Natural History Books

Book SynopsisProving to be both varied and fascinating, moons are far more common than planets in our Solar System. Our own Moon has had a profound influence on Earth, not only through tidal effects, but even on the behaviour of some marine animals. Many remarkable things have been discovered about the moons of the giant outer planets from Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, and other spacecraft. Scientists have glimpsed volcanic activity on Io, found oceans of water on Titan, and captured photos of icy geysers bursting from Enceladus. It looks likely that microbial life beyond the Earth may be discovered on a moon rather than a planet.In this Very Short Introduction David Rothery introduces the reader to the moons of our Solar System, beginning with the early discoveries of Galileo and others, describing their variety of mostly mythological names, and the early use of Jupiter''s moons to establish position at sea and to estimate the speed of light. Rothery discusses the structure, formation, and influence Trade Reviewan excellent introduction to Moons in a genuinely pocket-sized book that won't break the bank. * Astronomy Now *delightful * Lewis Dartnell, BBC Sky at Night *A highly readable and informative book. * Network Reviews *This small, densely packed paperback is a fantastic starting point for those interested in learning more about the 190 or so moons found within our solar system. Not merely a book of tables and facts about these celestial bodies, Moons covers the rich history of exploration and discovery along with the ideas that were shaped and moulded by astronomers across the ages. * Geoscientist *Table of Contents1. The discovery and significance of moons ; 2. The Moon ; 3. The Moon's influence on us ; 4. The moons of giant planets ; 5. Giant planet regular satellites in close up ; 6. The moons of Mars - captured asteroids ; 7. Moons of small bodies ; 8. Moons in other planetary systems: exomoons ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisMartin Stevens explores the extraordinary variety of senses in the animal kingdom, and discusses the cutting-edge science that is shedding light on these secret worlds. Our senses of vision, smell, taste, hearing, and touch are essential for us to respond to threats, communicate and interact with the world around us. This is true for all animals - their sensory systems are key to survival, and without them animals would be completely helpless. However, the sensory systems of other animals work very differently from ours. For example, many animals from spiders to birds can detect and respond to ultraviolet light, to which we are blind. Other animals, including many insects, rodents, and bats can hear high-frequency ultrasonic sounds well beyond our own hearing range. Many other species have sensory systems that we lack completely, such as the magnetic sense of birds, turtles, and other animals, or the electric sense of many fish. These differences in sensory ability have a major bearing on the ways that animals behave and live in different environments, and also affect their evolution and ecology.In this book, Martin Stevens explores the remarkable sensory systems that exist in nature, and what they are used for. Discussing how different animal senses work, he also considers how they evolve, how they are shaped by the environment in which an animal lives, and the pioneering science that has uncovered how animals use their senses. Throughout, he celebrates the remarkable diversity of life, and shows how the study of sensory systems has shed light on some of the most important issues in animal behaviour, physiology, and evolution. He also describes evidence of the disruptive effects of human activities on the way other animals navigate the world.Trade Reviewa riveting new volume that explores the extraordinary senses of animals....This volume brings the wonders of these sensory worlds to a more general audience. * Michael J. Ryan, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.97, no.1 *While paying its dues to those amazing abilities of animals, Secret Worlds has some very intriguing things to say about the evolution and plasticity of the sense - and above all, the cost of acquiring them. [... ] One can only hope that Stevens will return with fresh insights in a few years. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface 1: A Plethora of Senses 2: Singing Mice and Painting Pictures with Sound 3: For My Eyes Only 4: Electric Attraction 5: Stars of the Tactile World 6: Smelling in Stereo 7: Homing Turtles and Animal Magnetism 8: A Changing World

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Book SynopsisRefreshes the parts other history books can't reach...A bit ropy on the Renaissance?In the dark about the Enlightenment?Or, in fact, do you need a revision course on the entire history of the world and want to read a witty, irreverent, definitely not boring romp through everything that has ever happened on planet earth from 15 billion years BC to the present day? Good.A Less Boring History of the World tells you everything you need to know from the Big Bang to Barack Obama, taking in the Byzantines, the Black Death, Bin Laden and the fall of bankers along the way, all boiled down to bite size chunks so that you can finally piece together all the different bits of history - and see how on earth we ended up in the mess we are today. A Less Boring History refreshes your memory and broadens your mind. And, if that's not enough, it will also make you laugh. A lot.

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Book SynopsisThe ideal gift for gardeners - discover more than 15,000 beautiful plants and learn how to successfully grow each one with this definitive planting guide now in its fully updated 4th edition. The RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants has been compiled by an unrivalled team of over 70 plant experts led by Chris Brickell, the former Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society and a globally renowned plantsman. This latest edition of the world''s most comprehensive garden plant encyclopedia has undergone the greatest update since its first publication, with more than 5,000 new entries added and 6,000 superb images featuring fresh new photography. Whether you''re looking for inspiration for an unusual new flowering plant to grow, want to identify an amazing orchid you''ve seen, or need to find out how to keep alive the cactus you''ve been gifted - the A-Z is bound to have the answer.Trade ReviewAn ideal gift for any gardener * The Garden *The ultimate plant guide for gardeners...Unrivalled in authority and range...The only garden reference encyclopaedia you'll ever need...The definitive reference guide for every gardener * RTE Guide *Table of Contents 1: Foreword 1: HOW TO USE THE ENCYCLOPEDIA 1: Page and text elements 2: Understanding hardiness 3: Care under glass 4: Pruning groups 5: Propagation techniques 2: BOTANY FOR THE GARDENER 1: The plant kingdom 2: The life of a plant 3: Leaves 4: Flowers 3: THE A-Z PLANT DIRECTORY 1: Glossary 2: Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisWriter, editor, artist, and identification expert, Rob Hume is highly adept at penning detailed identification notes for rarity watchers yet is also skilled at providing interesting descriptions for armchair birdwatchers. He is a lifelong birdwatcher who worked for the RSPB for over 30 years and edited the RSPB's award-winning Birds magazine.

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Book SynopsisWill Gater is an astronomy journalist and author. He has written for several of the UK's top astronomy and science magazines and promotes both these subjects with frequent appearances on television and radio, including the BBC's Sky at Night. Anton Vamplew is a freelance astronomer. As well as writing about astronomy in books and magazine articles, he has worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and made regular broadcasts on BBC television and radio.

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Book SynopsisLearn all there is to know about horse riding, from horse care and show jumping to mastering dressage. Suitable for both novice and advanced riders, and for equestrian fans of all ages, this book will guide you through every stage of the riding process from the first time in the saddle to advanced riding skills. Featuring all of the latest techniques and equipment, this comprehensive and fully updated edition covers everything you need to know about basic horse training, dressage training, and mental and physical preparation - for both horse and rider - as well as how to find and develop your ultimate horse. Dive deeper into this brilliant book about horses: - llustrated in full colour throughout, with specially commissioned photographic sequences and artworks that show every riding technique with unparalleled clarity.- Includes detailed, updated sections on dressage, showjumping, cross country, and young horse training as well as

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Book SynopsisOn 12th April 1981 a revolutionary new spacecraft blasted off from Florida on her maiden flight. NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia was the most advanced flying machine ever built the high watermark of post-war aviation development. A direct descendant of the record-breaking X-planes the likes of which Chuck Yeager had tested in the skies over the Mojave Desert, Columbia was a winged rocket plane, the size of an airliner, capable of flying to space and back before being made ready to fly again. She was the world's first real spaceship.On board were men with the Right Stuff. The Shuttle's Commander, moonwalker John Young, was already a veteran of five spaceflights. Alongside him, Pilot Bob Crippen was making his first, but Crip, taken in by the space agency after the cancellation of a top secret military space station programme in 1969, had worked on the Shuttle's development for a decade. Never before had a crew been so well prepared for their missionTrade ReviewThe Right Stuff of our times * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAS SEEN ON CHANNEL 5 Heartwarming true stories from Channel 5''s The Dog Rescuers, the RSPCA''s tireless team of expert officers who save the lives of dogs in peril, return them to health and help them to find their forever homes.As a nation, we''re big fans of man''s best friend. Nearly a quarter of all British homes own a dog. Sadly, not all of them receive the love and care they deserve and some dogs are neglected or, worse, abused. Enter Channel 5''s The Dog Rescuers. Every day, these dedicated and passionate RSPCA inspectors - like Anthony Joynes - contend with dog owners'' abandonment and misuse of their pets, and spring into action on behalf of dogs in trouble, returning them to health, happiness and a loving new home. This collection of heartbreaking but ultimately heartwarming tales follows the likes of puppy Clover, who suffered damage to her face and lips, and Flint, the Lurcher who''d been used for badger b

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Book SynopsisA must-have reference for any nature lover: The most comprehensive and authoritative guide to the mushrooms of North America, updated for the first time in decades to reflect the impact of climate change and the advancements in DNA sequencing that have radically altered the classification process.Whether marveling at species like the shaggy rose goblet and dead man's fingers, or getting to know the miraculous forms that take root in the backyard, readers will come to rely on this work of remarkable breadth, depth, and elegance. Created by the world’s most trusted name in nature field guides, this handsome volume is the result of a collaboration among leading scientists, scholars, taxonomic and field experts, photo editors, and designers. An indispensable resource, with nearly 2,900 full-color photographs, it reveals the astounding variety of forms, colors, and conditions of 668 species of mushrooms that can be found all throughout North America.<

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Bestseller: A heartwarming memoir about a man at the mercy of his unpredictable, demanding and endlessly lovable cats.Trade ReviewThis book is very, very funny and Tom writes beautifully * Independent *

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Book SynopsisIf you have ever wanted to know how to get a horse into a trailer, how to deal with a bucking horse, how to walk your horse through water or how to handle a two-month-old foal, then you need look no further than ASK MONTY.In this book, Monty Roberts, lifelong horse trainer and bestselling author of THE MAN WHO LISTENS TO HORSES, answers hundreds of questions that have been regularly posed to him by fans and readers over many years. He shares the methods and techniques that he has spent a lifetime perfecting, which will enable you to understand, communicate and work more effectively with your horse. Each chapter is devoted to a key area of horse training, and Monty''s methods are easily and practically explained with the help of clear diagrams. ASK MONTY is the essential guide for horse lovers everywhere.Trade Review'[Monty Roberts's] determined goal of teaching horses and people to work together through his non-violent methods has been an enduring feature of his famous demonstrations around the world - and now he answers just some of those questions. Essential reading if you're a fan of his amazing work' * Essex Rider Monthly *'Monty Roberts is a mine of... information... A really useful reference for anyone who loves horses' * Farmers Guardian *

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Book SynopsisJim Qwilleran is not exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialities and now he''s supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the same subject. But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory - the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarised and the lady of the house found dead...Now Qwilleran, with the help of Koko and Yum Yum, the brilliant Siamese cats, have their respective moustache and whiskers twitching, and when Koko starts pawing clues in the dictionary and sniffing designer furniture, Qwilleran finds himself doing a feature on a very clever murderer.

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Book SynopsisIt will be a well-rounded book like no other currently available on the market that covers all aspects of this mammal's life. No stone will be left unturned.

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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 SynopsisIf you delight in the suspense of Stephen King and The Stranger by Harlan Coben chilled you to the bone (in the best possible way), you''ll love Dragon Tears - the classic thriller by Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz. ''Not just a master of our darkest dreams but also a literary juggler'' - The Times.Harry Lyon is a cop who embraces tradition and order. The biggest bane of his life is his partner, Connie Gulliver. Harry doesn''t like the messiness of her desk, her lack of social polish or her sometimes casual attitude towards the law. ''Look, Harry, it''s the Age of Chaos,'' she tells him. ''Get with the times.'' And when Harry and Connie have to take out a hopped-up gunman in a restaurant, the chase and shootout swiftly degenerate into a surreal nightmare that seems to justify Connie''s view of the modern world. Shortly after, Harry encounters a filthy, rag-clad denizen of the streets, who says ominousTrade ReviewKoontz redefines suspense - The TimesKoontz's style bleaches out cliches while showing a genius for detail - Publishers WeeklyKoontz's art is making the reader believe the impossible... sit back and enjoy it - Sunday TelegraphA master of the thriller genre - Washington Post

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Book SynopsisNeil Ansell''s THE LAST WILDERNESS is a mesmerising book on nature and solitude by a writer who has spent his lifetime taking solitary ventures into the wild. For any readers of the author''s previous book, DEEP COUNTRY, Robert Macfarlane''s THE OLD WAYS or William Atkins THE MOOR.Shortlisted for the 2018 Wainwright Golden Beer Book PrizeShortlisted for the 2018 Highland Book Prize ''Ansell has the rare skill of combining vividly the intimacy of detail and the astonishing grandeur of this North West coastline of Scotland. Through his keen eyes we look again at the familiar with a sense of wondrous revelation'' Madeleine Bunting ''Beautiful...a testimony to reticent courage'' Daily MailThe experience of being in nature alone is here set within the context of a series of walks that Neil Ansell takes into the most remote parts of Britain, the rough bounds in the Scottish Highlands. He illustrates the impact of Trade ReviewAnsell's beautiful memoir of his walks through the Scottish wilderness makes the case for being truly a part of nature rather than outside of it * Observer *Ansell has the rare skill of combining vividly the intimacy of detail and the astonishing grandeur of this North West coastline of Scotland. Through his keen eyes we look again at the familiar with a sense of wondrous revelation -- Madeleine BuntingThe Last Wilderness is a moving and mesmerising book. Ansell's quiet, respectful immersion in the landscape rewards with some startling encounters with the natural world. He is a knowledgeable and generous guide to the unique flora and fauna of this beautiful corner of Scotland -- James Macdonald Lockhart, author of RAPTORNeil Ansell is a genuine creature of the wild. His knowledge of remote places, and his love for them, come from deep and sustained immersion. He writes in prose which is entirely right for its subject - unshowy, level-headed, quietly surprising. The Last Wilderness is a wonderful experience which tingles with all the sensations of being out on the hill, in all weathers, alone -- Philip MarsdenA beautifully-written account of the author's journeys to some of the most remote parts of Britain in search of solitude and solace * Choice *Beautifully charts the challenges and solaces of being alone and part of nature * Bookseller *Lyrical, thought-provoking * Scotsman *A love letter to Scotland . . . how I wish I could go back to Arisaig and the Small Isles. How much I missed, but how glad I am to experience it now with this wonderful writer * My Weekly *Beautiful...a testimony to reticent courage * Daily Mail *[A] captivating memoir...vivid as photographs, yet sketched with something more profound than simple reportage. Beneath the measured, knowledgeable, unfussy voice is a meaningful, and even important record: not just of a changing landscape, but of a man such places have shaped. -- The HeraldThe Last Wilderness is a beautiful read; rich in descriptive detail... his passion for the environment and his sublime prose make it a book to be savoured. * CultureFly *A hauntingly beautiful memoir on nature, solitude and hearing loss * Waterstones Website, Best books to look out for *He captures the landscape and the sense of adventure exquisitely: enough to make me feel I've been there but leaving me longing to make a trek of my own * The Pool *[A] haunting, lyrical memoir * Simple Things *

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Book Synopsis**Summer Days at Sunrise Farm, the new book in the Animal Ark revisited series, is currently available!**''A stunning, beautiful tale of friendship and love... I laughed and I cried, and cannot recommend it highly enough!'' Books of All Kinds Newly qualified vet Mandy Hope is leaving Leeds - and her boyfriend Simon - to return to the Yorkshire village she grew up in, where she''ll help out with animals of all shapes and sizes in her parents'' surgery.But it''s not all plain sailing: Mandy clashes with gruff local Jimmy Marsh, and some of the villagers won''t accept a new vet. Meanwhile, Simon is determined that Mandy will rejoin him back in the city. When tragedy strikes for her best friend James Hunter, and some neglected animals are discovered on a nearby farm, Mandy must prove herself. When it comes to being there for her friends - and protecting animals in need - she''s prepared to do whatever it takes...<

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Book SynopsisI''m not on my own because I''ve been sitting crying into a handkerchief or apron over a lack of interested men. I''ve been made every offer imaginable over the years. Men offer themselves, their sons . . . drunk fathers sometimes call me up and say things like: ''Do you need a farmhand?'' ''I can lift the hay bales'' ''I can repair your tractors''. . .Heida is a solitary farmer with a flock of 500 sheep in a remorseless area bordering Iceland''s highlands. It''s known as the End of the World. One of her nearest neighbors is Iceland''s most notorious volcano, Katla, which has periodically driven away the inhabitants of Ljótarstaoir ever since people first started farming there in the twelfth century. This portrait of Heida written with wit and humor by one of Iceland''s most acclaimed novelists, Steinunn Siguroardóttir, tells a heroic tale of a charismatic young woman, who walked away from a career as a model to take over the family farm at the age ofTrade ReviewHeida is a force of nature . . . she has about her an honesty that is never less than enchanting * Sunday Times *A fierce account of what it means to hold the countryside in trust . . . [Heida is an] utterly charming personality . . . this is an inspiring story of resistance to a corporate Goliath, and [Heida] - with her forthright tone and irrepressible humour - makes a delightful David * Mail on Sunday *I had the feeling while reading it that Heida was in MY kitchen, idly chatting to ME and that I was getting to know her really well, as a close friend . . . It was a privilege to be 'talked to' as a friend and allowed to share a fine farmer's life for a few hours * Rosamund Young, author of THE SECRET LIVES OF COWS *A rare portrait of a woman possessed of frontier courage and a sense of humour and humility . . . revelatory and inspiring * The Herald *Heida comes across as a highly impressive person . . . Iceland is lucky to have this formidable guardian angel protecting its traditions and landscape * Daily Mail *Sharp and funny . . . this is an engrossing quick dispatch from an unusual life * The Riverside Way (The Riverside Bookshop blog) *What a story . . . a real-life Bathsheba from Far From the Madding Crowd, but undistracted by the endless queue of male suitors . . . this frank, unusual book details a year in her life * Muddy Stilettos *An engaging memoir . . . a beautifully written ode * Countryman *A study in courage and determination * TLS *It is her deep connectedness to others - whether her family, her farmer neighbours, her dog, or the land itself - which drives the emotional heart of the book * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisAttracting Garden Pollinators is a friendly, accessible, information packed guide to gardening for and with pollinators. Pollinators are in trouble, but our gardens can help. Gardens represent a vast, varied nature reserve' packed with plants rich in nectar and pollen to sustain these delicate creatures. This book explores the role that pollinators play and how gardeners and people with gardens can do something to help attract and support them. From butterflies (and their caterpillars - with host plant information) to surprising pollinators (moths, wasps, beetles flies and hornets) and of course including honeybees, hoverflies and bumblebees, this book will offer an insight into their fragile existence, lifecycles and their vital role in the food chain and the natural cycle. Jean Vernon is the Best-Selling author of The Secret Lives of Garden Bees.

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Book SynopsisA friendly, accessible insight into the weird, but wonderful world of the bees you may find in your garden. From the common or garden bumblebees that nest in bird boxes, compost heaps and old mouse holes, making ‘Winnie the Pooh’ style honey pots to feed their babes, to the quirky wool carder bee; a solitary bee that combs the fluff from garden plants to line her brood cells and the amazing leaf-cutter bee that carves chunks out of plant foliage to seal its egg chambers. This book will reveal the secrets and fascinating lives of the bees that live and breed in your garden, from buzz pollination, to the bee robbers that cheat the plants and steal nectar by stealth. With a seasonal guide to explore what you are likely to see in your garden, great plants to grow to help them, plus other fascinating information on these secretive creatures, this book is designed to bring alive the world of garden bees before your very eyes.

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Book SynopsisAll About Cats is a collection of hilarious rhymes . . . all about cats! These short, funny rhymes are brought to life with illustrations from Axel Scheffler, the bestselling illustrator of The Gruffalo. Cats are sleek, and cats are slick. They read, and do arithmetic!Have you ever seen a cat playing a piano? Or taking a bubble bath with a rubber duck? Find out what cats really get up to when people aren't around! Axel Scheffler's charming and witty illustrations introduce all kinds of cats – making mischief, playing games, singing songs and out on adventures. This collection of hilarious, quirky poems by Frantz Wittkamp is wonderfully adapted from German to English for the very first time by celebrated children's author David Henry Wilson.With fourteen delightfully funny short poems, and full-page colour illustrations by Axel Scheffler, the genius illustrator of Room on the Broom, Zog, The Smeds and the Smoos and many more, this collection is sure to entertain children young and old, and is the perfect gift for any cat fan.

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Book Synopsis'Twelve men have walked on the moon. But how many have spent an entire season with the Emperors in Antarctica? Maybe more, likely less. Lindsay McCrae has - and this is his wonderful and frank story.' - Chris PackhamWhen the BBC asked BAFTA-winning cameraman Lindsay McCrae to go to Antarctica to film emperor penguins he was thrilled. After discussing it with his wife Becky they agreed that, although it would mean him being away for 11 months, he should do it. But then she became pregnant and it seemed like the worst idea in the world - not just to miss the birth of his first child, but the first 7 months of his life. Weeks of anguished discussions followed before they decided he should go because it was his dream project and the chance might never come again.My Penguin Year recounts Lindsay's adventure to the end of the Earth, filming the most resilient creatures in nature, while coping with being over 15,000km away from Becky and all the comforts of home - something which almost proved too much. Out of that experience he has written an unprecedented portrait of Antarctica's most extraordinary residents, the emperor penguins. They march up to 100 miles over solid ice to reach their breeding grounds. They choose to breed in the depths of the worst winter on the planet; and in an unusual role reversal, the males incubate the eggs, fasting for over 100 days to ensure they introduce their chicks safely into their new frozen world. And they are uniquely vulnerable to the unprecedented melting of the polar ice cap.In weaving their story with his epic journey, Lindsay has created a masterpiece of natural observation - and a deeply moving tale of human endeavour in the harshest environment on the planet.Trade Review'[McCrae's] remarkable memoir is rich in the technological and logistical challenges of filming in extreme conditions. But most gripping are his fine-tuned observations of these beautiful metre-high birds, which must survive and raise their young in temperatures as low as -60?°C' * Nature *'My Penguin Year is an immersive insight into the life of a wildlife filmmaker and the challenges of surviving in the harshest, most unforgiving environment on Earth.' * The Herald *With heart-stopping accounts of human and penguin jeopardy - including the moment when the team had to decide whether to dig an ice ramp to save a trapped penguin colony from certain death - this is a candid and moving memoir of the reality behind the making of a stunning documentary. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis*Levison Wood's documentary series on WALKING WITH ELEPHANTS is available to watch now on Channel 4*This book comes at a critical time. Fifty years ago, Africa was home to just over 1.3 million elephants, but by 1990 the number had halved. Meanwhile in the span of a lifetime, the human population has more than doubled. In Levison Wood's The Last Giants, he explores the rapid decline of one of the world's favourite animals. Filled with stories from his own time spent travelling with elephants in Africa, and documenting their migration in his Channel 4 series, Walking With Elephants, the book is a passionate wake-up call for this endangered species we take for granted. The Last Giants was written to inspire us all to act - to learn more and help save the species from permanent extinction.

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Book SynopsisA complete, comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to living with and caring for the world's most popular dog, from the leading expert in the field.'The best guide to preparing for a puppy and emerging unscathed from the next 12 months that I've seen' -- The Bookbag'Covers everything you need to know' -- ***** Reader review'I would be lost without it!!' -- ***** Reader review'Love Labs? Got a Lab? Then get this book, pretty much everything you want and need to know is in here' -- ***** Reader review'Fantastic book - really informative and helpful. Recommend.' -- ***** Reader review*********************************************************************************************Pippa Mattinson, dog-training specialist, tells you everything you need to know about training and caring for your labrador.From puppyhood to old age, this book provides an in-depth guide to raising your labrador, making for a contented owner and a happy dog, covering among other topics:· Surviving the first few weeks· Health queries· Practical training· Sexual maturity· Breeding· Senior Labradors· Games to play for all agesPippa Mattinson is in touch with over 300,000 dog owners every month through her website The Labrador Site and online forum The Labrador Forum and knows exactly what labrador owners want. Founder of The Gundog Trust, her first two books Total Recall and The Happy Puppy Handbook have won praise from many happy dog owners.Trade ReviewThe best guide to preparing for a puppy and emerging unscathed from the next 12 months that I’ve seen * The Bookbag on The Happy Puppy Handbook *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times top ten bestseller'Lost Dog is already one of my books of the year. Spicer writes like a dream...You will love it.' India Knight, Sunday Times 'Sharply observed and deeply funny, it's one of the best, most enjoyable books of 2019 so far' British VogueWhat did Fleabag do next?One morning, you wake up and wonder what has happened to your life. Then you realise: you happened to yourself.Kate is a middle aged woman trying to steer some order into a life that is going off the rails. When she adopts a lurcher called Wolfy, the shabby rescue dog saves her from herself. But when the dog disappears, it is up to Kate to hit the streets of London and find him. Will she save him, as he has saved her - or will she lose everything?As she trudges endlessly calling his name in the hopeless hope she may find him, she runs into other people’s landscapes and lives, finding allies amongst psychics, bloggers and mysterious midnight joggers. Trying to find her dog tests her relationship, and her sanity, to its limits – and gets her thinking about her life, and why things have turned out as they have for her. A brilliant, life-affirming memoir, Lost Dog is a book like no other about the myth of modern womanhood.Trade ReviewLost Dog is already one of my books of the year. Spicer writes like a dream, and her unblinking appraisal of her world and of her place in it feels like an act of generosity towards the reader. You will love it. -- India Knight * Sunday Times *Kate Spicer made me care about a f***ing dog. I don't know who I am anymore. * John Niven *Part love letter, part tribute to the power of never giving up hope, Lost Dog is not simply for those who like dogs. It’s a mature piece of writing that never falters... It hits you right in the heart. * Literary Review *Sharply observed and deeply funny, it's one of the best, most enjoyable books of 2019 so far * British Vogue *Amazing... so much more than a lost dog. * Grazia *

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Book SynopsisACCOMPANIES THE LANDMARK SERIES NARRATED BY DAVID ATTENBOROUGHFind a world of wonder beyond the ice. 'Looking down at our planet from space it may come as a surprise how much of it is blanketed in snow and ice. These vast frozen wildernesses cover more than a fifth of the earth ... From the highest peaks to snow-bound deserts to alien worlds deep beneath the ice, they are home to an astonishing array of animals found nowhere else on earth.'David Attenborough, from the series.Frozen Planet II celebrates the surprisingly diverse worlds of ice - a world that is disappearing before our very eyes. Previously undiscovered stories, from chameleons giving birth on the frosty slopes of Mount Kenya to endangered Amur leopards in the Russian forest and killer whales hunting Weddell seals on ice floes in the Antarctic, shed new light on the beauty and the peril of the world's most fragile ecosystems. Behind-the-scenes insights explore the unique challenges of filming in these frozen worlds, where camera crew and wildlife alike brave the extreme conditions.With over 250 stunning full-colour photographs, Frozen Planet II reveals the wonders of the fastest-changing part of our planet, as we may never see them again.

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Book SynopsisEvery year millions of puppies enter homes, carrying their new family’s expectation of a wonderful relationship. Sadly, many are rehomed or lose their lives as the result of behaviours which their owners find difficult to live with. Helping a puppy to grow into a resilient dog, capable of coping with the challenges of daily living, whilst retaining a good quality of life and exhibiting behaviours acceptable within society, is not an easy task. 'Life Skills for Puppies' aims to simplify puppy education by presenting the skills that are required to achieve these goals within the context of everyday life. By enabling owners to incorporate teaching into each interaction they enjoy with their puppy, it not only becomes easier for them, but also enables the puppy to practice appropriate behaviour choices within day-to-day situations. By teaching skills such as self-control, respect for rules, and clear communication, owners can spend less time directing their dog, and more time enjoying their relationship with him, as he takes more control for his own good behaviour. Beautiful, specially-taken photographs illustrate the points made, and each chapter includes a worksheet to help owners chart their puppy's progress.

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Book SynopsisFrom mountain to sea and bog to forest, this perpetual diary shows the ebb and flow of life on our beautiful island. Alongside Carsten Krieger’s photographs of spectacular landscapes, flora and fauna from across the country, the reader has space to mark birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates or simply journal their thoughts as the seasons change. From the author and photographer behind many books including Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Islands, Ireland’s Ancient East and this year’s Wild Ireland: A Nature Journey from Shore to Peak.

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Book SynopsisSaturn is the showcase of the Solar System. It may not be the largest of the planets, nor the smallest, nor even the only planet with rings. But it is among the most stunningly beautiful objects in the sky, and is always breathtaking when seen in a telescope. This is a beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of the entire history of humankind’s fascination with the ringed planet, from the first low-resolution views of Galileo, Huygens and other early observers with telescopes to the most recent discoveries by the spacecraft Cassini, which studied the planet at close range between 2004 and 2017. The book describes the planet from inside out, details the complicated system of rings and their interaction with Saturn’s bevy of satellites, and considers how Saturn formed and the role it played in the early history of the Solar System. Featuring the latest research and a spectacular array of images, it will appeal to the wide audience for astronomy and popular science.

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Book SynopsisChoose your new cuddly companion from this collection of 28 cute kittens. Best-selling artist Susie Hodge teaches you to transform simple shapes into adorable furry felines in a range of playful poses. There are 28 different kittens to draw; each project starts with a few basic outlines and progresses into a finished tonal drawing, and a final coloured version shows you how to develop your drawing even further. Perfect for beginners, as well as budding artists, you’ll be amazed how easily you too can bring these friendly furballs to life with this inspiring guide. Trade ReviewLearn how to draw kittens in simple steps with the latest addition to Search Press's How to Draw series. Best-selling artist, Susie Hodge, will teach you how to transform simple shapes into convincing kitten, with 28 different kittens to draw. Each of these projects starts with a very basic outline, which Susie develops in stages into a finished tonal drawing. There is also a final coloured version to show you how to develop your drawing even further. * Leisure Painter, April 2023 *Table of ContentsCream Tabby Shorthair 5, Tabby and White 6, Domestic Medium Hair 7, Calico 8, Siamese 9, Ragamuffin 10, Domestic Shorthair 11, American Shorthair 12, British Shorthair 13, Orange/Ginger 14, Small Tabby 15, Russian Blue 16, Tabby and White Siberian cross 17, Tabby leaping 18, Tabby waiting 19, British Shorthair sitting 20, Domestic Shorthair sitting up high 21, Burmese 22, Calico with head turned 23, Tabby with a ball 24, Siamese facing front 25, American Shorthair sitting 26, Savannah 27, Bengal 28, Abyssinian 29, Ginger Tabby 30, Norwegian Forest 31, Maine Coon 32

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Book SynopsisThrough informative chapters ranging from the physiological and environmental to the water vole''s inclusion in myth, legend, art and literature, The Water Vole Book is an ideal guide to its subject for all nature lovers, beautifully illustrated throughout with brand new photography and artwork.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of 'enchanting' If Clouds Were Sheep comes a new tale of family and the call of the farming life. Young mum and shepherdess Sue Andrews is working hard to make ends meet while she and husband Aubrey raise two small children on their busy farm in the Cotswolds. They have a growing reputation for breeding pedigree Texel sheep, but Sue also has a dream of her own ... She longs to breed and produce sports horses. Humorous and beautifully captivating, this is the true story of family life on a farm. Full of warmth and determination – and the people and animals who make all the difference along the wayTrade Review‘An enchanting picture of farming life, full of warmth and humour’ -- Katie Fforde; 'The love, not only for the sheep but for the sheep dogs, family and for one another, comes across loud and clear. A beautiful, poignant, entertaining and funny read' -- Reader review

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Book SynopsisThis volume of John Muir's selected writings chronicles the key turning points in his life and study of the American wilderness. The Story of My Boyhood and Youth is Muir's account of his childhood on a Wisconsin farm, where his interest in nature was first piqued; in The Mountains of California, The Yosemite, and Travels in Alaska we follow him on long journeys into stunning mountain ranges and valleys, where he records native flora and fauna and finds proof of his theories of the effect of glaciers on landscape formation. These four full-length works--along with a selection of important essays also included here--helped galvanize American naturalists, leading to the founding of the Sierra Club and several national parks. In these pages, written with meticulous thoroughness and an impassioned lyricism, we witness Muir's awakening to the incredible beauty of our planet, and the honing of an eye turned as acutely toward the scientific as the spiritual.

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Book SynopsisTrees have starred in stories ever since Ovid described the nymph Daphne's metamorphosis into a laurel, and the landscape of literature has long been enlivened by wild woodlands, sacred groves, and fertile orchards. This delightful collection ranges from Ovid to Austen and from Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest (via Thomas Love Peacock's Maid Marian) to Washington Irving's 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. Here are forest-haunted fairy tales both classic (the Brothers Grimm) and inventively retold (Angela Carter). There is room in these woods for comedy as well as terror, in Stella Gibbons's Cold Comfort Farm, and Alexander McCall Smith's 'Head Tree'. Notable writers from around the world contribute arboreal fiction-from South Africa, Finland, France, Zimbabwe, Russia, Martinique, and India, as well as Britain, Ireland, Canada and America. From Daphne du Maurier's 'The Apple Tree' to R. K. Narayan's 'Under the Banyan Tree', the sheer range of stories in these pages will leave readers refreshed and dazzled.

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Book Synopsis'Modest, down to earth and full of humour, this is one of the best books about filming I've ever read.' MICHAEL PALIN'Extraordinary: Gavin's easy prose and gasp-making encounters make for a gripping and very funny read. It's a rollercoaster ride with a complete professional. I loved it.' JOANNA LUMLEY'[Gavin is] a great cameraman with infinite patience, but also a writer with great powers of observation and expression. Brilliant!' ALAN TITCHMARSH_________From Gavin Thurston, the award-winning Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II cameraman with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough comes extraordinary and adventurous true stories of what it takes to track down and film our planet's most captivating creatures.Gavin has been a wildlife photographer for over thirty years. Against a backdrop of modern world history, he's lurked in the shadows of some of the world's remotest places in order to capture footage of the animal kingdom's finest: prides of lions, silverback gorillas, capuchin monkeys, brown bears, grey whales, penguins, mosquitoes - you name it he's filmed it.Come behind the camera and discover the hours spent patiently waiting for the protagonists to appear; the inevitable dangers in the wings and the challenges faced and overcome; and the heart-warming, life-affirming moments the cameras miss as well as capture. What other readers are saying about Journeys in the Wild: 'It's touching, it's thought provoking and its emotional...Go pick it up. It's an absolute inspiration of a book.' Goodreads'Full of unbelievable anecdotes from decades of work, some absolutely hilarious, this book left me in complete wonder.' Goodreads'An amazing read and I would heartily recommend it to everyone I know.' GoodreadsTrade ReviewGavin's book is extraordinary: his easy prose and gasp-making encounters make for a gripping and very funny read. It's a rollercoaster ride with a complete professional. I loved it. * Joanna Lumley *Gavin Thurston's book has all sorts of strengths. His camera has captured some of the most eye-catching images of the natural world ever seen on television. And he can write. He brings the process home to us in a style that is modest, down to earth and full of humour. This is one of the best books about filming I've ever read. * Michael Palin *[Gavin is] a great cameraman with infinite patience, but also a writer with great powers of observation and expression. Brilliant! * Alan Titchmarsh *This is an absorbing account of a fascinating career. * BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE *His no-holds-barred memoir plunges you into the serendipities and perils of working in the remote wilderness, as he stands stock-still to 'hide' from short-sighted African elephants in Kenya, films demoiselle cranes flying 6 kilometres up above Nepal, or marvels at the hiss of Mauritania's dryland crocodiles. -- Barbara Kiser * NATURE *An enlightening glimpse beyond the lens. * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *

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Book SynopsisTraining the Working Labrador looks at all aspects of the care, management and training of the modern working Labrador. It discusses many of the issues affecting today’s dog owners in a society which may not always seem to be providing enough time to own and train working gundogs. The book provides advice and guidance on a host of practical feeding, management and training matters based on the author’s lifelong experience and chapters are included on nutrition and care – especially for those who may be away from home for part of the day. The very latest Labrador health tests are covered in detail and their relevance to their owners. With its wealth of instructional photographs and detailed training guidelines, Training the Working Labrador is essential reading for the first time owner/trainer of a Labrador. It is equally useful as an important update on Labrador issues for the experienced owner.Trade Review"In an age where dogs are too often seen as status symbols rather than living, breathing creatures that require time, care and attention, the education of owners is more important than ever. Those thinking of adding a lab to their household would do well to metaphorically nail this book to their coffee table and study it intently thereafter. Written in the same approachable tone of his Shooting Gazette training advice articles, Jeremy covers all aspects of this much-loved gundog's training, nutrition, breeding and buying: reminding the reader it's not always about what we want from our dog but also what our dogs want from us.""This book looks at all aspects of the care, management and training of the modern working labrador and discusses many of the issues affecting today's dog owners. Excellently illustrated, it provides advice and guidance on a range of practical matters, all of which are based on the author's lifelong experience with the breed. Essential reading for the first-time owner/trainer and, equally, an important update on labrador issues for the experienced owner.""Few people are better qualified to write a book entitled Training the Working Labrador than Jeremy Hunt. He's been involved with working gundogs for more than 40 years and has written extensively about gundogs and how to train them...Even if you have several books on labrador training, you're unlikely to be disappointed with this new volume."Table of Contents1. The Breed Explained 2. Buying the Right Labrador 3. Modern Life — the 21st Century Labrador 4. Rearing the Young Labrador and Achieving 'Connection' 5. The Formative Year 6. Feeding — Getting it Right 7. Nurturing Working Ability 8. Managing the Adult Labrador 9. Gundog Training — Laying the Foundation 10. Prep School 11. The Next Level 12. The Real Thing Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisNiall Mac Coitir provides a comprehensive look at the folklore, legends and history of animals in Ireland, and describes their relations with people, being hunted for food, fur, sport, or as vermin, and their position today. A final section, inspired by stories of animal transformation, looks at twelve animals and how we can enrich our lives by visualising ourselves with their special qualities. This fascinating and beautifully illustrated compilation of folklore, legends and natural history will delight all with an interest in Ireland’s animals.Trade Review'Full of arcane and interesting facts' * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisFollowing the spirit of the world’s longest coastal driving route, Paul Clements sets out to discover the real west of Ireland. Along the way he encounters memorable characters living on the Atlantic edge and presents a unique portrait of their lives. We meet the last man standing on a remote Galway island, listen to the banter at Puck Fair, and hear from a descendant of the original sixteenth-century wild Atlantic woman. Tagging along on his meandering journey is the swashbuckling presence of the Celtic sea god, Manannán Mac Lir. For his first travel book in 1991, Paul hitchhiked the same route. Now retracing his steps along the Wild Atlantic Way – this time by car and bike, on horseback and on foot – he looks at how Ireland has changed and realises everyone still has a story to tell. Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity, this is a distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature. Also by this author: `The Height of Nonsense: The Ultimate Irish Road Trip’ Praise for this author: “Stacks of free copies should be sent to all our tourist desks abroad.” – The Irish Times. “For sheer pleasure, nothing I read beat Paul Clements’ `The Height of Nonsense’.” – The Observer. “A compulsive, educational, laugh-out-loud read.” – Sunday Independent. "A fascinating journey around the hidden corners of Ireland." – BBC RadioTrade Review'A very enjoyable book, filled with educational, uplifting and side-splitting stories, an engaging mix of travel, nature and social commentary.' -- Damien Enright * Irish Examiner *'Clements is an affable, thoughtful guide, always alert to the small, telling detail.' * Irish Independent *'Utterly entertaining from beginning to end.' * Irish Examiner *'Engrossing portrait of western Ireland.' * Irish Mountain Log *'A good production, well designed in which the author discovers the west of Ireland, this book will appeal to a general readership.' * Books Ireland *'The author has discovered that the Wild Atlantic Way has revitalised the west and led to a newfound energy.' * Connacht Tribune *'Clements is an authority on the popular tourist route that has become the Wild Atlantic Way.' * Fermanagh Herald *'A wonderful book with inspiring insights.' * IrelandWays.Com *'The Wild Atlantic Way is far more than a tourist trail and this book charts Clements' return journey along it.' * Pol O Conghaile, Irish Independent *'A must-read book in which Clements experiences both the mythic and the human.' * Culture Northern Ireland *'An epic journey full of thoughtful observations and showing a zest for people.' * Tyrone Herald *'A distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature.' * Clare Champion *'Very visual writing that delves into the facts and fantasies of the west of Ireland.' * Irish News *'Nature's sights and aromas are all around him while the thundering wild Atlantic plays its own soundtrack.' * Leitrim Observer *'A well paced and illuminating book full of quirky stories.' * Sligo Weekender *'An insight into a changing world where wit, humour and small-town Ireland anecdotes are as warm and as endearing as ever.' * The Kerryman *'With his seamless word-tapestry, Clements has written a vibrant and honest word-picture of the rolling, rocky, craggy and compelling Wild Atlantic Way.' * Mayo News *'A delightfully varied book on the changing face of Ireland.' * Niall Delaney, Ocean FM *'An informative, colourful and engaging book.' * Shaun Doherty, Highland Radio *'Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity.' * Donegal News *'A brilliant read.' * Stephen McCauley, Radio Ulster book club *'Three hundred and forty fascinating pages and a beautiful storied book that touches the hearts and souls of the communities.' * Weeshie Fogarty, Radio Kerry *'A fascinating coastal journey that starts and continues in an unhurried way. Clements discovers the marvellous in the ordinary.' * BBC Radio *'Superb idea.' -- Sean Moncrieff * Newstalk *

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Book Synopsis10 years on from the first, groundbreaking, Planet Earth, we use the most incredible advances in technology and scientific discovery to bring you the most exciting and immersive picture of our world's wildlife yet. With over 250 breathtaking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, this is an extraordinary new look at the complex life of some of the most amazing places on Planet Earth. Each chapter reveals an environment – some never-before-seen, some astonishingly familiar – defined by a unique set of rules required for survival. From the most desolate desert to the depths of the jungle, from blistering heat and freezing cold to perpetual darkness and deadly UV, discover how a whole host of creatures have adapted to life in the most extreme conditions. And how they compete with one another to become the largest, the fastest, the most poisonous, or most devious - all in a bid to survive. Planet Earth II includes the first in-depth look at the urban environment, and the surprising range of behaviours occurring right under our noses, as well as some previously untouched island worlds. Filmed with remarkable 5k and infra-red technology, these are the challenges, the confrontations, and the triumphs of some of the most extraordinary creatures in the natural world, told from their perspective. This is our planet, as you have never seen it before.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe more you know about your Bearded Dragon, the better you will be able to provide the care and attention your pet requires for a healthy and happy life. The pet expert guide offers comprehensive advice on every aspect of Bearded Dragon care. Learn all about Setting up your vivarium, vivarium maintenance, the correct environment, Bearded Dragon behaviour, feeding, nutrition and health.

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