Most Popular Books by Michael J. Rosen

Sure, you know baseball, soccer, and basketball. But have you heard about kiiking, the Estonian swinging competition? Or chess boxing, the perfect combination of brains and brawn? What about watermelon skiing? Discover a range of entertaining sports from around the world!

"Between the discovery that there is a design which only his poetry enables him to find as he confronts the world and the discovery that such a design is a snare, merely a means of keeping him from further discernment, Michael Rosen is wedged, is productively pinioned, [ should say, for it is just this pressure--of meaning discerned on one hand and of meaning distrusted on the other--which makes the tension of these poems, a new version of the old wars between mind and body, memory and hope, self and surround. How tender and inclusive are Rosen''s preoccupations, and how disabused his conclusions! One reads these playful, stricken poems with wonder--how will such ventures conclude, or even persist? What will happen next? Here is a poet who persuades us, as the saying goes, to stay tuned."--Richard Howard Originally published in 1985. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Filled with hundreds of incredible and true facts and statistics, "The 60-Second Encyclopedia" puts a whole new spin on math, science, nature, the human body, and popular culture, too. Includes a one-minute sandglass and dozens of interactive activities. Consumable.

A fresh step-by-step guide for identifying your nonprofit''s planned giving prospects and inspiring them to give generously Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing helps nonprofit organizations move beyond traditional marketing techniques that have historically yielded only modest results and reveals how putting the focus on the donor can produce the best outcomes for all. Here, nonprofits new to gift planning will learn to market effectively from the start while those with established programs will discover ways to enhance their efforts. You will learn about various donor-centered marketing channels and techniques, as well as how to generate internal support for an improved planned gift marketing effort. Full of useful and proven tips you can implement for immediate results Offers practical tools including forms and checklists Includes a worksheet to help organizations calculate their planned giving potential Sharing the latest research findings, this book shows you how to identify who your planned giving prospects are. You will learn how to effectively focus on them through meaningful communication that ultimately inspires them to give-and give more.

Relates the adventures of a family and their dog on a Sunday drive to the country.

When a blizzard traps a family outside in a whiteout, a cattle dog devises a stunning rescue in a moving, suspenseful, and gorgeously illustrated story. A family—a mother, a father, and their ten-year-old son—have come all the way from Florida to the Appalachian foothills to experience the wonder of a snowy weekend. At a nearby farm, a cattle dog is working, as she does every day, driving her forty head of cattle from pasture to corral and back again. And then, suddenly, a blizzard descends. The family is trapped outside, disoriented in the whiteout. They are panicked, exhausted, freezing, and stranded in waist-deep drifts. From off in the distance, the cattle dog has heard their faint, snow-drowned cries. Her inexhaustible attention turns to saving them. This stirring tale is both a compelling story of survival and a meditation on the tremendous will of man''s best friend.

It''s not easy to be little in the middle of everything big! When, oh when, will this little bear grow?

If you could hike to the moon, how long would it take? Just how many glasses of lemonade would you need to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool? If everyone on Earth owned exactly the same amount of land, how big would your yard be? And how much time would you spend mowing the lawn? Learn the math behind these questions in this hilarious romp through weight, volume, distance, and more. These 12 zany scenarios add up to a book full of fun!

A rhyming alphabet book in which a boy tosses a snowball to his dog and starts an avalanche that engulfs the entire universe until it has to reverse itself and become a snowball again, ending up in the dog''s mouth.

Told through the voices of the children, this inside view of life on their farm is authentic and sometimes surprising. Readers will learn about baling hay, tending cattle, work dogs, hunting, manure, and other activities on the Bennett farm, as well as some insights into the culture of living in a rural area.

A young boy counts the candles on the family Menorah and the lights he sees in the world around him on each night of Hanukkah. Includes information on the history and significance of the celebration. Illustrations.

Sniffing armpits. Scuba diving for golf balls. Building secret passageways. For some lucky people, these strange tasks are all in a day''s work. Want to learn about the men and women who destroy old buildings or make movie sound effects? Discover a range of weird jobs from around the world!

You might think anchovies and fruitcake are pretty weird foods. But wait until you hear about durian, a huge, spiky fruit that smells like gym socks. Or salmiakki, the licorice with a salty, fishy taste. And don?t forget kopi luwak, the coffee made from?poop! Discover all kinds of unusual foods from around the world!

An inspirational true story by the national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healthy play areas for children traces the efforts of a group of kids and adults from an Indianapolis community who worked with KaBOOM! to build a playground that became the site of endless imaginative adventures.

Presents a collection of haiku about the beauty and nature of horses.

At Christmas-Hanukkah time, a Christian woodcarver gives a carved angel to a young Jewish friend, who struggles with accepting the Christmas gift until he realizes that friendship means the same thing in any religion.

Would you believe bee''s venom could help you feel better? How about a candle in your ear, or a string running through your nostrils? People have used all sorts of kooky remedies to fight pain and illness. Some work. Others, not so much. Find out more about odd medical cures of past and present!

A young boy goes fishing with his father and, as an adult, recalls his dad''s fishing secret when he sees him with his grandson.

A dog-shaped bed-and-breakfast. A house built like a shoe. Two towers that look like they''re dancing. You''re not dreaming. These are only a few of the crazy buildings found throughout the world. Learn about the many loopy landmarks that wild builders have put together.

To some, fishing is a sport. To others, it is a relaxing pastime. To beginners, though, it can be just plain confusing! This new series seeks to guide novices through the basic dos and donts of fishing. From stocking a tackle box and baiting a hook to landing and cleaning a fish, young anglers will learn how to properly prepare for any fishing outing. Contextualizing the ancient history of fishing with tips on how to be respectful of nature and other anglers, each text works with the others to compile a comprehensive look at the sport. A concluding activity encourages readers to create their own forms of fishing gear. A primer on the basic dos and donts of fishing, including tips on finding and accessing new fishing spots, advice on how to avoid polluted waters, and instructions for making a creel.

More seriously funny writing from American''s most trusted humor anthology Witty, wise, and just plain wonderful, the inaugural volume of this biennial, Mirth of a Nation, ensured a place for the best contemporary humor writing in the country. And with this second treasury, Michael J. Rosen has once again assembled a triumphant salute to one of America''s greatest assets: its sense of humor. More than five dozen acclaimed authors showcase their hilariously inventive works, including Paul Rudnick, Henry Alford, Susan McCarthy, Media Person Lewis Grossberger, Ian Frazier, Richard Bausch, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Nell Scovell, Andy Borowitz, and Ben Greenman -- just to mention a handful so that the other contributors can justify their feelings that the world slights them. But there''s more! More Mirth of a Nation includes scads of Unnatural Histories from Randy Cohen, Will Durst''s "Top Top-100 Lists" (including the top 100 colors, foods, and body parts), and three unabridged (albeit rather short) chapbooks: David Bader''s "How to Meditate Faster" (Enlightenment for those who keep asking, "Are we done yet?") Matt Neuman''s "49 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth" (for instance, "Make your own honey" and "Share your shower.") Francis Heaney''s "Holy Tango of Poetry" (which answers the question, "What if poets wrote poems whose titles were anagrams of their names, i.e., ''Toilets,'' by T. S. Eliot?") And there''s still more: "The Periodic Table of Rejected Elements," meaningless fables, Van Gogh''s Etch A Sketch drawings, a Zagat''s survey of existence, an international baby-naming encyclopedia, Aristotle''s long-lost treatise "On Baseball," and an unhealthy selection of letters from Dr. Science''s mailbag. And that''s just for starters! Just remember, as one reviewer wrote of the first volume, "Don''t drink milk while reading."

Describes urban exploration, urban adventure, and urban infiltration, activities that involve secretly entering, exploring, and and engaging in other activities--even ironing--in abandoned buildings and other places not open to the public.

Many youngsters wish for a canine companion—but many instructional books are geared toward adults or more advanced readers! Providing an insightful and accessible look at several aspects of dog ownership, A Dog''s Life highlights how to train, care for, and understand our loyal four-legged companions. Each book offers a brief tutorial on a different topic and works with the others to compile a comprehensive yet introductory guide to such issues as what motivates a dog, methods of proper handling and grooming, and how to interpret behaviors, facial expressions, and vocalizations. Vibrant, relatable photos feature an array of dogs and are sure to entice humans and canines alike! An instructional guide to handling dogs, this title touches on how to pet, lift, and groom a dog and informs young dog owners what to expect from the loyal, loving animals.

Come and explore the quiet, NOISY woods, and follow two wolf pups finding their way back to their pack in this adorable read-aloud picture book—full of boisterous animal noises and artwork that will inspire kids to get out into nature. Squirrels chit-chitter-chatter, foxes swoosh-whoosh-rush, a deer stomp-stomp-stamps, and a hawk scree-scree-screeches. Into these quiet, NOISY woods, readers follow two frisky wolf pups yip-yap-yowling and grr-ruff-ruff-racing as they find their way back to their pack. Children will love calling out the interesting animal sounds throughout this enchanting, fast-paced chase through a lush forest. And young readers will come to know more about forest creatures and their interconnected lives, in this creative story by poet and naturalist Michael J. Rosen, who was inspired by the one-hundred-acre wood where he lives. The two final pages of the book include facts about each of the animals featured in this caper. Annie Won''s signature luminous artwork lights the way, showcasing the animals and their habitat with glowing warmth. "The rhythmic, lyrical text builds cumulatively from page to page. . . . Lovely realistic paintings in earthy hues of greens, browns, and yellows evoke hectic daytime woodland activity before eventually settling down to a soothing nighttime conclusion."—Kirkus "Highly recommended as a title to introduce children to the wonder of nature, well supported with beautiful illustrations."—School Library Journal

Thirty-two poems examining the details of a life two men might make together.

Is the grass greener on the other side of the train window? Even a brief brush with a stranger can change our lives. It''s 1970, and Perry feels adrift in turbulent times: his father is missing in action in Vietnam, his mother is studying to become a nurse in the city, his older sister has become a peacenik in college. Traveling between his hometown, where he lives with his grandmother, and his mother''s house in Cincinnati, Perry notices Steve, whose farm lies on the B&O railroad line. Steve likes to race the train as it blows by his fields; Steve skillfully sends his collie after an escaped cow; Steve watches the Cincinnatian, longing for its speed, longing for adventure. In alternating voices, Michael J. Rosen''s poems weave a tale of two boys—one wishing for the stability of home, the other yearning to travel—and the unexpected impact of their fleeting encounter.

When his parents decide to move to an old house in the country, Chase Riley uses email to his friends back in Columbus, Ohio, and to his sister in college to help him deal with cicadas, deer hunters, and other changes in his life. Originally published as ChaseR. Reprint.

“Thurber is. . . a landmark in American humor. . . he is the funniest artist who ever lived.” — New Republic James Thurber spent most of his career at the New Yorker magazine, drawing cartoons and writing essays and stories. Collecting Himself is a one-of-a-kind compilation of James Thurber''s vintage writings, featuring previously unanthologized articles, essays, interviews, reviews, cartoons, parodies, as well as Thurber''s reflections on his work in theater and at the New Yorker. An eclectic body of work that offers a glimpse into Thurber the man, the philosopher, and the critic.

Advanced System Modelling and Simulation with Block Diagram Languages explores and describes the use of block languages in dynamic modelling and simulation. The application of block diagrams to dynamic modelling is reviewed, not only in terms of known components and systems, but also in terms of the development of new systems. Methods by which block diagrams clarify the dynamic essence of systems and their components are emphasized throughout the book, and sufficient introductory material is included to elucidate the book''s advanced material. Widely used continuous dynamic system simulation (CDSS) languages are analyzed, and their technical features are discussed. This self-contained resource includes a review section on block diagram algebra and applied transfer functions, both of which are important mathematical subjects, relevant to the understanding of continuous dynamic system simulation.

Can you imagine traveling to school in a flying saucer? What about on a bike-like contraption that looks like a giant donut? People invent all kinds of interesting ways to get around. Some vehicles can get you where you''re going faster and better than ever. Others are mostly for fun. Learn about some of the world''s wackiest vehicles.

Explains the ins and outs of dog ownership, dog training, and popular dog breeds.

At the dedication of a school named after him, an old former slave tells the story of his life and how his white friend helped him earn the money for the school by repeatedly selling him into slavery, after which he always escaped.

Baking is about memories: recipes handed down from generation to generation and tastes that conjure childhood—think of Proust’s madeleines or your mom’s chocolate cake. Sweets are often bound up in our emotional life as adults, too: they’re how we reward ourselves or our children, how we celebrate holidays, birthdays, and special occasions, and how we honor guests. In Baking from the Heart, more than fifty of the nation’s preeminent bakers share their recipes for cookies, cakes, and other dessert favorites, and the memories of why they hold that recipe dear. From the Apple Snacking Spice Cake that Joanna Chang made her fourth-grade teacher to show her how much she loved her to the Polvorones that were a Sunday after-church treat in Miguel Ravago’s home, these are recipes—and stories—to treasure. When James Beard Award–winner Greg Patent was a teenager, he won a trip to New York City to compete in the Pillsbury Bake-Off with his Cherry-Apricot Coconut Bars. Forty years later, his mother earned a place in that same competition with her Walnut Fudge Bars. World-renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres tucked a few pints of hand-picked Michigan blueberries into his luggage so he could again make Blueberry Dame Blanche, the jam-filled cookies he made when he was a child in France, with his aging mother. For her son Gio’s first Valentine’s Day at school, Food TV’s Gale Gand concocted Marshmallow Heart Throbs, a cupcake he could cut into the shape of a heart. When Jimmy Schmidt’s family vacationed in Wisconsin, his contribution to his mother’s Black Walnut Pound Cake were the walnuts he picked and shelled with his siblings, aided by their father who would crack the hulls by driving over them in his ’55 Chevy. Like many of the other contributors, Jimmy Schmidt serves up two recipes with reminiscences (the walnut cake and his Blueberry Slump) for our delectation. Baking from the Heart is also sweet inspiration for anyone who wants to join in The Great American Bake Sale™. When Share Our Strength—the nation’s preeminent hunger-fighting organization—joined with PARADE magazine to launch The Great American Bake Sale™ in 2003, the country’s response was overwhelming: nearly half a million people baked, bought, or sold, raising over a million dollars to end childhood hunger. (More information appears inside.) A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefit Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s preeminent anti-hunger agencies.

Is it true that guys believe they''re smarter than they really are? Or that girls talk more than guys? Do mosquitoes bite guys more than girls? Which sex is better at diapering babies, remembering birthdays, or hammering nails? These are just some of the questions to which you''ll find some pretty astounding answers. Using scientific research, author Michael J. Rosen explores the ways in which environment and experience, as well as neurology, physiology, and genetics come together to shape personality and gender behavior—in both expected and unexpected ways. Amusing and informative, these quirky questions and answers will have males and females rethinking their notions of differences between the genders. So, really: Who is better at lying? Who should be more afraid of lightning? Who makes plants grow taller? Who''s got more cooties? Guys or girls?

A fish that walks on land, a frog that makes its own sunscreen, and an insect that can become invisible? Whether to avoid predators, to stalk prey, or to withstand extreme temperatures, Earth''s creatures have evolved some outrageous features and tricks to ensure survival. For example, did you know that the geoduck (nope, it''s not a duck, it''s a clam) can live as long as 160 years? And that the aye-aye, a nocturnal primate, uses echolocation and a long, spindly finger to find and dig up food? Or that in its deep-ocean habitat, the vampire squid uses bioluminescence to startle predators? These are among the many animals that show evolution and adaptation at work.

For thousands of years, philosophers and scientists have searched for the keys to human personality. Today, personality testing is a multibillion-dollar business. Many people take personality tests online just for fun. Whether silly or serious, personality testing can be an eye-opening way to better understand yourself, your family, and your friends. Just My Type introduces readers to the history of personality profiling, ranging from ancient Chinese astrology, to Freud and Jung, to the modern-day Myers-Briggs and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) assessments. Examine the world of online personality assessments through mini self-administered quizzes. Learn how to distinguish useful applications from biased typecasting.

In his first book of poetry in twenty years, Michael J. Rosen captures life in the foothills of the Appalachians. Every Species of Hope: Georgics, Haiku, and Other Poems uses a variety of poetic forms, as well as Rosen''s own pen-and-ink drawings, to give voice to the predicaments of living among other creatures who share a plot of land we think we claim as home. The poems are an attempt at homeostasis: that balancing act every creature works at every hour of every day--a way of living peacefully, expending the right energy in the most productive ways, avoiding or deflecting trouble, gravitating toward sources of fulfillment and contentment. At the center of this book is a suite of poems inspired by Virgil''s Georgics, or "poems of pastoral instruction." In Rosen''s case, he is more the student than the teacher. Likewise, five short sections of haiku continue his meditation on--or mediation of--art and nature. As he has written, "Haiku provides a brief and mirror-like calm in the choppy waters--in the undertow--of current events: a stillness in time where more than our singular lives can be reflected." Illustrated with two dozen pages from the author''s own journal, Every Species of Hope is the consummation of decades of observation, humility, and awe.

Humour.