Set during the confusion following the terrorist attacks of September 11, the story begins when a history teacher asks his students to write a report based on an interview with someone who has a different viewpoint from their own. As they fan out into the community and encounter people of diverse backgrounds, opinions, and prejudices, the teens quickly realize that the story cannot be reduced to simple dichotomies of good versus evil or us versus them.

9 of 1: A Window to the World

Chin, Oliver

History

Frog Books

Harriet's Hairballs

Literature & Fiction

Literary

In this clever twist on the traditional sports biography, Chin focuses on the 7'5'' Yao Ming, the Chinese-born basketball star whose skills during his first year playing with the NBA's Houston Rockets were nothing short of remarkable. Chin (author of the graphic novel Nine of One) deftly weaves Yao's biography and the events of his first season as Houston's number-one draft pick with an explanation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching-along with numerous quotes from this venerable Chinese philosophical classic-as a way of explaining the phenomenon of a player who is "redefining how Asians could view themselves, as well as the image of the athlete in modern society." Chin is a skilled writer with an obvious love of basketball who provides compelling insights into Yao's skills, such as how his role as the linchpin for both the Rockets' offense and defense makes him, in a Taoist sense, the "anti-center": "Embodying the qualities of water, he is fluid as much as fixed." But Chin sometimes overreaches, such as in his view that "[b]y understanding the basic Taoist relationship between difficult and easy, Yao was able to draw upon Lao's timeless wisdom for comfort in the here and now." A player like Yao who signs a $200,000 endorsement deal with Nike can be seen as far more Western than Eastern, a point which Chin himself makes in other good observations about Houston's expanding Asian-American community and the remarkable media savvy that Yao has shown when dealing with NBA superstars like Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley.

The Tao of Yao: Insights from Basketball's Brightest Big Man

Sports & Outdoors

Basketball

"Perfect timing with the Lunar New Year." - Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA "It’s about a boisterous but well-meaning puppy, Daniel, protecting his best friend (an adventurous little girl named Lin), and is unfazed by almost all the creatures that lurk in the forest behind Lin’s house. The book is brilliantly illustrated by Jeremiah Alcorn. In their journey together, Daniel discovers his true nature honest, faithful and loyal." - Asian Week The puppy Daniel explores the world with his parents and the girl Lin and learns how to become "man’s best friend." Growing up is an adventure, as Daniel and Lin soon share colorful travels. But being a good dog takes practice, as Daniel realizes when he barks up the wrong tree! Can Daniel prove his loyalty and dependability by helping Lin when she needs him the most? Daniel’s rollicking journey to discover his true nature will delight children and adults alike. Bright and dynamic illustrations will appeal to new parents, those interested in Asian culture, and dog lovers. 2006 was the Year of the Dog. "Thank you for making The Huntington's Year of the Dog celebration a wonderful success!...your time, energy, knowledge, talent , and expertise contributed immensely to the success of our celebration...We look forward to the Year of the Pig!" - Huntington Library, San Marino, CA

The Year of the Dog: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

Children's Books

Animals

Immedium

"The Year of the Pig (the sequel to 2006's Year of the Dog), is the perfect gift to any new parents you encounter this year." - SFist "The Year of the Pig tells the story of Patty, a pig who is criticized for her piggish behavior. In the end, though, her devil-may-care, impulsive side wins the day...[The artwork is] reminiscent of the work of Chuck Jones, the animator behind such Warner Bros. cartoon characters as Bugs Bunny. They look like animation stills...With his new series, Chin wants to bring the ancient stories of the Chinese zodiac to life in a modern context.” - San Francisco Chronicle The piglet Patricia explores the farm with her parents and Farmer Wu. Growing up is a learning process, as Patty gets advice from her uncles, aunts, and cousins. But being a sensible pig takes practice, as Patty realizes when Farmer Wu loses his jade ring! Can Patty demonstrate her best qualities when others think they aren’t? Patty’s amusing journey to appreciate her true nature will delight children, new parents, those interested in Asian culture, and lovers of classic pig tales such as Babe and Charlotte's Web. "The characters were enchanting, the stories engrossing And I liked how educational the books are, both of which have a description at the end of what it means to be born in the Year of the Dog (or Year of the Pig). The illustrations are extraordinary pieces of art. I can’t wait to get each of the books in this series.” - The Opinionated Parent "With its delightful narrative and appealing artwork, The Year of the Pig reminds us of the many porcine qualities we would do well to cultivate in ourselves: intelligence, curiosity, sincerity and generosity. How wise are those who learn from pigs rather than eat them!" - Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig

The Year of the Pig: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

I think Timmy and Tammy’s Train of Thought has replaced Thomas the Train in our house!” - BabyLuxe If you have a son who’s hooked on Thomas [the Tank Engine] and have enough toys to fill up the Island of Sodor, here’s a fun book to pique his interest in something else...It’s a perfect story for bedtime that you won’t mind reading over and overand over again.” Momfinds.com "The details in the drawings are incredible and tell a rich story in themselvesThe book is geared for audiences aged four to eight, so the words are few and the pictures are grandiose. It's sure to be a favorite for young readers and parents and grandparents alike, and if I've learned anything about favorite picture books, it will be requested so much even the kids will have it memorized almost word for word in no time...Timmy &amp; Tammy's Train of Thought is a new favorite for me. In fact, I have several little boys and girls for whom I'm planning on purchasing a copy and I'm very picky when it comes to buying books for young readers. I can't think of a higher compliment to pay to Oliver and Heath.” - Model Railroad News All aboard with this joyful celebration of the railroad! Timmy and his sister Tammy love trains, so their parents treat them to the ride of their lives. Sitting on the smallest scale engine, the children begin a magical journey that transports them onto ever-larger locomotives and brings their ultimate fantasy to life. From streetcars and subways to bullet and freight trains, Timmy and Tammy see new colors and hear fresh sounds. Traveling through the countryside and city, the kids cross tunnels, bridges, and highways and revel in a dazzling daydream. Marvelously detailed illustrations will rivet readers by conveying the rhythm and energy of a seamless experience. Wonderfully engaging for repeat reading, this tale is ideal for introducing trains, colors, and sounds to young readers. Plus, the surprising final destination makes this a perfect bedtime story and gift for train-lovers of all ages. "the future of our great hobby may be hidden in the pages of books like this...The book is extremely well illustrated, with interesting and detailed scenes that will capture the attention of both child and parent alike...This is the type of children's book that any parent or grandparent will be happy to share with a youngster. The future of our hobby is with the young; children's books like this will only help the cause. It clearly shows the romance of rails everywhere." - Canadian Railway Modeller magazine "The illustrations are one of the strengths of this book, as they are colourful, with quite a lot of detail and depict extremely expressive happy children throughout...Timmy &amp; Tammy's Train of Thought is a fun and entertaining story that could make a welcome Christmas present for the young enthusiast, as wells as attracting pre-schoolers who have a passing interest in trains." - Australian Model Railway Magazine

Timmy and Tammy's Train of Thought

The exuberant digital illustrations show Julie’s journey from enthusiastic beginner to struggling novice to poised and confident student who earns her yellow belt...youngsters interested in the sport will be thrilled to follow Julie’s adventures. Other readers may also learn something from Julie’s determination to meet her goals.” School Library Journal Practice makes perfect. That’s what Julie learns in her beginning kung fu class along with lessons about dedication and determination. (She thinks getting a black belt will be a snap.)...a high-action story that encourages deep reflection despite the action movie look.” San Francisco Chronicle Here’s another book that is perfect if you want to get younger children into comics. Plus it’s a positive story for female readers, an audience that is never given enough attentionIt’s a positive tale that encourages hard work and persistence and it’s entertaining and charming to boot.” Ain’t It Cool News When Julie takes a kung fu class, she thinks getting a black belt will be easy. But her bold teacher says guess again! As reality doesn’t match her expectations, Julie wonders, what would her matinee idol Brandy Wu do? Can Julie take her lessons to heart? Only then can this white belt” pass her next test to show her brother, parents, and heroine this sport’s true spirit. Julie is a refreshing female character whom children everywhere can identify with. Created before Kung Fu Panda and the new Karate Kid film, Julie displays what real kid power is! "Idolizing the movie actress Brandy Wu, Julie confidently accepts her parents' offer to enroll in a kung fu class in Oliver Chin's delightful Julie Black Belt: The Kung Fu Chronicles. But getting a black belt won't be easy since her teacher says every beginner must start with a white one. Julie wonders what her big screen idol would do...Find out through Charlene Chua's lively illustrations in this engaging and empowering read." - Audrey Magazine "Evocative of graphic novels, the illustrations will catch readers' attention. They portray the range of emotions that Julie and the other characters experience and also present the characters in 'action shots,' which will appeal to younger readers and draw them into the story. Many of the illustrations are mid-action sequences that will give readers the impression that they are watching a movie instead of reading a book with static pictures." - CM magazine

Julie Black Belt: The Kung Fu Chronicles

2008 is the Year of the Rat! With his parents' blessing, the baby rat Ralph investigates the village with his new friend, the boy Bing. But being accepted isn't as easy as Ralph would like, especially since some of his hereditary habits are hard to break. But when things go awry at Bing's birthday party, how can Ralph help if he's locked in the barn? Surely this rodent has some tricks up his sleeve to save the day!

The Year of the Rat: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

"Olivia the Pig has got nothing on Olivia the Ox: As you're looking for an inexpensive one size fits all baby gift for all those friends of yours having kids this year, consider The Year of the Ox, written by CMP fave Oliver Chin and illustrated by Miah Alcorn, the fourth book in the wonderful Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series.” - Cool Mom Picks The Year of the Ox brings the richness of Chinese heritage to children of all ages.”KTVU, FOX News, Channel 2, San Francisco, CA The feisty calf Olivia befriends the girl Mei, but pulling her weight on the farm isn’t easy. When a flood threatens her sister” and village, can Olivia save the day? This is the fourth book in the popular Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series, following The Year of the Dog, Pig, and Rat. 2009 was the Year of the Ox. "Like the typical ox, Olivia is hard-working, dependable, and a little stubborn. It’s a coming-of-age tale of an ox who discovers her best qualities. The illustrations are charming" Supah Cute Miah Alcorn’s illustrations are bright and colorful. Each character’s personality reflects on each page. Oliver Chin uses Olivia’s story to illustrate some of the characteristics of the ox from the Chinese zodiac. The story also teaches children (hard working and dependable) that nobody’s perfect and that nobody can be good at everything. It just takes time to discover what one’s talents are.” Northwest Asian Weekly Oliver Chin's spirited storytelling and Mia Alcorn's spot on characterization and subtle palette combine to bring Olivia and Mei in The Year of the Ox into rambunctious life.” - Belle Yang, author

The Year of the Ox: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

2009 Winner: Bookbuilders West award: Best Children’s Book: Cover. Jeff Miracola: Artist of the Year: GenCon 2011 annual convention. Jeff’s work has fascinated me since we first met while working on games like Dungeons &amp; Dragons. His art and imagination were cutting-edge then, and what he brings to the children’s book world is cutting-edge now.”Tony DiTerlizzi, co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles Welcome to Monster Isle is a children's book I would have loved to read to my own kids...The kids will love these monsters, and adults reading this book to those kids will appreciate the homages, the lively plot, and the fun art...It'd be a terrific gift for any creature-loving kids in your life."Tony Isabella, Comics Buyer's Guide A family’s vacation goes awry when a perfect storm tosses their skipper’s tiny boat off course. Now seven castaways are stranded on an uncharted desert island! Finnegan, his sister, parents, and dog Howl go into the wild and encounter a menagerie of monsters. Can these survivors befriend beasts straight from their wildest imaginations? Fans of Monsterology, Dragonology, Bakugan, and Pokemon will take a trip they’ll never forget, since being lost was never so fantastic! "It's a charming introduction to crytozoology for very young children, with the polysyllabic words they seem to enjoy, and gorgeously illustrated. And it has positive messages aplenty: man and manimal can live in harmony; you create your own fears; and working cooperatively is rewarding. If, as an adult, you have to read the same story every single night till your sanity gives way, this will be more pleasant than 99% of the competition."Fortean Times "It's never too soon to introduce children to cryptozoology, and that's why new kids' book Monster Isle is the perfect teaching tool...[Miracola's] big, stylized monsters are the perfect combination of fanged and funny." - io9.com "Here is a book that is geared towards kids, but embraces the adventurer in all of us. If you are as huge a fan of the SciFi Channel’s DESTINATION TRUTH as I am, you’ll definitely want to check out this book of monsters creatively illustrated by Jeff Miracola...one that will most likely please those youngsters who are just forming an interest in comics. Perfect bed time story reading material." - Ain’t It Cool News

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