Books about Contests from Amazon.com

In 1521, Suleiman the Magnificent, Muslim ruler of the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power, dispatched an invasion fleet to the Christian island of Rhodes. This would prove to be the opening shot in an epic struggle between rival empires and faiths for control of the Mediterranean and the center of the world.

In Empires of the Sea,acclaimed historian Roger Crowley has written his most mesmerizing work to date–a thrilling account of this brutal decades-long battle between Christendom and Islam for the soul of Europe, a fast-paced tale of spiraling intensity that ranges from Istanbul to the Gates of Gibraltar and features a cast of extraordinary characters: Barbarossa, “The King of Evil,” the pirate who terrified Europe; the risk-taking Emperor Charles V; the Knights of St. John, the last crusading order after the passing of the Templars; the messianic Pope Pius V; and the brilliant Christian admiral Don Juan of Austria.

This struggle’s brutal climax came between 1565 and 1571, seven years that witnessed a fight to the finish decided in a series of bloody set pieces: the epic siege of Malta, in which a tiny band of Christian defenders defied the might of the Ottoman army; the savage battle for Cyprus; and the apocalyptic last-ditch defense of southern Europe at Lepanto–one of the single most shocking days in world history. At the close of this cataclysmic naval encounter, the carnage was so great that the victors could barely sail away “because of the countless corpses floating in the sea.” Lepanto fixed the frontiers of the Mediterranean world that we know today.

Roger Crowley conjures up a wild cast of pirates, crusaders, and religious warriors struggling for supremacy and survival in a tale of slavery and galley warfare, desperate bravery and utter brutality, technology and Inca gold. Empires of the Sea is page-turning narrative history at its best–a story of extraordinary color and incident, rich in detail, full of surprises, and backed by a wealth of eyewitness accounts. It provides a crucial context for our own clash of civilizations..
Price: $12.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"You have the right to remain silent." However ..

The fifth-grade girls and the fifth-grade boys at Laketon Elementary don't get along very well. But the real problem is that these kids are loud and disorderly That's why the principal uses her red plastic bullhorn. A lot.

Then one day Dave Packer, a certified loudmouth, bumps into an idea -- a big one that makes him try to keep quiet for a whole day. But what does Dave hear during lunch? A girl, Lynsey Burgess, jabbering away. So Dave breaks his silence and lobs an insult. And those words spark a contest: Which team can say the fewest words during two whole days? And it's the boys against the girls.

How do the teachers react to the silence? What happens when the principal feels she's losing control? And will Dave and Lynsey plunge the whole school into chaos?

This funny and surprising book is about language and thought, about words unspoken, words spoken in anger, and especially about the power of words spoken in kindness...with or without a bullhorn. It's Andrew Clements at his best -- thought-provoking, true-to-life, and very entertaining..
Price: $7.59 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A lifesaving handbook for parents of children who
are occasionally, or too often, "out of control"
Includes a bound-in twenty-minute DVD featuring
Dr. Kazdin and his staff illustrating key concepts of
the Kazdin Method
Most child-behavior books are filled with advice that
sounds reasonable, fits with what parents already
believe about child-rearing, and is—as Dr. Kazdin proves—
guaranteed to fail. The Kazdin Method for Parenting the
Defiant Child makes available to parents for the first time
Dr. Kazdin's proven program—one backed up by some of
the most long-term and respected research devoted to any
therapy for children.
Kazdin shatters decades' worth of accumulated myths
about tantrums, time-outs, punishments fitting the crime,
and much more.With the practicality of Ferber and the warmth
of Brazelton, Kazdin leads parents through every step of the
Kazdin Method in action—how to use tone of voice, when and
how to touch, how to lead your child in a "practice" session,
how to adjust your approach for different-age children, how to
involve siblings, and more.The program is temporary, but the
results are permanent—for very young children, adolescents,
and even beyond..
Price: $14.04 [Notify me when price goes down.]

How to Eat Fried Worms has happily repulsed children since its original publication in 1973. Now youngsters can experience this classic story in a whole new yucky way, by listening to it on audiocassette. Narrator Jay O. Sanders gives extra kick and vitality to this already lively yarn. He throws himself into the role of a 10-year-old boy, facing the most revolting bet of his life. Billy must eat 15 worms in 15 days--but the reward will be worth it: $50 for a shiny new minibike. Luckily, Billy's friends cook up these fat juicy grubs in a variety of appetizing ways--drenched in ketchup and mustard, fried in butter and cornmeal, and the pièce de résistance, a Whizband Worm Delight (an ice-cream worm cake). Sanders derives obvious pleasure from reading (and singing) out loud the hilarious rhymes and childish chants concocted from the mind of the book's author, Thomas Rockwell.

"Trout, Salmon, flounder, perch,
I'll ride my minibike into church.
Dace, tuna, haddock, trout,
Wait'll you hear the minister shout."

How to Eat Fried Worms is a ghastly gastronomical treat that will dazzle young listeners. (Running time: two hours, two cassettes) --Naomi Gesinger.
Price: $1.88 [Notify me when price goes down.]

In Morality for Beautiful Girls, Precious Ramotswe, founder and owner of the only detective agency for the concerns of both ladies and others, investigates the alleged poisoning of the brother of an important “Government Man,” and the moral character of the four finalists of the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest, the winner of which will almost certainly be a contestant for the title of Miss Botswana. Yet her business is having money problems, and when other difficulties arise at her fianc?’s Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, she discovers the reliable Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is more complicated then he seems..
Price: $1.78 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A new novel from “the reigning queen of…erotica, romance, love, and lust.” (Literary Times)

New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small explores the deepest recesses of the imagination where one womanÂ’s sexual fantasies lie in waitÂ…

Widowed with five children, stay at home mom Annie Miller has been just getting by—and growing restless because of it. Thinking Annie just needs a vacation, her sister enters her into a contest sponsored by The Channel, a network that caters to delivering women’s fantasies. Annie wins the grand prize, a week at a luxurious spa—and gets a treat when she turns on the flat-screen TV. The one working channel lets Annie program—and experience—her own personal fantasy each night. Suddenly she’s living out dreams she didn’t even know she had. But now that she’s experienced a complete sexual awakening, how will everyone in her former life handle this humble homemaker turned vivacious vixen?.
Price: $8.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The Ultimate Geography Bee Resource Guide
Geography Bees are hot, with millions of fourth through eighth graders competing in National Geographic—sponsored Bees every year! This indispensable guide will systematically prepare your child to beat the competition and win! Inside you'll discover:
·Important rules, the best strategies, and essential insider tips
·How to avoid the most common pitfalls
·Proven study techniques from teachers and parents
·Facts about every U.S. state and every country in the world
·1,001 practice Bee questions and answers
·And much more!
School geography is no longer a matter of simply memorizing U.S. states and capitals. Today's students must also know the physical, political, economic, and cultural geography of the world, with current events thrown in for good measure. Because many states now mandate geography comprehension for students, this must-have resource for students, parents, and teachers will help any child become a geography whiz kid—and maybe even win a scholarship to college!.
Price: $10.69 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Stink is a delightful protagonist, and McDonald cleverly imparts information on smells. . . . A funny book for almost any collection " — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

When Stink Moody’s second-grade class goes on a field trip to the Gross-Me-Out exhibit at the science museum, he learns that his very own nose has amazing sniffing abilities — and that some people have real jobs sniffing stuff for NASA! Soon Stink is engrossed in toilet water, corpse flowers, and all things smelly. But is his fetid footwear foul enough to win a Golden Clothespin Award? Loyal fans will be holding their breath for Stink’s latest outrageous solo adventure..
Price: $1.88 [Notify me when price goes down.]

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Price: $3.25 [Notify me when price goes down.]