Most Popular Books by Eric A. Kimmel

To avoid paying the Widow Macrae the four dollars and fifty cents he owes her, deadbeat cowboy Shorty Long plays dead and almost gets buried alive.

Harry Weiss—later known as Harry Houdini—is enthralled when the circus comes to his Wisconsin town. He loves all the acts, but his favorites are the tightrope and the amazing trick where a man hangs from a rope by his teeth! Harry and his brother decide to try circus tricks in a nearby barn, and although Harry’s headstrong determination leads him into trouble, it also opens up a whole new world. In this evocative story, Eric A. Kimmel tells how Harry Weiss discovered his love for performing, many years before he became world famous. History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!

Once upon a time three cabritos (little goats) decide to go to a Mexican fiesta. But their mother is worried. She warns them about Chupacabra, the goat-sucker who lives beneath the bridge. And sure enough, as the goats cross the bridge, he jumps out "Say your prayers. I''m going to eat you," he tells the goats. But they are clever. And they know how to play music--music that finally gets rid of that old goat-sucker forever Pleasant illustrations rendered in pencil and digital techniques by Stephen Gilpin add to the story of the legendary creature, Chupacabra. An author''s note, glossary, and pronunciation guide are included.

During the Mexican Revolution, when a troop of hungry soldiers comes to a town where all the food has been hidden, they charm the townspeople into helping make a soup from water and a cactus thorn.

A retelling of the Grimm tale about the fisherman''s greedy wife, set in the land of the Aztecs.

Don Aurelio falls in love with a witch who has a beautiful face but fails to heed her special instructions.

A retelling of some classic Greek myths for younger readers.

How did famous New Orleans jazz trumpet player Louis Armstrong get his first horn? Seven-year-old Louis Armstrong was too poor to buy a real instrument. He didn’t even go to school. To help his mother pay the rent, every day he rode a junk wagon through the streets of New Orleans, playing a tin horn and collecting stuff people didn’t want. Then one day, the junk wagon passed a pawn shop with a gleaming brass trumpet in the window. . . . With messages about hard work, persistence, hope, tolerance, cooperation, trust, and friendship, A Horn for Louis is perfect for aspiring young musicians and nonfiction fans alike! History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!

Why does a bar mitzvah (BM) happen at age 13? Where did the elaborate rituals come from and how are they relevant today? What does it feel like to experience a BM? Kimmel answers these questions and more, providing historical background, explanations of rituals, and real-life bar mitzvah stories. This is a book not only for every pre-bar mitzvah boy, but for anyone who wants to learn about the beliefs, philosophies, and history of the Jewish religion. Illustrated with woodcuts. "A thorough well-written account of the ceremony and rituals involved in a 13 year-old boy''s confirmation in the Jewish faith. interspersed with fascinating and sometimes deeply moving vignettes in which boys and men of various ages share memories of their own bar mitzvah experiences."

AHOY! Come with us aboard the Pequod. We search for Moby Dick, the Great White Whale! Along with Captain Ahab, you''ll meet danger face to face, hunting the fiercest creature the seas have ever known! Are you brave enough— and bold enough— for the adventure of your life? The award-winning author and illustrator team of Eric A. Kimmel and Andrew Glass introduce a new generation of readers to a magnificent and memorable retelling of Herman Melville''s masterpiece, Moby Dick.

Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel visits the Emperor, leaving a new housemaid to prepare for his Hanukkah party, but returns to find that she has misused the clay man he created. Includes historical and cultural notes.

A miniature Jewish family living behind the wall of a synagogue must battle a frightening cat if they want candles for their Hanukkah menorah.

Jessica is addicted to computer games -- the more violent the better. Concerned, her mother sends her to a "healthy" online game called Granny Goose''s Fun Farm. It looks so stupid that Jessica shares it with her friend, Matt. They soon learn that Granny Goose is evil, and she has taken control of the media with her henchmen -- evil robots with TVs for heads!Included in Juvenile 10.

Ten tall tales about a legendary Ukrainian trickster who can outwit anyone—from the team behind the award-winning Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Quick-thinking, funny, and always clever, the Jewish folk hero Hershel—based on an historical figure who lived in Ostropol, Ukraine—is one of folklore''s greatest tricksters. In this classic volume by the creators of the award-winning and much-beloved Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, a Caldecott Honor Book and Sydney Taylor Award Honor Recipient, Hershel down faces a stingy innkeeper, fierce bandits, and more, armed with nothing more than his own quick thinking. Based on tales passed down through oral histories, Yiddish anthologies, and other collections of Jewish folklore, The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol offers a glimpse into the shtetl village community of nineteenth-century Ukraine, and is a perfect introduction to a little-known but much-beloved folk hero. A perfect gift for any occasion, including Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Hanukkah, or graduations, The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol will delight all readers who love a clever twist.

In this version of the Gingerbread Man, a little tortilla jumps off the griddle and runs into the Texas desert.

Relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.

When an old lady swindles him out of his magic dreidels, Jacob tries to get them back in time for the family''s Hanukkah celebration.

A hot pepper pie exposes the big bad wolf in this southwestern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

A young girl brings her pets to the library--with predictably disastrous results.