Bøger udgivet af Purple House Press

Our first reaction to the Spider may be one of revulsion or fear¿. To many of us, she is a distasteful creature destined to be crushed underfoot. But here in this book we meet the Spider as Fabre did-industrious builder, talented weaver, wily hunter, ill-fated mate. His observations, often surprising or amazing, on the lifecycle of the Spider are drawn from more than fifty years of studying and caring for them. Yes, the Spider is well worth studying.Jean-Henri Fabre is considered by many to be the father of modern entomology. He lived from 1823-1915, recording his research and reflections in the ten-volume work Souvenirs Entomologiques, from which the contents of The Life of the Spider have been compiled. The first volume of this set was written in 1879, he finished the tenth, and final, volume in 1909 when he was 86. The Life of the Spider was first published in 1912. Clement B. Davis added 16 full-page black and white drawings in 1919, which are included in this new and unabridged edition.

For sixty years children have been captivated by this classic story of Mary and her dolls. Mary's father was a sea captain who took long trips across the ocean, bringing back a doll from each journey. Soon Mary had six dolls and wished for a seventh one to become her "Sunday" doll. But Mary's father said six dolls were enough for any girl, so she set off to visit the Dollmaker and, oh, was she in for a surprise!

Most of the things you know about science would have dazzled and bewildered Archimedes. But many of the things you know about science began with him. The curious, logical, wonderful, exploring mind of Archimedes founded several branches of science, discovered many scientific laws and principles, and so very much more. As an inventor, he created the Archimedes screw to drain and irrigate fields, a machine that showed eclipses of the sun and moon, and designed war machines to defend his city of Syracuse from the Romans. In spite of all these achievements, Archimedes considered inventing an amusement, and mathematics his real work. He wrote brilliant proofs and theories on almost every mathematical subject.Jeanne Bendick introduces Archimedes through humorous yet easy-to-understand explanations of his inventions and contributions-and that the door to modern science opened through the mind of Archimedes.An extra chapter has been added giving more details to, and the translation of, Archimedes' Cattle Problem.

As far as I've been able to determine, giants come in roughly three sizes: 'Very' big, 'Way, WAY' big, and 'Good grief, would you look at THAT!' big. It is possible there there may be even larger ones, but I've never personally seen any. A few folks, mostly adults, contend that there are no such things as giants. I will not waste your time nor mine disputing such radical theories. They probably don't believe in the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy either. Blasphemy.In addition (and you may not believe this) there are folks who dispute the fact that hamburgers grow on bushes. Good grief...doesn't anyone major in agriculture anymore? I know for a fact that a certain fast-food chain started this rumor. Want scientific proof? Well, there are pictures of several hamburger bushes in this very book.Jolly Roger

Here's the inspiring and true story of a young girl who was determined to read, and who went on to become a teacher, the founder of a college, an advisor to politicians, and a great humanitarian. Mary McLeod Bethune was the fifteenth child of hard-working parents, whose ancestry was one hundred percent African. She was their first child who was born free after the civil war.Mrs. Bethune worked tirelessly to build up, through education, the magnificent heritage that Black people share. During her hardest years, she refused to give up on her dream of starting her own school for Black children. It eventually became Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mrs. Bethune, born a few years after the Emancipation Proclamation, lived to see the historic Supreme Court decision on public school desegregation.

Lydia was quiet and full of imagination, Jean was adventurous yet bossy, but together with their baby brother Mark, Father, and Cousin Mary, they made just the right sort of family. They loved doing things together, and in these stories that run through all the months of the year, they have old-fashioned fun together in New England during the 1940s. On a wintry day in January, they share ice cream cones in a snow cave dug out by Father. February brings a sleigh ride-accompanied by the magical sound of jingling bells, they drive to the country as twilight descends, filling the air with hushed wonder. When Father buys a red second-hand car, which the children name the Dragon, they are off on more day trips and adventures. In spring they help a farmer with sugaring-collecting sap from maple trees as the Iroquois did, and on Easter morning this close family watches the sunrise over Nantasket beach. So on through the seasons, til it is winter again and they spend Christmas in a cottage by the sea. Includes new maps of 1940s Hingham, Massachusetts and the surrounding areas so you can see where Jean and Lydia's adventures take them.Illustrated by Marguerite Davis.

After their parents are lost in an avalanche, two Swiss orphans, 11-year-old Peter and 8-year-old Trudi, arrive at their aunt's home a few weeks before Christmas. Tante Maria is sick and barely able to support herself, much less care for two children.Peter and Trudi bring cheer to their aunt through their faith in Christmas and their determination to help. And as Trudi says, they have a wonderful start toward Christmas joy with the Christmas stove in Tante's parlor-a beautiful enamel stove that has pictures of the Christ Child and other Christmas scenes.Enjoy reading about traditional Swiss customs to celebrate Christmas as the children and their aunt work and plan for a happy holiday. A beautiful story of family and friendship that is a delight to read all year round.

Eleven-year-old Michel knows his grand'maman is the best in all France.¿And she deserves a donkey just like everyone else. A donkey would be a great help carrying loads of wood and kindling, fruits and vegetables, and it could even pull a little cart to take them for a Sunday ride.But how could he get a donkey?¿They cost a good deal of money and it would take a long while, even working two jobs. Yet Christmas is four months away!Michel is short of money, but he has plenty of determination and is not afraid to work. Everyone will be delighted at how he manages to make this Christmas a special one for his grand'maman. Full love, full of French Christmas customs, this story makes a heartwarming read-aloud the whole year through. Illustrated by W.T. Mars

Ten-year-old Kaatje yearns for her older brother Karel's approval, but he acts like the boss treating Kaatje as if she's careless and incompetent. Karel has all the adventures too, going on sailing trips and entering races with his sailboat.When Kaatje gets left behind on the way home from a school trip, she falls into a canal and gets fished out by a boy living on a canal barge. This leads to new friendships and exciting trips on the barge with his family.Dive into this moving tale full of Dutch customs, family bonds, fun and adventure, ending with a traditional Dutch Christmas celebration. Don't miss out on the two brand-new Dutch recipes at the end, for the gingerbread cake and speculaas cookies, which both Kaatje and Karel enjoy!Illustrated by W.T. Mars.

During an orienteering race, twelve-year-old Erik Dahlquist is lured off course to snap photos of a little wren on her nest. He loses his bearings until spotting a familiar landmark, the red hut on the cliff by the sea.It's Gunnar Eklund's place. The reclusive old fisherman is said to not take kindly to trespassers. After a brief God Afton, the two strike up a friendship. Later, it turns out old Gunnar has good advice for Erik when his know-it-all cousin Bertil arrives from Stockholm to stay for the summer.Join the Dahlquists and learn Swedish customs as they celebrate the holidays. There's Midsummer's Eve, crayfish fishing in August with a huge feast, culminating with St. Lucia Day and then Julafton.This endearing read-aloud, of warm relationships between family and friends, is sure to become a favorite. Charming illustrations by Lorence F. Bjorklund.