New Releases by Eric A. Kimmel

When Jack''s mother tells him how his father died when a giant stole his barbecue recipes, Jack vows to find the giant and retrieve the book. Includes an author''s note about Texas barbecue.

Retells the story of Joseph, who is rewarded for honoring the Sabbath by being generous to others even after he, himself, becomes poor.

Harry Weiss—later known as Harry Houdini—is enthralled when the circus comes to his Wisconsin town. He loves all the acts, but his favorites are the tightrope and the amazing trick where a man hangs from a rope by his teeth! Harry and his brother decide to try circus tricks in a nearby barn, and although Harry’s headstrong determination leads him into trouble, it also opens up a whole new world. In this evocative story, Eric A. Kimmel tells how Harry Weiss discovered his love for performing, many years before he became world famous. History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!

Joha finds a magic stick and learns that you don''t always get what you wish for

An unforgettable story -- for the Jewish New Year, or any time of year -- about facing our own monsters and beginning anew. Gershon sometimes made mistakes. But unlike most people, he never regretted them or asked anyone¿s forgiveness. Why should he? He merely swept them up and tossed them into the cellar. Then, every year on Rosh Hashanah, he would put them into a sack and cast them out to sea. Little did he know that his thoughtless behavior would come back to haunt him. Was there a still a chance for him to change? Kimmel¿s skillfully crafted text and Muth¿s sensitive, expressive watercolors capture all the drama and wonder of this traditional Hasidic legend. An Assoc. of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Winner. Reinforced binding.

In this variation of "The Three Little Pigs" set in the Southwest, three little tamales escape from a restaurant before they can be eaten, and set up homes in the prairie, cornfield, and desert.

A skeptical visitor to the village of Nemirov finds out where its rabbi really goes just before the Jewish New Year, when the villagers claim he goes to heaven to speak to God.

As Stormy, a railroad engineer, searches for the perfect hat--one that will not blow off, get too hot, or shade his eyes too much--his wife, Ida, becomes increasingly annoyed that he will not let her help. Includes a historical note about the real Stormyand Ida Kromer.

A retelling of some classic Greek myths for younger readers.

A clever little girl outwits seven rattlesnakes

A retelling of the Grimm tale about the fisherman''s greedy wife, set in the land of the Aztecs.

Rip Van Winkle is an idler who would rather starve for a penny than work for a pound, and his wife is constantly nagging him. In search of peace, Rip heads off to the woods one day with his faithful dog, Wolf. High up in the Catskill Mountains, Rip meets an unusual group of little men. He drinks their strong beverage and falls into a deep sleep. When he awakens, he finds that twenty years have passed – the world has changed and so has he. With vibrant paintings by Leonard Everett Fisher, Eric A. Kimmel’s adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic “Rip Van Winkle” introduces a Rip who reforms as a result of his experience. Rip Van Winkle''s Return is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

Once upon a time three cabritos (little goats) decide to go to a Mexican fiesta. But their mother is worried. She warns them about Chupacabra, the goat-sucker who lives beneath the bridge. And sure enough, as the goats cross the bridge, he jumps out "Say your prayers. I''m going to eat you," he tells the goats. But they are clever. And they know how to play music--music that finally gets rid of that old goat-sucker forever Pleasant illustrations rendered in pencil and digital techniques by Stephen Gilpin add to the story of the legendary creature, Chupacabra. An author''s note, glossary, and pronunciation guide are included.

Marc, an imaginative Russian boy, discovers his talent for drawing and, with the encouragement of a friend and an art teacher, decides to become an artist, in a delightful story that is based loosely on the childhood of Marc Chagall. Reprint.

When Pecos Bill''s daughter gets two pet hamsters, they soon multiply into the hundreds, so Bill decides to take them all to Chicago where lots of boys and girls want pet hamsters.

How did famous New Orleans jazz trumpet player Louis Armstrong get his first horn? Seven-year-old Louis Armstrong was too poor to buy a real instrument. He didn’t even go to school. To help his mother pay the rent, every day he rode a junk wagon through the streets of New Orleans, playing a tin horn and collecting stuff people didn’t want. Then one day, the junk wagon passed a pawn shop with a gleaming brass trumpet in the window. . . . With messages about hard work, persistence, hope, tolerance, cooperation, trust, and friendship, A Horn for Louis is perfect for aspiring young musicians and nonfiction fans alike! History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!

In this tale, retold by Eric Kimmel & colorfully illustrated by Katya Arnold, there lived a merchant who had 3 sons. Like their father, the 2 oldest were good merchants. They bartered by land & by sea. The youngest, Getzel, was too kind-hearted to make a good tradesman. Much to his sorrow, his father kept him at home. One day Getzel asked his father to give him some goods of little value. He hoped to trade them for a profit. If he was unsuccessful, his father would lose hardly anything. His father agreed & gave him a sack of onions. Getzel sailed away with his onions, but as he traveled from port to port, nobody wanted to buy them. Then one day, Getzel became shipwrecked & his fortune changed forever. Reinforced binding.

During the Mexican Revolution, when a troop of hungry soldiers comes to a town where all the food has been hidden, they charm the townspeople into helping make a soup from water and a cactus thorn.

Explanation of the Biblical roots of the caduceus, the coiled serpent symbol seen on doctors'' office walls.

While trying to play the games at a seemingly harmless Website, Jess and her friend Matt are sucked into a cyberworld filled with characters from familiar fairy tales, all controlled by the evil Granny Goose.

Jess and her friend Matthew find themselves drawn into a computer game in which they must defeat an evil wizard in order to save a friendly centaur, an elf, as well as King Arthur and some of his companions.

Tells the story of why snakes have no legs, have a forked tongue and why the shed their skin.

Two evil spirits wreak havoc on the town of Brisk''s Hanukkah celebration, until the town''s wise rabbi puts a stop to their mischief.

The way of the Warrior The samurai warriors of ancient Japan were taught to fight with their hearts and minds as well as with their swords. But even the best of training doesn''t prepare a samurai for every situation... A lone samurai is attacked by two Ronin--can he keep his head and come out of it alive? Can a samurai with a reputation for being unlucky to defeat a ferocious dragon and regain his honor? A brave girl fights tradition to learn swordmanship, but can she master the arts of the samurai?

Collects twelve read-aloud stories offering a range of themes from whimsical and fun to inspirational and mystical.

In this version of the Gingerbread Man, a little tortilla jumps off the griddle and runs into the Texas desert.

Why does a bar mitzvah (BM) happen at age 13? Where did the elaborate rituals come from and how are they relevant today? What does it feel like to experience a BM? Kimmel answers these questions and more, providing historical background, explanations of rituals, and real-life bar mitzvah stories. This is a book not only for every pre-bar mitzvah boy, but for anyone who wants to learn about the beliefs, philosophies, and history of the Jewish religion. Illustrated with woodcuts. "A thorough well-written account of the ceremony and rituals involved in a 13 year-old boy''s confirmation in the Jewish faith. interspersed with fascinating and sometimes deeply moving vignettes in which boys and men of various ages share memories of their own bar mitzvah experiences."

The King of Spain''s fondness for a louse that bit him leads to good fortune for a clever peasant.

When an old lady swindles him out of his magic dreidels, Jacob tries to get them back in time for the family''s Hanukkah celebration.

This swashbuckling tall tale of seafaring adventure will appeal to sailors and landlubbers alike. Eric A. Kimmel''s original tale of the Pacific Northwest is beautifully illustrated by Michael Steirnagle''s colorful pastels. Full color.