Since 2010, Amicus has published books for children that educate and inspire young readers. Our library imprints—Spot, Amicus High Interest, Amicus Illustrated, and Sequence—offer informational books in a variety of formats that make reading to learn fun and encourage life-long learning. Our retail imprint, Amicus Ink, features original picture books and board books, each sharing a child’s-eye view of the world.
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Owen Brynmor, ein verkrachter Journalist, der mit seinen dreißig Jahren schon zahlreiche Zeitungen im ganzen Land hinter sich gebracht hat, wollte nie mehr zurück nach Stepford, Pennsylvania, in seine Heimatstadt. Aber dann kommt er – um Boxer zu werden. Weil er nebenbei Geld verdienen muß, heuert er als Lokalreporter an und erregt sogleich Aufsehen mit dem Bericht über einen Werwolf, den »Teufel von Blue Ball«, der Stepford in Angst und Schrecken versetzt. Auf der Suche nach der Legende vom »Kornwolf« stößt Owen auf Ephraim Bontrager, einen stummen Halbwaisen, der sich an den Rändern der diskriminierten Amish-Gemeinde herumtreibt. Mit seinem merkwürdigen Verhalten bringt er das ganze Tal gegen sich auf. Am Ende rottet sich die Bevölkerung zu einer gigantischen Hetzjagd zusammen. In wem, fragt diese spannende Geschichte, nimmt »das Böse« eigentlich Gestalt an – in einem Monster oder in den Menschen, die Jagd darauf machen? Des Autors Sprachgewalt ist den Katastrophen, die der Roman heraufbeschwört, gewachsen. Ebenbürtig steht Kornwolf neben Monument für John Kaltenbrunner, Tristan Egolfs hochgerühmtem, furiosem Erstling.
When Misty was six years old her family started to live and dress like the Amish. Misty and her sister were kept as slaves on a mountain ranch where we were subjected to almost complete isolation, sexual abuse and extreme physical violence. Her step-father kept a loaded rifle by the door at all times to make sure the young girls were too terrified to try to escape. They also knew that no rescue would ever come because only a couple of people even knew we existed or did not know them well enough to care. When Misty reached her teens, her parents feared we would escape and took us to an Amish community where they were adopted and became baptized members. Misty was devastated to once again find herself in a world of fear, animal cruelty and sexual abuse. Going to the police was forbidden. A few years later, Misty was sexually assaulted by the bishop. As Misty recalls,”I knew I had to get help and one freezing morning in early March I made a dash for a tiny police station in rural Minnesota. When I refused to recant my police report I was excommunicated from the Amish and found myself plummeted into the strange modern world with only a second grade education and no ID or social security card. To all abuse survivors out there, please be encouraged, the cycle of abuse can be broken. Today, ten years later, I am a nursing student working towards my Masters degree and a child abuse awareness activist. This is my story.”
A series of vignettes describing Amish people and customsPauline Stevick has visited more than 50 Amish homes in numerous Amish settlements across the country. She has attended weddings, viewings, school sessions and programs, family gatherings, and more than a dozen church services. She has ridden in Amish carriages and has even slept in Amish homes. Through her close association with the Amish, she has gained unique perspective and is able to provide keen insight into a culture that is misunderstood by many.Beyond the Plain and Simple reminds readers that although the Amish dress in almost identical clothing, they have distinct personalities and convictions. In vignettes and reflections she reveals the ways in which members of the Amish community live out their faith against the background of their communal culture, all the while emphasizing their individuality. Topics range from Amish family values to women to a retirement community in Florida to an Amish intellectual. Stevick’s eloquent narration is descriptive rather than expository as she often draws comparisons between Amish society and mainstream society, sometimes preferring the Amish ways and at other times questioning them. Beyond the Plain and Simple portrays the Amish as dynamic people who experience struggles, failures, and successes not unique to their community.
A fascinating look at life in a separatist society“Laced with humor and delight, this intriguing account provides first-time glimpses into daily life on Amish farms.”— Donald KraybillIn Why Cows Learn Dutch and Other Secrets of the Amish Farm, Randy James offers an engaging view of Amish farm life, society, and values. An agricultural extension agent for twenty years, James works closely with the Amish farmers of Geauga County, Ohio, the fourth largest Amish settlement in the world, and his narrative provides new, accurate information on the Amish and their farming practices.This richly layered book is a collection of gentle, often humorous stories about the art, science, and tradition of farming as well as a probing analysis of the Amish farm business. James includes helpful, empirical descriptions of Amish farming practices and delves into the amazing economic efficiency of a work horse and the streamlined management and marketing system of a fifty-chicken flock. Accompanied with drawings by Amish artist Crist C. Miller, James recounts his experiences driving a massive team of Belgian draft horses, gathering thin cold sap to boil into delicate maple syrup, hand milking a Holstein cow, and praying with the family before a hearty midday meal.Why Cows Learn Dutch illustrates an alternative business model in which small traditional farms are able to effectively compete in an industry dominated by huge corporate farms. It will appeal to those interested in the Amish lifestyle and farming practices.
An inspiring glimpse into the struggles of a young Amish farm familyAgriculture continues to be the largest industry in the United States with over 2.2 million farms. Amazingly, well over 100,000 new small family farms have sprung up in the past few years . . . and almost no one noticed.Why Cows Need Names follows one young Amish family as they dream about and then struggle to establish a profitable and quintessentially American small farm. The story starts with Eli Gingerich’s first timid phone call to author Randy James, the county agricultural agent in Ohio’s Geauga Amish Settlement—the fourth-largest Amish settlement in the world—and traces the family’s progress over the next five years. Through gentle dialogue and true stories, James captures the challenges of creating a simple business plan that will lead to the family’s radiant success or dismal failure. As the narrative unfolds, readers get a rare glimpse into what it’s like to work in the fields with draft horses; in the barn with cows, calves, children, and Chip the family dog; or to sit at the table talking with family and friends over a noontime meal. A picture emerges of how quietly living a shared goal and “doing without” during hard times can strengthen families and provide an appreciation for what is truly important in life.In addition to the business aspects and day-to-day farm activities, James interweaves commentary on our complex relationships with animals. The stark differences in the way animals are treated and valued in agribusinesses versus on small family farms is a recurring theme, as is debunking the myth that bigger is always better in American agriculture.Surrounded by a factory-farm world, the Gingerich family employs a business model that flatly rejects the dogma of “economies of scale” and instead focuses on the diversity, flexibility, and efficiency that only a small family farm can capture. Why Cows Need Names provides a partial roadmap, not only for other small farms but for the many thousands of family businesses that are created each year and largely ignored in our national psyche. It will appeal to anyone interested in business management, our food supply, animal welfare, and Amish family life.
Book 2 in the Creektown Discoveries series. In Sugarcreek, Ohio, the Amish schoolteacher is afraid of loving and losing. Antique store owners Orley and Lois Troyer offer prayers and advice as Paul Herschberger tries to woo Lisa Miller. But when secrets are revealed, will Lisa use them as an excuse to close herself off again?
A study of one Anabaptist group struggling to practice their peace commitmentsIn the first half of the 20th century, American society mobilized for the three great wars: World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. During this tumultuous period the Brethren in Christ joined other pacifists in opposing participation in the mobilizations. Like the Amish, Mennonites, and Church of the Brethren—other groups descended from sixteenth-century European Anabaptists—the Brethren in Christ held nonresistant pacifism as a fundamental aspect of their identity. They carried out their peace witness, however, not as an isolated community but as one integrated economically, technologically, and culturally into American society.Peace and Persistence presents a wealth of material about this small, little-know religious group.
Welsh quilts are striking, with bold colours and simple shapes. They look magnificent as bed quilts but are also distinctive when scaled down to cradle size or smaller. Welsh quilts are intensively hand quilted with their traditional motifs, so making a little quilt is a great way for a beginner to start on a Welsh quilting journey. Little Welsh Quilts: Made the traditional way, is an ebook with video demonstrations by the author Mary Jenkins, presenting six delightful quilts to make. They vary in style and complexity but are all based on original full-sized square or rectangular Welsh wool quilts. If not actually used for a doll or cot quilt they make delightful decorations for the home, either as wall hangings or cushions, giving any home the Welsh country look. As they are so small they can be made from a few fat quarters but any precious scraps can be added in too. Together with the stitcher’s choice of colours, the distinctive quilting motifs will give these little quilts their authentic Welsh identity. Also included is plenty of Mary Jenkins’ expert advice on the techniques she uses to design and create her Welsh quilts. ‘a refreshing change from the other quilt books on the market, in both its format and content.’ – The Sewing Directory
Katharine Guerrier’s inspired Patchwork Postcards and Pinboard Quilts shows how to use fabrics and techniques on a diminutive scale to make fabric postcards, postcard quilts. The slightly bigger Pinboard quilts are ideal for displaying unusual and treasured scraps of fabric or embroidery. With Katharine’s advice on composition and colour, you can create your own postcard quilt, fabric postcard, artist trading card or pinboard design – ideal keepsake gifts or conversation pieces. And the design tips learnt from this ebook are invaluable for creating your own quilts, whatever the size. ‘This is a little gem of a book, brimming with ideas, written by one of our finest quilt teachers.’- Patchwork and Quilting Magazine ‘beautifully presented and very easy to use . . . A really useful feature is the links feature that takes you to other relevant pages in the text and the web links that go directly to suppliers’ web pages. . . . a wealth of information . . . including tips on composition, balancing colours, techniques for working with smaller pieces etc, and the mouthwatering collection of quilts is sure to inspire.’ – The Quilter magazine ‘It is fun, very well explained, in short, you can not live without it!’ – Quiltmania ‘brimming with ideas for using up treasured scraps of fabric and embroidery’ – Stitch with the Embroiderer’s Guild
Quick easy scrap quilt patterns to make you smile – in Scrap Quilt Projects ebook from one of the UK’s foremost quilting teachers, Katharine Guerrier. The finished projects are ideal for the home, for gifts, or for fundraising events. Choose from a pencil case, needlecase, tablemats, a novelty chicken doorstop, shopping and laundry bags, cushions, a mini wallhanging, and medium-sized Flying Geese quilt. Many of these scrap quilt patterns can be made from leftover fabric scraps from your quilting stash. Template-free quick piecing methods make for speedy production in many of the projects, and where templates are required, these can be printed straight from your PC. Several techniques (such as quick pieced Flying Geese, asymmetrical star, prairie points) are introduced to expand a beginner’s skills, or broaden the expertise of those with more experience. So, if you are already a committed quilter, take a break from long-term projects to enjoy the satisfaction of completing something quickly. If you are a complete beginner, these scrap quilt projects make a good introduction to some basic patchwork and machine quilting techniques. ‘A great book if you are looking for quick and cheerful projects to give away as gifts, for sale tables or to fine tune your patchwork skills. The colours and detail came alive on my computer screen and I had no problem browsing through the book, formatted as a 60 page PDF. It’s PC and Mac compatible, there are direct links to suppliers’ websites and all the templates can be printed off. Katharine has included very clear directions and you can print these out, project by project. I think I might prefer to go for the paperless option and do my bit for the environment. A perfect gift for those who want to save the planet and create some lovely gifts and accessories whilst doing so.’ – Popular Patchwork
Trusted Partner
Dena Moes, her husband, and their preteen daughters shouldered backpacks and walked away from their American life to criss-cross India and Nepal for eight months. Their journey led them to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the tree where the Buddha sat, and Amma the Divine Mother. From the banks of the Ganges to the Himalayan roof of the world, this enthralling memoir is an unforgettable odyssey, a moving meditation on motherhood and marriage, and a spiritual quest, written with humor and honesty—and filled with love and awe.
