New Releases by Jan Slepian

This is the second book of thoughtful, humorous, and touching poems by Jan Slepian, now 95. Jan continues her observations of life "in the slow lane" which can be enjoyed by readers at any age.

Want to know what it's like being old and still in love with life? Jan Slepian, author of numerous picture books, award winning young adult novels, and popular essays for seniors, begins a new genre at 94 with this collection of her poetry. As with all her other books the writing is conversational, sometimes funny, deeply in touch, and always meaningful.

"How to Be Old, A Beginner's Guide" is a continuation of Jan Slepian's funny and poignant essays on life in the slow lane. If you loved her first book, "Astonishment, Life in the Slow Lane", you will be just as crazy about this one.

Astonishment is a collection of twenty brief essays about "life in the slow lane." Author Jan Slepian comments on the astonishment of being old, the comfort and heartbreak of companionship in a retirement community, and the ridiculous moments in everyday life. Utterly delightful, entertaining and amusing. Illustrated by Laura Schreiber, who shares the author's wonderful tongue in cheek style.

I want some shmancakes . . . and tickles . . . and feetloaf . . . and gollipops. Can you guess what this Hungry Thing really wants to eat?

As a small girl grows from "not-being-able, to now-she-can, " she wonders if she will ever spend a whole night at her grandmother's house without being afraid.

In 1930, while their families are performing in a traveling vaudeville show in San Francisco, ten-year-old Annie helps her best friend Connie when he decides to run away rather than use his mindreading abilities any longer.

Feeling humiliated after a family scandal, a ventriloquist on the vaudeville circuit turns inward, neglecting his ten-year-old daughter and lavishing attention on his puppet.

When the Hungry Thing orders bapple moose, spoonadish, and bench flies at a fashionable restaurant, who can guess what he really wants to eat?

In 1948, newly-moved to the Bronx, eleven-year-old Skip longs to shed her responsibility for her mentally handicapped older sister and give her whole attention to her new friendship with the bold and daring girl who sems to run the neighborhood.

Hungry Thing and his daughter visit a school and ask for flamburgers, bellyjeans, and blownuts to eat.

Through tapes sent back to her 6th grade class, Sara chronicles her stay in Hawaii. She reports on her adoption of Broccoli, a wild cat, her friendship with Eddie Nutt, and the death of her grandmother. Grades 5-8. 1988.

Reluctantly tied in Hawaii to an unhappy mother and a grandmother with a fading memory, Franny, age 17, longs for a dance career, and when her friend Akiko joins a group promising instant bliss, and she herself meets an actor from New York, the developing events, while frightening and dangerous, finally show her a way to fulfill her ambition.

A fourteen-year-old resents her exile to her grandmother's for the summer while her parents arrange their divorce, but her friendship with a neighbor and the secret they uncover help her come to terms with her changing life.

Thirteen-year-old George and his Uncle Hibbie were a team, a pair of loners separated from other people, but the arrival of an extraordinary carnival girl changes many things for both of them.

Warriors of the Plains explores the art of North American Plains Indian warriors - weapons, amulets, clothing and ceremonial objects - with particular emphasis on their ritual use and symbolic meanings. Unlike most books on Plains Indians, which have a purely historical focus, this title examines continuity and change between historic warrior societies and contemporary Native American military associations. Originally set up as clubs to organize war raids and to police seasonal cycles of nomadic hunting, warrior societies today maintain much of the Plains Indians' ethos, vigorously reinforcing their cultural, national and ethnic identity. With a new approach to the subject, the author reveals how specific items and symbols - objects of 'ritual and honour' - such as the American flag, eagle feathers and medicine bundles have been used over the last 200 years, as well as exploring the introduction of new elements in modern ceremonial practices such as powwow dance competitions and war veterans' celebrations. Lavishly illustrated with objects from the British Museum's important collections, as well as archival material, this book features previously unpublished material.

When 16-year-old Lester, himself a victim of cerebral palsy, takes his retarded friend from the hospital for the weekend, tragedy ensues, forcing Lester to examine the real meaning of their relationship.

Describes sounds made by animals and tells what situations could occur if certain sounds were combined.

Looking for a new way to clean up his room, a very young boy goes off to the Inventors' house where he is able to help them with their inventions.

Presents in rhyme the sounds we hear during the day and the various things each could mean.

When Bendemolena wears a tin pot on her head what she hears gets so mixed up that she and her brothers and sisters iron the meat, nail the chairs to the wall, and invite in a bear and a horse.

When Mother goes off on her errands, the children have several strange visitors because they are unable to distinguish their mother's special rings from noises others make at the door.

Young Lester the Merman can't sing like the other Mermaids and Mermen until he proves himself by helping to stop the sea monster that was able to sing just like the mermaids and mermen.

This book deals with the sound of R that many children find difficult to make.