"Violet Shrink doesn't like parties. Or bashes, or gatherings. Lots of people and lots of noise make Violet's tummy ache and her hands sweat. She would much rather spend time on her own, watching the birds in her backyard, reading comics or listening to music through her purple headphones. The problem is that the whole Shrink family loves parties with loud music and games and dancing. At cousin Char's birthday party, Violet hides under a table and...

My eyes fall on her. She is the girl I imagined on the way. Contrary to what my big imagination created, she has blonde hair that reaches to her chin. Her eyes have nothing special, they are like the usual members of our element, just blue. Her nose is the exact opposite of mine, she tilts slightly down. Her lips on the other hand are big and oily. In addition, she is fatter than me.

Shyness is a pervasive human trait: even most extroverts know what it is like to stand tongue-tied at the fringe of an unfamiliar group or flush with embarrassment at being the unwelcome center of attention. And yet the cultural history of shyness has remained largely unwritten-until now. With incisiveness, passion, and humor, Joe Moran offers an eclectic and original exploration of what it means to be a "shrinking violet." Along the way, he provides...

You do have a voice. It's time to stand up. Rise. Are you lonely, been abused, looking for a way to move beyond your trauma and circumstances to fulfill your potential? Are you looking to overcome rejection, torment, and struggles in every way? Are you looking to thrive in an otherwise bleak world? Do you want to be the cycle breaker for your lineage?

The Teacher From the Black Lagoon (a young boy thinks his new teacher is a monster); The Librarian From the Black Lagoon (a trip to the library has the kids ready for anything); The Gym Teacher From the Black Lagoon (is the new gym teacher really a monster?); and Shrinking Violet (a little girl has to overcome her shyness, when she must perform in the school play!).

Stories about self-confidence, tolerance, love and an appreciation for the arts.

School's first day of school: It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. Teacher from the Black Lagoon: On the first day of school, a young boy expects only the worst when he discovers that his new teacher is the "monstrous" Mrs. Green. Librarian from the black lagoon: A class plans their first visit to the library. The gym teacher from the black lagoon:...