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Over the years the world of The Sims has gotten bigger and bigger; they've busted out and gone to school, opened businesses, gotten pets, partied all night long, and celebrated the seasons. While fans welcome the near-endless supply of Sims 2 expansion packs, EA has stepped back and is creating a new line of Sims titles that trims the excess fat and puts you in control of other people's lives--The Sims Stories. First to arrive is The Sims: Life Stories, which has set-aside the free-form nature of previous Sims games and opted instead for a bit more structure with the primary "Story Mode." You'll first take control of Riley, an attractive but unlucky-in-life woman seeking her place in a new town, Four Corners. The game eases you into the (now familiar to many) Sims play mechanics with an in-line tutorial that gets the story rolling. Soon enough you'll find yourself with a job, wooed by the local men, and building a new family. The game is helpful in guiding you along the way, explicitly telling your how to get to the next goal. Once you've finished Riley's story, it's on to the title's male co-star, wealthy Vince, and his lady troubles. Rounding out the game is a free-form play mode like you'll find in Sims 2, albeit stripped down in terms of items and housing options. The graphics in Sims Life Stories are bright and clean, following what the franchise has established. Humor abounds in the stories, and you'll still hear the bubbly "Simlish" language and relevant sounds spewing from all corners of the game, backed by a simple but pleasant soundtrack. Sims Life Stories might not have the breadth and depth of Sims 2 and its many expansion packs, but it does offer up a solid and fun Sims experience, especially for gamers on the go or with older systems. ~ Garaphin, Amazon Video Games Pros: Two involved storylines featuring likeable characters and a free-form play mode offer plenty of hours of gaming. Optimized code and new keyboard commands allows you to play on laptop computers and older systems. Cons: Although marketed as laptop-friendly, my new MacBook still ran into some choppiness and the fan has to run on full blast to keep the system cool. Older systems will likely need to run reduced resolutions for smooth game play. Long-time Sims 2 players might not find much new here.

The Sims Life Stories introduces an all-new Story Mode with two stories that follow the lives of Riley Harlow and Vincent Moore two very different characters who have reached similar crossroads in their love lives. A comic romantic plot centered around engaging characters guides players through twelve chapters of this one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Players can take their Sims through unique and entertaining storylines filled with romance intrigue and dramatic twists. Will female lead character Riley ditch beau number one to marry and have kids with beau number two? Will successful entrepreneur Vince ever find love or the culprit who's been foiling his heart-earned efforts to find it? Players can discover these answers and more or enjoy classic open-ended Sims gameplay.System Requirements:No Set requirements at this time.Format: MAC 10.3.9 OR LATERUB Genre: ENTERTAINMENT Rating: T UPC: 618870115900 Manufacturer No: 11590

Help Thomas find a lost shipment of supplies for thechocolate factory!Product InformationIt’s an adventure for Thomas & Friends that proves again howteamwork is the best way to overe challenging situations. A rainstorm hascaused damage all over the Island of Sodor. Unfortunately a shipment ofsupplies for the chocolate factory may be lost! Kids jump right into the storyto help find extra coal for Thomas retrieve missing cargo with Harold organizethe Troublesome Trucks and more! There are also mini-games to play newlocations to explore and activities like making chocolate candy for Sir TophamHatt.James has derailed and it's up to Thomas and all of his friends to help him get back on track.This affects everyone on the Island of Sodor from the Horrid Lorry who has todo James' work to Sir Topham Hatt who must organize the efforts of the otherengines. Includes eight engaging activities 3D graphics eight jigsaw puzzles. There's a job for everybody to do in this story that proves how useful teamwork can be.Skills Learned Encourages Critical Thinking Fosters Listening and  Memory Skills Reinforces Good Social Skills Color and Shape MatchingProduct Features First adventure-style Thomas & Friends puter game — follows the successful format of videos and books Explore 11 locations around the Island of Sodor Chapter-based play lets kids play at their own pace New storyline starring beloved Thomas & Friends characters Gameplay encourages critical thinking and fosters listening and memory skillsWindows Requirements Windows 98 Me 2000 XP Pentium II 300MHz or faster 32MB of RAM (64MB for XP) 85MB free hard drive space 8X speed CD-ROM Drive 8MB Windows 98/Me/2000/XP patible SVGA video card * Windows 98/Me/2000/XP patible 16-bit sound card * DirectX version 9.0 or higher (included) required*Indicates device should be patible with DirectX version 9.0 or higher

First published in 1949, Jesse Stuart's now classic personal account of his twenty years of teaching in the mountain region of Kentucky has enchanted and inspired generations of students and teachers. With eloquence and wit, Stuart traces his twenty-year career in education, which began, when he was only seventeen years old, with teaching grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse. Before long Stuart was on a path that made him principal and finally superintendent of city and county schools. The road was not smooth, however, and Stuart faced many challenges, from students who were considerably older -- and bigger -- than he to well-meaning but distrustful parents, uncooperative administrators and, most daunting, his own fear of failure. Through it all, Stuart never lost his abiding faith in the power of education. A graceful ode to what he considered the greatest profession there is, Jesse Stuart's The Thread That Runs So True is timeless proof that "good teaching is forever and the teacher is immortal."

Book Description Publication Date: February 1990 | Series: Fiction "Caddie Woodlawn," which has been captivating young readers since 1935, was awarded the John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Now it is in a brand-new edition with lively illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. In her new foreword, Carol Ryrie Brink lovingly recalls the real Caddie, who was her grandmother, and tells how she often "sat spellbound, listening, listening!" as Caddie told stories of her pioneer childhood. Children everywhere will love redheaded Caddie with her penchant for pranks. Scarcely out of one scrape before she is into another, she refuses to be a "lady, " preferring instead to run the woods with her brothers. Whether she is crossing the lake on a raft, visiting an Indian camp, or listening to the tales of the circuit rider, Caddie's adventures provide an exciting and authentic picture of life on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. And readers will discover, as Caddie learns what growing up truly means, that it is not so very different today

At age 11, Caddie Woodlawn is the despair of her mother and the pride of her father: a clock-fixing tomboy running wild in the woods of Wisconsin. In 1864, this is a bit much for her Boston-bred mother to bear, but Caddie and her brothers are happy with the status quo. Written in 1935 about Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother's childhood, the adventures of Caddie and her brothers are still exciting over 60 years later. With each chapter comes another ever-more exciting adventure: a midnight gallop on her horse across a frozen river to warn her American Indian friends of the white men's plan to attack; a prairie fire approaching the school house; and a letter from England that may change the family's life forever. This Newbery Medal-winning book bursts at the seams with Caddie's irrepressible spirit. In spite of her mother's misgivings, Caddie is a perfect role model for any girl--or boy, for that matter. She's big-hearted, she's brave, and she's mechanically inclined! (Ages 9 to 12)