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In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation (Halifax Hellions #1)
by Alexandra VastiThe first novella in Alexandra Vasti's “hot, smart, funny, and charming as hell”* Halifax Hellions series.The Halifax Hellions are the most scandalous, outrageous, ungovernable ladies in London. From the day of their debut—in which Matilda smoked a cheroot and Margo tied a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue—they’ve turned the ton upside down. But when Matilda elopes with a dangerous aristocrat, Margo must stop her twin before this new misadventure becomes a permanent marriage. For help, Margo turns to her brother’s best friend—because if anyone can get them to Scotland in time, it’s starchy solicitor Henry Mortimer. Henry Mortimer has precisely one secret in his otherwise buttoned-up life: he’s been in love with Margo for seven wonderful, agonizing years. When she turns up at his doorstep, soaked to the skin and desperate for his help, he cannot turn her down. A week alone in a carriage with the object of his desires an arm’s length away? Surely he can survive that. He hopes. But the road to Scotland is paved with disasters—caves and crashes and the bloody rain that keeps forcing Henry to hold a damp, shivering, dreadfully tempting Margo in his arms. Only an unstoppable force could drag the truth of Henry’s affection from his lips. Unfortunately for him, Margo Halifax has yet to be stopped.*Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint (Halifax Hellions #2)
by Alexandra VastiThe second novella in Alexandra Vasti's “hot, smart, funny, and charming as hell”* Halifax Hellions series.For seven years, Matilda Halifax and her twin have been the most scandalous ladies in London. But when Matilda accidentally sells erotic drawings of the brooding, reclusive Marquess of Ashford, she has—perhaps—gone a bit too far. Christian de Bord, Lord Ashford, knows what it’s like to be notorious. Ever since he was accused of murdering his wife, prurient gossip has kept him isolated from society, alone and determined to protect his adolescent sister Bea. But when Matilda Halifax’s salacious pamphlet appears—featuring his own damned face!—he’s thrust back into the storm of public attention. Bea’s painting teacher quits. Christian’s life is in an uproar. And the only person he can find to replace Bea’s tutor at his terrifying Gothic castle is Matilda herself. The last thing Christian needs is another scandal—especially not one with the most sinfully tempting face he’s ever seen. But Matilda is determined to right what she’s set wrong. One fake elopement later, Matilda finds herself in a carriage on the way to Northumberland with Christian, whose scowls do little to hide the wounds he carries or the scorching passion beneath his reserve. Only Matilda Halifax could turn Christian’s disciplined life so decidedly inside out—and only Matilda can persuade him that love just might be worth the risk.*Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author
In Which Winnie Halifax Is Utterly Ruined (Halifax Hellions #3)
by Alexandra VastiThe final novella in Alexandra Vasti's “hot, smart, funny, and charming as hell”* Halifax Hellions series.In 1811, Winifred Wallace told one tiny lie. To secure her future as an independent sheep farmer, she invented an estranged husband named Mr. Spencer Halifax and forged their marriage record. Ten years later, her deception catches up with her: in the form of the disturbingly real, distressingly attractive earl on her doorstep. Spencer Halifax wants to set a good example for his beloved hellion sisters. Ever since their father’s death, he’s tried to play the role of steady, sensible earl—and involving himself with a moderately felonious sheep farmer is decidedly not sensible. But Winnie’s unfettered passion and fierce self-reliance draw him in, even as her closely guarded secrets keep him out. When Spencer asks Winnie to travel with him to London to disentangle their semi-legal union, she’s horrified. London, after all, is where her infamous mother pilfered several lavish necklaces from besotted noblemen. But she cannot pass up the chance to return the stolen jewelry—so she agrees to travel with Spencer and give back the gems on the sly. Returning the jewelry, however, is more difficult than Winnie imagined. Monkeys commit theft. Footmen tryst in inconvenient locales. And Winnie realizes that the only way forward is to trust Spencer with the truth of her past—even if doing so threatens their pretend marriage and the all-too-real feelings between them.* Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author
The Hebrew Falcon: Adya Horon and the Birth of the Canaanite Idea
by Roman VaterAdya Gur Horon (1907–1972) was a provocative public intellectual and historical and geopolitical thinker who called for the overthrow of the Israeli non-democratic state-order in favor of an "imperial" Hebrew national vision based on the domination of the whole Levant. Drawing on Horon's private archive, Roman Vater studies the intellectual sources of the mid-twentieth century Hebrew national ideology, known as "Canaanism," contending this vision can only be properly understood in light of Horon's articulation of its historical "foundation myth." The intellectual and political rivalry between Jewish ethnic nationalism and Hebrew civic nationalism, represented by the "Canaanite" challenge to Zionism, continues to inform current debates about Israel’s identity and its relation to world Jewry on the one hand and the Arab world on the other—and largely determines Israel's global political alliances to this day. The Hebrew Falcon is indispensable reading for scholars and students of nationalism, Israel, Zionism, and the intellectual and political history of the modern Middle East.
Murder on the Orion Express
by Gareth VaughnAfter finding a dead man in her office, Hercula Perry simply needs some time away from her job at Hjerson University. When her rich aunt Cynthia books her on the Orion Express, the first-of-its-kind tourism transport to the Moon and back, it's not what Hercula had in mind to escape, but she's not about to pass on the opportunity -- or the free food and drink. She takes the chance to get away from it all for a week, only to find things aren't necessarily smoother far above the earth as they are on its surface.Immediately a passenger dies in suspicious circumstances, pulling Hercula into another questionable death on a ship which won't return home for days. This time, she's determined to figure out what went wrong. This time, she will get to the bottom of it before they return to earth -- or before someone else, maybe even herself, is killed.
Across the Void: A Novel
by S. K. VaughnA visceral space thriller—perfect for fans of Arrival and The Martian—following the sole survivor of a catastrophic accident in space that leaves her drifting in the void with only the voice of her estranged husband, a NASA scientist, to guide her back to Earth. Commander Maryam &“May&” Knox awakes from a medically induced coma alone, adrift in space on a rapidly failing ship, with little to no memory of who she is or why she&’s there. Slowly, she pieces together that she&’s the captain of the ship, Hawking II; that she was bound for Europa—one of Jupiter&’s moons—on a research mission; and that she&’s the only survivor of either an accident—or worse, a deliberate massacre—that has decimated her entire crew. With resources running low, and her physical strength severely compromised, May must rely on someone back home to help her. The problem is: everyone thinks she&’s dead. Back on Earth, it&’s been weeks since Hawking II has communicated with NASA, and Dr. Stephen Knox is on bereavement leave to deal with the apparent death of his estranged wife, whose decision to participate in the Europa mission strained their marriage past the point of no return. But when he gets word that NASA has received a transmission from May, Stephen comes rushing to her aid. What he doesn&’t know is that not everyone wants May to make it back alive. Even more terrifying: she might not be alone on that ship. Featuring a twisting and suspenseful plot and compelling characters, Across the Void is a moving and evocative thriller that you won&’t be able to put down.
Terror in Minnie Vautrin's Nanjing: Diaries and Correspondence, 1937-38
by Minnie VautrinIn December of 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army marched into China's capital city of Nanjing and launched six weeks of carnage that would become known as the Rape of Nanjing. In addition to the deaths of Chinese POWs and civilians, tens of thousands of women were raped, tortured, and killed by Japanese soldiers. In this traumatic environment, both native and foreign-born inhabitants of Nanjing struggled to carry on with their lives. This volume collects the diaries and correspondence of Minnie Vautrin, a farmgirl from Illinois who had dedicated herself to the education of Chinese women at Ginling College in Nanjing. Faced with the impending Japanese attack, she turned the school into a sanctuary for ten thousand women and girls. Vautrin's firsthand accounts of daily life in Nanjing and the intensifying threat of Japanese invasion reveal the courage of the occupants under siege--Chinese nationals as well as Western missionaries, teachers, surgeons and business people--and the personal costs of violence in wartime. Thanks to Vautrin's painstaking effort in keeping a day-to-day account, present-day readers are able to examine this episode of history at close range through her eyes. With detailed maps, photographs, and carefully researched in-depth annotations, Terror in Minnie Vautrin's Nanjing: Diaries and Correspondence, 1937-38 presents a comprehensive and detailed daily account of the events and of life during the horror-stricken days within the city walls and in particular on the Ginling campus. Through chronologically arranged diaries, letters, reports, documents, and telegrams, Vautrin bears witness to those terrible events and to the magnitude of trauma that the Nanjing Massacre exacted on the populace.
The Lusiads
by Luis Vaz de Camões William AtkinsonFirst published in 1572, The Lusiads is one of the greatest epic poems of the Renaissance, immortalizing Portugal's voyages of discovery with an unrivalled freshness of observation. At the centre of The Lusiads is Vasco da Gama's pioneer voyage via southern Africa to India in 1497-98. The first European artist to cross the equator, Camoes's narrative reflects the novelty and fascination of that original encounter with Africa, India and the Far East. The poem's twin symbols are the Cross and the Astrolabe, and its celebration of a turning point in mankind's knowledge of the world unites the old map of the heavens with the newly discovered terrain on earth. Yet it speaks powerfully, too, of the precariousness of power, and of the rise and decline of nationhood, threatened not only from without by enemies, but from within by loss of integrity and vision.
Conspicuous Consumption (Penguin Great Ideas)
by Thorstein VeblenWith its wry portrayal of a shallow, materialistic 'leisure class' obsessed by clothes, cars, consumer goods and climbing the social ladder, this withering satire on modern capitalism is as pertinent today as when it was written over a century ago.
How to Win at Yoga: Nail the hardest poses and find your selfie
by Marcus Veda Hannah WhittinghamGet in to the hardest poses and get out aliveFive years ago your average yoga class contained a few down dogs, a standing tree and a cushion for meditation. Today, it is becoming increasingly clear that many wish to gain enlightenment through sticking their foot behind their head. Preferably in a handstand, ideally in the splits. And then post it on Instagram.Whether enlightenment is achievable through a one-armed handstand or not, crowded yoga studios are not the ideal places to start nailing risky moves, so this handy guide is here to demystify the big poses in full technicolour. Most importantly, you will learn how to take impressive pictures of your journey to enlightenment, so you can win at yoga, publicly.From sunset splits to backbends in Bali, packed with drills for strength and flexibility and tips for costume and hair, How to Win at Yoga makes those apparently impossible yoga poses possible, and look great on the 'gram.
Textbook of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures in Allergy
by Pudupakkam K. Vedanthan Harold S. Nelson Hugo P.S. Van Bever Mandakolathur R. MuraliThe uniqueness of this textbook lies in the fact that, it is the FIRST book in the field of allergy addressing in detail the various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The rationale behind presenting this book is to appraise the reader regarding the underlying principles of such procedures and to identify the limitations as well as usefulness in clinical practice. The chapters do include both traditional and modern methodologies representing the global nature of the specialty. Authors have been drawn across the globe to represent the variety of such procedures used in clinical medicine. This textbook will be appealing to medical students, physicians-in-training as well as consultants.
Lingering Lessons
by Sarah VeitchWhen Leanne Dell inherits a former boardinig school, now an advertising agency, part of the deal is that she has to share it with an unknown partner. Arriving at the grand house, she finds herself a voyeur to a scene of bizarre chastisement. Her co-partner, Adam Howard, is administering a sound spanking to his pretty young assistant. In the weeks that follow, Leanne learns some lessons of her own; that her handsome new partner in business is a devotee of corporal punishment, and that arousal and shame are two sides of the same coin.
Serving Time
by Sarah VeitchThe house of compulsion is the unofficial name of an experimental reformatory. Fern Terris, a 24-year-old temptress, finds herself facing ten years in prison - unless she agrees to submit to Compulsion's disciplinary regime. Fern agrees to the apparently easy option, but soon discovers that the chastisements at Compulsion involve a wide variety of belts, canes and tawses, her pert bottom, and unexpected sexual pleasure. By the author of Lingering Lessons.
The Training Grounds
by Sarah VeitchCharlotte was looking forward to her holiday in the sun. Two months on a remote tropical island with her rich, handsome boyfriend: who could ask for more? She is more than a little surpised, then, when she arrives to find that the island isin fact a vast correction centre - the Training Grounds - presided over by a sworthy and handsome figure known only as the Master. But greater shocks are in store, not least Charlotte's discovery that she is there not as a guest, but as a slave ...
Service-Learning for Disaster Resilience: Partnerships for Social Good (Routledge Research in Public Administration and Public Policy)
by Lucia Velotti Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner Elizabeth A. DunnThis book is the first to discuss, in practical and theoretical terms, the pedagogical approach of service-learning to establish partnerships for social good that build disaster resilience. Across 12 chapters a collection of academics and practitioners provide insights on the benefits of utilizing service-learning to address existing needs, build community capacity, and strengthen social networks while enhancing student learning.Key features: Discuss how sustainable service-learning partnerships can contribute to building disaster-resilient communities; Provide practical tools to cultivate and manage collaborative partnerships, and engage in reflective practices; Integrate disciplines to create innovative approaches to complex problems; Share best practices, lessons learned, and case examples that identify strategies for integrating service-learning and research into course design; Offer considerations for ethical decision-making and for the development of equitable solutions when engaging with stakeholders; Identify strategies to bridge the gap between academia and practice while highlighting resources that institutions of higher education can contribute toward disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Service-Learning for Disaster Resilience will serve as a user-friendly guide for universities, local government agencies, emergency management professionals, community leaders, and grassroots initiatives in affected communities.
Human Security and Epidemics in Africa: Learning from COVID-19, Ebola and HIV (Routledge Studies in Peace, Conflict and Security in Africa)
by Velthuizen, Edited by Andreas Caroline VarinThis book examines the impact of epidemics in Africa, exploring some of the adaptation and crisis management strategies adopted to tackle COVID-19, Ebola, and HIV-AIDS. The authors reflect on lessons learned from solving complex problems and difficult decisions made by leaders on pandemic management to shape the security environment and, thus, the well-being of people living in Africa for years to come.Drawing on cases from across the continent, the book demonstrates that, significantly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, African countries and communities frequently displayed regional solidarity, creativity in decision-making, decisiveness in dealing with corruption and opportunism, and resilience and discipline in implementation. Adopting a human security framework, the authors share their lived experiences and explore the impact of epidemics on public policy decision-making, foreign policy implementation, global relations, collaboration in the community dimension, and, ultimately, the future of socio-economic development in Africa.This book will be a welcome addition for practitioners and researchers across the fields of security studies, health management, and African studies, making an essential contribution to the security discourse in a post-COVID world.
The Nightingale's Castle: A thrillingly evocative and page-turning gothic historical novel for fans of Stacey Halls and Susan Stokes-Chapman
by Sonia Velton'I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice. ..nothing short of brilliant' Mary ChamberlainErzsébet Báthory, whose infamous place in history characterises her as the 'Blood Countess', was accused of the murder of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary, 1610. The Nightingale's Castle tells the story of a woman fighting for her survival and the complicated, often cruel, household over which she presides.Praise for The Nightingale's Castle'Moving, fascinating and haunting.. A mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint' Francesca De Tores, author of Saltblood'Gripping... a fascinating exploration of women's struggle to have their truth heard' Louise O'NeillIn 1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gave birth to an illegitimate child. The infant, a girl, was swiftly bundled up and handed to a local peasant family to be brought up in one of the hamlets surrounding the Castle. Many years later, 15-year-old Boróka reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Trusted members of the countess's household have been sent out to gather new serving girls, and the kindly old man who has taken care of Boróka for almost all her life knows that it is dangerous to turn them away.Boróka struggles to find her place at Cachtice Castle: she is frightened of the countess's reputation as an alleged murderer of young girls, and the women who run the castle are terrifyingly cruel. When plague comes into the heart of the castle, a tentative bond begins to form between Boróka and the Countess Báthory. But powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king: can the countess really trust the women who are so close to her? And when the show trial begins against the infamous 'Blood Countess' where will Boróka's loyalties lie?
The Nightingale's Castle: A thrillingly evocative and page-turning gothic historical novel for fans of Stacey Halls and Susan Stokes-Chapman
by Sonia Velton'I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice. ..nothing short of brilliant' Mary ChamberlainErzsébet Báthory, whose infamous place in history characterises her as the 'Blood Countess', was accused of the murder of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary, 1610. The Nightingale's Castle tells the story of a woman fighting for her survival and the complicated, often cruel, household over which she presides.Praise for The Nightingale's Castle'Moving, fascinating and haunting.. A mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint' Francesca De Tores, author of Saltblood'Gripping... a fascinating exploration of women's struggle to have their truth heard' Louise O'NeillIn 1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gave birth to an illegitimate child. The infant, a girl, was swiftly bundled up and handed to a local peasant family to be brought up in one of the hamlets surrounding the Castle. Many years later, 15-year-old Boróka reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Trusted members of the countess's household have been sent out to gather new serving girls, and the kindly old man who has taken care of Boróka for almost all her life knows that it is dangerous to turn them away.Boróka struggles to find her place at Cachtice Castle: she is frightened of the countess's reputation as an alleged murderer of young girls, and the women who run the castle are terrifyingly cruel. When plague comes into the heart of the castle, a tentative bond begins to form between Boróka and the Countess Báthory. But powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king: can the countess really trust the women who are so close to her? And when the show trial begins against the infamous 'Blood Countess' where will Boróka's loyalties lie?
Business Model Innovation: A Blueprint for Strategic Change
by null Chander VeluWhat strategic challenges are faced by both start-ups and incumbent firms, and what opportunities do these challenges create for business model innovation? Focusing on the underpinning theory and concepts of business models, this book identifies new business models capable of creating sustainable competitive advantage, and guides readers through their implementation. A detailed introduction outlines current research in business model innovation (including directions for future research) and global business cases are applied throughout to illustrate key issues. Topics covered include market creation, leadership, digital technology adoption, small- and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, sustainability, socio-economic development and conduct risk. Also discussed are the principles of the architecting economic systems, the role of government in influencing business models design, and how organisational 45structures must adapt in the context of business model innovation.
Populism in Power: Discourse and Performativity in SYRIZA and Donald Trump (Conceptualising Comparative Politics)
by Giorgos VenizelosShifting attention away from policy achievements and effects on democracy, this book focuses on the charismatic function of populist discourse – comprising antagonistic narratives, transgressive style and appeals to the common people.The book puts forward an integrative approach that brings together discourse analysis, analysis of digital media, in-depth interviews and ethnographic methods, and places into comparative perspective the cases of SYRIZA in Greece and Donald Trump in the United States. Theorising populism through the lens of collective identification, Venizelos places the rhetorical and emotional dynamics of populist performativity at the core of the analysis, offering a rigorous yet flexible conceptulisation of populism in power. Against theoretical expectations, findings suggest that both SYRIZA and Trump retained, to different degrees, their populist character in power, although their style and vision differed vastly.This book urges researchers, journalists and politicians to adopt a reflexive approach to analysing the political implications of populism for politics, polity and society, and to challenge the normatively charged definitions that are uncritically reproduced in the public sphere. It will appeal to researchers of political theory, populism, comparative politics, sociologists and ethnographers.
The Power of Positive Thinking in Business: Ten Traits For Maximum Results
by Scott W. VentrellaOne of the most powerful forces in business today is the positive psychology movement -- overcoming self-defeating attitudes and developing our talents and positive traits. Much of the new thinking, in fact, stems directly from the concepts in Norman Vincent Peale's great classic bestseller, The Power of Positive Thinking, which has been translated into forty-two languages and has sold over 22 million copies. Now, after years of extensive research and field testing, working in cooperation with the Peale Center and major corporations nationwide, Scott Ventrella has adapted those concepts into a systematic program for people in business to achieve greater levels of personal and professional performance. The Power of Positive Thinking in Business provides a practical way for each of us to develop and actually strengthen the ten traits of a positive thinker. Inevitably, our performance rises to new levels when we learn how to overcome negative attitudinal barriers such as fear, lack of self-confidence, and low self-esteem, and instead develop the traits that characterize a positive thinker: optimism, enthusiasm, belief, integrity, courage, confidence, determination, patience, calmness, and focus. The Power of Positive Thinking in Business encourages us to concentrate on objective, rational thinking instead of self-limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. The result is an increased ability to deal effectively with tough situations and difficult people, in both business environments and personal lives. Together, rational thinking and the ten traits of a positive thinker can turn defeatist behavior into productive actions that will overcome the toughest of challenges with powerful, positive results. Best of all, these practical yet powerful concepts are applicable to businesspeople at all levels, disciplines, and functions within an organization, and have been adapted to appeal to people of all faiths.
Thin Plates and Shells: Theory: Analysis, and Applications
by Eduard Ventsel Theodor KrauthammerPresenting recent principles of thin plate and shell theories, this book emphasizes novel analytical and numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear plate and shell dilemmas, new theories for the design and analysis of thin plate-shell structures, and real-world numerical solutions, mechanics, and plate and shell models for engineering applications. It includes computer processes for finite difference, finite element, boundary element, and boundary collocation methods as well as other variational and numerical methods. It also contains end-of-chapter examples and problem/solution sets, a catalog of solutions for cylindrical and spherical shells, and tables of the most commonly used plates and shells.
Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership
by Michael VenturaMichael Ventura, entrepreneur and CEO of award-winning strategy and design firm Sub Rosa, shares &“how to unlock our ability to design solutions, spark innovation, and solve tough challenges with empathy at the center&” (Arianna Huffington). Having built his career working with iconic brands and institutions such as General Electric, Google, Nike, Warby Parker, and also The United Nations and the Obama Administration, Michael Ventura offers entrepreneurs and executives a radical new business book and way forward.Empathy is not about being nice. It&’s not about pity or sympathy either. It&’s about understanding—your consumers, your colleagues, and yourself—and it&’s a direct path to powerful leadership. As such, Applied Empathy presents real strategies, based on Sub Rosa&’s design work and the popular class Ventura and his team have taught at Princeton University, on how to make lasting connections and evolve your business internally (your employees, culture, and product/services) as well as externally (your brand, consumers, and value). &“The most neglected fact in business is we&’re all human. Michael Ventura makes a powerful argument that empathy is the secret sauce of 21st century business. The more digital we get, the more empathy we need&” (Chip Conley, New York Times bestselling author of Emotional Equation).For leaders of all levels, this groundbreaking guide lays the foundation to establish a diverse, inventive, and driven team that can meet the challenges of today&’s ever-evolving marketplace. If you want to connect to the people you work with, you have to understand them first.
Sexuality in Literature for Children and Young Adults (Children's Literature and Culture)
by Paul VenzoExpanding outward from previous scholarship on gender, queerness, and heteronormativity in children’s literature, this book offers fresh insights into representations of sex and sexuality in texts for young people. In this collection, new and established scholars examine how fiction and non-fiction writing, picture books, film and television and graphic novels position young people in relation to ideologies around sexuality, sexual identity, and embodiment. This book questions how such texts communicate a sense of what is possible, impossible, taboo, or encouraged in terms of being sexual and sexual being. Each chapter is motivated by a set of important questions: How are representations of sex and sexuality depicted in texts for young people? How do these representations affect and shape the kinds of sexualities offered as models to young readers? And to what extent is sexual diversity acknowledged and represented across different narrative and aesthetic modes? This work brings together a diverse range of conceptual and theoretical approaches that are framed by the idea of sexual becoming: the manner in which texts for young people invite their readers to assess and potentially adopt ways of thinking and being in terms of sex and sexuality.
Child Development Within Contexts: Cultural-Historical Research and Educational Practice (Early Childhood Research and Education: An Inter-theoretical Focus #6)
by Nikolai Veresov Sarika Kewalramani Junqian MaThis book examines the pedagogical encounters within children's ecological and socio-cultural historical contexts, and aspects of playful learning and development within these contexts. It addresses research and practices varying across learning contexts, providing easily adaptable exemplary practices leading to children's positive learning and development. The book offers a unified general cultural-historical theoretical model for exploring new contexts at different stages of children's learning and development. It suggests studying contexts as a source of development, as social situations of development. It analyzes play, early learning and the transition from play to school learning. It also explores the role of teachers and parents in supporting the development of executive functions, digital literacy, creative inquiries, problem solving and creativity as necessary and important prerequisites of children's school academic achievements. This volume contributes to the discourse on how children's learning is shaped in the 21st century era. It equips educators and parents with new and effective methods of creating developing contexts in their daily practice and to fully utilize the developing potential of existing contexts.