John Shea

The Arena Chapel in Padua was completed in 1303; Giotto, then considered the preeminent painter in Italy, was commissioned to paint it in 1306. The resulting fresco cycle, detailing the history, birth, life, and death of Christ, ranks among the greatest artworks ever created. John Ruskin helped redefine art criticism in the nineteenth century through his attention to detail, his playful and engaging prose, and the conviction with which he discussed...

Christmas is unavoidable. But if it is going to happen for us, we need to take time. We need to slow down and do something out of the ordinary, something that has to do with the spiritual meaning of the feast and the season. Reading the Christmas poems of Seeing Haloes is one way of doing this. John Shea hopes that each poem strikes a chord and brings us into memories we may have forgotten and present experiences we may have overlooked. When this...

The digestive system takes the food we put into our mouths and breaks it down into the most elemental parts. Our bodies use these nutrients to fuel life processes. The digestive system also eliminates waste products from our bodies. Readers will view this system through illustrative diagrams. They will also learn about nutrition and the importance of maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Richly illustrated guide to the design, construction, painting, and decoration of a host of distinctive pieces - candle stands to four-posters. Includes designs for 24 popular hex signs and measured drawings for building 50 representative pieces: chairs, tables, desks, and many more. 250 illustrations. Bibliography.

Your respiratory system is working with each breath in and out. But it's more complex than just breathing. The information inside this book covers the structure and function of the respiratory system, as well as the importance of maintaining healthy lungs. The air that enters our lungs when we breathe in contains oxygen, which our bodies need to help turn food into energy. When we breathe out, carbon dioxide is removed from the body. Colorful photographs...

Vlad III, the 15th century ruler of what is now southern Romania had a terrifying nickname-the Impaler. It originated with the grisly way he dealt with his enemies: He demanded that their not-yet-dead bodies be impaled on stakes. Vlad's reputation for brutality only grew and later became entwined with the legend of the vampire Dracula. This in-depth account presents the true story of Vlad the Impaler and his fight against the Ottoman Empire, a struggle...

Teens' enthusiasm for tanning can result in excessive sun exposure and the use of indoor tanning facilities. These activities put them at risk for skin cancer, including the deadliest form, melanoma. In fact, according to Johns Hopkins Children's Center, skin cancer is becoming increasingly common among teens and young adults. Readers will come to understand the various forms of skin cancer, including how they develop and how they can be detected...

Self-injury and cutting refers to harming one's own body on purpose, a troubling problem that tends to begin in the teen or early adult years. Also known by several other terms, including "self-harm" and "self-mutilation," the behavior is often used as an outlet to get temporary relief from tormenting emotions. Written by a medical doctor, this book offers honest information about self-injury, who it tends to affect, and possible reasons people self-injure....

The Story of an America that no longer exists What was it like to live in America 90 years ago? Have you ever needed to use an outhouse at two in the morning? Bathed in a corrugated metal tub with water heated on a wood-burning stove? Read at night by kerosine lamp? Got on your knees in early morning and prayed that your father might find job that day? Has your mother darned socks and made clothes for you from flour sacks? Have you ever subsisted...

The Story of an America that no longer exists.What was it like to live in America 90 years ago? Have you ever needed to use an outhouse at two in the morning? Bathed in a corrugated metal tub with water heated on a wood-burning stove? Read at night by kerosine lamp? Fell to your knees in the early morning and prayed that your father might find job that day? Has your mother darned socks and made clothes for you from flour sacks? Have...