Natural History Books

Book SynopsisCan you imagine a world without bees? Did you know that dung beetles are awesome recyclers? Insects pollinate, recycle and are an important food source for many animals – they’re tiny but mighty superheroes of the animal kingdom. This is an anthology of children’s poems which will educate and excite youngsters about the fascinating world of insects. With factual notes alongside the poems, and black line illustrations.Table of ContentsQuestions for an entomologist by Myles McLeod; Insect Hotel by Kate O’Neil; Cabbage white by Becky Kleanthous; I by Becky Kleanthous; Moth by Elli Woollard; Not cricket by Elli Woollard; Termite by Elli Woollard; Ask a katydid by Celia Berrell; Rockin’ Bug Band by Diana Murray; True bugs are suckers by Celia Berrell; Life cycle by Susan Byrne; Fritillary by Stephen Bone; When a ladybird gets scared by Joanne Lloyd; Beetle Soup by Christy Mihaly; Dragonfly by Anita John; Picture a Beetle by Karen Horsley; Hercules the Beetle by Joanne Lloyd; Beetle Incantation by Lydia Syson; Song of the Dung Beetle by Elli Woollard; Our Planet by Susan Byrne; Name-calling by Elizabeth F. Hill; Unlikely Flight by Lydia Syson; The Coleoptera Ceilidh by Jane MacKenzie; Archie by Anneliese Emmans Dean; Pyrophorus noctilucus by Kate O’Neil; How to Be a Master Survivor (aka Cockroach) by Sharon Dalgleish; I am considering ants by M. V. Williams; Café Six by Kate O’Neil; Aerial Gymnast in the Clothes of a Clown by Robert Ensor; Yoga for Insects by Myles McLeod; Pond Dipping by Ros Woolner; Dazzling Dragonflies by Nina Hoole; Episyrphus balteatus by John Kitchen; Waggle Dance Navigation by Maureen Anderson; Shield Bug by Imogen Forster; Luna Moth by Christy Mihaly; The Change by Anneliese Emmans Dean; High Brown Fritillary by Rebecca Gethin; Flesh-fly by Anneliese Emmans Dean; How to recognise insects by Maureen Anderson; A pest’s request by Gabrielle Turner; Ruins by Richard Westcott; The Pond Skater Swagger by Helen Clare; Mayfly May by Chrissie Gittins; The Mayfly by Jane Mackenzie Can a Beetle Fly? by Karen Horsley; Interview with an entomologist; Write your own poem; Insect project ideas.

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Book SynopsisDay Walks on the Isle of Skye features 20 routes between 3.4 and 14.5 miles (5.5km and 23.3km) in length, spread across the Isle of Skye with one walk on the neighbouring Isle of Raasay. Researched and written by experienced and knowledgeable authors Helen and Paul Webster, founders of the Walkhighlands website, the walks explore the rugged mountains and wildlife-rich coastline of the islands.The routes are split into four sections – Trotternish and the Braes; North-West Skye; Glen Brittle and Sligachan; and South Skye and the Isle of Raasay.Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and navigation information, and refreshment stops and local information.Table of ContentsIsle of Skye Area Map & Route FinderIntroductionAbout the walksNavigationGPS & mobile phonesSafetyBothiesRoads & parkingScottish Outdoor Access CodeHow to use this bookMaps, descriptions, distancesKm/mile conversion chartScottish place namesSection 1 – Trotternish & the Braes1 Ben Tianavaig2 Rubha Hunish3 Quiraing4 The Storr & its Old ManSection 2 – North-West Skye5 The Hoe & Waterstein Head6 Ramasaig to Orbost via MacLeod’s MaidensSection 3 – Glen Brittle & Sligachan7 Rubha an Dùnain8 Bealach Brittle Loop9 Marsco10 Sgùrr na Strì 11 Glamaig & the Red Cuillin12 Bruach na Frìthe13 Sgùrr na Banachdaich14 Sgùrr Dearg & the Inaccessible PinnacleSection 4 – South Skye & the Isle of Raasay15 Point of Sleat 16 Boreraig & Suisnish17 Dùn Caan, Isle of Raasay18 Elgol & Camasunary Circuit19 Broadford Red Hills 20 BlàbheinnAppendix

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Book SynopsisAloe vera isn't just for sunburns! The familiar gel from aloe vera plants has amazing antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that stretch far beyond skincare. From managing diabetes and fighting viruses to stimulating the immune system and preventing tumor growth, aloe vera is a miracle plant! Mahatma Gandhi even credited aloe vera with helping him maintain his strength through long periods of fasting!Millions of people are turning away from the harsh effects of modern solutions and back to the gentle but powerful benefits of nature’s oldest remedies. In her 101 Amazing Uses series, Susan Branson, a holistic nutritional consultant, expertly outlines 101 incredible uses for aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, ginger, essential oils, and more. Each book is divided into tabbed sections filled with a total of 101 easy-to-read, bite-sized benefits for everything from health to beauty to household cleaning. Promote healthy skin, reduce stress, boost your metabolism, tenderize meat, and more with these simple, accessible, natural solutions.

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Book SynopsisHumans are the most inquisitive, emotional, imaginative, aggressive and baffling animals on the planet. But how well do we really know ourselves?How to Be Animal offers a radical take on what it means to be human and argues that at the heart of our psychology is a profound struggle with being animal. Tracing the history of this thinking through to its far-reaching effects on our lives, and drawing on a range of disciplines, Challenger proposes that being an animal is a process, beautiful and unpredictable, and that we have a chance to tell ourselves a new story; to realise that if we matter, so does everything else.Trade ReviewThe best critique of the myth of human exceptionalism I have read. Clearly and beautifully written, compellingly argued and packed with powerful and moving stories, it shows how the fact that we humans are animals has been denied and repressed, with profoundly damaging consequences for the way we live and for the planet. But this brilliant book is not only a critique. By showing that being human means being animal, it reveals how much joy in life we can gain if we recognise and accept the truth about ourselves. Read and digest this book, and you will not only be wiser but also happier -- JOHN GRAY * * author of Feline Philosophy * *Melanie Challenger's wonderful book teaches me this: our blazing continuity with the depth of time and the whole of life. It is a huge, complex and triumphant thing: challenging, but also celebratory, courageous, mournful and apprehensive. Her language is lovely: exact and lyrical and sparklingly full of suggestion and implication. It is a hymn to generosity. I know it will be something I will return to again and again -- ADAM NICOLSON * * author of The Seabird's Cry * *This is a brilliant book that, like many brilliant books, explores what it means to be human. The difference here is that the author answers this by highlighting one central human dilemma: we are an animal in denial that we are actually an animal -- MATT HAIG * * Observer * *What an interesting book! The recognition that we are animals should come less as a slap in the face than as a welcome reminder of the great resources that can come from paying attention to the ways we and our various cousins handle our journeys on this difficult but beautiful planet -- BILL McKIBBEN * * author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? * *With this book, Melanie Challenger fearlessly plunges into the biggest question of our time: how can we rediscover our animal selves, before it is too late? How can we discover our true place in the wider world we are destroying? Each of us has to answer this question for ourselves. This book is a guide for you on the journey -- PAUL KINGSNORTHErudite, lyrical, delightfully troubling and full of unexpected convergences. A wonderful exploration of the tensions that beset the human animal trying to find our way. I was entranced by this beautiful weave of history, biology and philosophy -- DAVID GEORGE HASKELL * * author of The Forest Unseen * *Deepened my understanding of the world . . . An illuminating, beautifully written and unique philosophical inquiry by a wide-ranging and original thinker and a powerful call for a new ethic for our relationship with the rest of the living world . . . Quite simply, a rare and important marvel -- LUCY JONES * * author of Losing Eden * *A provocative, incisive and worried book, carried off with no small degree of élan . . . an excellent primer to the problems we have caused and that we face * * Scotsman * *Provocative . . . Challenger [writes] with the logic of a researcher and the lyricism of a poet * * Herald * *Blending personal experience with scientific observation, Challenger has a talent for making the known seem unexpected or unsettling * * Irish Times * *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Read this book, then look and wonder' Sunday Times *A TLS Book of the Year*We have to learn to live as part of nature, not apart from it. And the first step is to start looking after the insects, the little creatures that make our shared world go round.Insects are essential for life as we know it - without them, our world would look vastly different. Drawing on the latest ground-breaking research and a lifetime's study, Dave Goulson reveals the long decline of insect populations that has taken place in recent decades and its potential consequences.Eye-opening and inspiring, Silent Earth asks for profound change at every level and a passionate argument or us to love, respect and care for our six-legged friends.'Compelling - Silent Earth is a wake-up call' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding'Enlightening, urgent and funny, Goulson's book is a timely call for action' New StatesmanTrade ReviewA powerful book * Mark Cocker, Financial Times *Thoughtful, frightening and yet hugely enjoyable... This book will make you think differently about our right of dominion over the planet * Daily Telegraph *It's remarkable that insect decline has gone largely unnoticed by non-specialists... Keep dreaming, Dave Goulson. We'll need more dreamers like you * The Times *If Silent Earth contains a single incontestable message it is that nature - insects, flowers, plants, trees, birds and mammals, including our species - is a single system... This powerful book tells us that we need to act as if we understand this essential truth * Financial Times *Compelling, penetrating, devastating - Silent Earth is a wake-up call for the world. Dave Goulson matches science with eloquence and passion to spotlight the cataclysmic loss of insect life on our planet. Rachel Carson would be proud. -- Isabella Tree

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Book Synopsis ‘A sea breeze wafts up from every page. This book is a delight.’ – Nigel Slater Both grounding and uplifting, From Coast & Cove, the new book from author and acclaimed illustrator Anna Koska, walks us through the four seasons on the English coast. Beautifully observed, contemplative and deeply personal, Anna combines emotive and evocative tales of life beside the sea with her exquisitely detailed and intricate illustrations of the plants and wildlife found in the water and along the coastline. Anna and her family moved from East Sussex to Devon in 2020 and she now finds inspiration for her artworks in the ebb and flow of the tide throughout the year, the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shore and the creatures spotted in the air, on land and tucked away in rockpools – whether it’s the haunting cry of the curlew heard while kayaking along the River Dart, the iridescent scales and pointed teeth of a hake, the mussel shells discarded by an oystercatcher, or the kelp, wrack and eelgrass strewn along the beach and pressed for posterity. A love letter to the natural world captured in materials ranging from pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and egg tempera, From Coast & Cove details an artist’s year spent beside the sea. A book to savour, and a wonderful celebration of nature’s cycles and minutiae.

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Book SynopsisHow did we get here? All cultures have a creation story, but a little over 150 years ago Charles Darwin introduced a revolutionary new one. We, and all living things, exist because of the action of evolution on the first simple life form and its descendants.We now know that it has taken 3.8 billions of years of work by the forces of evolution to turn what was once a lump of barren rock into the rich diversity of into plants, animals and microbes that surround us. In the process, evolution has created all manner of useful adaptions, from biological computers (brains) to a system to capture energy from the sun (photosynthesis). But how does evolution actually work? In Evolution, leading biologists and New Scientist take you on a journey of a lifetime, exploring the question of whether life is inevitable or a one-off fluke, and how it got kick-started. Does evolution have a purpose or direction? Are selfish genes really the driving force of evolution? And is evolution itself evolving?ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

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Book SynopsisA House Rabbit Primer: Understanding and Caring for Your Companion Rabbit, 2nd Edition is a brand new, up-to-date edition of the critically acclaimed handbook covering all aspects of rabbit care for both new and experienced pet rabbit owners. Author Lucile C. Moore, Ph.D., provides pet rabbit owners with valuable information about the total care of their pet. Part one tells owners just what to expect from their new member of the family and gives detailed information on how to house, feed, and train a rabbit. Part two contains a comprehensive medical section, updated for the second edition. A House Rabbit Primer, 2nd Edition has been expanded to include more photos, new stories and care hints from experienced rabbit caretakers, and additional information on healthy rabbit diets. This new edition also features more detailed instructions on how to groom pet rabbits, as well as suggestions on how to care for special needs rabbits. In addition to up-to-date information on many rabbit diseases, there are tips on creating a first-aid kit for rabbits as well as providing emergency care. With more and more pet owners choosing to keep their rabbits indoors full time, this second edition of the guide beloved by rabbit owners around the world lays out practical information for making rabbits a healthy part of any family.Trade Review“This comprehensive manual covers everything readers need to know about keeping rabbits as pets in a well-organized and informative fashion. Moore holds a Ph.D. in biology with a specialty in animal behavior and has worked as a county rabbit superintendent. She also keeps eight rabbits as pets, which makes her qualified to write on the topic. Taking a practical approach, Moore acknowledges both the pleasures and the pitfalls of keeping rabbits as pets. After a brief history of the animal, she discusses the variety of breeds and their characteristics, supplies and cages, nutrition, behavior and communication, and health. Moore’s focus is strictly on pet rabbits kept in the home—she does not address large agricultural or breeding operations. Helpful appendixes include listings of rabbit health resources, shelters, and rabbit supply businesses. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in keeping pet rabbits and is recommended for public libraries.”—Library Journal “A House Rabbit Primer by Lucile C. Moore (Santa Monica Press; $15) is as complete a handbook as I’ve seen on these pets. Moore has a doctoral degree in biology with a specialty in animal behavior, and her experience shows, along with an obvious love for rabbits (she has eight of them as house pets). The book provides excellent advice on setting up a house rabbit, litter box training, proper feeding and health concerns. If you’ve never had a rabbit indoors before, Moore explains how rabbits think and why they act as they do.”—VeterinaryPartner.com “Lucile Moore’s book is a great addition to the bookshelf of any rabbit family, with all the information new caretakers need as well as information about behavior and communication that may be helpful for all.”—BunFun.com “This is a must-have reference book for anyone interested in or keeping rabbits as pets.”—Pet Radio Magazine “Includes everything you need to know about pet rabbits in one reader-friendly book.”—The Scratching Post/Long Beach Post

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Stuart reveals the vibrant lives of Pleistocene megafauna, driven extinct by climate change and human hunters. Can lessons from the past halt a sixth mass extinction?" * New Scientist, "Don't Miss" *"Woolly rhinos, mammoths, saber-toothed cats and other astounding animals once roamed the Earth. How did they live and what caused their extinction? This illustrated book delves into the world of the Pleistocene with lessons about our current conservation crises." * Bookseller *“Deft and entertaining, Vanished Giants reveals the ‘hugest, fiercest, and strangest’ Ice Age animals—mastodons, saber-toothed cats, immense ground sloths, and other odd, extinct creatures. Relaying research in an accessible way and with informative illustrations, this enthralling paleontology text discusses megafauna in order of geographic regions and in the context of disparate climates, habitats, and human settlements. . . . Stuart’s conclusions about global extinction patterns are as fascinating and complex as the species he examines themselves, and his reflections about how similar forces threaten so many large animals today makes this an important and captivating book.” -- Rachel Jagareski * Foreword Reviews *"Vanished Giants provides a fascinating introduction to the Ice Age biota and a judicious assessment of the nature and causes of the megafaunal extinctions during the last 100,000 years." * Metascience *“Clearly written by an author with a long pedigree working on these animals, this is an interesting overview of the Ice Age megafauna and its extinction in the Pleistocene and Holocene. Vanished Giants is superior to other books in the field in providing much more detail on the animals themselves. Stuart has produced thorough coverage of all the extinct megafauna with a description (usually with an illustration) and discussion of their lifestyles. He also discusses the debate on the causes of these extinctions, which for many years have been polarized into human-driven—often called the Blitzkrieg hypothesis—and climate-driven causes. It is a fascinating topic and surely one of the most intense ongoing debates in science, certainly in paleontology.” -- Paul Wignall, professor of paleoenvironments, University of Leeds“We are very quick to blame species decline on human action. Although this is certainly the cause today, it is not necessarily the case historically. Stuart raises the potential for more localized events, providing evidence of small meteorite impacts, hyperdisease, and more, for the decline of Ice Age megafaunal communities around the globe. This is fascinating. Stuart discusses different species and different regions that were affected, starting with Eurasia, then heading to North America, the most famous region with the most recognized species to go extinct: mammoth, ground sloth, camelids, sabretooth cats. The conclusions are broad because, as Stuart points out, there is not a straightforward answer to the question. The illustrations are superb, and with the sheer inclusivity of time, geography, and species covered, Vanished Giants really enhances the field. An excellent book.” -- Neil Gostling, lecturer in evolution and paleobiology, University of SouthamptonTable of Contents1 Introduction 2 Crises in the History of Life 3 The Ice Age and the Megafauna 4 Cold Case: The Search for the Ice Age Killer 5 Northern Eurasia: Woolly Rhinos, Cave Bears, and Giant Deer 6 North America: Mastodon, Ground Sloths, and Sabertooth Cats 7 South America: Ground Sloths and Glyptodonts 8 Sahul: Giant Marsupials, a Thunderbird, and a Huge Lizard 9 Madagascar: Giant Lemurs, Elephant Birds, and Dwarf Hippos 10 New Zealand: Land of the Moa 11 Island Megafauna 12 Megafaunal Survival: Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia 13 Summary and Conclusions: The Global Pattern of Megafaunal Extinctions Acknowledgments Appendix: Dating the Past Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisRichly illustrated with a luminous and informative collection of maps, photographs, and graphics, this atlas is the perfect companion for exploring the wonders of the universe as viewed from Earth.This expansive illustrated atlas invites readers to roam the night sky for constellations, planets and moons, eclipses, comets and meteor showers, auroras, and deep-sky treasures including nebulae and galaxies—many visible to the naked eye and all with binoculars or a backyard telescope.Beginning with basic space science and including a complete set of night sky maps for all four seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, this fascinating book guides the reader toward the most rewarding observations. A unique chapter on astro-tourism highlights ancient observatories, dark-sky preserves, and other global destinations for the sky-seeking traveller; a final chapter details current and future space missions and what they might discover.Richly illus

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Book SynopsisThis is the most memorable and surprising collection of wildlife imagery of the year – a gallery of work by more than 70 photographers from 30 countries – all 100 pictures awarded in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

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Book SynopsisA landmark publication that captures the beautiful richness of every aspect of trees and their importance for science, culture and the future of humankind. Trees feed us, shelter us, inspire us and heal us. In a world facing the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and a pressing climate emergency, the importance of these primeval beings in shaping our future is hard to understate. Generously illustrated and organized according to tree lifecycle from seeds, leaves and form to wood, flowers and fruit this book celebrates the great diversity and beauty of the 60,000 tree species that inhabit our planet. Exquisite details are rendered by surprising photography and infographics: intricate bark and leaf patterns, intertwined ecosystems, colourful flower displays, archaic wooden wheels and timber houses. Integral to science, art and culture, fundamental and fragile, dependent and depended on, the vitality of trees is revealed like never before.Trade Review'Stunningly illustrated and detailed ... a celebration of all things arboreal, from the seeds, leaves, flowers and fruit to the diversity of trees and how they have influenced art, culture and science' - Sunday Times'[Paul Smith] is a dendrologist with wit, passion and an enlightening way of telling a story ... the tree's frankly astonishing essence is generously illustrated and thoughtfully explained ... destined to become a classic and should certainly be part of any family's library' - World of Interiors'This stunningly illustrated book covers all aspects of trees, from seeds and leaves to wood, flowers and fruit, as well as their importance for humanity through the ages. Clear explanatory text by Paul Smith, a leading plant conservationist, balances the finely reproduced photos and graphics' - Financial Times, Books of the Year'Meticulously researched and illustrated ... detailed scientific facts are peppered with fascinating anecdotes' - English Garden'Extensive ... looks at 60,000 tree species across the world revealing fascinating facts' - The Garden'An engaging and beautiful book about all things arboreal' - Garden Answers'This accessible and fascinating overview spans the science of tree life, and more broadly their ecology and natural and social history ... All nine chapters are well illustrated throughout with helpful and insightful narrative, whether you just want to dip into subjects or desire a more concerted read' - Garden News'An engaging, enchantingly illustrated global study by plant ecologist and conservationist Paul Smith' - Nature'Very beautiful' - The Future Forest CompanyTable of ContentsForeword Introduction 1. Seeds 2. Leaves 3. Form 4. Bark 5. Wood 6. Flowers 7. Fruits 8. Symbiosis 9. Trees and Us

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Book SynopsisYuval Zommer is an author, illustrator and environmentalist based in London. He studied at the Royal College of Art and worked for many years as a creative director at leading advertising agencies before becoming an author and illustrator. His award-winning Big Book series (Thames & Hudson) has now been published in thirty languages and has over 1.8 million copies in print.

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Book SynopsisKeep your thoughts and secrets safe and secure with this officially licensed JURASSIC WORLD lock and key diary. This diary features 192 lined pages, eight dinosaurs hidden in invisible ink throughout, and a magic light pen to help you discover them along the way.192 RULED PAGES: Whether you aspire to be the next great paleontologist, need a place to record your own discoveries, or want a private place to keep your personal thoughts and secrets secure, this lock and key diary provides you plenty of space for your writing needs. FIND DINOS HIDDEN WITH INVISIBLE INK!: Find eight different dinosaurs like T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and Ankylosaurus hidden throughout the pages of the diary in invisible ink. As you use the diary, keep an eye out for the dinosaur sighting mark! MAGIC PEN INCLUDED: Use the included magic UV light pen to reveal these amazing dinosaurs, their tracks, and more! LEARN DINO FACTS: An educational dinosaur sighting map of where these dinosaurs appeared in the United States is also included. UNDER LOCK & KEY: Keep your thoughts and secrets secure with this locked diary featuring two keys. Guaranteed to keep dinosaurs (and parents) out! CONVENIENT SIZE: This 5.25 x 6.5-inch journal is a compact size for travel and fits easily in a bag or backpack to take with you on the go. COLLECT THEM ALL: Collect more great stationery products inspired by Jurassic World, including the Jurassic World Enamel Charm Bookmark and Jurassic World: Raptor Book and 3D Wood Model. Jurassic World products from Insight Editions makes a thoughtful gift for any Jurassic World or dinosaur fan.

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Book SynopsisMy name is Steve Mann and I'm an expert dog trainer with over 30 years of experience. In this book, I will teach you how to raise your Labradoodle to be healthy and happy. All breeds are different, and it is vital that you grow to learn your Labradoodle's specific needs and characteristics. Whether you are the proud owner of a brand-new puppy, a 10-year-old adult dog or a rescue Labradoodle of any age, my easy peasy principles will help you nurture your bond with your Labradoodle and teach them a range of activities in no time.You will learn about: · Your breed history· The key principles of dog training: Recall, Loose Lead Walking, Sit· Why your Labradoodle... chases, digs, jumps up, chews· How to keep your Labradoodle happy home alone· Grooming: teeth, nails, bathing· Nutrition and so much more!Armed with this knowledge about Labradoodles, plus my simple and highly effective lessons and training techniques, you and your dog will have the most cheerful, exciting and fulfilling relationship. So, let's get started!

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2023LONGLISTED FOR THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE 2022Reflecting on family, identity and nature, Belonging is a personal memoir about what it is to have and make a home. It is a love letter to nature, especially the northern landscapes of Scotland and the Scots pinewoods of Abernethy - home to standing dead trees known as snags, which support the overall health of the forest.Belonging is a book about how we are held in thrall to elements of our past. It speaks to the importance of attention and reflection, and will encourage us all to look and observe and ask questions of ourselves.Beautifully written and featuring Amanda Thomson's artwork and photography throughout, it explores how place, language and family shape us and make us who we are.Trade ReviewOutstanding -- ROBERT MACFARLANEA beautifully written meditation on rural surroundings and her place within them * * Sunday Times * *Amanda Thomson's new book manages to carve out a distinctive niche for itself . . . This is a passionate book and infused with a sense of rootedness -- STUART KELLY * * The Scotsman * *In recent years rural landscapes have turned into battlegrounds, and nature writing has become increasingly polemical. Belonging is a quiet book of questions in a genre full of answers, but it is all the more powerful and beautiful for this -- PATRICK GALBRAITH * * TLS * *Deservedly shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize; a thoughtful blend of memoir, family history, artistic scrapbook and nature journal in a compelling collage. [ . . . ] There's also an all-encompassing belief in the importance of listening, looking and learning from the world around us * * Observer * *One of the best things I have read in ages . . . Quiet and beautiful and powerful -- ALYS FOWLERThomson writes of the natural in a way I have yet to encounter before. There is no real hoo-haa, no flowery description of which to speak yet somehow, I came away with that ache inside me - that renewed obsession with the world that is only borne of a very particular kind of writing - poetic, loving, raw . . . Like no other -- KERRI Ní DOCHARTAIGH * * Caught by the River * *I rather enjoyed Amanda's very personal history interweaving ideas of family, place, history and nature. I was left feeling that she is the sort of person that I would love to spend an evening engaged in conversation with -- DAVID LINDO, The Urban BirderWhether writing about nature, about family, about art, or about identity, Amanda Thomson brings a careful and a thoughtful attention to the page. She shows how the threads of a life - its passions and preoccupations - are intricately entangled, each illuminating and complicating the other -- MALACHY TALLACKA book that digs deep . . . Vivid * * Herald * *In belonging, Thomson invites us to think about what living with the land really means: not just beautiful and wild places, but cities, suburbs, old houses, the places that shape us in childhood and beyond, too. This is an evocative, intimate journey through the ways we find home - in family, place, history and language -- JESSICA J. LEELyrical * * Country Living * *A finely-wrought meditation on nature, identity and the tender hold of the past -- SAMANTHA WALTON, author of EVERYBODY NEEDS BEAUTY and THE LIVING WORLDTender, searching and dialectically alert, this glorious book is a primer on noticing, a map of intersectional consciousness. Each passage pulses with incandescent turns of wonder and pain, like wingbeats stirring the air. In strikingly original takes on Scottish history, environmentalism, Black feminist theory, artmaking, list-making, memory and memoir, Thomson crafts a cadence that is as wise as it is vitally alive. Reading it, I felt like I belonged. What a gift: to see and love the world even as it hurts, even as it changes -- MARGOT DOUAIHY, author of SCORCHED GRACEA highly original, beautifully written and timely account -- STEPHEN MOSS

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Book SynopsisThe social calls of bats are an area about which relatively little is known, with more research still required to expand our understanding. However, these calls are increasingly recognised as a useful aid to identification: they appear to be species specific and are indicative of behaviour – as in territorial activity of males during the mating season. Because the gathering and interpretation of bat echolocation data are a matter of course during research, conservation and consultancy, it is a logical progression to build momentum behind the consideration of social calls in mainstream bat-related work. A better understanding of this subject could mean that non-intrusive survey methods are developed, ensuring that what is being observed is, as far as possible, purely natural behaviour. In turn this will contribute to better interpretation and more suitable mitigation, compensation and/or enhancement solutions. The book summarises what is understood so far about social calls of the bat species occurring in Britain and Ireland, and north-west Europe. This new edition has been updated and expanded throughout, now containing: foreword by the bat authority Michel Barataud, author of Acoustic Ecology of European Bats almost double the number of figures and tables as appeared in the first edition completely overhauled call library, all in full spectrum format, with new additional examples three entirely new chapters, covering bat-related acoustics, settings for social interaction, and survey guidelines The material will be useful to people carrying out bat studies, at whatever level and for whatever purpose, and will also encourage others to undertake further research. What's more, social calls are fascinating to listen to: they are, after all, produced with listeners in mind (other bats). In light of this, the book is accompanied by an extensive downloadable library of sound files which offer a unique gateway into the private life of bats. Trade ReviewThis much expanded 2nd edition provides a thorough overview of bat social calls and the current state of knowledge...I hope for continued expansions of this book in future, but in the meantime, there is plenty within this second edition to further illuminate some of the most fascinating yet often mysterious aspects of bat vocalisations. -- Philip Briggs, Bat Conservation TrustThe authors can be congratulated for their work and for opening up new insights and offering a better understanding of this complex area of research. -- Wiesław Bogdanowicz * Acta Chiropterologica *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgements About the Authors Important Notices 1 An Overview of Bats in Britain and Ireland 2 Bat-related Acoustics: An Introduction 3 Settings for Social Interaction 4 Classification of Social Calls 5 Analysis of Social Calls 6 Considerations in Survey Design 7 Survey Guidelines (Bat Social Calls) 8 Species Groups Appendix Bibliography References Index

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Book SynopsisPets are important members of the family and for some they may even be one of the closest relationships they enjoy, so when they die the devastation can be profound.In this long-overdue guide to grieving a beloved pet, Millie Jacobs uses her own personal experience and grief counselling expertise to guide readers through 31 days of exercises and support to help process your loss.Although we are a nation of animal lovers, there is so little emotional support offered to those who are grieving the death of an animal. Millie provides the necessary framework to allow the emotions of this very specific loss to be released and processed.This very practical guide will help every struggling and grieving owner through the loss of a pet and help them to feel they are, at last, allowed to grieve their best friend and companion.

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Book SynopsisThe essential map for all Moon watchers.The awesome beauty of the Moon is brought to life in this practical map for Moon watchers which locates, describes and indexes more than 500 physical features on the visible side of the moon. Who hasn't marvelled at the lunar landscape whether glancing up from Earth or being gripped by NASA imagery? Ever since the 1960s, when Neil Armstrong walked those first steps on the lunar surface, we have had a particular fascination with the Moon, but that grip goes back to the dawn of humanity. Our nearest neighbour in space, the Moon is hugely important due to its impact on tides and many other natural cycles that surround us, so to be able to look and read its landscape is especially revealing and valuable.With practical information on the best Moon watching techniques and tips, we capture both the magical and the practical aspects of lunar locations.· Superbly detailed map of the Moon's visible surface· 500 Moon features located on the map, with a clear index· Craters, seas, mountains, peaks and valleys· Landing sites of manned and unmanned spacecraft located· Helpful text aids the best effective moon watching· Plus map of the far side of the Moon as revealed by satellites· Maps drawn by lunar expert Dr. John Murray

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Book SynopsisA stunning picture book and CD for Christmas, with Julia Donaldsonreading her perfect heartfelt rhyme. With gorgeous, atmospheric illustrations, and four Christmas songs,including a brand-new composition by Julia, this beautiful, movingstory brims with festivity and hope.

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Book SynopsisGo beyond training and tricks with enrichment activities to improve your dog’s mental health from TikTok dog enrichment specialist Chelsea Barstow.It’s time to take a big step beyond the regular old sit, stay, and roll over with your dog. Canine enrichment can help reduce stress in your dog as well as give them a constructive way to drain their energy. We all know what it’s like to be bored at home, and with a dog, boredom leads to trouble. With Happy Dog, you will learn simple ways to stimulate your dog’s mind and keep them occupied whenever they need. From rolling treats in a towel, to playing the Find It game, a variety of lick mats, creating obstacles your dog must navigate, going on an adventure walk, and canine puzzles, there are tons of ways to help keep your dog mentally (and physically) happy and healthy.Trade Review"Take things to the next level with [this] fun, easy-to-follow book for dogs." —Fidose of Reality

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Book SynopsisThis bestselling journey into the world of the hummingbird is a treasure and a gift for birdwatchers, gardeners, and anyone who loves these amazing little creatures. Lavishly illustrated with 45+ original ink-and-watercolour illustrations of the species most commonly found in the US and Canada.

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Book SynopsisMeet Eva Wingdale and all her owl friends from Treetopington in this storybook based on the hit animated show Eva the Owlet, now streaming on Apple TV+!Eva is so excited to enter the Treetop Treats contest with her best friend, Lucy. If they bake the tastiest treat in all of Treetopington, they'll win a golden apron! The apron is the perfect gift for their teacher, Ms. Featherbottom. But when perfect Sue announces she's going to enter the contest, too, Eva worries her treat will never win first place. Can Eva and Lucy come up with the winning recipe?This adorable storybook introduces readers to Eva and all the other characters in Treetopington from the Apple TV+ show, inspired by Rebecca Elliott''s New York Times bestselling series, Owl Diaries!

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Book SynopsisDon't forget to pack this handy butterfly guide when visiting Cyprus. It lists all 49 butterfly species, with colour images of the wing uppersides of both sexes and undersides of each of the resident species. Figures illustrate the key ID features of superficially similar species. Larval hostplants, distribution and flight periods are included.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered exactly what those ‘weeds’ are growing along the kerb or between the cracks in the pavement? Not the pampered plants of parks, front gardens and herbaceous borders, but simply those that exist everywhere and nowhere in particular: the true survivors, the botanical opportunists. In this handy guide, we introduce the most commonplace flowers, shrubs, grasses, mosses and ferns that are to be found on the street, and show the main characteristics by which you can recognise them. Soon you’ll be more alert than ever to the rebellious species of tarmac, wall and gutter as they defy weedkiller, climate change and dog wee. So you can identify the plants you discover in your town as readily as possible, the species are arranged according to their growth form. The book starts with the largest group – herbaceous plants – followed by a few woody plants, grasses, mosses and ferns. The first group is divided again according to flower colour: white, yellow, red/pink, blue/purple and green or brown. Within each colour, you will first find the flowers with a maximum of four petals, then those with five, then those with more than five and finally those with bilaterally symmetrical flowers. So you know quickly which group you are in, there are corresponding symbols in the profile at the bottom of each page. This ingenious little book is sure to enliven even the most mundane walk on the dreariest of days.

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Book SynopsisGet an education all year long with the Cat Trivia Page-A-Day® calendar! HELLO, KITTIES: Learn something new each day through Purr-sonality Guides, Who’s That Wildcat, and more fascinating trivia. FELINE FUN FACTS: Boost your cat culture knowledge with Travel Locations for Cat Lovers, Meow-nificent Movies, and quotes for cat people. THE PURRFECT GIFT: Brighten any cat lover’s home, school, or office with the best calendar in any category. MEOWVELOUS QUALITY: Printed on responsibly sourced paper and 100% recyclable.

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Book SynopsisTobin Mitnick, JewsLoveTrees creator and shameless tree lover, leads you, the tree-curious, through the wonderful world of North American trees with fact, opinion, and humor. In Must Love Trees, Mitnick invites you to share his deeply personal connection to our forest companions in ways that expand the storied genre of nature writing. From an imagined dialogue with the world’s oldest bristlecone pine, to the minutiae of tree huggability, to the emotional toll of taking up the practice of bonsai, this fresh take into the world of trees is divided into three equally humorous and insightful sections. The first section discusses Mitnick’s personal opinions and relationship with trees while the second section describes the science behind trees (from tree botany to tree biology to tree ecology). In the final section, Mitnick answers the question: Who would these trees be if they all attended high school together? Tobin’s detailed description of a tree in action and his thorough run-down of our most-treasured North American trees (all 100 of whom happen to be classmates at “Tree High North America”), makes this compilation an original and occasionally outlandish guide for both the budding and seasoned tree-lover.Must Love Trees features beautiful drawings of a vast selection of North American trees, including: Renowned icons like the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Beloved favorites like the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) Historical tragedies like the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Menacing creepers like Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) Unsung wonders like the Common Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba) Part textbook, part memoir, and part comedy, Must Love Trees is the most complete—and most unconventional—story of our forest pals ever told.Table of ContentsIntroduction What You Can Expect from This Book Prologue An Imagined Dialogue with Methuselah, the Oldest (?) Tree in the World 8 Part I My Personal Experience with Trees and Thoughts Derived Thereof CHAPTER 1 My Everyday Tree-Sperience CHAPTER 2 “Arbor-Culture” CHAPTER 3 Bonsai — a Wonderful Way to Torture Oneself CHAPTER 4 Around the House and Neighborhood CHAPTER 5 Look on My Pine Cone Home, Ye Mighty, and Despair! CHAPTER 6 Climate Change and Trees Part II A Tree, Basically CHAPTER 7 Tree Botany CHAPTER 8 Tree Biology CHAPTER 9 Tree Ecology Part III A Slightly Opinionated Guide to North American Trees CHAPTER 10 Spotting Your Tree Pals at the Big Game: How to Use the Tree Guide CHAPTER 11 Gymnosperms CHAPTER 12 Angiosperms CHAPTER 13 UNPOPULAR TREE OPINION: These Two Beloved Trees Are Not Trees Epilogue An Imagined Dialogue Between Myself and a Magnolia Tree Glossary References and Further Reading Acknowledgments About the Author

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Book Synopsis*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*Looking for a comprehensive, fun and effective guide to training your new puppy or dog? Look no further than the puppy training manual from the founders of Absolute Dogs! Written by Dr Tom Mitchell, world-renowned vet and clinical animal behaviourist, and Lauren Langman, one of the UK's most successful dog trainers and Crufts winner, Game On, Puppy! leads you through everything you need to know about training your dog using their unique games-based approach, all backed up by the latest science. Targeting the why behind your dog's behaviour rather than suppressing the symptoms, Game On, Puppy! covers: the basics: toilet training, sleep and travelnext level: socialising, recall, walks and being home aloneconcept training: games to build alone-time confidence, optimism and reduce reactivityBetween them, Tom and Lauren have helped thousands upon thousands of dog owners overcome their dog-owning struggles and achieve long-term results, so whether you're a first-time dog owner or a seasoned pro, this positive and playful approach is the ultimate resource to help your dog thrive.

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Book SynopsisBy the bestselling author of Storyland.Sheer cliffs, salt spray, explosive sea spume, thunderous clouds, icy waves, whales with mountains on their backs, sleet, bitter winds, bleak, impenetrable marshes, howling wolves, forests, the unceasing cries of birds and the death grip of subterranean vaults that have never seen the sun: these are wild landscapes of a world almost familiar.In Wild, Amy Jeffs journeys - on foot and through medieval texts - from landscapes of desolation to hope, offering the reader an insight into a world at once distant and profoundly close to home. The seven chapters, entitled Earth, Ocean, Forest, Beast, Fen, Catastrophe, Paradise, open with fiction and close with reflection. They blend reflections of travels through fen, forest and cave, with retelling of medieval texts that offer rich depictions of the natural world. From the Old English elegies to the englynion and immrama of the Celtic world - stories that largely represent figures whose voices are not generally heard in the corpus of medieval literature: women, outcasts, animals.Illustrated with original wood engravings, evoking an atmospheric world of whales, wolves, caves, cuckoos and reeds, Wild: Tales From Early Medieval Britain will leave readers feeling 'westendream': delight in the wilderness.Trade ReviewA beautiful retelling of British myths and exquisitely illustrated too. -- James Holland on Storyland, Daily Express (Book of the Year)This gorgeous book should live on the bookshelves in every house that cares about "the idea of Britain, what is was and where it came from." -- The Times (On Storyland)Marries words and images to create a special echo of this country's rich past. * The Times *Jeffs is the narrator, providing a reading that is suffused with portent and otherworldliness. Listeners gain a series of folk songs, written and performed by Jeffs, each of which adds a thrilling new dimension to these ancient fables. * Guardian (Audiobook of the Week) *Across seven themed chapters the Storyland author presents an inspiring excavation of the British countryside through diverse medieval texts. * Waterstones (The Best History Books of 2022) *Jeffs teases out nuance, divining moral and metaphorical meaning from each story, and questions ways that this living history of Britain impacts upon our present-day understanding of landscape. The writing throughout is celebratory and evocative. * Art Quarterly *Jeffs has a gift for breathing new life into ancient stories through her lyrical writing, deep research and evocative woodcuts. She connects our mythic history to the landscape with delicacy and humour. Reading Wild feels like being led by the hand through a gnarled, old growth forest, along empty shoreflats, and along the edge of windswept cliffs - and shown how to experience them through medieval eyes. It's a jewel of a book. -- Natalie Lawrence - co-author of Planta Sapiens: Unmasking Plant IntelligenceImmersive . . . Her stories are arranged across seven chapters - Earth, Ocean, Forest, Beast, Fen, Catastrophe and Paradise. Jeffs, a medieval scholar with her own wild streak, introduces each in confident, forceful tones. She also sings six of her songs, accompanied by early musical instruments. Lucy Paterson, who has one of those warm, low,rich voices that can hold you mesmerised, tells the tales. * The Times (Audiobook of the Week) *An extraordinarily multidimensional work, moving seamlessly from creative retellings of the stories to explanations of the texts and where they came from, underpinned all the time by sound academic understanding. Those reading the print version can marvel at the extraordinary black-and-white wood cuttings that break up the chapters, while those enjoying the audiobook version can listen to music inspired by the same tales. * Countryfile Magazine (Best nature and wildlife books for 2023) *This beautiful book . . . takes the reader back into the medieval mind, exploring ancient myths and poems rooted deep in the British landscape. * Wiltshire Life *

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant book [that] shows a way out of the destructive trap of Anthropocentric arrogance.' Vandana Shiva, from the Foreword 'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems.' Dr Denis Noble, University of Oxford ‘A welcoming yet fiercely challenging and provocative read shining a light on the way we look at the science of life.’ LoveReading What is life? This is arguably the fundamental question in all of science, and yet many scientists believe that life can be reduced to mechanistic factors, such as genes and information codes. But in a world as rich and complex as this one, can such an assertion really be true? Biocivilisations is a thrillingly original look at the mystery of life and a recognition of the complex civilisations of bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants and animals that have preceded the human world by billions of years. Dr Predrag Slijepčević, senior lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Brunel University, reconsiders the limited scope and timeframe of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and shares how – from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammals – the living world has long fostered ancient biocivilisations: how ants practice agriculture, how insects perform surgery, how trees conduct research, how slime moulds build networks as complex as our modern transportations systems and more. More than 99.99 percent of life on Earth has existed without humanity and life will continue without humans long into the future. Biocivilisations challenges us to reconsider the limited scope and time-window of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and to fundamentally reimagine what we call ‘life on Earth’ by posing a powerful question: Are we really the intelligent masters over nature we think we are? Trade Review'A prodigious synthesis and a great, ambitious and informative book dovetailing multiple fields in its effort – largely successful I think – to light a match – and then blow on the fires of the coming "Copernican biological revolution."' Dorion Sagan'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems. Civilisation did not just start with Homo sapiens. Life cannot be reduced to pure mechanism.' Dr Denis Noble, Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Oxford; Fellow of the Royal Society; 2022 Lomonosov Grand Gold Medal laureate'In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević tells stories about animals that create art, insects that do battlefield surgery, trees that perform scientific research, bacteria that create intelligent networks, and whole ecosystems that are organized with an efficiency that surpasses any human supply chain. Maybe you thought humans were the crown of creation. Maybe we humans have to learn humility and respect for the biosphere that birthed us. Maybe our future depends on it.' Josh Mitteldorf, PhD, coauthor of Cracking the Aging Code'Predrag Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life offers a powerful and welcome synthesis of what we ought by now to be happy to call Gaian science. It brings together crucial developments in biological systems thinking – such as symbiogenesis, epigenetics, biosemiotics, Gaia theory and autopoiesis – under a comprehensive vision founded on the cosmological longevity and cognitive acumen of the bacterial microcosm and its planetary offspring: multicellular life in all of its forms and alliances. Biocivilisations vigorously dismantles modern strains of scientific and cultural anthropocentrism and their current avatars peddling the futurist delusions of Singularity buffs and AI transhumanists. Slijepčević’s presentation of these crucial and heady matters is properly technical but consistently readable and deeply documented. His approach to science participates in a poetic spirit he perceives everywhere in a terrestrial biosphere that has risen for over four billion years to collective, eventually cross-kingdom consortia such as the ‘Wood Wide Web’ revealed by the new forest ecology. The environmental constructions of such biocivilisations long precede the human elaboration of its own technosphere. I highly recommend Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations for those who would like to get effectively up to speed on the most cogent contemporary challenges to the physicalist-mechanistic technoscientific mainstream.' Bruce Clarke, Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor of Literature and Science, Texas Tech University, Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology‘Biocivilizations is an unusually thought-provoking and ambitious book. It challenges the reader to abandon several centuries of assumptions about how to describe the living world in purely physical and mechanistic terms, a world governed by an evolutionary process that places human beings at the apex.’ Dr. James A. Shapiro, author of Evolution: A View from the 21st Century'Sentience, cognition and intelligence are emerging as inherent faculties of all life which has evolved on the Earth. Most of these living systems are much older than humanity and obviously are well integrated to support life. In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević makes clear that the sentient life is essential for the habitability of our planet and that humans should step down from the so-called crown of evolution model in order to appreciate our true position within the complex network of life. Only then will our civilization improve its rather doomed prospects for survival.' Dr František Baluška, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Bonn"Constructed with care, [Slijepčević's] arguments integrate hundreds of examples from the natural world . . . The prose is solid, impassioned, and informed. . . . [and] by defying entrenched and arrogant assumptions about human superiority, the book shows that people have much to learn from creatures like ants and bacteria." Foreword Reviews"Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, and as fascinating as it is informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life" will have a very special appeal and relevance to readers with an interest in bacteriology, microbiology, evolution, nature and ecology." Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisDestress and escape from your busy schedule with this beautiful coloring book featuring 45 nature-inspired scenes you can fill with your favorite colors.Unwind and release your creativity through the beauty and wonder of nature with Pretty Simple Coloring: Nature Scenes. Filled with 45 delightful drawings of plants and animals, this coloring book is the perfect escape no matter how busy your schedule. The beautiful line art illustrations are easy to see and designed to be quickly filled with your favorite colors. Relax and enjoy your coloring time—no matter how long or short—without the worry of straining your eyes or cramping your hand. Make the most of your free time with Pretty Simple Coloring: Nature Scenes.

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