Chengli is an orphaned errand boy who lives in Chang’an China in 630 A.D. His mother has died from illness and his father is presumed dead after disappearing into the desert when Chengli was a baby. Now thirteen, Chengli feels ready for independence. He is drawn to the desert, beckoned by the howling of strange winds and the hope of learning something about his father—who he was and how he died. Chengli joins the caravan to travel down the merchant route known as the Silk Road, but it is a dangerous life, as his father knew. The desert is harsh, and there are many bandits, particularly drawn to Chengli’s caravan because a princess, her servants, and royal guards are traveling with them. This story invites readers to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of this fabled desert route.
Adventures
Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey
Traction Man, the action figure, and his sidekick, Scrubbing Brush, share dangerous adventures at the beach.
Dangerous Waters
Determined to focus on work rather than books, as his father had, twelve-year-old Patrick Waters leaves Belfast as a steward on the Titanic, but the very wealthy Harry Widener arranges to tutor him, drawing Patrick into association with thieves seeking Harry’s very rare edition of Francis Bacon’s Essays.
Night Knight
Bedtime becomes an unforgettable k-nightly adventure! Come on a bedtime adventure with one little knight as he rides through forests to reach his bedroom, battles crocodiles to brush his teeth and climbs the tallest tower to get into bed. This exciting and imaginative bedtime tale is told through Owen Davey’s charming and witty words and illustrations.
Hooey Higgins and the Shark
Hooey Higgins is in love–with the massive chocolate egg in Mr. Danson’s shop window. But he and his best friend, Twig, have nowhere near the money they need to buy it. Then a shark is spotted off the coast of Shrimpton-on-Sea, and Hooey and Twig come up with the perfect idea to capture the shark and change people to view it. With Will, Hooey’s older brother, in charge of their foolproof plan to lure the shark to shore, the three set off, equipped with ketchup, a cricket, bat, and some rope. What they find, however, is something so amazing that it will blow the shark plan right out of the water!
Steve Voake introduces Hooey Higgins and his hilarious adventures with his friends and family. With Emma Dodson’s illustrations, readers will discover that there’s never a dull moment in this English seaside town!
Amos Daragon #2: The Key of Braha
Amos survived his first mission as Mask Wearer, but soon after that, an encounter with a mysterious girl brings his life to an end– and sends him on his way to Braha, the City of the Dead, where soulds await judgment. To get there, Amos, now a spirit himself, boards a boat, on which he meets Jerik, a decapitated criminal who must carry his head everywhere.
Jerik tells Amos that Braha is overcrowded with spiritsl the gods have shut the doors that lead to paradise and to hell. A key is said to unlock the doors–but it’s whereabouts are unknown. Only soneone who dies and comes back to life can find it.
Will Amos be that someone? Will his ingenuity and intellegence be enough to restore order in Braha? Or will he unknowingly serve those who are using him for their own gain?
Most importantly, even if Amos finds the key, will he ever return to the land of the living?
Olympians: Hades: Lord of the Dead
Volume 4 of the highly acclaimed Olympians series. Hades: Lord of the Deadtells the story of the great God of the Underworld and one of the most famous of all Greek myths: Hades’ abduction of Persephone and her mother’s revenge. Be prepared to see a new side of Persephone in this dynamic adaptation of the story of the creation of the seasons.In Olympians, O’Connor draws from primary documents to reconstruct and retell classic Greek myths. But these stories aren’t sedate, scholarly works. They’re action-packed, fast-paced, high-drama adventures with monsters, romance, and not a few huge explosions. O’Connor’s vibrant, kinetic art brings ancient tales to undeniable life in a perfect fusion of super-hero aesthetics and ancient Greek mythology.
Arthur’s Dream Boat
One night, Arthur has an amazing dream about a pink and green boat with a striped mast and a beautiful figurehead. He can’t wait to tell his family about it! But when he tries, no one (not even the dog) is interested in listening. In fact, they don’t even notice when the very same boat gradually appears on his head, growing larger and larger by the minute! Soon Arthur is bouncing over the waves in his very own dream boat. Maybe now his family will listen to him!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
Down on their luck, the Tooting family buys an old camper van and begins repairing it, but after installing an engine that once belonged to an extraordinary car, they are off to find other original parts, pursued by a sinister man who wants Chitty for himself.
Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder: Who Cut the Cheese?
New adventures await Doctor Proctor, Lisa, and Nilly as they try to protect Oslo, Norway, from invading aliens, enormous snakes in the sewers, seven-legged Peruvian sucking spiders, and sinister waffle irons.