S. E. Abramson

Take a break from the console and discover the amazing origins behind all your favorite video games Did you know that Mario was originally named Jumpman? Or that his iconic hat and moustache were created because hair and mouths were too hard to animate? Or that Fortnite was originally pitched as a zombie apocalypse survival game? Or that the creator of Pok mon was inspired by his childhood bug collection? In The Secret Lives of Video Games, you'll read all this and more Age-appropriate games include: Minecraft Roblox Fortnite Rocket League The Legend of Zelda Pok mon Super Mario Bros. Animal Crossing Sonic the Hedgehog Splatoon Among Us Overwatch FIFA Tetris Lego and more

Grit. Sticktuitiveness. Perseverance. Diligence. Whatever you call it, kids in today's uncertain world need it more that ever. Grit: A Kid's Anthology is a bold, inspiring collection of stories introducing kids to real people who faced real problems and who pushed their way through. From inventors like Thomas Edison, who tried over 2,000 combinations to perfect the light bulb, to athletes like Jackie Robinson, who endured the taunts of racist adversaries; the 18 heroes in Grit faced creative, physical, social, political, and nearly every other kind of challenge. Bold, mixed-media illustrations accompany each story in this vibrant, exciting anthology From the introduction: In this book, you'll discover eighteen heroes who faced challenges of their own. You'll hear stories about physical limitations, racial prejudice, mental health, family challenges, gender ceilings, nearly failed businesses, and more. These are hard things, no doubt about it, and some aren't easy to talk about. Some seem so unfair that it's hard to see how anything good might come from them. But take heart, because in these same stories, you'll hear remarkable tales of courage, determination, grit, and what can happen if one pushes through until the storm passes.

Meet Harriet, a lovable monster who is just sick at the thought of giving a report in front of her class! Her heart pounds, her chest gets tight, and her stomach twists in painful knots. She can't even bear to get started on it! What is she going to do?In the same humorous spirit of Diary of a Wimpy Kid comes Harriet's Monster Diary: Awful Anxiety (But I Squish It, Big Time). Using the “furmometer” and ST4 techniques developed by Dr. Raun Melmed of the Melmed Center in Arizona, Harriet's Monster Diary teaches kids how to monitor how they feel and respond to stressful situations. Harriet’s hilarious doodles and diary entries chronicle her delightful adventures, misadventures, and eventual triumph in a funny, relatable way. It’s the one book that stressed kids will want to calm down to read!Harriet's Monster Diary also includes a resource section to help parents and teachers implement Dr. Melmed’s methods, plus ST4 reminders that kids can remove, color, and place around the house.