Books published by publisher Hci

Cats first purred their way into human hearts thousands of years ago, and have been our treasured companions and soul mates ever since. Whether impish kittens, regal adult cats or serene seniors, it’s impossible for us to remain indifferent to them—especially at 4 A.M. when the food bowl runs dry! So smile at their many "c'attitudes," and feed your feline passion by "purr-using" wonderful stories like these: A Russian blue comforts his mourning owner by faithfully bringing her flowers An heroic red tabby Manx saves the family he loves from a lethal gas leak in their home A Devon rex with extraordinary talents—including playing the piano—expands people's notions of what a cat can do A fish-loving shorthair nearly loses his head while scavenging in the garbage disposal—but lives to meow about it A three-legged kitty befriends a lonely third-grade girl, transforming her world and inspiring her future success in life From playful and hilarious accounts of life with cats to heartwarming tales of cat courage, healing and learning, each touching story in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul celebrates the special bond we share with our cats.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul spoke directly to the hearts of all readers whose lives have ever been changed by the love of a pet. Now the coauthors bring readers this volume, honoring the unique and enduring love that people share with their cats and dogs. Like its predecessor, this book is a joyous and inspiring collection--sometimes poignant, sometimes amusing, always filled with the special and incredibly unconditional love only cats and dogs can give. The stories in this collection celebrate those lovable furry, four-legged creatures that bring out the best in all of us, inspiring us to be happier, kinder, more understanding and more loving. Readers will discover that many of humanity's greatest heroes, healers and teachers are not humans at all, but those amazing cats and dogs that brighten all our lives.

Quack Up Your Holidays! Are you longing for the festive twinkling of holiday lights but yours are tangled and on the blink? Ready to wrap your Christmas gifts but can't remember where you hid them? Would you like to get your friends together for a holiday open house but don't know when you'd find the time or what you'd serve them? Relax. Or, as Jeanne Bice, founder of The Quacker Factory says, "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle!" Jeanne Bice, known to millions of fans as "the Head Quack" of the clothing line, The Quacker Factory, and designer-crafter extraordinaire, is here to show you how to make your home fittingly festive without the fuss. With the home-spun charm that has made her one of QVC's most popular on-air guests, she will help you add sparkle to your season, whether you've been hosting holidays for years or don't know which end of the turkey is up. If you're looking for appetizers that break the ice without breaking your back, are stuck on what to make for the holiday bake sale (again!), searching for the perfect gift while avoiding the mad rush at the mall, or just wanting to add more joy to your season, Jeanne has the advice and inspiration. In addition to over a hundred family-favorite recipes, she shares simple Quacker-style decorating ideas along with complete menus for hosting themed parties, including a Crock-Pot Caroling Party, a Trim-a-Tree Party, a Cookie Exchange, and a Christmas Dinner Extraordinaire. From her never-fail no-lumps gravy and outrageous stuffing to original twists on old stand-bys like sweet potato casserole and corn cheese bake, you'll be ready to entertain with poise and pizzazz. With charming artwork and stunning photography, this all-in-one guide gives you everything you need to create fabulous holiday gatherings and the magical memories that go with them.

The runaway bestseller Chicken Soup for the Soul captured the imagination of millions of readers with its uplifting message of hope and inspiration. With a nation still hungering for more good news, Canfield and Hansen went back to work and cooked up another batch of life-affirming stories to warm your heart and soothe your soul.Through the experiences of others, readers from all walks of life can learn the gift of love, the power of perseverance, the joy of parenting and the vital energy of dreaming. Share the magic that will change forever how you look at yourself and the world around you.Special contributions from M. Scott Peck, Ann Landers, Art Linkletter, Harold Bloomfield and many others are included.

Hi! This book is for you, not your parents. This whole process you're going through is tough. Believe me, I know. I've been there. Divorce ran in my family even before I was born. My parents were divorced when I was six, and I've had multiple stepparents, new families, and half-brothers. Divorce is a mixed bag, and it's easy to get overwhelmed with the huge changes that are taking place in your life. With so many disruptions, it's hard to focus on everything that's going wrong and everything you think you've lost. But this book isn't about that. When I went through my experiences with divorce, I was lucky enough to have my family and friends all help me with good advice. They helped me see the bright side of all these new experiences, and they helped me keep a level head and a positive perspective. In this book, I've put together the most important stuff I figured out to try to make this whole thing a little easier for you to deal with. I wrote this to be a practical book that deals with the everyday situations of divorce, and The Bright Side is full of useful information, like tips on traveling through airports alone, managing your schedule between two houses, or how to tell your parents that you won't take sides. Most important is The Divorced Kids' Bill of Rights, seven inalienable rights that kids have and need to know. So take a look--it's not that long. I hope it helps you out and makes your life a little easier. --Max Sindell

Enter the office of Kevin Kuczynski, licensed high school counselor... A lot of things go on behind Mr. Kuczynski's closed doors … shouting, crying, talking, finger-pointing, and yes, the slamming of doors. Students, families, teachers, friends, enemies―they all contribute to the often complicated and heart-wrenching drama that plays out in hearts and minds behind those closed doors. Sometimes the stories turn out poorly, but sometimes they end in unimaginable joy. Kuczynski's goal in writing this book is not to create a 'reality show in a book,' but to use the stories of turmoil and struggle that have unfolded before him as a teaching opportunity. It is to engage teenagers mentally and emotionally so that they develop better choice-making skills and cultivate their ability to succeed despite seemingly unsurmountable obstacles and challenges. In Behind the Counselor's Door, counselor Kuczynski opens the doors to his office just enough for us to peer into the cauldron of emotional turmoil within and experience some of the emotional events of his many years of high school counseling: home and family chaos, the regret of a one-night-stand, the mind-erasing effects of partying too hard, an unexpected pregnancy prior to graduation, and the crushing impact of drugs and alcohol. And, of course, there are still the suicides, the abuses, peer pressure and more to confront. Yet, this is not a book about just the dark side of life and it's not about making lemonade out of lemons, either. It's about finding the seeds, planting a tree and making lemonade for the rest of life. Teenagers will empathize with the trials and tribulations in the students' stories, but behind those closed doors are also ingredients for making life a success: perseverance, achievement, inspiration, accomplishment, affirmation, self-confidence, and so much more. When teenagers take the journey with Mr. Kuczynski, don't be surprised when they come back people of character and conviction, ready to climb mountains and achieve greatness.

"You mean you've never been to the circus before?" So begins a ten-minute friendship between two strangers-two little souls sharing a love for tigers, clowns, and spectacular feats of human bravery and big tent drama. Danny's descriptions of the circus so thoroughly captivate Vincent that the younger boy is bursting with anticipation when his father finally steps up to the box office.But at that moment, a sudden turn of events makes everything feel horribly wrong. Danny is given the opportunity to make a choice-and to discover a brand new part of himself. Feeling the natural stirrings of love and generosity in his heart, Danny makes the critical decision that turns a fun night out with Dad into the best night out ever.

As pervasive violence shatters our nation, the call for values echoes through headlines and school hallways as educators, parents and children become increasingly concerned and affected. The Living Values series offers a variety of experiential activities for teachers and parents to help them teach children and young adults to develop twelve critical social values: cooperation, freedom, happiness, honesty, humility, love, peace, respect, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance and unity. In each book, these twelve values are explored using age-appropriate lessons that incorporate group discussions, reading, quiet reflection time, songs, artwork and action-oriented activities. These lessons are already in use in more than 1,000 locations in sixty-two countries. Pilot results indicate that students are enthusiastic and teachers report a decrease in aggressive behavior and more motivated students. The Living Values Educational Program was born when twenty educators from around the world gathered at UNICEF Headquarters in New York in 1996 to discuss the needs of children and how to better prepare students for lifelong success. These global educators identified the curriculum and the program was ready for piloting in February of 1997.

The runaway bestseller Chicken Soup for the Soul captured the imagination of millions of readers with its uplifting message of hope and inspiration. With a nation still hungering for more good news, Canfield and Hansen went back to work and cooked up another batch of life-affirming stories to warm your heart and soothe your soul.Through the experiences of others, readers from all walks of life can learn the gift of love, the power of perseverance, the joy of parenting and the vital energy of dreaming. Share the magic that will change forever how you look at yourself and the world around you.Special contributions from M. Scott Peck, Ann Landers, Art Linkletter, Harold Bloomfield and many others are included.

As pervasive violence shatters our nation, the call for values echoes through headlines and school hallways as educators, parents and children become increasingly concerned and affected. The Living Values series offers a variety of experiential activities for teachers and parents to help them teach children and young adults to develop twelve critical social values: cooperation, freedom, happiness, honesty, humility, love, peace, respect, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance and unity. In each book, these twelve values are explored using age-appropriate lessons that incorporate group discussions, reading, quiet reflection time, songs, artwork and action-oriented activities. These lessons are already in use in more than 1,000 locations in sixty-two countries. Pilot results indicate that students are enthusiastic and teachers report a decrease in aggressive behavior and more motivated students. The Living Values Educational Program was born when twenty educators from around the world gathered at UNICEF Headquarters in New York in 1996 to discuss the needs of children and how to better prepare students for lifelong success. These global educators identified the curriculum and the program was ready for piloting in February of 1997.

Whether she is a corporate executive or a factory worker, an entrepreneur or a "mompreneur," today's woman is an integral part of the workforce and the American Dream. Women have made inroads in many professions that were once the domain of only men while juggling the many demands of work and family. From the woman who manages a staff of fifty, to the mother who choreographs the comings and goings of a family of five, women are the ultimate multitaskers. This collection celebrates the diversity and special contributions of women in the world of work-their hopes, their dreams and aspirations, and their accomplishments. This very special book also acknowledges the important and often unappreciated women in the homeplace through stories of stay-at-home moms for whom raising children was their most important task. These tales recognize the vital contributions of women who find their reward in devoting their lives to their families instead of collecting a paycheck. Chapters include: All in a Day's Work; Balancing Work and Family; Teamwork; Special Moments, and more, and each shares the trials of working women and the special joys that achieving career dreams can bring. Readers will laugh, cry and nod in agreement as they connect with women who are not just making a living, but making a life.