Poppy Or The Snake

A hip, sly, exuberant retelling of Aesop's Man and the Serpent fable, for children of all ages—written by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and her son Slade Morrison, and ingeniously illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre. In this clever riff on Aesop, Poppy feels guilty when he accidentally drives over Snake, and he decides to risk being bitten in order to free the sassy reptile. But snake wants more. This is a sly tale about who gets the last laugh. We, the creators of the Who's Got Game? series were inspired by the wonder of Aesop's Fables—their vitality, their endless demand for more interpretations. In our versions the original stories are opened up and their moralistic endings reimagined: the victim might not lose; the timid gets a chance to become strong; the fool can gain insight; the powerful may lose their grip. Anything can happen!

Who's got game? An old man who knows how to pay attention or a snake who can trick anyone into trusting a false promise? In the Morrisons' version of this timeless fable, the moral ending is revitalized with a clever new spin.

Toni Morrison, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, is perhaps the most important living American author. This work examines Morrison's life and writing, featuring critical analyses of her work and themes, as well as entries on related topics and relevant people, places, and influences.

This compelling study explores the inextricable links between the Nobel laureate’s aesthetic practice and her political vision, through an analysis of the key texts as well as her lesser-studied works, books for children, and most recent novels. Offers provocative new insights and a refreshingly original contribution to the scholarship of one of the most important contemporary American writers Analyzes the celebrated fiction of Morrison in relation to her critical writing about the process of reading and writing literature, the relationship between readers and writers, and the cultural contributions of African-American literature Features extended analyses of Morrison’s lesser-known works, most recent novels, and books for children as well as the key texts

Poppy's dad is still in prison. Her mum has rushed back to Poland to look after her seriously ill mother, and Poppy is sent to stay with her friend Jude. But Poppy feels stifled. At times like this she needs Angel, the joker among her friends - dodgy, wild, can't read or write much, yet bursting with energy and one of life's natural wits. But Angel, like Poppy, feels a bit orphaned, and has joined a gang. At half-term Poppy goes to stay with her friend Will in the country, and they write their second children's book. Poppy comes back to discover a note from Angel: At yor place. Need help. She finds him lying under the kitchen table, bleeding from an arm wound. Has he been stabbed? Why hasn't he rung 999? Who else is involved? And will her dad, now in an open prison, find out about her oddball friend? Rachel Billington's dramatic follow-up to Poppy's Hero features two opposing kinds of London kids, with Poppy straddling the gulf between them as she and her friends are drawn into a strange, unimaginable world.

This is a story about finding purpose, leadership, and true friendship. You will embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and join the eagles and their friends as they overcome difficult situations and challenges. You will see yourself in the characters, and you will laugh and cry as you get to know them. From earthquakes, rituals, and adventures, you will learn the insights of leadership in a fun and yet thought-provoking way.

Rin’s story continues in this acclaimed sequel to The Poppy War—an epic fantasy combining the history of twentieth-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters. The war is over. The war has just begun. Three times throughout its history, Nikan has fought for its survival in the bloody Poppy Wars. Though the third battle has just ended, shaman and warrior Rin cannot forget the atrocity she committed to save her people. Now she is on the run from her guilt, the opium addiction that holds her like a vice, and the murderous commands of the fiery Phoenix—the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power. Though she does not want to live, she refuses to die until she avenges the traitorous Empress who betrayed Rin’s homeland to its enemies. Her only hope is to join forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who plots to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new republic. But neither the Empress nor the Dragon Warlord are what they seem. The more Rin witnesses, the more she fears her love for Nikan will force her to use the Phoenix’s deadly power once more. Because there is nothing Rin won’t sacrifice to save her country . . . and exact her vengeance.

Three popular tales from Toni and Slade Morrison, Poppy or the Snake? The Lion or the Mouse? and The Ant or the Grasshopper? in one volume. Told with vibrant language and rich in rhythm, these are truly empowering and inspiring tales. Pascal's Lemaitre's ingenious illustrations add sophistication to the Morrison's wry and defiantly ambiguous text, making the Who's Got Game? series a favourite among both adults and children. In these tales anything can happen...and quite often does!