Kino lives on a farm on the side of a mountain in Japan. Hisfriend, Jiya, lives in a fishing village below. Everyone, includingKino and Jiya, has heard of the big wave. No one suspects it willwipe out the whole village and Jiya's family, too. As Jiyastruggles to overcome his sorrow, he understands it is in thepresence of danger that one learns to be brave, and to appreciatehow wonderful life can be. The famous story of a Japanese boy who must face life afterescaping the tidal wave destruction of his family and village.

Here are twelve deeply moving short stories from the perceptive pen of Cynthia Rylant. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes -- when an animal causes a human being to see things in a different way, and, perhaps, changes his life.

I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at...Agreat retelling of this tragic tale of jealousy and human frailty.With Notes on Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, and Jealousy inOthello.

Andrew Matthews brings another historical tale to life foryoung readers. With Notes on Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre andVillainy in Richard III.

Floating down a lazy river, Benny finds a blackmail scheme in progress.

Deception is abound in this classic Shakespeare retelling.With Notes on Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre and Nature andIdentity in As You Like It.

Can you ever have too much chocolate? John Midas doesn’t thinkso! Until one day when he buys a piece of chocolate that tastesmore chocolatey than anything he’s ever tasted. It’s a magicalpiece of chocolate that will forever change the way John thinks ofhis favorite foo

Edward Bear acquires a new name, Winnie-the-Pooh, and a newlife with the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Woods.

Grade 5-8-Twelve-year-old Katy is constantly making and quickly breaking resolutions about how she will change her ways and treat others, especially her five younger brothers and sisters, with more respect and compassion. When Katy meets her Cousin Helen, an invalid, Katy is awed by her kindness, prettiness, and generosity. Katy is determined to become more like Helen, a resolution that lasts only a few hours. Soon, however, Katy gets a chance to become more like cousin Helen than she ever wished as she finds herself confined to her bedroom for four years as a result of an accident. Much of the story is focused on the change Katy undergoes during her illness. Helen visits again to advise Katy to learn from her experience and to try to become the center of the house by making her room and herself more attractive to others. One way Katy decides to take Helen's advice is through assuming the responsibility of running the house, a job that consists of giving the servants instructions and ringing her bell to summo