showcases a stunning array of animal figures, masks, totems, and Navajo-style rug patterns, all done in nature’s palette of brilliant turquoises, earth browns, shimmering sun-yellow, vivid fire-orange, and the deep blues of a dark night.

Puzzle fun for four- to six-year-olds! These word searches are designed to meet the needs and interests of the youngest readers. Look up, down, and diagonally too, to uncover a buried treasure of hidden words. Young puzzle lovers can show what sharp eyes they have with this huge collection of word searches. Each has a different theme—from “Things that Fly” (airplane, mosquito, flag) to “Sundaes” (caramel, cherry, yummy), and “School Time.”

National Wildlife Federation’s new all-photographic field guide to North American insects, spiders, and related species, is the most up-to-date of its kind, and lets both amateur and expert naturalists identify more than 940 species quickly and accurately. More than 2,000 close-up color photographs by leading nature photographers reveal the field marks that distinguish each creature, and the clear and concise text that accompanies each image describes the range, habitat, life cycle, and behavior. Budding entomologists will be inspired to explore further with the detailed information on starting a collection, planting an arthropod garden, keeping insects and spiders in captivity, and learning the techniques of macro photography. The unique waterproof cover makes it ideal for use outdoors.

Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking classic—begun as a ghost story for friends—is a potent blend of science fiction and horror that has inspired countless movie and other adaptations. Nothing, however, equals the depth and beauty of Shelley’s original, which emains as relevant as ever. In his arrogance, Dr. Victor Frankenstein dreams of discovering the very secret of life…and he succeeds, bringing a new creature into existence. But should man ever play God—and if he does, what does he owe his creation?

Chubby puppies, furry kittens, fuzzy chicks, downy ducklings: Gyo Fujikawa’s lovable baby animals will captivate children. They’re big (elephants) and small (mice), plump (piglets), and playful (lambs). With each picture, kids learn a little bit about the animal—the sound it makes, how soft it might feel, and what it can do. Plus, they’ll discover something else very important: that very young creatures have to be petted, snuggled, and hugged very gently…just like the children themselves.

For school, for art classes, for fun: this kid-friendly guide to the art of beautiful writing will be a hit anywhere. From the tools to the techniques to the fantastic projects, everything has been chosen specifically for children. Youngsters can use special, colorful, felt-tipped pens called chisel-edged markers to produce great-looking letters. The guidelines make it easier to get good results. Attractive pages, filled with brightly colored examples, get kids started with simple zigzags and then move on to small and large italics, gothic lettering, uncial, and Roman calligraphy. Children will enjoy using their new skills to write down favorite poems, fashion border designs, and create greeting cards and invitations.

Children will happily climb the 1-2-3-4 stages of I'm Going to Read. Every one is thoughtfully written and carefully aimed at the correct reading group, so kids can gradually build their skills and reading vocabularies without frustration. This Level 3 story retells a popular tale in a fun way. This simple and effective retelling of the traditional fable teaches kids a valuable lesson: always tell the truth. A young shepherd pretends not once, but twice that a wolf is after his flock. But he learns a hard lesson when a wolf really appears…and no one heeds his cries.

The covers of such magazines as Time and Newsweek have described parents as living in “mayhem” and “madness” with their children. TV’s Supernanny regularly captures kids wildly, unbelievably out of control. How did our families get to such a state? Child psychologist Dr. Beth Grosshans has the answer. And mothers and fathers everywhere are listening. In what is sure to become a much-discussed blockbuster, Dr. Grosshans reveals why she believes nearly a half-century of parenting advice—with its emphasis on talking, exalting children’s self-esteem, and time-outs—is largely to blame for today’s lack of discipline. Her innovative ideas and techniques challenge this prevailing culture, proving that power and authority are as essential as love and good intentions to effective parenting. She persuasively explains why kids can only grow up healthy and strong when firmly led by their parents’ experience and better judgment, and provides a clear, easy five step program to follow. She enables parents to look at themselves clearly and identify their child-rearing style; they are often shocked to discover how their own behavior has inadvertently caused an imbalance in the family’s structure. Reading Beyond Time-Out is akin to sitting with Dr. Grosshans in her clinical office—and her core truths about healthy parent-child relationships are timeless.

The creator of unforgettable tales of horror that remain classics to this day, Edgar Allan Poe may be best-known as a nineteenth-century short-story writer, but he was also a great poet who composed verses that expressed his emotions and feelings. More than twenty of his poems are brought to a new generation of readers with colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand notes that will encourage the enjoyment and appreciation of a great talent. Selections include the famous, spine-tingling “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.”

DID HITLER—CODE NAME “GREY WOLF”—REALLY DIE IN 1945? In a riveting scenario that has never been fully investigated until now, international journalist Gerrard Williams and military historian Simon Dunstan make a powerful case for the Führer's escape to a remote enclave in Argentina-along with other key Nazis—where he is believed to have lived comfortably until 1962. Following years of meticulous research, the authors reconstruct the dramatic plot-including astonishing evidence and compelling testimony, some only recently declassified. Impossible to put down, Grey Wolf unravels an extraordinary story that flies in the face of history.