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More Veggies Please!: Easy Kid-Approved Meals and Family-Friendly Comfort Foods with Surprising Veggie Twists
by Nikki DinkiNATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST — COOKBOOKS: GENERAL Looking for ways to get your kids to eat more veggies? Packed with creative recipes, this modern approach to classic family comfort foods ups the nutritional ante—infusing TONS of healthful vegetables into every dish (even snacks and desserts!)—while always putting flavor first. As a chef and cookbook author, Nikki Dinki loves veggies. But like most parents, getting her kids to love them is a work in progress. There will always be a side of veggies on their dinner plates, but when those veggies go untouched, Nikki doesn&’t stress. That&’s because her cooking incorporates vegetables at every turn: the kids may not have eaten their sides of peas, but they ate cauliflower and sweet potatoes in their Mac and Cheese, devoured Green Eggs (with spinach) and White Bean Pancakes for breakfast, and asked for seconds of the Zucchini Crust Pizzas at lunch! Although the veggies are sometimes hidden—your kids will be eating mushrooms and eggplant without thinking twice!—the real goal is using the qualities of each vegetable to make each classic, family meals even better than the original version. In these recipes, mushrooms enhance the beefy taste of the Mushroom and Onion Burgers, while eggplant replaces egg for breading on Chicken Tenders and Chicken Parmesan, which keeps them irresistibly moist. Inside, discover other delicious recipes that will become mealtime staples, including: Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust Cauliflower + Yogurt Bagels Eggplant Parm Meatballs Pumpkin Pasta Dough Taco Meat (with Pinto Beans) Mac and Cheese with Caulilfower + Sweet Potato Chicken Nuggets with Beans + Carrots Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread Loaded Queso (with Squash) Banana Carrot Oat Muffins Eggplant Marinara Sauce Brooklyn Blackout Cake (with Beets + Avocado) Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls But fear not: there are no fancy ingredients or complicated cooking techniques. These easy, accessible recipes have been tested hundreds of times, by Nikki and other parents, for surefire family food wins! This collection of tried-and-true dishes will wow picky eaters and foodie parents alike with creative veggie twists on breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, sides, and dessert.
More for Mom: Living Your Whole and Holy Life
by Kristin FunstonMoms are constantly giving. Giving their time, energy, and emotions to their job, their kids, their spouse, their community? But now it is time for moms to start to receive. More for Mom will encourage women to stop believing the lie that more is needed from them, and start living with the truth that more is available for them. With real-life talk, humor and convicting biblical truths, Kristin Funston helps work-hard mamas to look at each day and each facet of their life to discover what happens when they believe God has more for them than what they think the world needs from them. And what He has available is a whole and holy life, just waiting to be claimed - a salvation and day-to-day reality complete and set apart just as it is. The pieces of each mom’s life - the work life, mom life, social life, etc. - are mended together through Christ to complete her one whole life, set apart because of Him. This book is a stepping stone to help working mothers reset their spiritual and emotional health, habits, and relationship with God. There are performance pressures at work, home, and mind-sets that affect a mom’s ability to feel complete and live more closely aligned with God. This book includes the beginning steps for moms to walk in wholeness and holiness by asking God for more.
More or Less Maddy: A Novel
by Lisa GenovaThe powerhouse New York Times bestselling author and Harvard-trained neuroscientist returns with a breathless, exhilarating, and heartbreaking novel about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder and the ripple effects her mental health has on her family and her pursuit of a career in stand-up comedy.Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between heaps of homework, finals, and navigating life in the city, it&’s normal to be feeling the pressure. It doesn&’t help that she&’s always felt like the odd one out in her &“perfect&” Connecticut family: her blonde, toned, and tanned mother; her flawless, high-achieving, engaged sister, Emily; and her always popular, athletic, easygoing brother, Jack. Yet lately, Maddy&’s highs seem dizzyingly high, and the lows seem terrifyingly low. Suddenly, the things that used to make her happy are becoming harder and harder to grasp. When a spontaneous visit to a comedy club opens her eyes to a new hobby just as her mental health begins to spiral and an incident at a family Thanksgiving dinner leads to a terrifying breaking point—and to a new diagnosis—Maddy&’s life starts to look quite different. As she struggles to accept her bipolar disorder and attempts to navigate her burgeoning stand-up career, she&’ll have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.
More or Less Maddy: A Novel
by Lisa Genova**National Bestseller** A &“riveting page-turner&” (Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee) about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who rejects the stability and approval found in a traditionally &“normal&” life for a career in stand-up comedy.Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it&’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn&’t help that she&’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy&’s latest low is devastatingly low, convincing her to go on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling good in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dream, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.With her signature &“deep empathy and insight&” (Booklist), Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova has crafted an &“affecting, harrowing, beautiful, and enlightening&” (Shelf Awareness) novel that makes complicated mental health issues accessible and human. More or Less Maddy is destined to become another classic like Still Alice.
More than Happy: The Wisdom of Amish Parenting
by Serena B. Miller Paul StutzmanIn the tradition of Bringing Up Bebe and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, an in-depth look at the practices and principles of Amish parents and how they raise children who are self-sufficient, hard-working, and remarkably happy.The more time Serena Miller spent in Holmes County, Ohio, doing research for her popular Amish novels, the more she began to notice something--Amish children were the happiest children she'd ever seen. Despite not having modern toys and conveniences, they are joyful, serene, calm, and respectful--not to mention whipping up full meals and driving buggies before most of us will allow our children to walk to school alone. And yet, when she started asking questions about what these parents were doing differently, she was startled to learn that happiness is not a goal Amish strive for at all. In More Than Happy Miller uncovers many surprising insights, including the significance of real responsibilities, the wisdom of unplugging from technology, the value of unstructured time to play, the importance of firm rules, and the importance of each teenager's freedom to decide what is best for their future. Full of practical takeaways, More Than Happy shows you how to apply the basic principles and parenting techniques the Amish use, so you can raise happy, well-adjusted kids.
More than Riches: Love, longing and rash decisions
by Josephine CoxHas Rosie destroyed her chances of love and happiness for ever? In More Than Riches, Josephine Cox writes a heart-breaking, yet uplifting, saga of a young woman, her choices and her second chance at happiness. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Cathy Sharp.When Rosie's parents were involved in a train accident, her mother was killed and her father left crippled, unable to earn a living and relying on Rosie to keep the wolf from the door.With her mother gone and her sweetheart Adam away in the army, Rosie is lonely. She eagerly awaits the letters from him, but they never come. As she grows more disillusioned, Adam's best friend Doug goes out of his way to be charming and attentive. Alone and confused, Rosie blossoms under his evil influence. Soon she is carrying Doug's baby and her father has thrown her out of the house. Realising she has no choice, she agrees to marry Doug.As if she isn't in enough trouble, Rosie's whole world falls apart when a warm and wonderful letter arrives from Adam... telling her he's on his way home.What readers are saying about More Than Riches: 'Couldn't put this book down, I loved the story line and was kept captivated [throughout]''It's been a long time since I read a book that I put down last thing at night and couldn't wait to pick up again in the morning. This book was one of them''This book was good from start to finish. Just could not put it down, had me spellbound all the way through'
More than Riches: Love, longing and rash decisions
by Josephine CoxHas Rosie destroyed her chances of love and happiness for ever? In More Than Riches, Josephine Cox writes a heart-breaking, yet uplifting, saga of a young woman, her choices and her second chance at happiness. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Cathy Sharp. When Rosie's parents were involved in a train accident, her mother was killed and her father left crippled, unable to earn a living and relying on Rosie to keep the wolf from the door.With her mother gone and her sweetheart Adam away in the army, Rosie is lonely. She eagerly awaits the letters from him, but they never come. As she grows more disillusioned, Adam's best friend Doug goes out of his way to be charming and attentive. Alone and confused, Rosie blossoms under his evil influence. Soon she is carrying Doug's baby and her father has thrown her out of the house. Realising she has no choice, she agrees to marry Doug.As if she isn't in enough trouble, Rosie's whole world falls apart when a warm and wonderful letter arrives from Adam... telling her he's on his way home. What readers are saying about More Than Riches: 'Couldn't put this book down, I loved the story line and was kept captivated [throughout]''It's been a long time since I read a book that I put down last thing at night and couldn't wait to pick up again in the morning. This book was one of them''This book was good from start to finish. Just could not put it down, had me spellbound all the way through'
More than Words: 10 Values For The Modern Family
by Erin WathenThe values we live and raise our families by are grounded, first, in love. Contrary to many of today's so-called family values, our values go beyond one or two loaded social issues to a wholehearted lifestyle of practicing compassion, hospitality, justice, peace, and belonging. <P><P>More than Words articulates ten values that forward-thinking, openhearted people want to embody in their lives and pass on to their children. With practical ideas and thought-provoking questions, this book inspires families to live more intentionally, engage their communities, and make a difference in the world.
More to Life
by ReShonda Tate BillingsleyIn this stunning sequel to her acclaimed debut My Brother’s Keeper, #1 national bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley brings her real-deal insight to a heartfelt new novel about a wife and mother on a daring rescue mission—to save herself. Freshly forty-five, Aja James knows that her life is good, complete with a loving, wealthy husband, well-adjusted children, and a beautiful home. Yet the truth is, she feels painfully unfulfilled, stuck in the present, haunted by a painful past. When a friend suggests a girls’ trip to a tropical paradise, Aja hopes a change of scene will also change her perspective. On vacation, filled with fun and freedom, Aja is relieved to find her spirits lifting. But her good time also shines a light on what’s troubling her: from her siblings to her husband and kids, she’s spent nearly her whole life taking care of everyone—except herself. She’s lost her spark. She’s lost her identity. Desperate to turn things around, Aja makes an impulsive decision—one that outrages her family and stuns her friends. But it may also be her wisest choice. Because it’s only through learning what she could lose—and what’s truly worth keeping—that Aja can transform this temporary fix into real, lasting happiness.
More to Life than More: A Memoir of Misunderstanding, Loss, and Learning
by Alan Pesky Claudia AulumAt the age of thirty, just as everything was falling into place for him, Lee Pesky died of brain cancer. For his father, Alan, grief came with the realization that he had lost the chance to love Lee as he was—not as he wanted him to be. Ambitious, successful, and always striving for more, Alan had a hard time relating to a son who struggled with learning disabilities at a time when there was little understanding or help for kids who had them. Their relationship was complicated, and now, Lee was gone.More to Life than More is a memoir of misunderstanding, loss, and learning. After Lee&’s death, Alan&’s conception of more crumbles. He launches himself into keeping Lee&’s memory alive by helping kids in a way he wasn&’t able to help his son. It was too late to change his relationship with Lee, but he could create something positive and enduring from his loss: Lee Pesky Learning Center, a non-profit in Idaho dedicated to understanding and helping those with learning differences.In 25 years, LPLC has benefited more than 100,000 children and has become a national force for early childhood literacy. And for Alan, it has meant getting to know the son he had misunderstood and lost.
More to the Story
by Hena KhanFrom the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes a new story inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic, Little Women, featuring four sisters from a modern American Muslim family living in Georgia. <P><P>When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of her middle school newspaper, she’s one step closer to being an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather. The problem is her editor-in-chief keeps shooting down her article ideas. <P><P>Jameela’s assigned to write about the new boy in school, who has a cool British accent but doesn’t share much, and wonders how she’ll make his story gripping enough to enter into a national media contest. Jameela, along with her three sisters, is devastated when their father needs to take a job overseas, away from their cozy Georgia home for six months. Missing him makes Jameela determined to write an epic article—one to make her dad extra proud. But when her younger sister gets seriously ill, Jameela’s world turns upside down. And as her hunger for fame looks like it might cost her a blossoming friendship, Jameela questions what matters most, and whether she’s cut out to be a journalist at all...
More: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood
by Majka BurhardtAn intense and emotional epistolary memoir by one of the world's top ice climbers, born at the confluence of motherhood, adventure, career, and marriage. As one of the world&’s leading female professional rock and ice climbers, Burhardt and her husband led globe-trotting, adventure-seeking lives. When she learns that she&’s pregnant—with twins—Burhardt at first tries to justify her insistence on pursuing extreme risk in the face of responsibility. But she is ultimately forced to grieve the avalanche of emotions that accompanies any major life transitions along with the physical changes in her own body. Based on the letters and journals Burhardt diligently kept over the course of those six years, More takes the reader on an around-the-world journey as Burhardt explores the transformative, identity-shifting experience of motherhood and its irreversible impact on career, identity, marriage, and self. In the early weeks of her children's lives, Burhardt immerses herself in adoration for her twins and grappling with the tremendous guilt and struggle around having to return to risk-laden work and that ever elusive balance mothers everywhere seek amidst it all. As the newness of her twins fades into a permanent reality, Burhardt turns her attention towards her marriage and the collateral damage as she and her husband, Peter, struggle to navigate their new normal. As anger and resentment threaten the foundation of her family, Burhardt courageously looks to her past—and her own mother's tumultuous and confusing history of success, violence, and ragged divorce—to better understand her own way forward. How will she break free from the legacy of her own childhood to start fresh with her own family? Raw, candid, and galvanizing, More is a passionate and poignant testament to the enduring power of love and our lifelong journey to understand ourselves as we strive to always pursue more.
Morgan and Me
by Stephen Cosgrove Robin JamesA magical story of a little princess who wants and needs to do everything "just a little bit later." Everything is put off until later -- until she meets Morgan the unicorn. A wonderful lesson to be learned by children of all ages.
Morgan's Passing
by Anne TylerNEW TO ANCHOR CANADA: In this modern classic, a man unhappy with his life and armed with a box of costumes, seeks escape and reprieve by assuming fake identities.Morgan Gower is bored of the tedium of his ordinary life: of his job as manager of a run-down hardware store; of his wife; of his "industriously dull" daughters; of his mother; of his sister. But Morgan's secret escape lies in a box filled with costumes, filled with everything from a fake beard to Napolean's tricorne to Daniel Boone, all of which provide an outlet away from his life and into the identity of someone who is assuredly not Morgan Gower. When Morgan meets newlywed puppeteers Leone Meredith and his heavily pregnant wife, Emily, he is riveted by them, and by their life. When Emily goes into labour in the middle of a show, Morgan fakes his identity as a real doctor, and delivers Emily's child. As time passes, what should have been a fleeting acquaintance turns into an obsession, with Morgan orchestrating reasons to run into the Merediths, spying on them, trying to befriend them, and, eventually, falling in love with Emily. With a combination of mockery and insight, Anne Tyler tells a story that is all too human and all too familiar. With Morgan's Passing, she reveals our struggle with identity: the pretense, the untold stories of our lives, who we might have been, and whom we want to be.
Morgan's Passing
by Anne TylerYou would say he was a man who had gone to pieces, or maybe he'd always been in pieces, maybe he's arrived unassembled. . . With his house in shambles, and his daughters growing up and leaving him, Morgan Grower needs new roles to play, new lives to enter into. Then comes his first, dramatic encounter with Emily Meredith. . . and the start of an extraordinary obsession.
Morgy Coast to Coast
by Michael Chesworth Maggie LewisMorgy has been getting used to life in Puckett Corner, Massachusetts. Sure, he misses California, and his best friend, Keith, but it's hard to stay focused on that when there are loud baby twins in your house, a greyhound named Dante to take care of, and a big kid named Ferguson to watch out for.Morgy and his friend Byron are also taking trumpet lessons, as well as playing hockey for the Puckett Corner Pumas, the ten-and-under hockey team usually coached by Byron's Uncle Mike. But Uncle Mike is fighting forest fires in California, so the Pumas are left with Mrs. Almonio instead. She is no Uncle Mike.First Morgy made his move. Now he is adjusting to all that the fourth grade has to offer him. In Morgy Coast to Coast, Maggie Lewis has written another heartfelt and hilarious story about Morgy MacDougal-MacDuff, trumpet player, hockey star, and dog walker extraordinaire.
Morning Fuel: Daily Inspirations to Stretch Your Mind Before Starting Your Day
by Rebecca Faye Smith GalliBest-selling author Rebecca Galli has experienced some of life&’s most difficult challenges: sibling loss, special needs children, paralysis. In this book of daily readings, she offers reflective questions and inspiration for readers to &“fuel up&” on positivity each morning.If there&’s one thing Rebecca Galli knows, it&’s the importance of staying fueled—daily. She&’s had a lot to power through: Her seventeen-year-old brother&’s death. Two children with special needs that include autism and epilepsy. Divorce. And her own paralysis. Galli has lived a life filled with unexpected loss—and learning. Infused with wisdom from Galli&’s deep-thinking pastor father, her ever-optimistic, hostess-with-the-mostest mother, and other memorable family members and friends, Morning Fuel offers stories designed to inspire, encourage, or make you think. Sprinkled throughout are quotes from some of the greatest thinkers of our time—words that have bolstered Galli&’s resolve to power through her darkest valleys. Each entry ends with questions that invite personal application and provoke further pondering. How you start your morning sets the tone for your whole day. Let the wisdom of Morning Fuel help you make that tone a positive one.
Morning and Evening Talk
by Naguib Mahfouz Christina PhillipsMorning and Evening Talk is an epic tale of Egyptian life over five generations. Set in Cairo, it traces the fortunes of three related families from the arrival of Napoleon at the end of the eighteenth century to the 1980s, using short character sketches arranged in alphabetical order. This is a tale of change and continuity, of the death of a traditional way of life, the road to independence and beyond, seen through the eyes of Egypt's citizens.
Morning at Jalna
by Mazo De La RocheFirst published in 1960, in Morning at Jalna it is 1863 and the American Civil War is raging south of the border. Still in its early years, the Jalna estate seems far away from the despair and destruction. Philip, who will grow up to become the master of Jalna, has just come into the world, while Augusta, Nicholas, and Ernest are children. Life at Jalna is as peaceful as usual until the Sinclairs come to visit. They arrive with the polished manners and soft accents of Old Carolina and quickly appeal to Adelines sense of hospitality. However, as the burden these distant cousins bring grows, the Whiteoaks begin to suspect that the Sinclairs have a deep and dangerous secret. This is book 2 of 16 in The Whiteoak Chronicles. It is followed by Mary Wakefield.
Morning by Morning
by Paula Penn-NabritHome schooling has long been regarded as a last resort, particularly by African-American families. But in this inspirational and practical memoir, Paula Penn-Nabrit shares her intimate experiences of home-schooling her three sons, Charles, Damon, and Evan. Paula and her husband, C. Madison, decided to home-school their children after racial incidents at public and private schools led them to the conclusion that the traditional educational system would be damaging to their sons' self-esteem. This decision was especially poignant for the Nabrit family because C. Madison's uncle was the famed civil rights attorney James Nabrit, who, with Thurgood Marshall, had argued Brown v. Board of Education before the U. S. Supreme Court; to other members of their family, it seemed as if Paula and C. Madison were turning their backs on a rich educational legacy. But ultimately, Paula and C. Madison felt that they knew what was best for their sons. So in 1991--when Evan was nine and twins Charles and Damon were eleven--the children were withdrawn from the exclusive country day school they'd been attending. In Morning by Morning, Paula Penn-Nabrit discusses her family's emotional transition to home schooling and shares the nuts and bolts of the boys' educational experience. She explains how she and her husband developed a curriculum, provided adequate exposure to the arts as well as quiet time for reflection and meditation, initiated quality opportunities for volunteerism, and sought out athletic activities for their sons. At the end of each chapter, she offers advice on how readers can incorporate some of the steps her family took--even if they aren't able to home-school; plus, there's a website resource guide at the end of the book. Charles and Damon were eventually admitted to Princeton, and Evan attended Amherst College. But Morning by Morning is frank about the challenges the boys faced in their transition from home schooling to the college experience, and Penn-Nabrit reflects on some things she might have done differently. With great warmth and perception, Paula Penn-Nabrit discusses her personal experience and the amazing outcome of her home-schooling experience: three spiritually and intellectually well balanced sons who attended some of the top educational institutions in this country. What we learned from home schooling: -Use your time wisely. -Education is more than academics. -The idea of parent as teacher doesn't have to end at kindergarten. -The family is our introduction to community. -Extended family is a safety net. -Yes, kids really do better in environments designed for them. -Travel is an education. -Athletics is more than competitive sports. -Get used to diversity. -It's okay if your kids get angry at you--they'll get over it! -from Morning by Morning
Morning in Lucas Creek Marsh
by Susan Yoder AckermanThomas, Madeline, and their mother go on a walk through a Virginia tidewater marsh, spotting all kinds of wildlife along the way.
Morning on the Lake
by Jan Bourdeau WabooseA Native American boy relates his encounters with wild creatures in three episodes: "Morning," "Noon" and "Night."
Mornings on Main: A Small-Town Texas Novel
by Jodi ThomasA tale of love and family in small-town Texas by the New York Times–bestselling author praised for her &“compelling and beautifully written&” novels (Debbie Macomber). From the beloved and bestselling author of the Ransom Canyon and Harmony, Texas series comes a powerful, heartwarming story about generations of family and the ironclad bonds they forge. When Jillian James lands in the small-town Texas community of Laurel Springs, she&’s just looking to find a few clues about the father who abandoned her and destroyed her faith in family. She&’s definitely not planning to stay. Connor Larady is a single dad, and the only one caring for his grandmother, Eugenia, who has Alzheimer&’s. And now he has to close Eugenia&’s quilt shop. When Connor meets down-on-her-luck Jillian, he&’s out of options. Can he trust the newcomer to do right by his grandmother&’s legacy? Jillian is done with relationships. But as she grows closer to Connor and Eugenia, she must consider giving up her nomadic life for a future with those who need her—in this inspiring family saga that asks us to consider what love and chosen family really mean. &“A tissue-worthy book to treasure.&” —BookPage (Top Pick in Romance) &“Thomas hits another winner.&” —Library Journal &“You can count on Jodi Thomas to give you a satisfying and memorable read.&” —Catherine Anderson
Morningside Heights: A Novel
by Joshua HenkinWhen Ohio-born Pru Steiner arrives in New York in 1976, she follows in a long tradition of young people determined to take the city by storm. But when she falls in love with and marries Spence Robin, her hotshot young Shakespeare professor, her life takes a turn she couldn&’t have anticipated. Thirty years later, something is wrong with Spence. The Great Man can&’t concentrate; he falls asleep reading The New York Review of Books. With their daughter, Sarah, away at medical school, Pru must struggle on her own to care for him. One day, feeling especially isolated, Pru meets a man, and the possibility of new romance blooms. Meanwhile, Spence&’s estranged son from his first marriage has come back into their lives. Arlo, a wealthy entrepreneur who invests in biotech, may be his father&’s last, best hope. Morningside Heights is a sweeping and compassionate novel about a marriage surviving hardship. It&’s about the love between women and men, and children and parents; about the things we give up in the face of adversity; and about how to survive when life turns out differently from what we thought we signed up for.
Mort Ziff Is Not Dead
by Cary FaganA humorous coming-of-age middle-grade novel set in 1960s Florida. Battling obxious siblings, sunburns, and a corporate millionaire, Norman is determined to help an old comedian save his career.It's the winter of 1965. Norman Fishbein is enduring not only a cold winter but also the usual torments and annoyances from his two older brothers. When Norman wins a thousand dollars in the "Count-the-Doozy-Dots Contest" his parents let him choose how to spend it, strongly suggesting a new car is what the family needs. But Norman decides what his family really needs is their first vacation that doesn't mean camping in a tent--a trip to Miami Beach. A snowstorm almost wrecks their plans, but in the end Norman gets his first plane ride (with both brothers air-sick on either side of him). Miami strikes him as a paradise--warm weather, palm trees, beaches, and ocean. They stay in luxury at the Royal Palm Hotel, owned by the mysterious millionaire Herbert Spitzer. One day at the pool Norman spots an old man in a black suit, who his father tells him is a once-famous comedian named Mort Ziff. (Norman's father thought that Mort Ziff had died years ago.) Holding onto the remains of his career, Mort Ziff is performing every night in the hotel dining room. A chance meeting begins an unusual friendship between Norman and the old comedian. But after hearing that Mort Ziff has been fired, to be replaced by "The Centipedes," a pop group imitating the Beatles, Norman takes matters into his own hands, resolving to save Mort's job and in the process, coming to realize an innner strength he didn't know he had.