New Releases by Michael Townsend

Mr. Ball is back in this latest installment of the popular series. Mr. Ball sets out for his best friend''s birthday party with a VERY large cake. Hilarity ensues as he encounters one hiccup after another, and his cake gets increasingly smaller! Will the party be ruined?

Para todos aquellos que se sienten abrumados por las exigencias y ansiedades de la vida cotidiana, Respira ofrece prácticas para fomentar la relajación, la atención y la concentración. Cuando encuentras el equilibrio en la vida, puedes hacer cosas increíbles: crear, subirte a un escenario, liderar un equipo, emprender un negocio, formar una familia. Pero muy a menudo, frente a los cambios, permitimos que el estrés se apodere de nosotros y nos sentimos descentrados. Michael Townsend Williams, expublicista convertido en profesor de yoga y mindfulness, defiende el «buen hacer», abogando por una vida productiva, pero no a costa de nuestra salud y bienestar. ¿Y cuál es la clave para lograr esto? El aliento. Nuestra respiración, que es la conexión directa entre nuestra mente y nuestro cuerpo, refleja aquello con lo que estamos lidiando en cada momento. Nos avisa cuando algo nos sobrepasa. Con sencillos ejercicios de respiración y elementos de yoga, meditación y atención plena, Respira te ayudará a: • Reducir el estrés y aumentar tu bienestar • Mejorar la concentración y la productividad • Cultivar nuevos buenos hábitos y abandonar los malos • Desarrollar el coraje y la resiliencia ¿Estás preparado para respirar mejor? La crítica ha dicho... «Respira es un libro fantástico sobre algo que hacemos 600 millones de veces en la vida, pero en lo que raramente pensamos.» Michael Acton Smith, CEO de Calm «Perfecto para cualquiera que busque aprender a respirar mejor, encontrar la paz y comprender los conceptos básicos de la atención plena.» Lynchpin Media

For anyone who feels overwhelmed by the demands and anxieties of daily life, Do Breathe provides practices for fostering relaxation, awareness, and focus. This book features sections on breath work, mindfulness, energy, and courage, and is brimming with practical advice—including the three keys to breathing well and a how-to for decluttering the mind. With simple exercises and daily practices from yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, these inspiring pages will help readers cultivate a balanced mindset and build a foundation for a joyful, peaceful life.

Aphoristic, quasi-poetic meditation on humor as key to life''s complexities.

MICHAEL SMITH won a Brandeis University Creative Arts Citation for criticism, a Rockefeller Foundation Award for playwriting, an Obie Award for directing, and two Indie Awards for stage lighting. As theatre critic for the Village Voice in the 1960s, he was instrumental in the growth of Off-Off-Broadway. This first of two volumes of his plays contains "More! More! I Want More!" (1965), "The Next Thing" (1966), "A Dog''s Love" (1966), "Captain Jack''s Revenge" (1970), "Country Music" (1971), "Denver Trilogy" (1971-74), "Point Blank" (1972), "Prussian Suite" (1974), and "Cowgirl Ecsstasy" (1976).

Cute kittens, cute puppies, and more! An explosion of cuteness tailor-made for "I Can Has Cheezburger" fans. Janie Jane''s life takes a turn for the cute when she receives an adorable puppy as a birthday present. She and Sir Yips-a-lot do everything together. But before you know it, it''s Janie''s birthday again and she''s got a new, potentially cuter present to unwrap: Lady Meow-meow, "The World''s Cutest Kitty." Wait! Sir Yips-a-lot has always been the cute one in Janie Jane''s life. What if she doesn''t need him anymore? Michael Townsend has crafted a lighthearted romp that will help children--especially those with new siblings--recognize and overcome feelings of jealousy.

Monkey thought Elephant was his best friend. He was even bringing him some surprise cupcakes—and found a party going on that he wasn''t invited to! Elephant thought Monkey was his best friend. He was even planning a surprise wrestling party for him—but then Monkey put all his favorite toys in the freezer! From there the war of revenge is on, and life on their small island is becoming dangerous! Until the townsfolk find a creative way to make Monkey and Elephant talk out their problems (cement shoes, a boat, and a chisel are involved . . .). Happily, Monkey and Elephant realize their fight was based on a misundersanding. But if only they had talked sooner, innocent teddies wouldn''t need defrosting. This is a laugh-out-loud comedy of a book with the helpful message that "using your words" is infinitely better than, say, painting a mean face on their butt.

So You Want to Be President meets The Far Side! Just in time for the 2012 election, Michael Townsend presents his comic book guide to everything you ever wanted to know (and maybe a few things you didn''t!) about the President of the United States. It''s full of insanely weird facts about our leaders (Did you know that President Coolidge had a pet pygmy hippo named Billy?), as well as the history and powers of the presidency, day-to-day life, and pros and cons of the job. Even the most mundane of facts become hilarious in this brilliantly cheeky guide to our nation''s MVP.

John P. Dodd, the light man at the legendary Caffe Cino in Greenwich Village in the early sixties, assisted at the birth of Off-Off-Broadway and collaborated with key figures in New York''s downtown world of theatre and dance. This book, illustrated with rare period photographs, recounts Dodd''s colorful life and career from the unique perspective of playwright and director Michael Smith, drama critic of The Village Voice and his intimate companion in that transformative decade. Smith''s personal narrative, thoughtful recollections by friends and colleagues, and Dodd''s own words attest to his originality and unusual force of character. A year-by-year record of his wide-ranging work as a lighting designer confirms the importance of his theatrical art.

While preparing for his move, Kit Feeny recalls all the special and crazy things he and his best friend did together and suddenly starts to worry about what is to come when his friend is no longer in his life. Simultaneous.