The Spider Who Saved Christmas

Spider thought his Christmas presents to Fly and Ladybug were unappreciated until they were used to prevent a disaster.

Long ago in a faraway place there lived two mothers. One, a humble peasant woman who struggled daily to provide for her children. And the other, a mother spider who also worked hard to care for her family. And although it would appear they were as different as night and day, these two mothers had more in common than would first seem. As the only holiday gift she can give her children, one cold Christmas Eve the peasant woman goes to the forest to get a tree, never noticing that someone has made a home among its branches. During the night, the mother spider spins webs decorating the tree, resulting in a Christmas that neither mother will ever forget. Based on an old Ukrainian story, Trinka Hakes Noble (The Orange Shoes) crafts an original heartwarming tale of the grace that can be found in the true spirit of Christmas. Trinka Hakes Noble's numerous picture books include The Scarlet Stockings Spy (IRA Teachers' Choice 2005), The Last Brother, The Orange Shoes (IRA Teachers' Choice 2008), and Apple Tree Christmas. Ms. Noble lives in northern New Jersey. Stephen Costanza attended the Philadelphia College of Art. His picture books are Mozart Finds a Melody, Noodle Man: The Pasta Superhero, and Ten Big Toes and a Prince's Nose. He lives in Belfast, Maine.

Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Peter Lerangis's Seven Wondersseries will embrace this first epic adventure in a rollicking new series by aNew York Times bestselling author. Will Wilder is a mischievous, headstrong twelve-year-old with an otherworldly gift—he alone can see the nefarious creatures encroaching on Perilous Falls. For nearly a century, a sacred relic has protected his hometown from the raging waters surrounding it. But when Will “borrows” the relic for his own purposes, he accidentally unleashes an ancient evil. As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, Will must set things right before it is too late. With the help of his sweet (if lethal) Great Aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of powerful artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world. Praise for Will Wilder: The Relic of Perilous Falls • “Suspense, adventure, humor, a compelling story, and characters that fired my imagination.Great fun and great frights.” —Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author • “Will Wilder is a brand-new, refreshing, entertaining, intrepid young hero who magically combines humor and genuine suspense. And I love Great Aunt Lucille!” —Mary Higgins Clark,New York Times bestselling author and “Queen of Suspense” • “Laugh-out-loud humor, palpitation-inducing suspense, and cliffhangers galoreawait readers young and old. Who knew the battle between good and evil could be so much fun?” —William Peter Blatty, author ofThe Exorcist • “Monsters! Prophecies! Ancient relics! This is a wildly inventive book, and Will Wilderis just the kind of hero you want when the small town of Perilous Falls turns out to be the most important place in the universe.” —Frank Cottrell Boyce, author ofMillions and Cosmic

The Holy Family is set upon by roadside thieves when Jesus is a boy. The leader of the gang is the Bad Thief; among them is a young Dismas, the Good Thief. Remembering his own mother and family, Dismas is moved with compassion and persuades the leader to let them go. While on the cross many years later, Dismas is caught in the entrancing gaze of Mother Mary from down below, and suddenly realizes that the man next to him was the captivating boy from that fateful day long ago. He asks Jesus for forgiveness. Knowing exactly who he is, Jesus forgives him and assures him of Paradise that very day.

Michael, an imaginative six-year-old, overcomes his fear of spiders with the help of his family, specifically his grandfather. Through the retelling of a Christmas folktale, Michael realizes that a spider can be comical and friendly rather than a fearful phobia.

A Christmas long ago...On the first Christmas morning, a sleepy spider awakes to a flurry of activity in the manger below. Coming down from the rafters, she sees the animals preparing the manger for some very special visitors. What can a tiny spider do on such an important day? Find out as she spins and twirls and weaves her way to becoming the one and only Christmas Spider! A special Christmas craft is included so that readers can make their own Christmas message.

This delightful rhyming book introduces Catholic children to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a fun and simple way—through her clothes! When Our Lady lived in Nazareth two thousand years ago, she was very poor and probably didn’t have many nice things to wear. But now that she’s in Heaven, she has an enormous mansion. And in that mansion she has an incredibly beautiful wardrobe filled with a great variety of dresses, veils, slippers, sashes, robes, rings and crowns. Over the centuries, Our Lady has visited the people of Earth many times. On each of these occasions she has dressed very differently. Our Lady’s Wardrobe tells the story of some of her most famous apparitions, highlighting the clothes she wore and the things she did. By reading this book, children will not only learn about the Mother of God, but will also learn the main purpose of her life—to love and serve her son, Jesus Christ, and to lead others to do the same.

With the help of his friends, Spider comes up with such a good disguise for Halloween that he impresses the neighborhood and saves himself and his friends from bullies.

A New York Times bestselling Pete the Cat holiday picture book! Spend the holidays with your favorite blue cat! In this rockin' spin on the traditional tale The Night Before Christmas, Pete the Cat proves that giving your all in the spirit of Christmas is the totally groovy thing to do. The fun never stops—don’t miss Pete’s other spin on a holiday classic, Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas. Don't miss Pete's other adventures, including Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues, Pete the Cat and the New Guy, Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes, and Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party.

Although he doesn't usually celebrate Easter, Spider has some pleasant adventures with Ladybug and Fly.

From number one bestselling author Matt Haig comes a hilarious and heartwarming story, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chris Mould Wherever she is, whatever the day, She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo, The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true. A very funny and lovable tale of how one special pixie learned to love herself. The Truth Pixie is an enchanting, rhyming story that will delight younger readers – with words by the bestselling mastermind Matt Haig and pictures by the inky genius Chris Mould.

When Spider's teacher, Miss Quito, forgets to bring a turkey to the school Thanksgiving pageant, Spider quickly makes one out of balloons

Before I was me, just before I was born, I asked God, “Who will I become?” “Oh, my little one,” He replied, “I have great plans for you! I have chosen you to be a very important person whom I will always love.” Thus begins a charming odyssey of self-discovery, as, in conversation with God, the child imagines himself as: . . . an ASTRONAUT going off to work each morning in a rocket, stopping halfway to Mars for milk and cookies . . . . . . a BAKER baking yummy treats everyone wants . . . . . . a FARMER growing food for hungry people of all nations around the world . . . . . . a DOCTOR healing giraffes and rabbits, and, yes, people, too . . . . . . a TEACHER helping boys and bears and gophers and girls become the best they can be (while giving hugs to the downcast!) . . . . . . a PARENT making the lives of children happy and safe; and finally . . . . . . a CHILD! . . . important simply for who he is and WHOM GOD WILL ALWAYS LOVE!

Since when is being called "virtuous" an insult? It's a word that has gotten a bad rap, misused and misunderstood even by great thinkers, philosophers, and theologians, and mocked in the cynical sound bites of the media. Rediscover virtue as it should be understood in our lives. With wit, warmth, and wisdom, Father Groeschel reintroduces the seven virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and charity. One by one he makes them meaningful for modern men and women, shaking off the dusty mantle of pretentiousness and demonstrating how each has a real role in a whole and holy life. Father Groeschel's charming conversational style entertains even as he educates and challenges us. History, politics, an advertisement, the neighbor down the street ... all are reference points for Father Groeschel as he explores the meaning of each virtue for Christians today. By the end of the book, you will understand that being labeled virtuous is the ultimate compliment!

When spider discovers how everyone in the class had received valentines except the two lazy caterpillars in the back, he comes up with a unique way to say Happy Valentine's Day to them.

When Eddie, one of Santa's elves, accidentally knocks out Santa on Christmas Eve, Eddie finds an unlikely substitute in the owner of Murray K's Holiday Diner. Reprint.

Froggy has never celebrated Christmas; usually he's taking his long winter's nap. But not this year! Froggy's best friend, Max the beaver, wakes him up to join the fun. Soon, Froggy's gotten into the swing of things: finding a tree, wrapping presents, singing carols, and enjoying a holiday feast. Join Froggy as he celebrates his very first, and very best, Christmas! "The humor and spirited artwork will put Froggy fans in the holiday mood!" (The Horn Book) "Children who have delighted in the earlier books about Froggy will cheer him along as he experiences his very first Christmas." (School Library Journal)

When Spider and his friends get back their letters to Santa Bug, they go to Santa Bug's Castle at the North Pole to find out what's wrong.

“Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot . . . but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!” Not since “’Twas the night before Christmas” has the beginning of a Christmas tale been so instantly recognizable. No holiday season is complete without the Grinch, Max, Cindy-Lou, and all the residents of Who-ville, in this heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit on even the smallest and coldest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays, and his story is the perfect gift for young and old. This Read & Listen edition contains audio narration.

The Child who comes to help Santa in his time of need reminds us all that Christmas is the birthday of the Lord.