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.

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Aaron Shepard's many books for young people have won honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the American Folklore Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Once a professional storyteller, he specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature.

Wendy Edelson has been honored with the Pacific Northwest Book Award, the Moonbeam Children's Book Award, and the Mom's Choice Award. Besides illustrating numerous picture books, she has provided art for 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.

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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

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

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's many books for young people have won honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the American Folklore Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Once a professional storyteller, he specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature.

Wendy Edelson has been honored with the Pacific Northwest Book Award, the Moonbeam Children's Book Award, and the Mom's Choice Award. Besides illustrating numerous picture books, she has provided art for 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

SPECIAL NOTE -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS

Beautiful to look at but hard to use. That's the reputation of cookie molds. But should it be?

In this groundbreaking book, Anne L. Watson restores cookie molds to an honored place in the baker's kitchen by revealing long-lost secrets of their use. With Anne's techniques and recipes, tasty cookies with lovely, detailed designs will literally fall from the mold into your hand.

Learn how to make traditional molded cookies like speculaas, springerle, and shortbread, as well as modern ones like White Chocolate Lime Cookies and Orange Blossom Wedding Cookies. Learn the tricks of sandwich cookies, layer cookies, chocolate backing, and exhibition cookies. And learn about the molds themselves -- the many kinds, their history, the best places to find them, how to treat them, what makes a good one, and which to avoid entirely.

With nearly two dozen recipes and almost a hundred photos, Baking with Cookie Molds will quickly have you making cookies that both amaze and delight.

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Anne L. Watson is the author of a number of popular books on home crafts and lifestyle, as well as many novels. In a previous career, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne lives with her husband and photographer, Aaron Shepard, in Friday Harbor, Washington.

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Expert instructions guarantee readers a frustration-free experience when using decorative metal, earthware, and wooden molds . . . After reading this, you'll want to snatch them up. -- Lisa Campbell, Library Journal, Sept. 15, 2015 -- STARRED REVIEW

A tasty treat of practical cookie making, historical cookie-mold information, and a wide range of recipes, all served with appetizing sides of baking history and great photographs. -- Kirkus Reviews, June 16, 2015

Anne L. Watson deserves big hugs from bakers everywhere for resurrecting the beautiful and tasty art of baking with cookie molds. Loaded with practical advice on everything from the care and cleaning of molds to proper recipe formulation and molding technique, 'Baking with Cookie Molds' provides all the know-how one needs to put retired molds back where they belong -- off walls and out of cupboards, and into action in our kitchens. -- Julia Usher, author, Cookie Swap, and Director, International Association of Culinary Professionals

Cookie molds are lovely to admire but often end up as part of your kitchen decor rather than as a baking tool. 'Baking with Cookie Molds' will inspire you to use those molds as they were intended -- to create strikingly beautiful cookies -- and shows that those cookies can be delicious as well Detailed instructions and photographs make it feel like the author is right there in your kitchen, baking alongside you and guiding you through each step. -- Christina Banner, author, How to Build a Gingerbread House

A must read for novice and avid bakers Anne's story and vast knowledge of cookie molds keeps you entertained from beginning to end. -- Karen Giamalva, President and CEO, LetsBakeCookies.com

Friendly, warm, and inviting. -- Ken Hamilton, The Springerle Baker

The legend of Atlantis -- you've heard about it, read about it, seen it in videos, shows, and movies. Now go straight to the source!

Atlantis was first introduced by the Greek philosopher Plato in two dialogues he wrote in the fourth century B.C. His tale of a great empire that sank beneath the waves has generated countless books, dramatic adaptations, archeological expeditions, and more.

It has also sparked thousands of years of debate and speculation. Did Plato mean his tale as ancient history, or just as a parable to help illustrate his philosophy? Why did he break it off in the middle, never completing our sole primary account of this lost civilization? And why did Aristotle, Plato's student, once say of Atlantis, He who invented it also destroyed it.

In The Atlantis Dialogue, you'll find everything Plato wrote about Atlantis, in the context he intended. Now you can read it and judge for yourself!

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The perfect reference for that lost civilization . . . Accurate, concise, and understandable. Anyone who is a fan or student of Atlantis should, no, must have this book in their library. -- Sharon D. Anderson, author, Atlantis: The Final Days

An easy read . . . Provides a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about the Atlantis myth. -- Judy Justice, Midwest Book Review, Mar. 2002 (Reviewer's Choice)

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SAMPLE

CRITIAS: Consider then, Socrates, if this narrative is suited to the purpose, or whether we should seek for some other instead.

SOCRATES: And what other, Critias, can we find that will be better than this, which is natural and suitable to the festival of the goddess, and has the very great advantage of being a fact and not a fiction? How or where shall we find another if we abandon this? We cannot, and therefore you must tell the tale, and good luck to you; and I in return for my yesterday's discourse will now rest and be a listener.

CRITIAS: Let me begin by observing first of all, that nine thousand was the sum of years which had elapsed since the war which was said to have taken place between those who dwelt outside the pillars of Heracles and all who dwelt within them; this war I am going to describe. Of the combatants on the one side, the city of Athens was reported to have been the leader and to have fought out the war; the combatants on the other side were commanded by the kings of Atlantis, which, as I was saying, was an island greater in extent than Libya and Asia, and when afterwards sunk by an earthquake, became an impassable barrier of mud to voyagers sailing from hence to any part of the ocean. The progress of the history will unfold the various nations of barbarians and families of Hellenes which then existed, as they successively appear on the scene; but I must describe first of all Athenians of that day, and their enemies who fought with them, and then the respective powers and governments of the two kingdoms.

Featured in Kate Middleton's 2021 television special at Westminster Abbey, Royal Carols: Together at Christmas

One night of peace in a world of war.

Christmas Day, 1914 . . . My dear sister Janet . . . It is 2:00 in the morning and most of our men are asleep in their dugouts -- yet I could not sleep myself before writing to you of the wonderful events of Christmas Eve. In truth, what happened seems almost like a fairy tale, and if I hadn't been through it myself, I would scarce believe it. Just imagine: While you and the family sang carols before the fire there in London, I did the same with enemy soldiers here on the battlefields of France!

The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the most extraordinary incidents not only of World War I but of all 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.

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT FOR THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON AARON'S WEB SITE.

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Aaron Shepard's many books for young people have won honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the American Folklore Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies.

Wendy Edelson has been honored with the Pacific Northwest Book Award, the Moonbeam Children's Book Award, and the Mom's Choice Award. Her other illustrated books include Aaron's The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale.

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Among the many entries celebrating this event's centennial, librarians and teachers should welcome this historically accurate telling for ages 9 and up. -- Kirkus Reviews (Web site), Aug. 11, 2014

Beautifully and realistically illustrated. -- Alex Baugh, The Children's War (blog)

Short but intense, heart-warming, full of hope, love, brotherhood, and friendship. -- Veronica Marzini, LibriAmoriMiei (blog), Nov. 8, 2014

A beautiful (and true) tale, with lovely illustrations . . . Great for a readaloud to children! -- Beth Nolan Conners, Beth's Book-Nook Blog (blog), Nov. 12, 2014

Delightful . . . A really beautiful rendition of those fantastic events when, in the midst of war, the spirit of Christmas overruled the fighting and peace reigned on the battlefields. -- Elaine Brent, Splashes Into Books (blog), Dec. 7, 2014

Lovely . . . It evokes the time and place with vivid description and will certainly spark talk of why there is war . . . The artwork is stunning. -- Lynne Vanderveen Smith, children's librarian

Great to use with readers of various ages, especially in a social studies or American history curriculum. -- Karen Biggs-Tucker, co-author, Transforming Literacy Teaching for the Era of Higher Standards

I would recommend this for any school library . . . Includes facts about life in the trenches of World War I -- but without making it too frightening for young readers. Descriptions add realism to the scenes. Other things might surprise students and cause them to rethink their assumptions that all Germans were 'bad guys' . . . An excellent addition to a unit on WWI. It could start a class discussion or even be used as a model text for students who are writing up their own narratives based on research into the war. -- Suzanne Costner, school librarian

What a wonderful way to show children that, even though there are differences between people, there are also similarities that can tie us together, even in a war zone. -- Kim Napier, teacher

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

Folktales on Stage is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted by award-winning children's author Aaron Shepard from his own folktale retellings. A wide variety of countries and cultures is represented, including Native America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and China. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a full range of reading levels.

The scripts in this collection are The Adventures of Mouse Deer (Indonesia), The Calabash Kids (Tanzania), The Hidden One (Native America), The Boy Who Wanted the Willies (Europe), The Princess Mouse (Finland), The Legend of Slappy Hooper (U.S.), The Gifts of Wali Dad (India, Pakistan), The Baker's Dozen (U.S.), Master Maid (Norway), The Magic Brocade (China), Forty Fortunes (Iran), Master Man (Nigeria), Savitri (India), The Enchanted Storks (Iraq), The Crystal Heart (Vietnam), and The Sea King's Daughter (Russia).

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Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning 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. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

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Aaron Shepard is a national treasure. He has given thousands of us busy teachers and librarians a gold mine of ready-made plays our students clamor to perform over and over. Aaron's new collection never fails to delight and enthrall. While the experts argue about the 'right' way to teach reading, Aaron is in the middle of the action, inspiring our kids to read aloud with fluency, comprehension, expression, and best of all, joy. -- Judy Freeman, Author, More Books Kids Will Sit Still For

Aaron Shepard has done it Folktales on Stage is a complete package of easy-to-perform, dynamic reader's theater scripts. Pack your passport and take a trip around the world. You and your actors will have a world of fun. -- Dr. Caroline Feller Bauer, Author, Presenting Reader's Theater and New Handbook for Storytellers

SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS!

Maybe you'd like to make your own soap, but you're worried that working with lye is too difficult or dangerous. Maybe you're scared off by beginner books that go on for hundreds of pages and leave you less confident than before. Or maybe you're already making soap, but you wonder if methods you've learned are slower and more complicated than they need to be.

Whether beginner or advanced, you'll find Smart Soapmaking practical, helpful, and refreshing. Written by a former professional soapmaker, it explodes the myths about soapmaking and shows you how to make wonderful soap from scratch with the least fuss and bother.

You'll get a wide variety of recipes, plus you'll learn how to modify them and create new ones. Want to make a luxurious gift soap? Or one that's all natural, with no artificial ingredients? Maybe a moisturizing soap for dry skin? Or one with a trending oil not yet in books? With Smart Soapmaking, you can do all that and more, to get exactly the soap you want.

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Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington.

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RECOMMENDED BY THE HANDCRAFTED SOAP & COSMETIC GUILD

The only book [you'll] ever need. -- Mother Earth News, Feb.-Mar. 2019

Should become THE book for soapmaking . . . It's about time someone wrote a book like this. Most are idealistic and inaccurate. This book has a wonderful common sense approach that is SO long overdue . . . I can recommend it with 100% confidence. -- Susan Kennedy, Oregon Trail Soaps, Rogue River, Oregon

Smart it is . . . A simple, no-nonsense book that cuts through the curmudgery of stifling soap bibles like no other. -- Shellie Humphries, Harstine Island, Washington

A great book for beginners, with clear and easy instructions. -- Anne-Marie Faiola, Bramble Berry Inc., Bellingham, Washington

I learned more from Smart Soapmaking than from any other soaping book, and I have read quite a few . . . It's written with the average person in mind, not a chemistry major. Directions are very simple and easy to understand. It really takes the mystery out of making soap. -- Jackie Pack, Stuart, Virginia

Groundbreaking . . . Anne L. Watson [is the] universally respected and loved author/crafter/curator of this lost art for thousands of aspiring soapers . . . Unquestionably the best book with which to begin. To be precise, it's probably the most accessible, most reader-friendly, and most immediately useful container of information a first-time soapmaker could hope to find. -- Wishing Willow (blog)

BRILLIANT to find the recipes are in grams as well as ounces. -- Jude Birch, Aussie Soap Supplies, Bicton, West Australia

SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS!

Do you love the feel of a good lotion but find yourself unhappy with the cost, or wary of the chemical ingredients? Do you ever wonder if you could make it for yourself at home? Are you afraid to try because the lotion might not turn out well, or might even be unsafe?

Anne L. Watson's Smart Soapmaking was the first book based on modern techniques that eliminate the drudgery and guesswork from home soapmaking. Now, by popular demand, she continues her handcraft cosmetics revolution with the first practical, comprehensive book on making lotion from scratch.

Whether you want to make lotion for personal use or to sell, Anne allays any fears with methods that are proven safe and approved by experts, yet simple and easy enough to perform in your kitchen. You'll soon be making lotion that's better than any you've been buying, and at a fraction of the cost.

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Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Friday Harbor, Washington.

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The definitive guide to lotionmaking. -- Donna Puizina, Ekoaromas, Lafayette, New Jersey

Spells out everything and makes it easy to understand. -- Cheryl McCoy, Emerald City Soap, Haven, Kansas

Anne makes it so much fun, and so easy. -- Mary Jean Hammann, Grandma Jean's Soaps and Lotions, New London, Ohio

So logical and easy to understand that my first batch was a success AND a sell-out! -- Susan Dinion, Holiday Farm & Handmade Goods, Berlin, Massachusetts

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CONTENTS

A FEW FIRST THOUGHTS

LIES AND LOTIONS
(Myths About Lotion and Lotionmaking)

LOTION LINGO
(Learning the Jargon)

WHAT IS LOTION, ANYWAY?
(What It Is and What Goes Into It)

THE TWO WAYS TO SANITIZE LOTION
(And How to Choose Between Them)

WHAT DO I PUT IT IN?
(Choosing Your Bottles)

WHAT DO I USE TO MAKE IT?
(Gathering the Equipment You Need)

STEP-BY-STEP LOTIONMAKING
(From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond)

TESTING YOUR LOTION
(Making Sure It's Safe)

MORE RECIPES!
(Different Lotions You Can Try)

MILK LOTION RECIPES
(Treating Your Skin to Milk)

DESIGNING YOUR OWN
(How to Create Great Recipes)

TROUBLESHOOTING
(Tricks, Tweaks, and Fixes)

MAKING IT A BUSINESS
(How to Go Pro, Not Bust)

WHY? WHY? WHY?
(Frequently Asked Questions)

WHERE TO READ MORE

WHERE TO GET TESTING

WHERE TO GET SUPPLIES

Sadko the musician loved his city of Novgorod, the richest and most free in all Russia. With its great feasts, its white stone churches, its merchant visitors from many lands, Sadko felt there was no better place to be. Yet he was lonely too, for the rich young ladies who danced to his music would never favor anyone so poor.

One night he takes his twelve-string gusli and goes alone to play by the River Volkhov. Suddenly from the water rises the Sea King, who invites the astonished musician to play at his underwater palace. But how will Sadko get there? And how will he get back? And will he want to return at all, when he meets the Sea King's lovely daughter?

One of the most popular legends of Russia, Sadko's story is found in medieval epic ballads, as well as in a popular opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. It is retold here in elegant prose, complemented by the entrancing illustrations of a modern Russian master.

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.

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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of The Baker's Dozen, The Sea King's Daughter, The Monkey King, 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. 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.

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 this retelling.

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HONORS

1997 New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year

1998 American Library Association Notable Children's Books

1998 NCSS/CBC Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies

1997 Aesop Accolade, American Folklore Society

1998 Honor Title, Storytelling World Awards

1997 Cincinnati Enquirer Best Illustrated Children's Books

American Bookseller Pick of the Lists

Starred review, Publishers Weekly

Featured on CBS This Morning

SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS!

Do you love the feel of milk soaps but shy away from the cost? Are you looking for a special kind of gift you can make yourself? Or do you already make soap and want to try something new?

Anne L. Watson's Smart Soapmaking was the first book based on modern techniques that eliminate the drudgery and guesswork from home soapmaking. Now, by popular demand, she continues her soapmaking revolution with the first practical, comprehensive book on making milk soap from scratch.

Experience the rich, soothing, luxurious feel of milk soap you've made yourself. Your skin will thank you for it.

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Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington.

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Beautiful in its simplicity. . . . A definitive book for experienced as well as beginning milk soapers. -- Rebekah Bailey, The Original Soap Dish, South Whitley, Indiana

An easy to read and understand book that will take the mystery out of milk-based soapmaking and debunk some of the myths surrounding it. It contains some great basic formulas to get you started making milk soaps of any kind, and fuel to let your imagination run wild when you are ready to formulate your own creations. A good source of information for new soapmakers, and also suitable for more experienced soapmakers who want to start making milk soaps but thought it would be too difficult. -- Amanda Guilfoyle, Bodelicious Bath & Body Products, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

As always, Anne is up to her usual excellence. This book demystifies milk soapmaking so everyone can have the luxury of a truly decadent bar of soap *easily*. LOVE this book!!! -- Susan Kennedy, Oregon Trail Soaps, Rogue River, Oregon

If you have an interest in milk soaps, this is the book for you. . . . Debunks much of the popular wisdom that may have discouraged some soapmakers. -- Kevin M. Dunn, Author, Scientific Soapmaking and Caveman Chemistry

As uber-soapmaker Anne L. Watson demonstrates, milk soaps made properly are [rightfully] well-known for a quality of luxurious buttery softness that is undeniable. . . . Anne once again acquits herself ably as a scholar of the suds and a natural communicator. -- Wishing Willow (blog)

Enthusiastically recommended. -- Midwest Book Review, Feb. 2009, Reviewer's Choice

Full of information that milk soapers, whether novice or experienced, could use to make better milk soaps. Anne writes in a conversational style that made me feel as though I were sitting down with her in her kitchen. . . . Anne details what seems to be everything there is to know about the subject. Rather than simply offering her opinions and favorite practices, Anne did extensive testing and experimenting, learning how to make the best milk soap bars that could be made. Soapmakers will be impressed with the amount and quality of Anne's research and observations. . . . That leaves the question: Can a neophyte made good cold-process milk soap? I now say yes, with the caveat they have 'Milk Soapmaking' in hand. -- Beth Byrne, The Saponifier, Sept.-Oct. 2010

Wise, timely, and truthful . . . There are as many ways of living together as there are people, and it's great that there's at last a book reflecting that with such humour and insight. -- Deborah Moggach, author, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS!

You hear many reasons why marriages and long-term relationships break up, but there's one that's seldom acknowledged: Many committed couples would get along better if only they weren't roommates.

But what can they do? They have to share a home, don't they?

What if they chose to defy expectations -- their own and everyone else's? What if they decided to live in separate apartments or houses, nearby or even side-by-side? Wouldn't they avoid many tensions that typically drag couples down? Wouldn't they gain richer and happier times together?

Anne L. Watson and her partner have lived this kind of life successfully for nearly two decades. In this groundbreaking book, she draws on personal experience to reveal the benefits of such an arrangement and tell how you might make it work for yourself. In the end, Anne helps you understand that not all couples need a common residence to live happily ever after.

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Anne L. Watson is the author of a variety of works, including housekeeping manuals, cookbooks, craft books, literary novels, and children's books. She is also retired from a long and honored career as a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne lives apart together with her husband, fellow author, and publisher, Aaron Shepard, in Bellingham, Washington.

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CONTENTS

The Vow

How We Got Here

Living Room -- Decorating and Entertaining

Kitchen and Dining Room -- Cooking and Eating

Bedroom -- Sleeping and Sex

Bathroom

Housekeeping

Money

Kids

Pets

Expectations

Compromise and Cooperation

Dominance and Deference

Time Alone

Time Together

The Choice

Frequently Asked Questions

It's a match! Cookie molds and polymer clay are perfect crafting companions!

So says Anne L. Watson, whose earlier books helped spark a cookie molds revival. As Anne has discovered, cookie dough and polymer clay have a lot in common, and a mold made for one will work brilliantly with the other. The mold does the main work of shaping the clay, making you look like an expert every time! And many cookie molds are bakeable, so that figures come out of the mold perfectly formed and already hardened.

Besides that, contemporary cookie molds come in shapes, patterns, and themes that will appeal to polymer clay and mixed media crafters as well as cookie bakers. So, while bakers will find a new use for their molds, crafters will discover countless new designs to grace their projects.

Crafting with Cookie Molds includes everything you need to get started: basic tips and techniques, plus over thirty of Anne's own decorative projects, from beginning to advanced, illustrated with over 170 photos. You'll find Christmas tree ornaments, boxes, baskets, shelf standers, wreaths, gingerbread houses, and more. And if you want to use the very same cookie molds as Anne, they're identified by maker, with notes on where to find them.

Welcome to the exciting new world of polymer clay and cookie molds!

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Anne L. Watson is the author of Baking with Cookie Molds and Cookie Molds Around the Year, which helped launch the modern revival of interest in cookie molds. She has also written popular books on soapmaking and housekeeping, as well as many novels and children's books. In a previous career, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne lives with her husband and photographer, Aaron Shepard, in Bellingham, Washington.

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Charming . . . Watson offers a thorough introduction to a clever new craft . . . A comprehensive, organized, and deliciously readable manual that provides instruction with enthusiasm and ease. -- Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2024

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CONTENTS

PART 1 -- BASICS

Basic Tools

Basic Supplies

Basic Directions

PART 2 -- PROJECTS

Baskets

Boxes and Canisters

Table Decorations

Shelf and Counter Decorations

Wall and Door Decorations

Other Room Decorations

Christmas Projects

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SAMPLE

Too pretty to eat!

If you make molded cookies, you've heard that one over and over. And if you're like me, you don't know what to say. It's a compliment, but it can also feel frustrating.

If all your work and skill gives you cookies that can't be eaten, what are you supposed to do with them? Make decorations? Hang them on the wall? Display them on a shelf?

Well, yes, that's exactly what you can do -- if you make molded cookies out of polymer clay.

Cookies like that can decorate a holiday tree or a wreath. They can adorn a box, a basket, a canister, a candlestick, or any number of other gifts, prized possessions, or common household items. They can even stand on their own, as when made into a planter box or a gingerbread house.

Of course, not everyone reading this book has ever made a molded cookie. Maybe instead you're experienced in mixed media or polymer clay, and you're looking for new directions for your craft. Or maybe, as a beginner, you love that a cookie mold could do the hardest part of shaping clay, leaving you to reap the rewards!

Whichever side you're coming from -- cookie molds or crafts -- this book will get you off to a good start combining them.

Stories on Stage is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, Russell Hoban, Wanda Gag, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels.

The scripts in this collection are -- Three Sideways Stories From Wayside School, by Louis Sachar -- Mr. Twit's Revenge, by Roald Dahl -- Millions of Cats, by Wanda Gag -- Tapiwa's Uncle, by Nancy Farmer -- How Tom Beat Captain Najork, by Russell Hoban -- Harriet, by Florence Parry Heide -- Mr. Bim's Bamboo, by Carol Farley -- Talk, by Harold Courlander -- The Jade Stone, by Caryn Yacowitz -- The Bean Boy, by Monica Shannon -- The Kid from the Commercial, by Stephen Manes -- The Fools of Chelm, by Steve Sanfield -- Mouse Woman and the Snails, by Christie Harris -- Westwoods, by Eleanor Farjeon -- The Legend of Lightning Larry, by Aaron Shepard.

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Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning 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. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

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What? Don't have time to write up your own scripts for reader's theater? Not to worry. Aaron Shepard will get you started with his stellar scripts -- perfect for duplicating, handing out to your students, and bringing to life. This is one must-have book. -- Judy Freeman, Author, More Books Kids Will Sit Still For

One of the challenges of teaching is instilling in our students a love for reading. By transforming imaginative stories by some of our favorite authors into clever scripts, Aaron Shepard once again provides the means for teachers to nurture a passion for the written word. This second edition of Stories On Stage is a most worthwhile addition to your cache of reading strategies that work. -- Susan Finney, Author, Keep the Rest of the Class Reading and Writing While You Teach Small Groups

Reader's theater gets a boost from this collection. . . . The scripts are simple and direct, multicultural, and easily reproducible for classroom use. -- Ilene Cooper, Booklist (American Library Association), Jan. 1, 1994

Featured in Kate Middleton's 2021 television special at Westminster Abbey, Royal Carols: Together at Christmas

One night of peace in a world of war.

Christmas Day, 1914 . . . My dear sister Janet . . . It is 2:00 in the morning and most of our men are asleep in their dugouts -- yet I could not sleep myself before writing to you of the wonderful events of Christmas Eve. In truth, what happened seems almost like a fairy tale, and if I hadn't been through it myself, I would scarce believe it. Just imagine: While you and the family sang carols before the fire there in London, I did the same with enemy soldiers here on the battlefields of France!

The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the most extraordinary incidents not only of World War I but of all 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.

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT FOR THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON AARON'S WEB SITE.

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Aaron Shepard's many books for young people have won honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the American Folklore Society, and the National Council for the Social Studies.

Wendy Edelson has been honored with the Pacific Northwest Book Award, the Moonbeam Children's Book Award, and the Mom's Choice Award. Her other illustrated books include Aaron's The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale.

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Among the many entries celebrating this event's centennial, librarians and teachers should welcome this historically accurate telling for ages 9 and up. -- Kirkus Reviews (Web site), Aug. 11, 2014

Beautifully and realistically illustrated. -- Alex Baugh, The Children's War (blog)

Short but intense, heart-warming, full of hope, love, brotherhood, and friendship. -- Veronica Marzini, LibriAmoriMiei (blog), Nov. 8, 2014

A beautiful (and true) tale, with lovely illustrations . . . Great for a readaloud to children! -- Beth Nolan Conners, Beth's Book-Nook Blog (blog), Nov. 12, 2014

Delightful . . . A really beautiful rendition of those fantastic events when, in the midst of war, the spirit of Christmas overruled the fighting and peace reigned on the battlefields. -- Elaine Brent, Splashes Into Books (blog), Dec. 7, 2014

Lovely . . . It evokes the time and place with vivid description and will certainly spark talk of why there is war . . . The artwork is stunning. -- Lynne Vanderveen Smith, children's librarian

Great to use with readers of various ages, especially in a social studies or American history curriculum. -- Karen Biggs-Tucker, co-author, Transforming Literacy Teaching for the Era of Higher Standards

I would recommend this for any school library . . . Includes facts about life in the trenches of World War I -- but without making it too frightening for young readers. Descriptions add realism to the scenes. Other things might surprise students and cause them to rethink their assumptions that all Germans were 'bad guys' . . . An excellent addition to a unit on WWI. It could start a class discussion or even be used as a model text for students who are writing up their own narratives based on research into the war. -- Suzanne Costner, school librarian

What a wonderful way to show children that, even though there are differences between people, there are also similarities that can tie us together, even in a war zone. -- Kim Napier,

Writing books for children is both art and business. If you dream of becoming a children's author -- or even if you're well on your way -- this handbook can help you in writing sellable stories, getting them published, and promoting your books.

Topics include common myths about children's writing, children's book categories, elements of successful stories, manuscript format, submission strategies, contract negotiation, the publishing process, career building, and children's writer resources. Also included are specialized subjects such as querying for multiple manuscripts, promoting a first book, and self publishing.

Read The Business of Writing for Children to learn the secrets you might spend years discovering for yourself.

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Aaron Shepard is the author of The Baker's Dozen, The Sea King's Daughter, and sixteen more picture books and early readers, along with several chapter books for middle grades, extensive resources for storytelling and reader's theater, and a graphic novel. His publishers have included Atheneum, Scribners, Clarion, Lothrop, Dial, and HarperCollins, as well as Cricket and Australia's School Magazine. Aaron's work has been honored by the American Library Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, the American Folklore Society, The New York Public Library, and the Bank Street College of Education. He has been a judge for the Golden Kite Awards of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

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BRAVO! I thought it had pretty much all been said, but I was wrong. All the nuts and bolts are here as well as rules that bear repeating, PLUS insights not usually found in how-to books. Clearly and concisely written, this is an invaluable resource for both beginning and more accomplished writers. -- Susan Pearson, Editor-in-Chief, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books

Aaron Shepard has written one of the most comprehensive guides available to anyone wishing to enter the competitive field of children's books. It's all here, from initial idea to successful sale, and then beyond to the essentials of contracts, promotion, and the ABCs of building a successful career. If you're starting out, start out here. -- Stephen Mooser, children's author

Here's clearly-written, no-nonsense help for children's writers by a craftsman. Every fledgling author should own this book. -- Stephen Fraser, Executive Editor, Aladdin Paperbacks

Aaron Shepard's The Business of Writing for Children is a wonderful resource. His experience-based insights into the art and business of children's writing will save beginning writers years of wasted effort -- and help published writers achieve long-term success. -- Kathleen Duey, children's author

The Business of Writing for Children is a one-stop shopping center, a complete how-to-do-it guide for the writer who wants a jump-start on looking professional even though he/she may be turning out a first book. Editors will love you if you do it Shepard's way. -- Audrey Baird, Editor, Once Upon A Time

A clear, concise, straight-ahead starting place for a new writer or a newly-published writer. Shepard knows his stuff! -- Jane Yolen, children's author and editor

One of the books every boy should have on his bookshelf. -- San Francisco Examiner

No outlaw could draw as fast as Lightning Larry. But what really terrified those bad men was that peculiar gun of his. It didn't shoot bullets. It shot light. And Larry always aimed for the heart.

Can Larry save the town of Brimstone from Evil-Eye McNeevil's outlaw gang? Find out in this rip-roaring original tale of a gunfighter with a huge smile and a hankering for lemonade.

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK STORIES ON STAGE, OR FREE ON AARON'S WEB SITE.

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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of The Baker's Dozen, The Sea King's Daughter, The Monkey King, 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. 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.

Toni Goffe is the 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 Slappy Hooper.

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One of the books every boy should have on his bookshelf; girls will probably like the story too . . . The language is perfect, with] the right dose of silliness to make both parents and children chuckle . . . The illustrations are ideal. -- Cindi Rose, San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 20, 2012

A tall-tale superhero for our time. . . . A readaloud that could lighten up classes well up in the elementary grades. -- Kirkus Reviews, Mar. 1, 1993

Pass out the bandanas and dig out the spittoon. Read this story in an old-timer's voice, and everyone will have a good time. -- Chris Sherman, American Library Association Booklist, Mar. 1, 1993

Move over Wyatt Earp. Make room for a cowboy of a different caliber. A wide age range of listeners will request this one again and again. -- School Library Journal, Nov. 1993

A rib-tickler. . . . Kids will enjoy acting this out as readers theatre. -- Jan Lieberman, TNT, Spring 1993

Lovely. . . . Should reach the tickly bone of youngsters. -- Storyline, June 1993

Perfect for telling or reading out loud. -- Katy Rydell, Stories, Spring 1993

My class loved this story. Great to use when introducing tall tales. -- D. Peccianti, Reviews of All Resources (Monterey Peninsula United School District)

Introduces one amazing cowpoke. . . . Will have young listeners laughing out loud and asking you to 'read it again.' -- Smithsonian, Nov. 1993

Told in the spirited language of a true yarn-spinner, this is a rollicking picture book to warm the heart of just about everyone. -- Kids' Line, Summer 1993

****A CENTRAL TEXT IN NEW YORK STATE'S COMMON CORE CURRICULUM****

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.

NOTE ON THE EBOOK: The sample materials in this book are meant to be fully reproducible -- but as most ebook apps do not allow printing, reproduction is generally possible only from the print edition. For the ebook, these materials are provided for viewing alone.

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Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning 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. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

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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

SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS!

For centuries, the name Castile has been associated with the highest quality in soap. But Castile -- made from olive oil, traditionally in factories -- has proven hard to translate to craft soapmaking. It has earned a reputation as difficult to make, slow to cure, and lacking in rich lather.

Until now.

Anne L. Watson, author of Smart Soapmaking, continues her soapmaking revolution with the first practical book on making Castile soap bars at home. With the secrets revealed in this advanced guide, you'll be making lovely, quick-curing, lather-rich Castile quickly, safely, and reliably.

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Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Friday Harbor, Washington.

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CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED
(Facts and Myths About Castile)

THE KEYS TO CASTILE
(Moving It from Factory to Kitchen)

WHAT DO I PUT INTO IT?
(The Ingredients of Castile)

WHAT DO I USE TO MAKE IT?
(Gathering the Equipment You Need)

Recipe: Anne's Classic Castile

STEP-BY-STEP CASTILE SOAPMAKING
(From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond)

MORE RECIPES!
(Different Castile Soaps You Can Try)

Recipe: Milk Castile
Recipe: Herbal Castile
Recipe: Oatmeal Castile
Recipe: Cleansing Castile
Recipe: Gardener's Lemon Poppy Seed Castile
Recipe: Castor Castile
Recipe: Coconut Castor Castile
Recipe: Tropical Castile

WHY? WHY? WHY?
(Frequently Asked Questions)

WHERE TO FIND MORE