This is the story, or at least it is a part of the story about an orange and white striped cat with big green eyes. This is the story of the cat named Blake. It is also a story about love, and how we should all love one another; and even more importantly, it is about caring for even the weakest among us, and about how much we can learn from the creatures of the earth about how we should live, if we would only pay attention. Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, this is a perfect chapter book for a book report, as well as a great "read me a story" book...

It may have been Gertrude Stein who said, "A rose is a rose," as she sat around contemplating life with Ernest Hemingway and other greats, but it was William Shakespeare who gave her the idea by first saying, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." In fact, when you think of everything that Shakespeare has contributed to not only literature, but to the development of the English language, itself, it is mind boggling As dead as a doornail, as good luck would have it, as pure as the driven snow, and even the phrase 'fancy free, ' are all said to originate from the works of the great...

On November 29, n 1582, William Shakespeare, 18, and Anne Hathaway, 26, paid a 40-pound bond for a marriage license in Stratford-upon-Avon. Later, they had a daughter, Susanna, and twins. Sometime after the birth of their twins, a now 21 year old William Shakespeare set off for London to become an actor; and by 1592 he was a well established actor and playwright in London. Anne lived in a cottage in Shottery, a small hamlet within a short walking distance of Stratford. It is speculated that Shakespeare met Anne Hathaway on one of his walks in the countryside where his then bride to be shared...

William and Anne Shakespeare (formerly Anne Hathaway) had three children. Their first child was Susanna, christened on May 26, 1583. Twins arrived in January, 1585 and were baptized on February 2, 1585. The twins, Hamnet and Judith, were named after two friends of William Shakespeare, Stratford's baker, Hamnet Sadler and his wife, Judith. Hamnet died atthe tender age of eleven. His short life is unrecorded. Some speculate he died of the plague. This must have made Shakespeare very sad indeed as he left no male heir.. June 5, 1607, Susanna married the famed and prosperous Stratford physician...

Nash's House, Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England is the house next door to the ruins and gardens of William Shakespeare's final residence, New Place. It has been converted into a museum that is perfect for kids It traces the history of Stratford-upon-Avon from the earliest settlers in the Avon Valley to Shakespeare's time. There are lots of fun hands-on activities there for kids making it the perfect place to visit after you have visited all the other housed in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which acquired New Place and Nash's House in 1876. New Place is basically...

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, UK is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the World. It is also home to London's only planetarium, the Harrison timekeepers and the UK's largest refracting telescope. If you are the scientific type, or if you are just interested in how time is measured and want to try your hand at some fun activities, there are lots of things to see and do at the Royal Observatory, a short and fun walk right up King William Walk. In the 'meantime, ' set your watches See some of what photographer John D. Weigand saw through his camera lens, as you...

The Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship. Built on the Clyde in 1869 for the Jock Willis shipping line, one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest. This ship was built at the end of a long period of design development that was unfortunately halted as sailing ships gave way to ships driven by steam propulsion. You see this ship used the power of the wind and gathered the wind in its sails to further its journey, The Cutty Sark was very badly damaged by fire on May 21, 2007 as it was under restoration. It was re-opened to the public on April 25, 2012, much to the delight of...

Greenwich is known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian (0 longitude) as well as for Greenwich Mean Time. The town was the site of a royal palace, the 15th century Palace of Placentia. It was the birthplace of many in the House of Tudor, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. There is a lot to see and do in Greenwich, and this is why Penelope Dyan and photographer John D. Weigand put their visit to this place into three fun books that are easy for kids to remember, see and read. Look for their other two books on Greenwich to complete the set of these...

Pitlochry is located in the heart of Scotland, a quaint, old town that is very friendly and lots of fun for kids. This is because people here seem to have a sense of humor, shopping is good, and there is a lot to see and do, especially if your family likes to go hiking in the beautiful hillside highlands. And if you really don't fancy a walk in the heather, this place is still both amusing and fun It's a Victorian town that became a tourist resort when Queen Victoria visited it in 1842. And the arrival of the railway in 1863 solidified its stature. (Our author and photographer came by rail,...

Urquhart Castle sits near the banks of Loch Ness. It was one of Scotland's largest castles, and its ruins include a tower house commanding views of the famous loch and Great Glen. The castle has experienced a lot of conflict throughout its 500 years as a medieval fortress. It's history from the 13th to 17th centuries was particularly bloody. Following the invasion of Edward I, it fell into English hands, was reclaimed and lost again. Then in the 14th century, it was part of the Scots' struggle for independence. It came under the control of Robert the Bruce after he became King of Scots, and...