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The Big Book of Fairytales & Fantasy Classics' draws together an impressive array of narratives, weaving a rich tapestry of magic, whimsy, and profound insight. This collection is marked by its diversity, showcasing a range of literary styles from the Victorian enchanted forests to the daring adventures of the early 20th century. It is a seminal anthology that brings to light the profound impact these genres have had on the literary landscape, featuring works that have captivated readers' imaginations for generations. The anthology, without focusing on individual authors, highlights significant contributions that have become benchmarks of the fantasy and fairytale genres. The contributing authors, including luminaries such as Lewis Carroll and Hans Christian Andersen, bring a wealth of background that spans continents and centuries. Collectively, they represent pivotal movements in literature, from Romanticism to the nascent steps of Modernism, embedding their tales with cultural and moral complexities that resonate well beyond their immediate context. Their collective contributions underscore the enduring relevance and adaptability of fairy tales and fantasy, reflecting both the universality and the unique cultural heritage of these stories. 'The Big Book of Fairytales & Fantasy Classics' is an indispensable volume for anyone looking to explore the depth and breadth of imaginative storytelling. It offers readers a unique opportunity to dive into a confluence of narrative richness and diversity, challenging and delighting in equal measure. This anthology serves not just as a testament to the power of fantasy and fairytales to speak across generations but also as a vibrant conversation between some of the most influential voices in literary history. For scholars, enthusiasts, and casual readers alike, this collection promises an enriching journey through the realms of the extraordinary, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.

Renowned potter Mary Fox shares her hard-earned knowledge about glazing in this book that encourages ceramicists to experiment with confidence. Many potters find the glazing process difficult, if not downright intimidating. And with the prevalence of ready-made glazes, potters often overlook the exceptional results that can be achieved by experimenting with minerals and clay slips. Mary Fox takes readers on an exploration of unique glaze materials, providing step-by-step instructions and demonstrating how to bring a creative and adventurous attitude to the process. All the glazes in this book are low fire--Fox argues this is the future of the glazing. The ingredients used in low-fire recipes are readily available and most are inexpensive. Plus, low-temperature firing saves enormously on energy use, making the process more sustainable and cost-effective. With Developing Glazes, potters can start approaching glazing in the same way they might develop a recipe in their kitchens, bringing in play, excitement and fun. All royalties from the book will be donated to the endowment fund for the Legacy Project, which aims to develop young potters' careers through apprenticeships, residencies, affordable studio space and the sharing of techniques.

Mary Fox's The Last Skipjack brings to life a time not unlike our own, a time when ways of life were changing and those affected were "circling the wagons," trying to protect themselves from those changes. Specifically, in the 1960s in Cambridge, Maryland, small tenant farmers were losing ground to larger, more mechanized operations; the local factory and foundry were closing; skipjacks no longer dredged oyster beds, women were staying in school longer, and black youngsters were looking for civil rights. Some of Fox's characters are as confused about the causes and effects of such changes as the notorious Proud Boys are today. Others see clearly but have limited power to accelerate or to prevent the economic and social changes their neighbors fear--or crave. And a few--Celie, Gabe, Ava, Isaac--a few represent futures worth careful study. The world of the novel is much like the one in which its author grew up. Life in Skipjack's Cambridge is rich in tiny adventures, annoying siblings, mediocre cooks, careless drivers, swimmers who don't know how to swim. We view these mainly through the eyes of two young girls, black Ava Skipton and white Celie Mowbray. In the process we come to understand a lot about how individuals are shaped, and how they shape others. Skipjack's world is peopled by well-intentioned parents and wise mentors, community leaders and small-scale rebels, and a handful of memorably hateful characters too. To survive in Cambridge, Celie and Ava master the etiquettes involved in speaking to landlords or tenants, to stupid classmates and potential lovers, to helpless toddlers or potential employers. And they learn the other "etiquettes" expected for interracial communications. They learn how subtle insults work, how compassion and manipulation work, and how shame gets imposed and accepted. Fox presents her characters objectively, honestly, without nostalgia, but also without exaggeration. When Celie and Ava meet as ten-year-olds, they bond quickly and deeply. They are as wise as ten-year-olds can be--seeing and judging according to the complicated standards they've already started to absorb. As they grow, they find themselves judging those standards, adjusting them, understanding and resisting some of the pressures they create. Celie, enduringly optimistic offspring of tenant farmers, becomes a community health nurse in the poorest black part of town. Ava, self-repressing daughter to a sociopathic mother, joins a Black Power movement, intending to use her rhetorical skills to create positive change. Those who have studied the Civil Rights movement may remember Cambridge, Maryland, as the site of arson and riots in 1963 and again in 1967. Fox brings it memorably to life.

Mary Ivy Fox pens her first book at the age of ninety-six. She takes you on a journey of her life sharing the ups and the downs. Mary's memoir is inspiring; it gives hope to those who thinks that it is too late for them to do whatever it is they desire to do--including finding the love you deserve. At the age of eighty-two, the wedding bells toned for Mary Ivory and Dr. Logan Fox. Mary shares her tips on what makes the fire continue to burn in a marriage--it's intimacy.

Follow this photographic journal of a red fox as he explores the world around him during the first few months of his life. He's about a month old when he first comes out of the den. Watch as he learns to hunt through play and by using his senses. See the changes as he grows from a young kit to a young fox. After all, by the next summer, he'll have kits of his own! Naturalist photographer and environmental educator Mary Holland has captured Ferdinand Fox's First Summer in a way that is sure to grab children's hearts.

"Account of an Expedition to the Interior of New Holland" is an exploration narrative written with the aid of Lady Mary Fox, an Englishwoman who accompanied her husband, the Reverend J.L. Fox, on a sizable excursion to the largely uncharted interior of New Holland, that is now referred to as Australia. This painting offers a wonderful firsthand account in their adventure. The narrative affords a detailed and engaging description of the demanding situations and discoveries made at some stage in their expedition. The Foxes traveled through rugged terrain, encountering a various variety of landscapes, from arid deserts to lush coastal regions. Lady Mary Fox's writing is marked through her vivid descriptions of the particular plant life and fauna they encountered, in addition to the Indigenous peoples they encountered, dropping light on their customs and manner of lifestyles. As one of the few ladies who ventured into the Australian desert throughout that technology, Lady Mary Fox's account is noteworthy for its angle on the hardships and adventures faced by early explorers. Her eager observations and engaging storytelling make this work a useful historical record that contributes to our know-how of the exploration and colonization of Australia in the 19th century.

We all have many gifts that make us special. Join the adopted Joanna Ferlan as she and Mary Prather share some of the reasons why adoptive children are so very wonderful.