New Releases by Jan Wahl

There were two great loves in Jan Wahl''s life: writing books for children and silent screen star Lillian Gish. With The Movie Girls: Lillian and Dorothy, he manages to combine both of these interests - and for good luck he also includes Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith. This may be intended primarily for children, but it has an almost naïve charm which makes it of appeal to adults as much as youngsters. As someone familiar with the Gish story, I was fascinated by the manner in which Jan Wahl has captured the early years of Lillian and Dorothy before they entered films. These years are little known and yet Jan Wahl has brought them to life. We meet not only the Gish sisters but also Mary Pickford as they start out on the road to becoming legendary stars of the silent screen. A charming volume - and one for any and all ages. - Anthony Slide, Film Scholar and Writer, Hailed by Lillian Gish as "Our preeminent historian of the silent film." Jan Wahl knew early cinema as well as anybody. Rick Geary''s drawings bring the past to life as well as anybody can. The result is a sweet and charming book about two sisters, that invites readers into their half-forgotten world, casts the spell of early cinema and makes you want to experience the beginning of the movies. -Michael Gebert, NitrateVille The Movie Girls: Lillian and Dorothy tells the story of the early days of sisters Dorothy and Lillian Gish. Following in their mother''s footsteps they become actresses on the stage where they meet fellow child actress Gladys Smith. Movies are a new thing and Gladys, now acting in films and known as Mary Pickford, introduces them to the director D.W. Griffith. He puts them into the movies, and they become important performers in the new medium, helping to change it from a novelty into an enduring popular art form. Noted author and film historian Jan Wahl crafts a fresh and engaging account of the Gish sisters and the early days of cinema in the USA. Award-winning illustrator Rick Geary captures the excitement and joy as the sisters help create a new type of storytelling and art.

Oscar loves looking at the art Great-Granny creates. But his own drawings never look the way he wants them to. So instead of making art, he decides to collect art. Over the years Oscar''s room becomes filled with beautiful paintings and drawings in every style and color. His collection grows and grows and grows until a museum needs to be built to house it all.

Noted children''s author Jan Wahl has led a storybook life-much of it connected to Arts and Movies. THROUGH A LENS DARKLY invites you to share personal encounters with many luminaries from the Golden Age of Entertainment. You are treated to revelations about Gloria Swanson, Isak Dinesen, Robert Mitchum, Rita Hayworth, and more. His essays will charm and mesmerize. Join him as he sheds light on the artistic contributions of lesser-known personalities like animators Hugh Harman and Rudy Ising-and legendary dancer Paul Swan. Navigating his life is truly an adventure. Journey to Denmark with him as he participates in the now classic film Ordet by the great director Carl Th. Dreyer. Come along as Jan relives a poignant twenty-year friendship with Louise Brooks. Enjoy his sense of humor as Mae West chases him out of her dressing room-and feel his shock as he almost kills Greta Garbo. You will come away from this book knowing why Jan Wahl is, as one child has put it, "America''s Best Otter."

A wild bear escapes capture and returns to his beloved home in the mountains, where he enjoys dancing to the sounds of nature.

When a boy and his aunt find that a bigot has written hurtful words on the sidewalk just outside the candy shop owned by "Miz Chu", a new immigrant from Taiwan, they set out to comfort her.

Humphrey has wonderful adventures with his toy bear after they go to bed at night, just as his father did before him.

Illustrations and rhyming text extol the joys of a wondrous sled ride.

A little witch sitting alone at her spinning wheel hears a knock at her door, but the various body parts that enter are not much company.

It''s not easy being a rabbit nowadays. Carrots are hard to find, traffic is dangerous, and big rabbit-chasing dogs are plentiful! Where can a rabbit go to escape the chaos of modern life? For three hassled hares, there''s just one solution--they''re heading to Mars! On Mars there''s no traffic, there are fields of giant carrots, and the dogs are all rabbit-friendly. But is too much of a good thing, just too much?

In this enchanting bedtime tale, a young boy is carried through the magical world of elves. Elves dance through his imagination--riding on crickets and skipping in starlight, spinning on toadstools and sliding on moonbeams. Perfect for bedtime and nap time, this gentle tale will delight readers of all ages.

A field mouse finds himself in the Field Museum when the roof of his former home is transported there with the rest of the bones of a dinosaur named Sue.

Little Johnny Buttermilk must escape from the witch who keeps trying to steal his pails of milk, until finally he outwits her once and for all.

After a visit to a museum of natural history, a young girl begins to see dinosaurs everywhere.

When his vanity and greed cause him to needlessly kill animals, Corn Grower almost loses his precious life with his wife, Moon-Sun, and their son, Small Ears.

Lisa loves to hear Grandma Pinky tell stories about the old days, but she worries when Grandma becomes forgetful about more recent activities.

Mother Elephant teaches her child to forage for food, bathe in the water, and play where it is safe.

Visits the homes of drowsy animals at bedtime.

Little Eight John, as mean as mean there was, persists in disobeying his mother until he finds his mischief backfiring on him.

An old woman waits for the man who would have been her bridegroom if he hadn''t vanished into another dimension.

Dracula''s cat and Frankenstein''s dog give pets'' eye views of life with their masters.

When Spotty Chipmunk wanders away from camp in his sleep, Doctor Rabbit, Miss Mouse, and the scouts set up a search party to look for him.

Retells the Old testament story of Joseph and how he came to be sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.

Rhymed text and illustrations follow the progress of a group of rabbits on roller skates.

When his owners leave for a birthday party, Cheltenham the cat decides to throw a party of his own and invites all the animals in the neighborhood.

Tired of being teased by his older siblings, Acorn the raccoon decides to run away.

On the first warm day of spring the Pipkins spontaneously go on a camping trip and somehow manage, even though impractical and unorganized, to find their way home through an unexpected snowstorm.

Old Hippo receives an Easter egg out of which hatches a duckling - the son he''s always wanted.

Relates the adventures of a family of teeny tiny witches as they search for a home.

Great-grandmother cat enthralls her three great-grandkittens with the daring exploits of some of her nine lives.