Days Of The Blackbird

In this elegant tale, Tomie dePaola imagines how the Days of the Blackbird in northern Italy came to be. Gemma and her father, the Duke of Gennaro, live in a house with a courtyard that fills with birds of all colors through the spring and summer. When the Duke falls ill at the end of summer, Gemma begs the birds to stay to raise his spirits with their song. However, as snow and fierce winds begin to swirl down on the village, the birds must fly south to stay warm, and eventually only one loyal bird remains.

The story of how Le Giornate della Merla, the Days of the Blackbird, came to be celebratedd__

The ultimate guide to the history, development, manufacture, modification, and active service of all fifty models in the SR-71 program. At the height of the Cold War in 1964, President Johnson announced a new aircraft dedicated to strategic reconnaissance. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane flew more than three-and-a-half times the speed of sound—so fast that no other aircraft could catch it. Above 80,000 feet, its pilots had to wear full-pressure flight suits similar to what was used aboard the space shuttle. Developed by the renowned Lockheed Skunk Works, the SR-71 was an awesome aircraft in every respect. It was withdrawn from use in 1998, when it was superseded by satellite technology. Twelve of the thirty-two aircraft were destroyed in accidents, but none were ever lost to enemy action. Throughout its thirty-four-year career, the SR-71 was the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational manned aircraft. It set world records for altitude and speed: an absolute altitude record of 85,069 feet and an absolute speed record of 2,193.2 miles per hour. The Complete Book of the SR-71 Blackbird covers every aspect of the SR-71’s development, manufacture, modification, and active service from the insider’s perspective of one of its pilots and is lavishly illustrated with more than 400 photos. Former pilot and author Richard Graham also examines each of the fifty planes that came out the SR-71 program (fifteen A-12s; three YF-12s; and thirty-two SR-71s) and tells each plane’s history, its unique specifications, and where each currently resides.

With vibrant cut-paper collages, a Coretta Scott King Award-winner presents an adaptation of a folktale from Zimbabwe that celebrates the importance of appreciating one's own inner beauty. Full color.

Lockheed's SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most iconic and famous jets ever built. Assembled in secret at Lockheed's Skunkworks, the Blackbird's vital statistics remain phenomenal decades later. It holds the airspeed record for a manned jet aircraft, operated at an altitude other aircraft could barely touch and was a marvel of technical engineering. Drawing on declassified material, leading SR-71 expert Paul Crickmore reveals the history of the most fascinating of aircraft, accompanied by a range of fantastic illustrations, photographs and facts about the world's most secret spy plane.

The difficult adjustment of an upper-middle class, black couple to a fall in their standard of living after their business collapses. He beats her, she takes off for an affair, but the marriage survives.

This is a book you can dip into and be nourished by again and again. It will surprise you, shock you, move you and delight you. It'll remind you of the important sparkling details in your own life, and inspire you to pay more attention to what's around you. 'A Blackbird Sings' is an anthology of small stones, a mindful writing form, edited by Kaspalita and Fiona Robyn. It also contains an introductory essay about what makes a good small stone, an essay about quality and unconditional love, and a seven day course if you want to have a go at writing small stones yourself. HYDRANGEA Four shavings of sky perfect blue held in place by a tiny French knot Claire Zoghb

The most prolific and commercially successful of the Beatles, Paul McCartney has made musical waves for over three decades. In "Blackbird", Beatles insider Geoffrey Giuliano unfolds the whole story of McCartney's contradictory character and colossal talent and presents the "real" Paul. 90+ photos.