Synopses & Reviews
Bestselling author Peter Sims reveals how to free our minds and unleash our creativity to achieve breakthrough results by employing a set of simple but remarkably effective methods that he’s discovered are central to the successes of the best creative producers across all areas of endeavor.
What do comedian Chris Rock, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, architect Frank Gehry, and the Army Chief of Strategic Plans all have in common? Peter Sims shows that they have all unleashed the power of our innate creativity by breaking away from the rigid constraints of planning, linear problem-solving and analytical skills we’ve all been taught and overcoming the fear of failure and perfectionism that so often thwart us. Based on deep and extensive research, including more than 200 interviews, Sims has discovered that expert creative thinkers and doers practice a set of simple but ingenious methods for taking experimental but highly purposeful and strategic small steps that both free our minds and provide the vital information we need to discover unexpected, extraordinary outcomes.
In a light and engaging storytelling style, he introduces a fascinating range of research, from the psychology of creative blocks to the cutting-edge field of design thinking, and tells illuminating stories, ranging from Pixar’s movie-making to Beethoven’s composing and Apple’s endlessly inventive prototyping, to illustrate the specific methods—such as failing fast to learn quickly; trying imperfect ideas; focusing on finding problems rather than solving them; and practicing highly immersed observation—that allow us to tap into our fundamental human desire to tinker, grow, and discover and harness our creative potential. Little Bets is a fascinating and thought-provoking must-read for all those seeking to adapt to the increasing demands for productive creative thinking in our ever-more fast-changing world.
Review
"[A] lively, antiand#8211;couch potato book set at a summer camp, a companion to andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Chew, Chew, Gulp! andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;Foot-stomping fun thatand#8217;s tailor-made for exuberant preschool read-aloud."--andlt;Iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"Action-loving friends are seen right side up or upside down as they demonstrate more than 15 moves in rhythmic succession. With bright acrylic colors, broad cartoon smiles, and eyes alit, the multicultural campers demonstrate each activity or sport with action verbs in bold type and highlighting the body parts involved in hiking, swimming, tumbling, and dancing. The book creates a listing and a series of active images for younger readers to discover their body by moving along with friends."--andlt;Iandgt;School Library Journalandlt;/Iandgt;
Synopsis
Get moving and have some fun with this invigorating picture book romp from bestselling author Lauren Thompson.
Bestselling Little Quack author Lauren Thompson and acclaimed illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka have teamed up to show just how much fun moving around can be. Wiggling, waggling, stomping, and clomping there are so many different ways to do it Go ahead try them all.
Each page has a big, bold toddler face, minimal rhyming text, and a corresponding label for the body part that s moving, making this bright, rhythmic book perfect for the youngest movers and shakers."
Synopsis
andlt;b andgt;Get moving and have some fun with this invigorating picture book romp from bestselling author Lauren Thompson.andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bestselling Little Quack author Lauren Thompson and acclaimed illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka have teamed up to show just how much fun moving around can be. Wiggling, waggling, stomping, and clompingand#8212;there are so many different ways to do it! Go aheadand#8212;try them all.andlt;BRandgt;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Each page has a big, bold toddler face, minimal rhyming text, and a corresponding label for the body part thatand#8217;s moving, making this bright, rhythmic book perfect for the youngest movers and shakers.
Synopsis
T.D. Jakes’s first Christmas story features a grandmother seeking inspiration from the Bible as she prepares to create a quilt.
Grandmother feels as if her life and loves have all passed, leaving her alone to reminisce about the joy of yesteryear and the real Christmases she celebrated. But as she opens her heart to the stories of the Virgin Mary, the truth of what really matters to her comes to light. At the end, she folds up the quilts she has made and ventures off to share their joy and warmth with the children in a local shelter, leaving them with something to keep them physically and spiritually cloaked.
With ten life lessons divined from the story of Jesus’ birth, A Christmas Story for Our Times is a charming, thoughtful treat for those who consider the Christmas season to be the most special time of the year.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Lauren Thompsonandlt;/bandgt; is the author of several picture books, including the popular Mouseand#8217;s First series, Little Quack series, and the Wee Little series. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed andlt;i andgt;The Apple Pie That Papa Bakedandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;i andgt;One Starry Nightandlt;/iandgt;. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn, New York.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;bandgt;Jarrett Krosoczkaandlt;/bandgt; graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and is the author and illustrator of great picture books, including andlt;iandgt;Punk Farmandlt;/iandgt;; andlt;iandgt;Good Night, Monkey Boyandlt;/iandgt;; andlt;iandgt;Bagheadandlt;/iandgt;; and andlt;iandgt;Max for Presidentandlt;/iandgt;. Jarrett is also the writer and illustrator of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series. He lives with his wife and daughter in Northampton, Massachusetts.