Rachel Smiles

This volume contains a selection of papers presented at the 10th and 11th Meeting of the Association for Mathematics of Language, held in Los Angeles, CA, USA in July 2007 and in Bielefeld, Germany, in August 2009.The 19 revised papers presented together with 3 invited speeches were carefully selected from numerous submissions. The papers in this collection reflect a wide range of theoretical topics relating to language and computation including papers on the intersection of computational complexity, formal language theory, proof theory, and logic, as well as phonology, lexical semantics, syntax and typology.

Diverse international perspectives on the ways in which young children’s learning and care may be supported converge in this book. Traversing the field of early childhood education and care from its established philosophical underpinnings to 21st century research, policies, and practices, the contributions to this volume draw together past and present discourses as a basis for shaping future trajectories. In spite of a growing international consensus on the strong influence of early childhood experiences on lifetime outcomes, the nineteen chapters reveal contemporary early childhood pedagogy as a collection of spaces characterised by plurality, complexity, and dissonance. These characteristics signal the importance of recognising early childhood pedagogies: multiple models of practice for the many diverse learning and care contexts that have the capacity to value young children as individuals and enable each to flourish now and throughout their lives. Moreover, such characteristics disrupt notions that a single ‘optimal’ early childhood pedagogy is either possible or desirable.

“Alice Adams has an inimitable ‘voice’–quick, deft, brilliantly evocative and specific. There is always something special about a story of hers, like a watercolor perfectly executed.” --Joyce Carol Oates Award-winning writer Alice Adams, whose major themes were the varied lives of contemporary women and the hidden workings of human relationships is equally treasured for her short stories and her novels. The stories collected here represent the full range of her career, which included 25 appearances in The New Yorker, 6 O.Henry First Prizes out of a total of 23 appearances, as well as inclusion in numerous Best American Short Stories anthologies. In story after story insight joins with grace to show us the truth about the lives of people around us. Included: “Verlie I Say Unto You,” “Beautiful Girl,” “The Swastika on the Door,” “Greyhound People,” “The Girl Across the Room,” Truth or Consequences,” “Separate Planes,” “Your Doctor Loves You,” “Old Love Affairs,” “Earthquake Damage,” and 43 other classic stories.

“Alice Adams writes with beautiful economy, an infallible sense of the telling detail. Her place in the company of John Updike and Mary McCarthy.” --San Francisco Chronicle Alice Adams’ reputation as a short story writer continued to grow with each collection. The stories in her third collection revolve for the most part around the theme of travel. The stories are about people in search of fresh experience, the inspiration of art, the pleasure of new relationships . . . people opening up to the accidental magic of a foreign place, or returning to scenes of childhood to forgive the past. Included are “Alaska,” “Time in Santa Fe,” “Barcelona, “ “Molly’s Dog,” “My First and Only House.”

Claude Fister owner and CEO of Mineral Technologies International; receives several calls from a Demarcel Abrahim; the last living descendent of the royal family of Turkey. Demarcel’s after a collection of antiquated journals and stones; that once belonged to his ancestors, that Claude purchased at auction. These journals hold the incantations along with instructions for those who dare to evoke dark spirits. If used correctly and with conviction these spirits manifest certain occurrences for the practitioner. When Demarcel acquires the journals and the stones he performs the incantations. But something goes wrong; he blacks out and wakes up hours later on the marble floor with no recollection of what he’s doing there. He panic’s as he lifts himself up into a sitting position. He reaches over picks up his cane and makes his way out into the atrium. Its dark, the only light is coming in from outside casting shadows. Demarcel looks around not recognizing his surroundings. He calls out. “HELLO!” He waits, no answer, he stands there shaking and confused not knowing what to do next.

For fans of Jennifer Holm (Penny from Heaven, Turtle in Paradise), a heartfelt and unforgettable middle-grade novel about an irresistible girl and her family, tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship. In 1972 home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein, her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp’s mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes. Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery. Nest is Esther Ehrlich’s stunning debut novel. Her lyrical writing is honest, humorous, and deeply affecting. Chirp and Joey will steal your heart. Long after you finish Nest, the spirit of Chirp and her loving family will stay with you. Praise for Nest: "A poignant, insightful story of family crisis and the healing power of friendship."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred "A stunning debut, with lyrical prose and superbly developed characters. . . . [Readers] will savor Nest and reflect on it long after its conclusion."--School Library Journal, Starred "Ehrlich’s novel beautifully captures the fragile bond shared by Chirp and Joey and their growing trust for each other in a world filled with disappointments and misunderstandings."--Publishers Weekly, Starred "Chirp’s first-person voice is believable; her poignant earnestness is truly heartrending. Ehrlich writes beautifully, constructing scenes with grace and layers of telling detail and insight."--The Horn Book What authors are saying about Nest: “Nest sings with heart and emotion. Simply gorgeous.”--Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times bestselling author of Turtle in Paradise "Nest speaks to the heart. I wanted to put my arms around Chirp and never let go."--Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s and I'll Be There "I loved the book! It's so tender and touching and real. Chirp is a marvelous character, and Joey's just plain lovable. I worry about him. Congratulations. The book is absolutely splendid and I hope everyone in the world notices."--Karen Cushman, author of the Newbery Medal, The Midwife's Apprentice and the Newbery Honor, Catherine, Called Birdy “A remarkable work. Esther Ehrlich’s characters stand out so real and true: Chirp’s friendship with Joey is tender and moving, and truly unforgettable. One can see Cape Cod and feel Chirp’s love for the birds wheeling overhead. I wanted this story to go on and on. What a brilliant future this author has. I can’t wait to read her next book.”--Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor–winning author

There are items that, if obtained, can open the heavens for further enlightenment before the second coming of the Lord. Through a series of surprise events, a cast of characters begins to come together--a "gathering of peoples" that, unbeknownst to some, have entered into a potentially dangerous and life-threatening situation dealing with the items mentioned above. One of these characters, Darren Brown, a Colorado native with a wife and three children, begins to feel disenfranchised, unsettled, and concerned about the world around him. As he sets off to find some personal answers, he is shortly swept into something that he knows nothing about, changing his and his family's lives forever. Another character, Misty Butler, an elderly Native American widow, arrives on the scene and she too, after experiencing some powerful and emotional spiritual visions, is wrapped up into the plot. From the first chapter to the last, the plot twists and turns, leaving the reader in suspense over what will happen next.

When thirty-something Tabby Brockman has the opportunity to reclaim her role as a killed-off character on the nation's #1 daytime soap opera, she figures this must be God's reward. But back on the set, she's faced with the same hateful head writer who killed off her character in the first place, kids who drive her crazy, a stage dad who rubs her completely wrong, and and an unwanted boyfriend who can?t seem to get the message. Faced with this dizzying rollercoaster of challenges, Tabby has to wonder: is she finally a star on the rise or just on the brink of another spectacular fall?