New Releases by Jeffrey Burton

The beloved Nativity story of the very first Christmas is gloriously told through poetic text, cherished church hymns, and luminous illustrations by bestselling illustrator Antonio Caparo in this picture book sure to be a holiday favorite. Long ago, in a small town called Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary. She was full of kindness and love, and she was chosen by God for a very special blessing. Poetic storytelling and lyrics from classic songs like “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Away in a Manger,” and “Silent Night” weave together to tell the treasured tale of Jesus’s birth.

The classic holiday tale The Nutcracker is reimagined to the tune of popular nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” in this festive, playful book! The itsy bitsy nutcracker marched so proud and tall, right past the Christmas tree glowing down the hall. The wreaths were set in place and the holly, too. Still the itsy bitsy nutcracker had much left to do! Join the itsy bitsy nutcracker as he helps prepare for his favorite time of year alongside family and friends! Whether they’re reading out loud or singing along, little ones will love this Christmas twist on the classic nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

In the vein of I Wheelie Love You, this sweet lovey-dovey board book celebrates the love between parents and children with a patriotic twist! Hey there, little stars and stripes. I’ll fly by your side every day. One of a kind, ready to cheer, you’re the float in my parade! Josh Cleland’s sweetly playful illustrations pair perfectly with punny text to create the ultimate summer funfest in the USA! From parades to floats, flags to jets, and ice cream stretching from sea to shining sea, this book is perfect for those who want to celebrate all things Americana

Come on a Halloween adventure in this sweet and spooky shaped board book with slider surprises that jump off the page. I’m a happy haunted house, won’t you come and play? What do you think is inside me today? Let’s find out the fun way. TRICK OR TREAT! Tricks and treats abound in this shaped haunted house filled with surprises that slide out when the reader tilts the book!

"Little ones help prepare their homes for Santa''s arrival!" -- Provided by publisher.

This interactive book shaped like different pi?natas, which are delightful and colorful papier-m?ach?e toys-invites kids to use the sliding tabs to swing away and reveal the special surprise inside!

This exciting touch-and-feel board book shows off pickup truck pride and what makes each truck unique! My pick-up truck has something no one else’s does. It’s got me in the back, no matter where it goes. With touch-and-feels on each spread, readers can feel their way through a cool steel grill or big rough tires. What does your pick-up truck have?

A rhyming story about a group of animals who band together to search for the Easter Bunny.

"It''s time for Santa to take flight! But who will be the one to pull his sleigh tonight?"--

"In small towns, backyards are endless and full of wonder, good smells drift from kitchens, grills are heating up, and friends wait at the front door to find out if you can come out to play"--

Dissent and Reform in the Early Middle Ages explores the complex relationship between orthodoxy and heresy, focusing on the ways in which dissent shaped the religious and intellectual landscape of medieval Europe. The book examines key moments in the early Middle Ages, such as the trial and execution of Ramihrd in 1077, to demonstrate the brutal repression faced by those who deviated from accepted Catholic teachings. By tracing the motivations behind dissent, whether rooted in reform, moral critique, or intellectual independence, the author sheds light on how both heretics and the Church viewed the tensions between right belief and right conduct. Dissenters, despite often facing violent repression, were frequently driven by a deep moral or spiritual commitment, challenging the orthodoxy that sought to maintain control over religious thought and practice. This study offers a historical perspective on how dissent was not only an opposition to Church authority but also an integral part of the medieval intellectual and social fabric. The book also delves into the different types of dissent that emerged during this period, such as Reformists, Eccentrics, and Catharists, each of whom presented alternative theological or moral viewpoints that threatened the Church’s established doctrines. The term heretic is interrogated within the historical and political context of the time, as dissent was often seen as a moral or social threat rather than purely a theological deviation. By identifying the various movements of dissent and reform, the study connects these figures and their beliefs to broader changes in medieval thought and society, highlighting the ways in which nonconformity both challenged and contributed to the development of Christian doctrine. Through this lens, the book examines the intersection of faith, power, and intellectual inquiry in shaping medieval Christianity, offering insight into the pivotal role that dissent played in the evolution of Western religious and cultural history. This title is part of UC Press''s Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1965.

This tender novelty board book shines a light on all the ways a parent’s love for their children grows more and more each day. My heart used to beat for one, now it beats for two. But oh how giant my heart grows all because of you. A parent’s love for their child grows daily, always in new and unexpected ways: through making mistakes, through asking why, through taking a stand, through making up your mind. With a die-cut heart that gets bigger and bigger on every spread, each turning page expands the love that’s shared.

Perfect for chefs-in-training, picky-eaters, or anyone who loves food, this novelty board book features gatefold flaps on every spread so little ones can “feed” the characters! With a menu on the left page and a hungry animal on the right, readers will delight in selecting different foods for the animal to try. Each animal has a gatefold flap for a mouth, allowing the animal characters to “eat” and say “NOM NOM NOM” as they chomp, chew, and crunch every dish served.

This hilarious and adorable bunny shaped board book with plush bunny ears wonders what the Easter Bunny would be like if he was another animal! Bunny ears on a lion? Have you seen that before? Do you think the Easter Bunny makes a great, big ROAR? What does it take to be the Easter Bunny? Can any animal in the world wear a pair of bunny ears and hop along the bunny trail? Join lion, piggy, kitten, llama, and tortoise as they take turns auditioning to be the new Easter Bunny by wearing an adorable set of actual plush bunny ears (with crinkle paper inside) on every page. But rest assured, there’s only one Easter Bunny, and those ears belong to him!

This sparkling mermaid board book is a magical ocean twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!” Twinkle, Twinkle, Mermaid Blue How the ocean sways with you A charming mermaid twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Mermaid Blue is the sixth board book in the Twinkle, Twinkle series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up and share.

This sparkling shark-tastic board book is a deep-sea twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!” Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Shark Swimming deep down in the dark An adventurous twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Shark is the fifth board book in the Twinkle, Twinkle series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up and share.

Blast off to bedtime with this robotic twist on the popular nursery rhyme, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!” Because even robots need to power down and recharge! Twinkle, twinkle, robot beep, Out of bed, no time to sleep! Twinkle, Twinkle, Robot Beep is the fourth board book in a series that is perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up with and share.

This sleepy dino board book is a prehistoric twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!” Twinkle, twinkle, dinosaur how I like to hear you roar. Stomping through the trees so high, as your friends fly through the sky. A roaring twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Dinosaur is the second book in a brand-new board book series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up with and share.

Laugh out loud again and again (and again!) with this hilarious family-friendly meme joke book collection that includes a double-sided poster! With three books filled with over 200 hilarious animal photographs each, this irresistible family-friendly meme joke book collection double-dog dares readers not to crack up. From uppity cats to laughing llamas to silly critters who really know how to monkey around, these books are a totally wacky way to tell jokes that’s perfect for anyone who loves to laugh. Warning: Side-effects may include giggles, guffaws, chuckles, snorts, chortles, and possible milk-through-the-nose laughter. This irresistibly funny collection includes: Laugh Out Loud Animals Laugh Out Load More Kitten Around Laugh Out Loud I Ruff Jokes A double-sided meme poster

This truck-shaped, lift-the-flap board book about delivery trucks packs in all kinds of surprises. Beep! Beep! Look who’s driving down the road. It’s the Delivery Trucks! We deliver all kinds of different things to all kinds of different places. Take a look and see what’s inside! Welcome to Delivery Truck Central! Buckle up for a surprise delivery in this lift-the-flap story about trucks and all the special things they carry from town to town! It’s a green light to explore. From the mail truck, car transporter, pet adoption truck, and more, each spread is filled with special deliveries for readers to find under multiple lift-the-flaps. With inviting truck characters on each page, little ones will love finding surprises hidden in each spread as they learn more about trucks…and the important deliveries they make—two things that go, go, go great together.

Using rhyming text and computer technology references, animals express their love for their children.

A fun and playful Thanksgiving twist on the favorite nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”! The itsy bitsy pilgrim sailed the ocean blue. On the Mayflower to a home that’s new! They helped build the houses, they helped shovel snow. Then some itsy bitsy new friends came by and said hello. This little pilgrim sails across the ocean and spends the first Thanksgiving with new friends. Little ones will love this fresh holiday spin on the classic nursery rhyme, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”!

Welcome to food truck central! Sit down and fasten your S-EAT belt for dinner in this lift-the-flap story about food, trucks, and cooking from around the world!

The Devil, Satan, Lucifer, Mephistopheles - throughout history the Prince of Darkness, the Western world''s most powerful symbol of evil, has taken many names and shapes. Jeffrey Burton Russell here chronicles the remarkable story of the Devil from antiquity to the present. While recounting how past generations have personified evil, he deepens our understanding of the ways in which people have dealt with the enduring problem of radical evil.After a compelling essay on the nature of evil, Russell uncovers the origins of the concept of the Devil in various early cultures and then traces its evolution in Western thought from the time of the ancient Hebrews through the first centuries of the Christian era. Next he turns to the medieval view of the Devil, focusing on images found in folklore, scholastic thought, art, literature, mysticism, and witchcraft. Finally, he follows the Devil into our own era, where he draws on examples from theology, philosophy, art, literature, and popular culture to describe the great changes in this traditional notion of evil brought about by the intellectual and cultural developments of modern times.Is the Devil an outmoded superstition, as most educated people today believe? Or do the horrors of the twentieth century and the specter of nuclear war make all too clear the continuing need for some vital symbol of radical evil? A single-volume distillation of Russell''s epic tetralogy on the nature and personifcation of evil from ancient times to the present (published by Cornell University Press between 1977 and 1986), The Prince of Darkness invites readers to confront these and other critical questions as they explore the past faces of that figure who has been called the second most famous personage in Christianity.

145 misconceptions about Christianity are argued against in an accessible and philosophical way. Myth Busted! is a unique and engaging work of apologetics that seeks to convince readers about the claims of Christianity whilst debunking the layers of myths and assumptions that might have grown around its kernel. An encyclopaedic attempt at getting to answers to the questions that often get in the way. ''This is Christian apologetics at its best - compelling, readable, convincing and informed. Distortions, myths and lazy assumptions are all challenged. Encyclopaedic in scope, all the major questions are considered. Jeffrey Burton Russell demonstrates exceptional competence and mastery of the literature. What C.S. Lewis''s Mere Christianity did in the 1940s, Jeffrey Burton Russell has done for us. For those seeking and for those who doubt, this is a must-read book.'' Ian Markham, president and professor of theology, Virginia Theological Seminary, USA

Renowned historian, Jeffrey Burton Russell, famous for his studies of medieval history, sets the record straight against the New Atheists and other cultural critics who charge Christianity with being outdated, destructive, superstitious, unenlightened, racist, colonialist, based on fabrication, and other significant false accusations.

In the late nineteenth century Tom Ketchum and his brother Sam formed the Ketchum Gang with other outlaws and became successful train robbers. In their day, these men were the most daring of their kind, and the most feared. Eventually Tom Ketchum was caught and sentenced to death for attempting to hold up a railway train. He became the first individual--and the last--ever to be executed for a crime of this sort. Jeffrey Burton has been researching the story of the Ketchum Gang for more than forty years. He sorts fact from fiction to provide the definitive truth about Ketchum and numerous other outlaws, including Will Carver and Butch Cassidy. The Deadliest Outlaws initially was published in a limited run of one hundred paperback copies in England. This second edition in hardcover contains additional material and photographs not found in the earlier printing.

The Christian concept of heaven flourished for almost two millennia, but it has lost much of its power in the last hundred years. Indeed today even theologians tend to avoid the topic. But heaven has always been a central tenet of the Christian faith, writes Jeffrey Burton Russell. If there is no heaven, no resurrection of the dead, the entire Christian story makes no sense. In this stimulating book, Russell sets out to rehabilitate heaven by forcefully attacking a series of ideas that have made belief in heaven, not to mention belief in God, increasingly difficult for modern people. Russell provides elegant and persuasive refutations of arguments ranging from the idea that science has disproved the existence of the supernatural, to the notion that biblical criticism has emptied the scripture of meaning. Along the way, as Russell looks at the ideas of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer, Mark Twain and Alfred Lord Tennyson, Marx and Freud, and a host of others, he sheds light not only on the history of Christian thought, but on the process of secularization in the West. One by one, Russell refutes these anti-religious ideologies, pinpointing the deficiencies of their reasoning. Throughout the book, Russell invites the reader, whatever his or her beliefs, to take the concept of heaven seriously both as a worldview in itself and as one with enormous influence on the world. It is a book that will be welcomed by thinking Christians, who often feel beleaguered by the forces of modernity and sometimes find it hard to defend their own beliefs.

From the Preface: This book is intended as an investigation of the civilization of western Europe from the third to the fifteenth centuries. It presents not only the results, but some of the important problems, of contemporary scholarship in medieval history. It follows a topical treatment of economic, social, political, and cultural history within a chronological framework. Rather than trying to achieve consistently detailed coverage of every aspect of medieval civilization, I have concentrated upon individual or collective examples of important ideas, attitudes, institutions, or events. Discussions of the sources appear in each chapter, and the sources are quoted frequently in the body of the text in order to permit the reader to feel, as well as intellectually to grasp, the nature of medieval life. Pictures and maps are integrated with the text as illustrations of the topics discussed.

The study of the conflict between religious orthodoxy and heresy in the Middle Ages has long been a controversial field. Though the sectarian differences of the past have faded in intensity, the varieties of academic correctness that today inform historical studies are equally likely to give rise to a number of interpretations, sometimes providing more information about the sympathies of contemporary historians than the beliefs, feelings, and actions of Medieval people. In this book, Jeffrey Burton Russell provides a fresh overview of the subject from the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) to the eve of the Protestant Reformation. The fruit of many years of thought and scholarship, ''Dissent and Order in the Middle Ages'' is a concise introduction to the full range of religious and social phenomena encompassed by the book''s title. While tracing the intellectual battles that raged between the champions of orthodoxy and the partisans of dissent, Russell grounds these conflicts, which often seem rather recondite to the modern reader, in the evolving social context of Medieval Europe. In addition to discussing conflicts within Christianity, Russell sheds new light on such vexing topics as the origin of anti-Semitism and the persecution of alleged witches. More than just an overview, Russell''s study is also an original interpretation of a complex subject. Russell sees the conflict between dissent and order not as a war of binary opposites, but rather as an ongoing dialectic, a creative tension that, despite the excesses it entailed on both sides, was essential to the development of Christianity. Without this creative tension, Russell argues, Christianity might well have stagnated and possibly died. Dissent and order, then, are perhaps best seen as symbiotically joined aspects of a single living, healthy organism. ''Dissent and Order in the Middle Ages'' will appeal to, and challenge, all readers interested in European history, from beginning students to seasoned scholars, as well as those concerned with Christianity''s past - and future.