Best Selling Books by Aaron Shepard

Why not give more? Van Amsterdam the baker was well known for his honesty as well as for his fine Saint Nicholas cookies. He always gave his customers exactly what they paid for -- not more and not less. So, he was not about to give in when a mysterious old woman comes to him on Saint Nicholas Day and insists that a dozen is thirteen! The woman''s curse puts an end to the baker''s business, and he believes it would take Saint Nicholas to help him. But if he receives that help, will it be exactly what he imagined? Find out in this inspiring legend from Dutch colonial New York about the birth of an honored American custom. TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER''S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON''S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE," OR FREE ON AARON''S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "The Sea King''s Daughter," and many more children''s books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Wendy Edelson has applied her award-winning skills to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle''s Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U.S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// HONORS American Bookseller Pick of the Lists Trumpet Book Club selection Valerie and Walter''s Best Books for Children "The good will of legendary Saint Nick resonates in this tale about the origin of the term ''baker''s dozen.'' . . . Shepard''s easy-to-follow retelling has an appropriate Old World flavor." -- Publishers Weekly, Sept. 18, 1995 "A particularly nice holiday story accented by paintings full of detail. . . . Well-paced and a good length for groups or individuals, this is right on target for audiences. Edelson''s artwork is filled with marvelously-alive characters who almost step from the pages." -- Ilene Cooper, Booklist, Sept. 15, 1995 "A lush new version of a traditional tale. . . . Well-chosen words and a nicely-paced text that begs to be told aloud. A treat for the holiday season." -- School Library Journal, Oct. 1995 "Aaron Shepard retells a favorite colonial legend with the voice of the storyteller." -- Jan Lieberman, TNT, Fall 1995 "A fine tale of generosity for St. Nicholas Day or any day." -- Marilyn McPhie, Storybag, Special Review Issue 1997 "A story with a message to be heard during the holidays and all year long." -- Children''s Book Review

You''d better believe Slappy Hooper was the world''s biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter. He was bestest because no one else ever made pictures so true to life. But some folks said they were too good when the pictures started coming alive! Will Slappy have to give up sign painting for good? Or will a couple of timely jobs from the Heavenly Sign Company let him climb to even greater heights? Find out in this delightful tall tale from mid-20th-century Chicago. TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER''S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON''S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE," OR FREE ON AARON''S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker''s Dozen," "The Sea King''s Daughter," "The Adventures of Mouse Deer," and many more children''s books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader''s theater. Toni Goffe is a British illustrator of numerous well-loved children''s books and is a winner of the 1993 Gold Medallion Book Award. He is also illustrator of Aaron''s "The Legend of Lightning Larry." ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Goffe''s freewheeling cartoons perfectly complement this well-told, amiably satirical tale." -- Kirkus Reviews, Sept. 1, 1993 "Good-humored . . . Lots of possibilities for story hour." -- Booklist, Nov. 1, 1993 "A cheerful, upbeat, all-American legend. Have fun with it." -- Katy Rydell, Stories, Fall 1993 "Not only fun, but a start for many classroom learning experiences. Readers of all ages will enjoy Slappy Hooper." -- Sandra Boback, St. Boniface School, Kingston, PA "Delightful . . . [A] welcome addition to the list of American tall tales." -- The Story Bag, Special Review Issue ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE You''ve heard about Paul Bunyan, the greatest lumberjack of all time. And you''ve heard about Pecos Bill, the greatest cowboy. Now let me tell you about Slappy Hooper, the world''s biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter. You''d better believe Slappy was biggest! Why, he was seven feet tall with shoulders to match, and he weighed three hundred pounds, even without his cap and coverall and brush and bucket. And fastest? Just give him an eight-inch brush. Slip! slop! slap! The job was done -- and so smooth, you''d never see a brush stroke. And you bet Slappy was bestest! That was on account of his pictures. No one else ever made them so true to life. In fact, some folks said they were too true to life. Slappy''s trouble started with the huge red rose he painted on the sign for Rose''s Florist Shop. "Slappy, it''s so real!" said Miss Rose Red, the owner. "Why, I can just about smell the fragrance!" But a week later, Rose Red fluttered into Slappy''s sign shop. "Slappy, that sign of yours was too good. The bees got wind of it and swarmed all over that rose, trying to get in. They scared away all my customers! That was bad enough, but wait till you see what''s happened now!" When they reached the florist shop, Slappy saw that the bees were gone. But the rose had withered and died. "No one buys from a florist with a withered flower on her sign," said Rose Red. "That''s the last thing you''ll paint for me, Slappy Hooper!"

Classic stories retold in exciting graphic novel format. Each title includes high-quality artwork, simple text, discussion questions and writing prompts.

Have you ever seen a cat wearing a crown? Or noticed a group of cats hunting a dog? Young Peter Black has, but no one believes him! Peter is positive, though, that there''s something a little odd about all the cats in town, and he''s determined to get to the bottom of it. With vibrant illustrations by Kristin Sorra, Aaron Shepard retells a classic English folktale that will have readers looking twice at their cats! Meow, meow...

"One can never have too many friends." Quackling was proud when the King came to him to borrow money. But years passed, and the King never paid him back! So, he took his sack and started for the castle. But a very small duck will need very good friends when he gets there! Will Quackling get what he wants, or something even better? Find out in this lively, rhythmic retelling of a favorite European folk tale. TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER''S THEATER SCRIPT FOR THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON AARON''S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker''s Dozen," "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "The Sea King''s Daughter," and many more children''s books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Wendy Edelson is the award-winning illustrator of "The Baker''s Dozen," "Christmas Truce," and many more children''s books. She has applied her talent to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle''s Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U.S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "[A] lively folktale retelling . . . Edelson enhances the allegorical tale, about goodness and honoring commitments, with striking renderings of anthropomorphic animals." -- Publishers Weekly, July 30, 2018 "An enchanting fairytale that is easy to read and follow along, keeping youngsters excited and involved in the action." -- Kimberly Poe, Goodreads reviewer, November 18, 2018 "Not just for kids, grown-up youngsters will love it, as well. Beautiful art, beautifully done re-telling -- LOVED IT!" -- RaChelle Holmberg, Goodreads reviewer, January 24, 2022 "It''s the cute-enough-to-go-into-a-coma artwork by Wendy Edelson coupled with Brothers Grimm that hooked me. Very short read with easy sentences and rhymes. Adorable." -- Korrin Kearney, Goodreads reviewer, March 1, 2022 "The illustrations are gorgeous and filled with detail. Those alone make this book worth a read. I also enjoyed the lesser known (where I live) fairy tale . . . A good choice to read to children of all ages." -- Morris Morgan, Goodreads reviewer, March 7, 2022 "A great book to teach children the elements of fairytale. It is interesting, repetitive, funny, and based on a European folktale. As a grade 3 teacher, I would definitely purchase this book for my classroom library." -- Angie Kuhnle, teacher, March 13, 2022 "A darling retelling of a classic fairytale with so many great qualities. The rhythm, sets of threes, illustrations, and page design all come together to create a wonderful read-aloud." -- Callie Anna Oxner, Goodreads reviewer, March 21, 2022 "Filled with surprises and delights . . . Bright and colorful in every way." -- Linda Gill, The Reader and the Book (blog), March 24, 2022 "A simple but absolutely delightful story, this one is one of my favorites of this year." -- Michelle Kalm, Goodreads reviewer, March 30, 2022 "Children will be delighted to take part in the storytelling and thrilled with the satisfying conclusion . . . Illustrator Wendy Edelson has created masterful renderings of the action. The highly detailed art bursts with color and action and will draw youngsters into its pages."-- Jill Stanish, Live to Read to Live (blog), April 20, 2022

A collection of folktale scripts from stories of various ethnicities designed for reader''s theater.

¿Por qué no dar más? Van Amsterdam, el panadero, era bien conocido por su honestidad, al igual que por sus extraordinarias galletas de San Nicolás. Él siempre les daba a sus clientes exactamente lo que ellos pagaban: ni más ni menos. Entonces, ¡no estaba dispuesto a ceder cuando una misteriosa señora mayor viene a su tienda el Día de San Nicolás e insiste que una docena son trece! El hechizo de la señora termina con el negocio del panadero, y él cree que haría falta que San Nicolás lo ayude. Pero si recibe esa ayuda, ¿será exactamente la que él imaginó? Averígualo en esta inspiradora leyenda de la Nueva York colonial holandesa sobre el nacimiento de una costumbre tradicional estadounidense. TÍTULO ORIGINAL: The Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale MAESTROS Y BIBLIOTECARIOS: Un guion de teatro de lectores de este libro está disponible tanto en inglés como en español de forma gratuita en el sitio web de Aaron. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard y su gran cantidad de libros para jóvenes han recibido honores de la American Library Association, la New York Public Library, el Bank Street College of Education, la American Folklore Society y el National Council for the Social Studies. Habiendo ejercido antaño como cuentacuentos profesional, él se especializa en animadas renarraciones de cuentos populares y de otras creaciones de literatura tradicional. Wendy Edelson ha recibido honores del Pacific Northwest Book Award, del Moonbeam Children’s Book Award y del Mom’s Choice Award. Además de ilustrar numerosos libros de cuentos para niños, ha proporcionado el arte para el Seattle''s Woodland Park Zoo, el Seattle Aquarium, el Pacific Northwest Ballet, el U.S. Postal Service, la Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education y la American Library Association. Annette Granat les ha traducido más de cien libros para niños a diversas editoriales. Sus traducciones se han presentado en el Blanton Museum of Art y han sido publicadas digitalmente por la galardonada compañía EarthSky Communications como parte de su programa EarthSky en Español. También ha traducido para el Estado de Texas, la University of Texas at Austin y el International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential (ICELP). ///////////////////////////////////////////////// “La buena voluntad del legendario San Nicolás reverbera en este cuento sobre el origen de la expresión: ‘la docena del panadero’. […] La fácil de seguir renarración de Shepard tiene un sabor apropiado de Viejo Mundo”. Publishers Weekly “Una historia navideña particularmente bonita, realzada por ilustraciones llenas de detalles. […] De ritmo constante y con un buen largo para grupos o individuos, acierta perfectamente en el blanco con el público de lectores. La obra de arte de Edelson está repleta de personajes maravillosamente vivos, que casi se salen de las páginas”. Ilene Cooper, Booklist “Una nueva versión sensorial de un cuento tradicional. […] Con palabras bien elegidas y un texto de ritmo agradablemente constante que exige ser contado en voz alta. Un regalo para la época navideña”. School Library Journal “Un cuento con un mensaje que debe ser escuchado durante las Navidades y todo el año”. Children''s Book Review

"The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the most extraordinary incidents not only of World War I but of all military history. Providing inspiration for songs, books, plays and movies, it has endured as an archetypal image of peace. Yet much about the historic event remains shrouded in myth and legend. In this fictional letter--illustrated in authentic detail by Wendy Edelson--award-winning author Aaron Shepard draws from firsthand accounts of soldiers at the front to portray the truce in its true nature and spirit"--Page 4 of cover.

Many parts make a whole, in this short concept book for the very young. For ages 0 to 5. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard -- besides being Anne''s loving husband -- is the award-winning author of "The Baker''s Dozen," "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "The Sea King''s Daughter," and many more children''s books. This is his first concept book. Anne L. Watson is the author and/or illustrator of a number of children''s books, including the Katie Mouse and Coco Mouse books, as well as the author of numerous craft books and novels for adults. Her illustrations are imaginative collages assembled and manipulated in Photoshop. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// COMPLETE TEXT Many fingers, one hand. Many beads, one necklace. Many pieces, one puzzle. Many trees, one forest. Many colors, one rainbow. Many people, one world.

**********BECAUSE OF CHANGES AT AMAZON, READERS OF THIS BOOK SHOULD BE SURE TO VISIT THE AUTHOR''S WEB SITE FOR UPDATES********** PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A COMPANION BOOK TO AARON''S "AIMING AT AMAZON" -- NOT A REPLACEMENT CreateSpace uses it. Lulu.com uses it. So do AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Xlibris, and almost every other self publishing company in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. What is it? Lightning Source, the printer and distributor at the heart of the "print on demand" industry. For the work those companies can''t handle themselves, it''s Lightning they most often depend on. So, why pay a middleman? In this follow-up to his groundbreaking book "Aiming at Amazon," Aaron Shepard explores how to double your profit by working directly with Lightning. If you''re serious about making money with POD publishing, this book can show you the way. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is a foremost proponent of the new business of profitable self publishing through print on demand, which he has practiced and helped develop since 1998. Unlike most authorities on self publishing, he makes the bulk of his living from his self-published books -- not from consulting, speaking, freelance writing, or selling publishing services. In a parallel life, Aaron is an award-winning children''s author with numerous books from publishers large and small. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Aaron Shepard is the undisputed expert at earning profit from POD. Here are the step-by-step instructions for setting up your own publishing operation and optimizing the financial benefits. Following his steps, you will earn two or three times as much per book." -- Bruce Batchelor, author, "Book Marketing DeMystified," and founder and former CEO, Trafford Publishing "A graduate course and definitive guide for advanced POD publishing." -- Morris Rosenthal, author, "Print-on-Demand Book Publishing" "A tremendous amount of information that will benefit an author who self publishes not only through Lightning Source but by any other method." -- Kevin Sivils, author, "Self-Publishing with Amazon''s CreateSpace" "Remarkably thorough and readable." -- Jonathan LeBlanc Roberts, Breton Bay Publishing "Invaluable advice for any small press or independent publishing firm." -- Max Scratchmann, Poison Pixie Publishing "Could not be more timely or helpful. What a wealth of information . . . and not just what to do, but HOW." -- Malcolm Dell, Elbow Grease Publishing "Aaron Shepard is exceptional in his ability to keep up with the ever-changing minutiae of the world of self publishing via POD. I wouldn''t want to publish without this book within reach." -- John Culleton, Wexford Press "Don''t go into publishing without it." -- Grace Bridges, Splashdown Books "Another gold mine of information from Aaron Shepard. Absolutely required reading for any self publisher." -- Christy Pinheiro, author, "The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit " "Lots of valuable, easy-to-understand information. I will recommend this highly to my self-publishing clients as a reference for their many questions. Even after more than a decade in the business, I learned a few things from this book." -- Jamie Saloff, Saloff Enterprises "Indispensable if you are considering printing your book POD. Covers every aspect of the process in depth." -- Norma Lehmeier Hartie, Lingham Press

Want to try reader''s theater but don''t know where to start? Or have you tried it but want to find ways to bring it more to life? Or are you just looking for a fun, easy way to lure young people into reading fluency, cooperative effort, effective communication, and love of literature? "Readers on Stage" is a collection of resources for scripting, directing, and teaching reader''s theater, primarily to ages 8 and up. Part 1 offers three sample scripts to learn from and enjoy: "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "Peddler Polly and the Story Stealer," and "The Baker''s Dozen." Part 2 highlights each major aspect of reader''s theater -- scripting, staging, and dramatic reading -- offering tips and tricks you''re not likely to find elsewhere. For instance, you''ll learn how young readers can easily create their own scripts Part 3 provides all the plans, notes, handouts, and worksheets from actual reader''s theater workshops, ready for copying. Use them to start with reader''s theater tomorrow in a classroom or library, or to lead your own workshop for adults. Finally, Part 4 gives listings of additional resources. Whether you''re working with young readers, training teachers, or directing a professional company, you''ll want this unique, detailed guide. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of numerous children''s books and magazine stories, as well as three books on reader''s theater, "Stories on Stage," "Folktales on Stage," and "Readers on Stage." He spent five years as a professional actor in reader''s theater, performing in schools and conducting workshops for teachers, librarians, and students. He now hosts Aaron Shepard''s RT Page, the Web''s most popular reader''s theater destination, with visits by thousands of teachers and librarians each week. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "At last If you''ve been looking for a complete resource for teaching and using readers theatre, look no further. From scripts, to implementation strategies, to materials for workshops, Readers on Stage has it all. Aaron Shepard draws upon decades of work to provide a practical, well-organized, and reader-friendly book. Don''t miss it " -- Dr. Suzanne Barchers, author, Readers Theatre for Beginning Readers, and publisher, Storycart Press "For more than a decade, Aaron Shepard has been recognized nationally as an innovative, skilled, highly successful practitioner of readers theatre with emphasis on support of literature and reading, especially for teachers at elementary and middle-school levels. His latest book gives concise, clear, and practical tips for scriptmaking and staging, along with useful scripts and work materials." -- Dr. William Adams, Director, Institute for Readers Theatre "Readers on Stage is an outstanding resource for teachers. It is arranged so sensibly and cohesively that I cannot imagine anyone who uses it having a problem teaching the intricacies of reader''s theater." -- Susan Finney, author, Keep the Rest of the Class Reading and Writing While You Teach Small Groups "Aaron Shepard does it again . . . In Shepard''s familiar lighthearted style, Readers On Stage distills the world of RT into a highly readable manual for educators and instructors at all levels of the K-12 spectrum. Community theatre folks who take the time to peruse the pages will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of RT as theatre." -- R. Demers, Readers Theatre Digest, Fall 2004

A collection of twenty-two plays adapted from folk tales, short stories, myths, and novels and intended for use in reader''s theater programs with middle grade and junior high school students.

"There sure are a lot of weasels." Everywhere Skeeter looks, he sees weasels -- on the street, in his office, in the park. They sneak, and they slink, and they all wear gray trench coats and purple sunglasses. The problem is, no one else sees them! All that changes when Skeeter meets Special Agent Ratilda from Rodential, the rodent mutual aid society. Together, they set off to track down the weasels and put an end to their nefarious doings. Will Skeeter and Ratilda foil the weasels'' Big Plan? Will Most Weasel J.R. Slitherwell finally meet his match? Will Skeeter get his job back and date the cat of his dreams? And what does that big red button really do, anyway? Find out in "Skeeter and the Weasels"! Bonus! The (unillustrated) sequel to this story, "Skeeter Saves the World," can be found in paperback and hardcover copies of this book and on the author''s Web site! ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker''s Dozen," "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "The Sea King''s Daughter," and many more children''s books. His stories have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Anne L. Watson is the author/illustrator of "Katie Mouse and the Perfect Wedding," "Katie Mouse and the Christmas Door," and "The Secret of Gingerbread Village," as well as the author of numerous craft books and novels for adults. Her illustrations are imaginative collages made from photos of felted animals, miniatures, and real-life objects, along with graphic arts creations and textures from Etsy and elsewhere, all assembled and manipulated in Photoshop. Aaron and Anne are married and now live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Skeeter walked to the park and sat sadly on a bench. There were weasels behind the trees. There were weasels by the picnic tables. There were weasels around the playground. "There sure are a lot of weasels," said Skeeter. "Hold everything!" said a voice above him. "Did you say ''a lot of weasels''?" He looked up, and there on a tree branch was a lady rat in a pink trench coat and purple sunglasses. "Yes," said Skeeter. "A lot of weasels. There sure are." "At last!" said the lady rat. "Someone else sees them too!"

Beauty and intelligence were the princess Savitri''s, and eyes that shone like the sun. So splendid was she that people thought her a goddess. When at last she found a man worthy to wed her, no one could sway her from her heart''s path -- not even the god of death. This lovely retelling, now in a 30th Anniversary Edition, presents a classic tale of devotion, courage, wit, and will from India''s national epic, the Mahabharata. (Original picture book title: "Savitri: A Tale of Ancient India.") TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER''S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON''S BOOK "FOLKTALES ON STAGE," OR FREE ON AARON''S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker''s Dozen," "The Sea King''s Daughter," the Skyhook World Classics series, and many more children''s books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Vera Rosenberry has written and/or illustrated over 30 children''s books, including eight "Vera" books about her own childhood experiences. She was especially eager to work on "Savitri" as her husband is from India and grew up with tales from the Mahabharata. Also, she has always been fascinated by Indian miniature paintings--especially those of the Akbar period, which were produced as illustrations but, with their beautiful colors and intricate detail, stand on their own as works of art. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// 1997 & 2000 California Collection Selection "Unique and noteworthy . . . Shepard breathes new life into the sleeping archetype of the Indian heroine. Like ancient heroic myth, [Shepard''s interpretation] renews deep strains of potential within the reader." -- Publishers Weekly, Mar. 9, 1992 "A smooth retelling." -- Kirkus Reviews "Delicately rendered in both adaptation and illustration . . . A book that will open children''s eyes and ears to an unfamiliar lore, and provide rich contrast to Western parallels." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books "Profoundly moving." -- Children''s Bookwatch "Will enhance the social studies curriculum." -- Children''s Book Review Service "Reads aloud very well . . . Readers will enjoy the perspicacity and tenacity of this feisty heroine [and] be fascinated by the uniquely Indian cultural details." -- School Library Journal "Portrays a woman of great intelligence and courage, as well as virtue . . . The story and pictures show great sensitivity to Hindu lore and culture." -- Deva and Gayatri Rajan, Hinduism Today "Powerfully told, with a magic all its own. Savitri''s purity of spirit will touch the hearts of all readers, young and old." -- Meera Lester, India West "Fresh and respectful . . . Could be useful as an introduction to Indian classics for young adult readers, in a course on ancient cultures, or in any broad-based collection." -- Fran Stallings, Territorial Tattler "Looking for a painless dose of Hindu mythology? Here it is, with beautiful illustrations to boot." -- Ours (Adoptive Families of America

Collects folk tales from Indonesia and Malaysia that relate the adventures of the trickster Mouse Deer, who must think and act quickly to avoid being eaten.

What is a "coloring storybook"? It''s a coloring book, a storybook, and more! You can color just the pages you want, and enjoy it like any fine coloring book. Or finish them all and create a wonderful storybook, a keepsake all your own, or one to lovingly share with children and grandchildren. Imagine their excitement and delight -- and yours too! -- when you read to them from a book you helped illustrate yourself! It''s a gift your loved ones can treasure forever, a true family heirloom. This coloring storybook from Skyhook Press, based on a traditional fairy tale, tells what happens when a very small duck sets off to demand the money he loaned to the King. *************Please note: This "grayscale coloring book" (or "greyscale colouring book") has pictures already shaded in gray, calling for a different kind of coloring. But that doesn''t make it harder -- in fact, it makes it easier to get stunning results! For tips, search online for "grayscale coloring." ///////////////////////////////////////////////// ABOUT THE CHILDREN''S BOOK This coloring book is adapted from the children''s picture book "Quackling: A Feathered Fairy Tale," told by Aaron Shepard and illustrated by Wendy Edelson, published in 2018 by Skyhook Press. The story, a folktale known in various forms around the world, is probably most popular in France and Spain. ABOUT THE ARTIST Wendy Edelson has applied her award-winning skills to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle''s Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U.S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association. Her more recent projects have included several picture books and coloring books for Skyhook Press. The pictures in this coloring book were converted to grayscale by Skyhook Press from Wendy''s original watercolor illustrations. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of many children''s books from publishers large and small. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// REVIEWS "Isn''t it awesome? . . . PanPastels would be perfect for these." -- Dede Willingham, YouTube, July 17, 2019 "The images are so cute. I love them." -- Ann Siggers, A Colorful Life, YouTube, July 17, 2019 "Just beautiful. The art work''s so good . . . Absolutely lovely." -- Rebecca Todd, Rebecca''s Coloring Videos, YouTube, Sept. 16, 2019

NOTE: PLEASE VISIT AARON''S PUBLISHING PAGE FOR ANY UPDATES TO THIS BOOK. Have you ever opened a Kindle book to find that the font started out way too small or way too large? Have you tried to change to a different font while reading and discovered you couldn''t? Have you jumped to a new chapter in a Kindle book and seen that the chapter heading lost its formatting? Has a Kindle completely ignored formatting you knew was in the book? According to Amazon, the simplest way to publish your Kindle book is to upload an HTML file you''ve saved from Microsoft Word or another app. By itself, that method can bring you maybe 80% of the way to a well-formatted, trouble-free ebook. But what about the other 20%? In this follow-up to his bestselling "From Word to Kindle," Aaron Shepard takes your saved HTML as a starting point and tells how to quickly tweak and tune it to avoid common problems. Assuming no knowledge of HTML, he introduces the basics of the language, then reveals how to use find-and-replace and macros to touch up an entire book in seconds! If you''re serious about Kindle publishing and you''re technically inclined -- but not a full-fledged geek -- Aaron provides the tips you need to bring your Kindle book to the next level, making it something truly to be proud of. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is a foremost proponent of the new business of profitable self publishing, which he has practiced and helped develop since 1998. He is the author of "Aiming at Amazon," "POD for Profit," "Perfect Pages," and Amazon''s #1 and #2 bestselling paid books on Kindle formatting, "From Word to Kindle" and "Pictures on Kindle." ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS Getting Started 1 WORKING WITH HTML HTML and Kindle HTML Export HTML Editing HTML Processing HTML Basics HTML Checking HTML Cleanup HTML Testing 2 HTML FIXES Fixes for Fonts Fixes for Paragraphs Fixes for Headings Fixes for Line Breaking Fixes for Pictures Fixes for Navigation ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Here are some of the things you can accomplish through changes in HTML. * Adjust bookmarks so headings retain proper formatting when jumped to. * Remove settings that stop the user from choosing their own. * Keep fonts from appearing much too small or much too large when the book is opened. * Make sure indents and other spacing stays relative to larger and smaller font sizes. * Avoid line breaks that leave short words dangling at the ends of lines or paragraphs. * Make up for features lost in translation from your word processor, like nonbreaking hyphens. * Stop "ghost hyphens" from appearing in the middle of words. * Keep pages of text from disappearing for some users. * Prevent the Kindle from applying its own defaults in place of your settings.

This 2009 version of the book is the last version available. For partial updates, please visit Aaron Shepard''s Publishing Page. Please note also that this book describes Amazon publishing BEFORE the introduction of Kindle books, which are discussed in later books of Aaron''s. There has never been a self publishing manual like this. "Aiming at Amazon" is NOT about getting your book into bookstores. Instead, it lays out an innovative approach that targets sales on Amazon.com. It reveals how to make a book sell well online, with tips never before offered. And it shows you how Amazon REALLY works -- not how self-proclaimed experts wish it did! You will learn -- Why Amazon sales offer your best chance of success in self publishing. -- Why letting Amazon order books directly from you is the least profitable approach. -- How to make your book most visible on Amazon. -- How to make your cover image most prominent. -- How to optimize content on Amazon''s page for your book. -- How to increase Customer Reviews without violating Amazon''s terms and conditions, as well as professional ethics. -- Why many Amazon marketing techniques highly recommended by other authors are nearly useless. -- Why it takes a full year for Amazon sales of your book to reach their peak. -- Where to go on Amazon to get the help you need. Avoid publishing plans that handicap you almost before you begin, and marketing plans that waste your time and money. Let "Aiming at Amazon" introduce you to the NEW business of self publishing. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is a foremost proponent of the new business of profitable self publishing through print on demand, which he has practiced and helped develop since 1998. Unlike most authorities on self publishing, he makes the bulk of his living from his self-published books -- not from consulting, speaking, freelance writing, or selling publishing services. In a parallel life, Aaron is an award-winning children''s author with numerous books from publishers large and small. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Aaron Shepard has been more successful selling through Amazon than any other self publisher I know. If you want to self publish and get the most from it, this book is for you." -- Morris Rosenthal, author, "Print-on-Demand Book Publishing" "Solid gold advice. . . . Aiming At Amazon will dramatically increase your odds of success. A few hours with this book will give you the benefit of years worth of hard-earned experience." -- Steve Weber, author, "The Home-Based Bookstore" "If you want to learn how to sell more books on Amazon, this is the best book I''ve read on the subject. . . . Thanks to books like this, self-published authors have a chance to succeed against traditionally-published competitors." -- Stacie Vander Pol, author, "Top Self Publishing Firms" "Shepard is considered one of the pioneers of marketing print-on-demand (POD) books through Amazon. . . . I highly recommend Aiming At Amazon to self-publishers and authors who want to publish a book at little cost. The model pioneered by Shepard, Rosenthal, and others is probably the best way for a newcomer to enter the world of self-publishing." -- Peter Hupalo, Midwest Book Review

"Definitely the best grayscale coloring book I''ve ever seen." -- Coloring with Alena, YouTube, June 19, 2018 "I think it''s probably the most lovely grayscale coloring book I have ever seen." -- Simple Art for Adults, YouTube, July 6, 2018 "I recommend for everyone." -- Jennifer Shaffer Art, YouTube, June 20, 2018 What is a "coloring storybook"? It''s a coloring book, a storybook, and more! You can color just the pages you want, and enjoy it like any fine coloring book. Or finish them all and create a wonderful storybook, a keepsake all your own, or one to lovingly share with children and grandchildren. Imagine their excitement and delight -- and yours too! -- when you read to them from a book you helped illustrate yourself! It''s a gift your loved ones can treasure forever, a true family heirloom. This coloring storybook from Skyhook Press, based on an authentic legend, reveals the origin of the term "baker''s dozen" and tells how Saint Nicholas taught a baker to be generous. *************Please note: This "grayscale coloring book" (or "greyscale colouring book") has pictures already shaded in gray, calling for a different kind of coloring. But that doesn''t make it harder -- in fact, it makes it easier to get stunning results! For tips, search online for "grayscale coloring." //////////////////////////////////////////////// ABOUT THE CHILDREN''S BOOK This coloring book is adapted from the children''s picture book "The Baker''s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale," retold by Aaron Shepard and illustrated by Wendy Edelson. The book was published in 1995 by Atheneum Books for Young Children, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and was honored as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists and a Trumpet Book Club Selection. It is still available, in a new edition from Skyhook Press with bonus cookie recipe and pattern. ABOUT THE ARTIST Wendy Edelson has applied her award-winning skills to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle''s Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U.S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association. More recent projects have included producing coloring pages for Etsy and illustrating Quackling, another retelling of Aaron''s. The pictures in this coloring book were converted to grayscale by Skyhook Press from Wendy''s original watercolor illustrations. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of many children''s books from publishers large and small. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. After first hearing the legend of the baker''s dozen from storyteller Sheila Dailey, Aaron retold the story himself with the help of texts dating as far back as 1896.

The world''s best stories, retold in dynamic graphic novel form. These reinvisioned classics will hook reluctant readers and thrust them face to face with some of history''s most famous tales. Stories included: Robin Hood, Mark Twain''s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Jules Verne''s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Robert Louis Stevenson''s Treasure Island.

The Monkey King, having hatched from a stone four hundred years ago and reached the heights of worldly greatness, sets out on a quest to learn how to become one of the Immortals.

Quite by chance, San Francisco has become one of the carousel capitols of the world. It today hosts carousels from all three of the most important historic American carousel makers -- the only city anywhere with that distinction! What''s more, each carousel has been restored close to its original condition. "Circles of Delight" celebrates the beauty and diversity of these traditional, hand-carved wood carousels of the Golden Gate City. With its vibrant photos and informative profiles, it is bound to delight carousel lovers of all ages. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is an independent writer and photographer. He has been entranced by carousels since childhood -- but his love and interest were rekindled when his wife, Anne L. Watson, wrote a novel about a young carousel restorer. When a business trip brought them to San Francisco in April 2004, Aaron spent three days photographing the city''s carousels, giving him the photos for this book. He currently lives in Bellingham, Washington. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Filled with beautiful photography. . . . You will treasure this book." -- Bette Largent, President, National Carousel Association ////////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS San Francisco Zoo Carousel Yerba Buena Gardens Carousel Golden Gate Park Carousel

NOTE: PLEASE VISIT AARON''S PUBLISHING PAGE FOR ANY UPDATES TO THIS BOOK. Almost everything you''ve read about formatting pictures for Kindle is wrong. The advice offered by Kindle experts and even Amazon itself can give images that are tiny, blocky, noisy, or wildly inconsistent on different Kindles. Aaron Shepard, author of acclaimed books on both Kindle and print publishing, brings his years of experience in book design, webmastering, and photography to bear on a single question: How do you make pictures look great on the Kindle? He answers that question, while also providing beginners a basic course in picture editing. Along the way, he discusses how to keep Microsoft Word from sneakily degrading your pictures; how to adjust HTML code to show images at their best; how to make part of a picture transparent against colored backgrounds; how to boost the power of your cover image as a marketing tool; and how to create anything from children''s books to photography books to poetry books within minutes with the Kindle Comic Creator. Nowhere else will you find such in-depth info on working with Kindle images. Whatever kind you''re using -- photos, paintings, drawings, diagrams, tables, screenshots -- you''ll find "Pictures on Kindle" an essential guide. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is a foremost proponent of the new business of profitable self publishing, which he has practiced and helped develop since 1998. He is the author of "Aiming at Amazon," "POD for Profit," "Perfect Pages," and "From Word to Kindle," Amazon''s #1 bestselling paid book on Kindle formatting. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// REVIEWS "Far and away the best resource I know for self publishers who plan to include photos or other graphics in their Kindle books. From tips on taking photos, through sizing, optimizing, and placing, this book wastes no space in giving you exactly the information you need. Highly recommended." -- Joel Friedlander, TheBookDesigner.com "A detailed, comprehensive guide to getting the best out of your images on Kindle. From taking photos, to scanning, to optimizing, Aaron covers every possible step in making sure your images display well in Kindle format. In addition, he provides very useful explanations of the Kindle''s image handling, for those of us who like to understand the reasons behind the steps. I for one will be adding this to my list of reference materials." -- Jim Brown, JimandZetta.com (ebook services) ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS Getting Started 1 PICTURE BASICS File Formats Resolution Color Mode Color Space 2 PICTURE SOURCES Photography Scanning 3 PICTURE EDITING Cleanup and Repair Cropping Contrast, Brightness, Tint Sizing Sharpening Transparency Lines and Letters 4 PICTURE HANDLING Positioning Pictures in Word Pictures in HTML Fixed Format 5 PICTURE PUBLISHING Submitting and Previewing Cover Images Production FAQ

"One can never have too many friends." Quackling was proud when the King came to him to borrow money. But years passed, and the King never paid him back! So, he took his sack and started for the castle. But a very small duck will need very good friends when he gets there! Will Quackling get what he wants, or something even better? Find out in this lively, rhythmic retelling of a favorite European folk tale. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker''s Dozen," "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "The Sea King''s Daughter," and many more children''s books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Wendy Edelson is the award-winning illustrator of "The Baker''s Dozen," "Christmas Truce," and many more children''s books. She has applied her talent to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle''s Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U.S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "[A] lively folktale retelling . . . Edelson enhances the allegorical tale, about goodness and honoring commitments, with striking renderings of anthropomorphic animals." -- Publishers Weekly, July 30, 2018 ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Once there was a very small duck with a very loud quack. So they called him Quackling. Now, Quackling was clever and he worked hard, so he saved up a good deal of money. In fact, he saved up so much that the King himself came to borrow some. Quackling was proud to loan his money to the King. But a year went by, then two, then three, and the King never paid him back. "I''ve waited long enough," said Quackling. So he took a sack for the money, and he started for the castle, calling, "Quack! Quack! Quack! I want my money back!" Before long, he came upon a ladder leaning against a wall. "Where are you going, Quackling?" said Ladder. "To the King for my money," said Quackling. "To the King!" said Ladder. "How wonderful! Will you take me with you?" "Why not?" said Quackling. "One can never have too many friends." And he called out, "Quack! Quack! Quack! Ladder into sack!" Quick as you can blink, Ladder was in the sack. Then Quackling walked on, calling, "Quack! Quack! Quack! I want my money back!"

What is a "coloring storybook"? It''s a coloring book, a storybook, and more! You can color just the pages you want, and enjoy it like any fine coloring book. Or finish them all and create a wonderful storybook, a keepsake all your own, or one to lovingly share with children and grandchildren. Imagine their excitement and delight -- and yours too! -- when you read to them from a book you helped illustrate yourself! It''s a gift your loved ones can treasure forever, a true family heirloom. This coloring storybook from Skyhook Press, based on a lovely Russian legend, tells of a poor musician invited to play in the Sea King''s palace, where he''s offered more than riches. *************Please note: This "grayscale coloring book" (or "greyscale colouring book") has pictures already shaded in gray, calling for a different kind of coloring. But that doesn''t make it harder -- in fact, it makes it easier to get stunning results! For tips, search online for "grayscale coloring." ///////////////////////////////////////////////// ABOUT THE CHILDREN''S BOOK This coloring book is adapted from the children''s picture book "The Sea King''s Daughter: A Russian Legend," retold by Aaron Shepard and illustrated by Gennady Spirin. The book was published in 1997 by Atheneum Books for Young Children, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and received numerous honors, including listing in the 1997 New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. It is still available, in a new edition from Skyhook Press. The legend is one of the most popular of Russia, and was made known internationally by Rimsky-Korsakov''s opera "Sadko." ABOUT THE ARTIST Gennady Spirin, with a style he describes as "fairy-tale realism," is one of the world''s most esteemed children''s illustrators. His honors include five gold medals from the Society of Illustrators, the Golden Apple from the Bratislava International Biennial, First Prize at the Bologna and Barcelona international book fairs, and four appearances on the New York Times list of Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Born and trained in Russia before moving to the United States, Gennady already knew well the legend of Sadko and welcomed the chance to contribute his sumptuous art to Aaron''s retelling. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of many children''s books from publishers large and small. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// REVIEWS "Stunning artwork . . . Perfect for a PanPastel book." -- Dede Willingham, YouTube, July 17, 2019 "Lovely . . . Makes a wonderful gift and keepsake for somebody, whether it is colored or not. It''s a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations that can be shared and read to your children and grandchildren . . . The paper is high-quality, acid-free." -- Debbie Rucinski, YouTube, Dec. 28, 2019 "Beautiful artwork." -- Rebecca Todd, Rebecca''s Coloring Videos, YouTube, Sept. 16, 2019

Lady White is a thousand-year-old snake who, through centuries of meditation and self-discipline, has managed to attain human form. On a visit to China''s famous West Lake, she falls in love with a young man and soon becomes his wife. But when a Buddhist abbot discovers her true origin, she must fight for both her marriage and her freedom. From one of the most popular of Chinese operas comes this tale of love and courage in the face of blind intolerance. Accompanied by illustrations depicting traditional costumes and staging, this retelling brings to life a timeless legend and a classic art form. Bilingual Book - English text and Simplified Chinese Characters on the same page.

In this tale from the "Mahabharata," India''s national epic, Princess Savitri outwits the god of death to save her husband.

Nils n''en fait qu''à sa tête, et il décide même de quitter la maison. Son père le supplie de ne jamais travailler pour l''ogre, mais la tentation est trop forte... Heureusement, Ingrid, la servante de l''ogre, est là pour lui donner de sages conseils. Faut-il encore que Nils veuille bien l''écouter !