Most Popular Books by David Kherdian

A classic of Chinese literature, this beloved folktale is part adventure story, part spiritual allegory—now reimagined by a National Book Award nominee Part spiritual pilgrimage, part historical epic, the folk novel Journey to the West, which came to be known as Monkey, is the most popular classic of Asian literature. Originally written in the sixteenth century, it is the story of the adventures of the rogue-trickster Monkey and his encounters with a bizarre cast of characters as he travels to India with the Buddhist pilgrim Tripitaka in search of sacred scriptures. Much more than a picaresque adventure novel, Monkey is a profound allegory of the struggle that must occur before spiritual transformation is possible. David Kherdian''s masterful telling brings this classic of Chinese literature to life in a way that is true to the scope and depth of the original.

David Kherdian re-creates his mother''s voice in telling the true story of a childhood interrupted by one of the most devastating holocausts of our century. Vernon Dumehjian Kherdian was born into a loving and prosperous family. Then, in the year 1915, the Turkish government began the systematic destruction of its Armenian population.

In his long anticipated poetic memoir, internationally acclaimed author and poet David Kherdian continues his poetic reflections, focusing on the city of his youth, Racine, Wisconsin during the 1930''s and 40''s. The poems and prose explore the bittersweet childhood and adolescence of the now 84-year-old author: a time when the second generation of Armenian-Americans experienced not only the Depression and the war years, but also the anguish of dual identity, deracination, and discrimination. Meanwhile their impoverished parents, mostly peasants from the old country, were going through the trauma of genocide memories and survival in a strange land. The poems and prose of Root River Return spring from an ancient tradition and bear its stain. The poems are filtered through Kherdian''s sensibilities that are uniquely Armenian, but welded to an American tongue and the solid background of his Midwestern beginnings. Kherdian addresses his life through these poems, digging beneath the events of each experience, pushing them into the light, and revealing their meanings.

The author relates his experiences and explores the joys and difficulties of growing up as a first-generation American in an Armenian household.

Despite his family''s objection, a cricket develops a friendship with a grasshopper.

An award-winning author''s uncompromising and brutally honest inside story of the powerful Gurdjieff Work of self-transformation. Offers a stirring account of spiritual transformation, as well as a warning of the real dangers inherent in being a member of any spiritual group Acclaimed author David Kherdian tells us the inside story of the powerful Gurdjieff Work of self-transformation. He describes his interaction with the hierarchy of various groups involved in the Work and tells the inspiring story of his own awakening that will resonate deeply with anyone involved in disciplined spiritual practice. Drawing on his own decades of intense study and application of Gurdjieff''s philosophy, Kherdian offers us a stirring account of spiritual transformation, as well as a warning of the real dangers inherent in being a member of any spiritual group.

A young boy relates his special friendship with his Armenian uncle.

Two boys discover a cache of jewelry in the woods, are laughed at by the police, and determine to capture a thief themselves.

When Ted and Joe return to the McCable river on a camping trip, they secretly hope to contact a hermit living in a nearby cave.

A sleepless bear hides the moon, much to the displeasure of his forest animal friends who miss dancing under its light in this new picture book by a Newbery Honoree and a two-time Caldecott Medalist. Full color.