An Unexpected Adventure

Bestselling authors Strobel and Mittelberg use compelling and humorous stories from their own lives in a devotional-style work that paints an irresistible picture of what personal evangelism can be--the fulfilling adventure of a lifetime.

Protect their community or protect their discovery? For eighth graders Chace, Harley, Will, and Cherise, that's a life-changing question after they find a dragon's egg while hunting for thundereggs on the beach. Toss in summer jobs, family struggles, and a National Security Agent, and their summer vacation just became complicated. Can they find a solution that won't leave their hearts broken or their community in flames? E.T. meets How to Train Your Dragon in this fun first book in the middle grade fantasy Myth Coast Adventures Trilogy.

Join Pigín on an unexpected trip - all the way to London! Pigín is enjoying a wonderful summer party at the fairies' place behind Howth Castle when he holds one balloon too many, and up into the air he goes! Luckily, the Green Bird is flying overhead and the captain manages to pull Pigín in the cockpit window. And so his unexpected adventure begins ... Pigín enjoys visiting the sights in London: a trip to Buckingham Palace, a ride on the River Thames and even a go around the London Eye. What a wonderful time he has! But when he sees Nanakit waiting for him at Dublin airport he realises there's no place like home.

A special teaser for Peter Jackson's film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"Nopening in theaters on December 14Nin the form of a children's activity book, featuring photos and puzzles throughout. Full color. Consumable.

The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old questions attitudes that characterize aging as a time of deprivation rather than a time of enrichment. Drawing on recent research as well as candid accounts of personal experience, Leah Friedman explains that by embracing our aging, adjusting to its challenges, and focusing on its advantages, we can transform ourselves and help demolish the ageism so prevalent in our society. Especially important is realistically facing end of life issues and acknowledging the mystery of life after death, offering unparalleled opportunities to strengthen our character and deepen our emotional and spiritual outlook.

A stunning look at the creative process behind The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies—the third and final installment of one of the world's biggest motion picture franchises from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson. Working closely with the film's production staff, the award-winning team at WETA brings together more than 240 pages of spectacular four-color visuals, including hundreds of images of concept artwork, photographs, development paintings, and more created by the artists and designers working behind the scenes. Movie photography and finished imagery accompany the sketches and drawings, showing how the artists' vision was realized from design to final product. Chock full of insider stories, details, and insights, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Chronicles: Art & Design also includes a special bonus feature—a three-page fold-out sure to delight fans and become a treasured collectible.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles II: Creatures and Characters explores the amazing cast of heroes, villains, beasts, and beings that populate Middleearth in the fi rst chapter of Peter Jackson's fi lm adaptations of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. Richly illustrated with behind-the-scenes photographs, digital renders, and fi lm stills, this comprehensive book goes species by species and character by character through the fi lm's huge ensemble cast and bustling menagerie of creatures, both physical and digital, and shows how each came to be realized for the fi lm. First-hand accounts from the actors, makeup artists, digital effects specialists, dialect coaches, prosthetics technicians, movement coaches, and many other crew members describe the process and how the production unfolded, while also sharing insights into the characters. A bonus feature, unique to this book, is the special fold-out character size chart, which compares all the major creatures and characters of the fi lm, from Radagast's hedgehog friend to the towering Stone Giants! Compiled by Weta Workshop designer Daniel Falconer and featuring a wealth of stunning imagery, this book puts the reader face-to-face with all the creatures and characters of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, from the Dwarf heroes to the dark denizens of Middle-earth–the Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and Wargs–and, of course, the hobbit himself, Bilbo Baggins.

“Beguiling. The gentle and persistent search by Darlington sparkles.” —The Guardian A plan formed in my mind. I would explore the places in this land that hid my grail. I would spend a whole year or longer, if that’s what it took, wading through marshes, hiding between mossy rocks, paddling down rivers and swimming in sea lochs; recording my journey through the seasons as I searched for wild otters. Mysterious, graceful, and ever-clever, otters have captivated our imaginations, despite the fact that few people have encountered one in the wild. In Otter Country, celebrated nature writer Miriam Darlington captures the fascination she's had for these playful animals since childhood, and chronicles her immersive journey into their watery world. Over the course of a single year, Darlington takes readers on a winding expedition in pursuit of these elusive creatures—from her home in Devon, England, and through the wilds of Scotland, Wales, the Lake District, and the countryside of Cornwall. As she’s drawn deeper into wilder habitats, trekking through changing landscapes, seasons, and weather, Darlington meets biologists, conservationists, fishing and hunting enthusiasts, and poets—enriching her understanding, admiration, and awe of the wild otter. With each encounter, she reveals the scientific, environmental, and cultural importance of this creature and the places it calls home. Full of wonder, hope, and an abiding love for the natural world, Otter Country: An Unexpected Adventure in the Natural World is a beautiful and captivating work of nature writing, pursuing one of nature’s most endearing and endlessly fascinating creatures.