New Books
Mornings in Florence by John Ruskin
Published March 30, 2025
Noted art critic John Ruskin (1819-1900) guides the reader on six morning excursions to historic sites in Florence, Italy, offering fresh insights on the artists' prowess and the spiritual significance of their work. Chapters include "Santa Croce", "The Golden Gate", "Before the Soldan", "The Vaulted Book", "The Strait Gate", and "The Shepherd's Tower". Ages 13-18.
Medieval and Modern Times - Part II by James Harvey Robinson
Published March 29, 2025
This is Part II of Medieval and Modern Times, beginning with Chapter XVIII, "France under Louis IV" and continuing through Chapter XXXVI, "The Great War." An engaging history of Europe that not only includes political history, but also an account of general conditions in the 18th century, modern science and the spirit of reform, and the industrial revolution. Includes 18 maps and over 100 illustrations. Ages 13-18.
Anne Bradstreet and her Time by Helen Stuart Campbell
Published March 25, 2025
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was born to a Puritan family of means in Northampton, England. With tutors in foreign languages, literature, and history, she was among the most-educated women of her day. At age sixteen, she married Simon Bradstreet. Two years later they sailed to the New World on the Arabella, along with her parents, as part of the Puritan migration to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Both Anne and her husband were prominent members of the new colony, assisting their fellow colonists in any way they could. Despite the arrival of eight children, Anne found time for the writing of poetry, eventually becoming the first published female poet. This story of her life gives a vivid picture of the first decades of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Also included are chapters on the theological tragedy involving Anne Hutchinson, colonial literary development in the seventeenth century, some phases of early colonial life, and village life in 1650. Ages 13-18.
Little Folks of Many Lands by Lulu Maude Chance
Published March 24, 2025
An introduction to the life of seven different children who live around the world in circumstances more typical a century or two ago. Their families have no stores to go to, so everything they eat, the clothes they wear, the houses they live in all come from resources they have at hand. You will meet each child in its family setting, seeing how both the father and mother work together to provide for their children. You will share in a family meal, see what all members of the family wear, and learn how their house was constructed, as well as what they enjoy doing in their free time: the games they play, the music they make, and the stories they listen to. Ages 6-9.
The Laws of Every-day Life by H. O. Arnold-Forster
Published March 20, 2025
Introduction to the scope and working of the most important laws of political economy. Explains a variety of topics, including the laws of supply and demand, prices, work and wages, the relation of capital and labor, co-operative societies, trades unions, and strikes, with lots of interesting examples that can be easily grasped by the youthful readers for whom it is intended. Ages 12-18.
Martin Hyde: The Duke's Messenger (Black & White Edition) by John Masefield
Published March 19, 2025
A young country boy living with his uncle in London longs for adventure, when by a strange turn of fate he finds himself swept into the service of the Duke of Monmouth and involved in a web of plots and strange happenings which make a daring lady his enemy and himself an upriser in the Rebellion of 1688. A spirited yet restrained narrative, admirably realizing the atmosphere of the period and sincerely characterizing a brave young lad in his complete fidelity to a lost cause. This edition contains nine black & white illustrations. Ages 12-18.
Martin Hyde: The Duke's Messenger (Color Edition) by John Masefield
Published March 14, 2025
A young country boy living with his uncle in London longs for adventure, when by a strange turn of fate he finds himself swept into the service of the Duke of Monmouth and involved in a web of plots and strange happenings which make a daring lady his enemy and himself an upriser in the Rebellion of 1688. A spirited yet restrained narrative, admirably realizing the atmosphere of the period and sincerely characterizing a brave young lad in his complete fidelity to a lost cause. This edition contains nine color illustrations Ages 12-18.
Myths and Legends of the New York State Iroquois by Harriet Maxwell Converse
Published June 22, 2024
Steeped in indigenous cultures by her father and grandfather, Harriet Maxwell Converse had a longstanding interest in the natives of New York State, but her life and thought took a new direction when she met the Iroquois sachem Gen. Ely S. Parker, himself a Seneca Indian of the Wolf Clan. The experiences she had when he took her to his reservation fanned her interest into a passion. She admired their laws and customs and marveled at their wondrous national vitality and their endurance. Her untiring activity on behalf of the natives, both in Albany and Washington, D.C. won their esteem and confidence. In return one of the national Seneca sachems made arrangements to adopt her as a sister, receiving her into the Snipe Clan. This gave her access to hearing the myths and legends in various settings that are recounted in this volume. Ages 13-18.
Practical Arithmetics, Book 3 by George D. Strayer and Clifford B. Upton
Published May 7, 2024
Intended for children in grades 7 and 8, Book 3 of the Strayer-Upton Practical Arithmetics series builds upon the foundational operations introduced in Books 1 and 2. Ages 12-14.
The Wonderful Winter by Marchette Chute
Published April 12, 2024
This second part of The Oxford Book of English Verse introduces the reader to Shakespeare, his contemporaries, and the writers of the generation that followed. Especially noteworthy are the riches of the Bard himself, the bluff certainties of Ben Jonson, Robert Herrick's lyricism, and the contrasting devotional poems of John Donne and George Herbert, though golden lines are plentiful throughout this work. Readers may quite possibly discover that this is their favorite period in English poetry, as many others have before them. Ages 13-18.
Published April 12, 2024
Join author Nellie B. Allen as she leads you on a journey of discovery through Europe, which is home to more than twenty countries though one of the smaller continents. She explains in the introduction that with peoples geographically isolated by bodies of water and mountain ranges, it is no wonder that so many languages and customs arose, with many Europeans able to speak multiple languages. Blessed with an abundance of natural resources, Europe quickly became a leader in manufacturing and commerce with robust shipbuilding, fishing, and dairying industries often spanning multiple countries. Author Nellie B. Allen introduces you to these, but also explores the cultivation of some specialty products such as cork in Portugal, olives in Spain, vineyards in Spain, linen in Ireland, and silk in Italy. With each country she visits, she tells you about the people that live there: what they typically eat, how they dress, what their homes are like, and the pastimes they enjoy. Questions throughout the text and suggested activities at the end of each chapter encourage the reader to think further about the material. Ages 10-12.
The Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 2: Shakespeare to the Restoration by Arthur Quiller-Couch
Published April 4, 2024
This second part of The Oxford Book of English Verse introduces the reader to Shakespeare, his contemporaries, and the writers of the generation that followed. Especially noteworthy are the riches of the Bard himself, the bluff certainties of Ben Jonson, Robert Herrick's lyricism, and the contrasting devotional poems of John Donne and George Herbert, though golden lines are plentiful throughout this work. Readers may quite possibly discover that this is their favorite period in English poetry, as many others have before them. Ages 13-18.
Published March 25, 2024
A treasure trove of information about the trappings of life in England in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, when everything was crafted by hand, either in the home or in the workshop of a skilled craftsman. Profusely illustrated with drawings and other illustrations showing the buildings they inhabited, the clothes they wore, the ships they built, the conveyances they used, the games and occupations they enjoyed, as well as the implements used in all endeavors, including agricultural pursuits and the preparation of food. A fine book to round out the picture given by history books that focus primarily on political events and the people involved. For each century a timeline is provided listing kings and queens, famous men, great events, and principal buildings that helps the reader connect the things of a century with the people and events of that era. A book that is enjoyed as much by adults as it is by youth. There are dozens of black and white images in this edition. Ages 13-18.
Published March 25, 2024
A treasure trove of information about the trappings of life in England in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, when everything was crafted by hand, either in the home or in the workshop of a skilled craftsman. Profusely illustrated with drawings and other illustrations showing the buildings they inhabited, the clothes they wore, the ships they built, the conveyances they used, the games and occupations they enjoyed, as well as the implements used in all endeavors, including agricultural pursuits and the preparation of food. A fine book to round out the picture given by history books that focus primarily on political events and the people involved. For each century a timeline is provided listing kings and queens, famous men, great events, and principal buildings that helps the reader connect the things of a century with the people and events of that era. A book that is enjoyed as much by adults as it is by youth. The four color illustrations in the original edition are rendered in black and white in this edition. Ages 13-18.
Don Quixote of La Mancha adapted by Mabel F. Wheaton
Published March 18, 2024
The adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, his squire, featuring the crazy knight on his broken-down old plow-horse, in his rusty armor, his helmet mended with bits of green ribbon, and portly Sancho, faithful, grumbling when hungry, cheerful when fed, shrewd and talkative, jogging behind him on Dapple, his sturdy mule, "the light of his eyes." Ages 13-18.
The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch
Published March 1, 2024
A comprehensive collection of Greek and Roman myths, with a sampling from Persia, India, and Scandinavia—stories enjoyable in and of themselves, but also valuable because allusions to them are so common in modern parlance. How the myths are employed by modern writers is demonstrated by the inclusion of one excerpt after another of British poetry in close proximity to the myth that inspired it. Ages 12-18.
The Burgess Bird Book for Children (Color Edition) by Thornton W. Burgess
Published February 27, 2024
Through the eyes of Peter Rabbit we become acquainted with a variety of birds as they return to Peter's neighborhood in the spring. In the context of the story about each bird, we hear about its nesting habits, its feeding preferences, and its interactions with other wildlife. We meet Jenny Wren, Scrapper the King-bird, Redwing the Blackbird, and dozens more. An engaging introduction to birds for young children, with over thirty color illustrations by noted illustrator Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Ages 6-9.
The Dove in the Eagle's Nest (Black and White Edition) by Charlotte M. Yonge
Published February 8, 2024
Through strange events, a little burgher maid becomes mistress of a castle of robber barons. This lonely castle of Adlerstein perched high on the rocks above a dangerous ford, is known as the eagle's eyrie. Here the twin barons are born and grow to manhood. The story tells of their love for each other, and of the separation of the brothers after the battle at the ford. How the feud between the rival barons is healed and a chapel of peace is built at the terrible ford, concludes one of the best known tales of Charlotte Yonge. Expressive illustrations by noted illustrator Marguerite de Angeli accompany the text. Ages 13-18.
The Dove in the Eagle's Nest (Color Edition) by Charlotte M. Yonge
Published February 8, 2024
Through strange events, a little burgher maid becomes mistress of a castle of robber barons. This lonely castle of Adlerstein perched high on the rocks above a dangerous ford, is known as the eagle's eyrie. Here the twin barons are born and grow to manhood. The story tells of their love for each other, and of the separation of the brothers after the battle at the ford. How the feud between the rival barons is healed and a chapel of peace is built at the terrible ford, concludes one of the best known tales of Charlotte Yonge. Expressive illustrations by noted illustrator Marguerite de Angeli accompany the text. Ages 13-18.
Johann Sebastian Bach by George P. Upton
Published February 2, 2024
George Upton's brief biography of one of the greatest classical composers of all time is written in an engaging narrative style, making it read more like a historical novel than a dry biographical text. The highlights of Bach's life and career are all here, making this a wonderful introduction for any student of music or western culture. Bach's music is wonderful on its own, but one's appreciation of it can only be enriched by gaining a sense of the character of the man who wrote it. Ages 8-12.
