Search results for ""Astra Publishing House""
Astra Publishing House This Way That Way
How does a giraffe sleep with such an amazingly long neck? Does it wrap itself around a tree? Does it curl up on the ground, or stretch out like a hammock? In this hilarious lift-the-flap book, each idea is illustrated with great visual humor. Whether the giraffe likes sleeping this way, that way, or in some way only a child could imagine, children will love these clever variations.
£9.04
Astra Publishing House Written and Drawn by Henrietta: TOON Level 3
Written and Drawn by Henrietta: TOON Level 3 (Toon Books) Also available in Spanish as Escrito y dibujado por Enriqueta A Junior Library Guild Selection Reading books is fun . . . but what about making them? Armed with new coloured pencils, Henrietta's ready to try. Peek over her shoulder as she draws the story of a brave young girl, a three-headed monster, and an impossibly wide world of adventure. Whether read aloud to a toddler or discovered by a young reader, Liniers' celebration of the creative process is sure to make everyone want to bring out their pencils. Ricardo Siri Liniers, known as Liniers, is the author of Macanudo, a daily comic strip hugely popular in Argentina, now available in English. His US debut, The Big Wet Balloon, a TOON Book, was nominated for an Eisner Award and chosen as one of Parents' Top 10 Children's Books. He lives in Buenos Aires with his wife and three daughters, Matilda, Clementina, and Emma, whom he credits as inspirations for this book.
£9.04
Astra Publishing House The Real Poop on Pigeons!: TOON Level 1
Did you know a pigeon can fly faster than a car and farther than a small airplane? Or that they have something unusual in common with penguins, flamingos, and even the dodo? With his trademark mix of humor, well-researched facts, and artistry, Kevin McCloskey delivers the straight poop on these humble creatures, which turn out to be...coo, coo, COOL!Kevin McCloskey, who teaches illustration at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, learned about pigeons from Vinnie Torre, one of Hoboken’s last pigeon racers. He dedicated this book to his children, even if his daughter is a little skittish on the subject since a flock of pigeons descended on the family during a visit to London’s Trafalgar Square. He says he considered painting the pictures here on roofing material (because pigeons flock to roofs) but settled instead for painting on a pigeon-blue Fabriano paper, the kind used by Picasso.
£7.99
Astra Publishing House The Efficient, Inventive (Often Annoying) Melvil Dewey
Who was Melvil Dewey? Learn how Dewey's love of organization and words drove him to develop and implement his Dewey Decimal system, leaving a significant and lasting impact in libraries across the country.When Melvil Dewey realized every library organized their books differently, he wondered if he could invent a system all libraries could use to organize them efficiently. A rat-a-tat speaker, Melvil was a persistent (and noisy) advocate for free public libraries. And while he made enemies along the way as he pushed for changes–like his battle to establish the first library school with women as students, through it all he was EFFICIENT, INVENTIVE, and often ANNOYING as he made big changes in the world of public libraries–changes still found in the libraries of today!
£16.99
Astra Publishing House Pizza, Pickles, and Apple Pie: The Stories Behind the Foods We Love
How did a pizza become a pizza? Is a pickle really a cucumber in disguise? Explore fascinating food history, nutrition, and American culture through this middle-grade graphic-format nonfiction book for kids that answers oft-asked questions about the foods we love, explaining how they came to be. Whether it's pizza and pickles or sushi and salad, there's a story behind all of our favorite foods. From breakfast to dinner, this book explores popular foods from our history, and explains their origins. Young readers will travel back in time sometimes thousands of years to cultures all over the globe to learn how and why foods were discovered. They'll also meet key people from food history along the way, including the inventor of breakfast cereal and the creator of salad dressing. The science behind unhealthy foods is also explored in this fascinating book, which includes projects and activities for both the classroom and home.
£16.19
Astra Publishing House Snails Are Just My Speed!: TOON Level 1
Snails Are Just My Speed!: TOON Level 1 (TOON into Reading) What's the scoop behind all the mucus? Did you know snails build roads like engineers and go undercover in camouflage like spies? Did you know they can be smaller than a seed or bigger than a grown-up's hand? Kevin McCloskey mixes snail science, art, and hilarity for the newest book in his Giggle and Learn series, praised by the New York Times as "a winning combination of facts and gross-out fun."
£7.99
Astra Publishing House Hansel and Gretel: A TOON Graphic
"Hansel and Gretel astonishes from start to finish . . ." -The New York Times Bestselling author Neil Gaiman and fine artist Lorenzo Mattotti join forces to create Hansel and Gretel, a stunning book that's at once as familiar as a dream and as evocative as a nightmare. Mattotti's sweeping ink illustrations capture the terror and longing found in the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Gaiman crafts an original text filled with his signature wit and pathos that is sure to become a favourite of readers everywhere, young and old.
£11.26
Astra Publishing House The Love Report
BFFs Grace and Lola try to unravel the mystery of romance with a plan to observe, study, and analyze the ways of love at their junior high in the first book in this addictive graphic novel series. BFFs Grace and Lola talk about everything related to romance-and have lots of questions: What about the mysterious allure of the popular girl at school? And the rebellious goth with the reputation? And boys. They don't quite understand what makes some school romances soar to legendary heights, while other flirtations fizzle. Lola has an idea-they'll observe, study, and analyze all the couples at their Junior High-and compile their findings as The Love Report. Surprises await them, and force them to learn to see beyond appearances in this fast-paced series opener. They'll also discover secrets between themselves.
£16.19
Astra Publishing House Do You Remember Being Born?: A Novel
Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Sean Michaels's moving, innovative novel about an aging poet laureate who "sells out" by agreeing to collaborate with a Big Tech company's poetry AI. Do You Remember Being Born? is sensitively narrated by the aging, world-renowned poet Marian Ffarmer. Marian's pristine life of the mind � for which she's sacrificed nearly all personal relationships, from romance to friendship to showing up for her son � is interrupted one day by a cryptic invitation from a tech giant. Come to California, the invitation beckons, and write with a machine. The Company's lucrative offer � for Marian to compose a 'historic partnership' of a poem with their highly intelligent poetry bot, called Charlotte �, much as it chafes at everything she believes about art-making as an individual pursuit, is a second chance she cannot resist. And so to California she goes, a skeptic. But as unexpectedly welcome to Marian as suddenly being a financially reliable parent is her generative, growing fascination with Charlotte.
£22.50
Astra Publishing House Rivermouth
The Line Becomes a River meets Tell Me How It Ends in this book about translation, storytelling, and borders as understood through the United States' "immigration crisis." Alejandra Oliva is Mexican American, her family lineage defined by a long and fluid relationship with the border between Texas and Mexico, each generation born on opposite sides of the Rio Grande. A translator advocating for Latin American migrants seeking asylum and American citizenship, Oliva knows all too well the gravity of taking someone's trauma and delivering it in the warped form the immigration system demands. In Rivermouth, Oliva focuses on the physical spaces that make up different phases of immigration and looks at how language and opportunity move through each of them. From the river as the waterway that separates the United States and Mexico, to the table as the place over which Oliva prepares asylum seekers for their Credible Fear Interviews, and finally, to the wall as the behemoth imposition that runs along America's southernmost border. With lush prose and perceptive insight, Oliva encourages readers to approach the painful questions that this crisis poses with equal parts critique and compassion. By which metrics are we measuring who "deserves" American citizenship? What is the point of humanitarian systems that dole out aid distributed conditionally? What do we owe to our most disenfranchised? Rivermouth is an argument for porosity. Not just for porous borders and a decriminalization of immigration, but for a more open sense of what we owe one another and a willingness to extend radical empathy. As concrete as she is meditative, sharp as she is lyrical, and incisive as she is literary, Oliva argues for a better world while telling us why it's worth fighting to get there.
£22.50
Astra Publishing House Sunrise: Radiant Stories
A collection of contemplative, lyrical stories examining the visible and invisible consequences of atomic power on Japanese society Sunrise is a collection of interconnected stories continuing Erika Kobayashi's examination of the effects of nuclear power on generations of women. Connecting changes to everyday life to the development of the atomic bomb, Sunrise shows us how the discovery of radioactive power has shaped our history and continues to shape our future. In the opening, eponymous story "Sunrise," Yoko, born exactly two years and one day after Nagasaki was decimated, mirrors her life to the development of nuclear power in Japan. In "Precious Stones," four daughters take their elderly mother to the restorative waters of a radium spring, exchanging tales of immortality. In "Hello My Baby, Hello My Honey," a woman goes into labor during the final days of WWII. And finally, "The Forest of Wild Birds" shows Erika visiting the site of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster, touring grounds that were once covered in green. Translator Brian Bergstrom returns in this collection, bringing to life Kobayashi's unsettling, lasting, and striking prose. The stories in Sunrise force a reckoning with the lasting effects of known and unknown histories and asks how much of modern life is influenced by forces outside of our control.
£13.49
Astra Publishing House Fire Chief Fran
Fire Chief Fran A Kirkus Reviews Best Book Four starred reviews! ★ Booklist ★ Kirkus ★ Publishers Weekly ★ School Library Journal Perfect for fans of firefighters and fire trucks, this energetic rhyming picture book shows how a fire chief and her crew keep their community safe. . . . lights begin flashing, and—clang!—the bells blast. They leap into action— they need to move fast! If a puppy is in danger or a café is on fire, Fire Chief Fran is ready to help! Featuring a strong female role model, a huge fire truck, and an action-packed story, this read-aloud is a dynamic introduction to a day in the life of a firefighter. Follow along as Fire Chief Fran and her team respond not only to fires, but also to injuries, blocked roads, and more. With an irresistible rhyming text, acclaimed author Linda Ashman celebrates the many ways that firefighters help their communities. The book concludes with an author’s note that is packed with further fascinating information about firefighters, their equipment, their fire trucks, their training, and more.
£14.39
Astra Publishing House False Value
Now in paperback, the eighth book of the bestselling Rivers of London series returns to the adventures of Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, as he solves magical crimes in the city of London.Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with émigré Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner's brand new London start up—the Serious Cybernetics Company. Drawn into the orbit of Old Street's famous 'silicon roundabout', Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant's favourite son. Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological—and just as dangerous.
£9.15
Astra Publishing House The Slow Regard of Silent Things
Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy universe of The Kingkiller Chronicle, in this illustrated companion novella, The Slow Regard of Silent Things. “I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place. Her name is Auri, and she is full of mysteries. The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows.... In this book, Patrick Rothfuss brings us into the world of one of The Kingkiller Chronicle’s most enigmatic characters. Full of secrets and mysteries, The Slow Regard of Silent Things is the story of a broken girl trying to live in a broken world.
£19.28
Astra Publishing House Kindness Counts 123: A Highlights Book about Kindness
Teaching little ones about kindness can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! This bright and engaging board book invites young readers to count down from 10 while discovering the many ways to make the world a kinder place. Through vibrant illustrations and age-appropriate language, this 26-page kindness book will help kids 2-5 learn the important concepts of empathy and compassion.Whether it be delivering cookies to a new neighbor, sharing toys, or saying "I love you" to Grandma and Grandpa, this book is filled with tangible ways kids can show kindness toward others. It’s a perfect book to read aloud at home or in the classroom to spark conversations about kindness and empathy. Showcasing a diverse cast of children, this book’s joyful illustrations and simple words encourage children to be their best selves wherever they go.Featuring durable cardstock pages and approachable, kid-friendly language, this book offers a thoughtful and fun read-aloud experience that young children will enjoy again and again. This book is crafted by childhood experts to promote strong social and emotional skills, strengthen early math skills and build positive associations with reading.
£12.99
Astra Publishing House ABCs of Kindness: A Highlights Book about Kindness
From A to Z, this hardcover storybook shows young children how they can make the world a kinder place. Through vibrant illustrations and age-appropriate language, this 26-page book will encourage kids 2-5 to be their best selves wherever they go.Showcasing a diverse cast of children, the ABCs of Kindness book demonstrates everyday acts of kindness, inclusion and generosity—whether it be donating blankets to the animal shelter, helping with chores or standing up for what's right. It’s the perfect book to spark conversations at home or in the classroom about the concepts of empathy and compassion.Featuring durable cardstock pages and approachable, kid-friendly language, this book offers a thoughtful and fun read-aloud experience that young children will love. This book is crafted by childhood experts to promote strong social and emotional skills and build positive associations with reading.For over 75 years, Highlights has inspired children to become Curious, Creative, Caring and Confident individuals. With products that encourage thinking, creativity and self-expression, Highlights helps kids build essential skills, all while having fun.
£11.69
Astra Publishing House Rewind
In this unique, fast-paced twist on the time-travel genre and the first book in a trilogy, sixteen-year-old Alex is a spinner – one of a rare few who can rewind time to review past events. Alex's society uses spinners to help solve crimes, but their powers come with a price: no spinner ever lives past the age of twenty. Hated and feared because of their ability to find the truth, the small population of spinners is restricted to Centers – compounds created to house and protect them. Alex's society uses the spinners' skills to solve major crimes, but messing with time comes with consequences. At sixteen, Alex is in her prime – until time sickness strikes early. When she is offered an experimental treatment, Alex sees a future for herself for the first time. But the promising medication offers more than just a cure – it also brings with it alarming consequences.
£8.42
Astra Publishing House Easter Hidden Pictures Puzzles to Highlight
The perfect addition to any Easter basket! This Easter-themed collection of Hidden Pictures puzzles is inverted for a unique puzzling experience. Kids can use the included yellow highlighter to create fluorescent scenes and find hundreds of hidden objects.This Easter activity book combines the fun of coloring with highlighters and the enduring popularity of intricate Hidden Pictures puzzles. With images like bunnies, eggs, and flowers, these puzzles create a fun and engaging family Easter activity. Hidden Pictures fans will love creating eye-popping artwork with a neon highlighter on purple paper as they find and color the hidden objects!
£6.98
Astra Publishing House Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!
Ultimate Puzzle Challenge is filled with brain-twisting fun and ultra-challenging puzzles, expertly crafted for the most experienced puzzlers. With more than 125 games and activities inside, this collection features Hidden Pictures puzzles, mazes, Sudoku, word searches, crisscrosses, logic puzzles and more.From the puzzle experts at Highlights, this 256-page book includes our most challenging—and most rewarding—puzzles yet. A perfect activity book for kids ages 8-12, this collection is designed for super-solvers who are ready to up their game. This book is bursting with a wide variety of mind-bending visual puzzles and clever word puzzles, all infused with playful humor that will make kids want to keep on puzzling. With full-color illustrations and brilliant photos, this book is sure to please the most discerning of puzzle fans and offer hours of screen-free fun at home or on the go.Solving tricky puzzles is not only entertaining. It’s a great way for kids to hone their concentration and reasoning skills, challenging them to work with determination and focus to achieve their goals. Plus, kids will love tackling these ingenious puzzles alongside friends and family as a fun and memorable shared activity.
£10.99
Astra Publishing House Find it Things that Go
Baby’s first seek-and-find puzzles! This adorable puzzle board book, inspired by a popular feature in Hello magazine, encourages interactivity and invites babies, toddlers and their caregivers to read and explore together. Every page helps spark early learning by combining vibrant, baby-friendly illustrations and developmentally appropriate challenges.Touch and feel the embossed pages while searching for both familiar and new vehicles on the road, at the construction site and in the sky. The last page is a bonus learning activity about the sounds that vehicles make.Ready for hands-on fun, this book’s wipe-off surface protects against spills, and rounded edges provide a safe reading experience. Find It board books are easy to take on the go to entertain the littlest readers anywhere—a perfect gift for new parents! This interactive and tactile board book is designed by childhood experts to enhance learning and encourage bonding through play.
£6.99
Astra Publishing House Peek-A-Mood
Guess how I'm feeling? A peekaboo book and a primer on empathy, PEEK-A-MOOD invites children to open the flaps and explore our many emotions.Sometimes you may feel happy. Sometimes you may feel sad -- or angry, or scared, or silly. Whatever your mood, your face will show it. This clever board book uses shaped flaps to help children guess what each animal is feeling before revealing the answers. A final mirror spread allows them to show off how they feel, too.
£10.99
Astra Publishing House Fiona in the Sandbox
Fiona In the Sandbox Fiona digs, builds, and pretends in her favourite spot--the sandbox--in these second of four irresistible full-length miniature picture books, where the littlest readers are introduced to new friends and the charming world of the Hippo Park playground. This second book in the Hippo Park Friends series—introduces Fiona the Hippo in her beloved sandbox. Fiona is a builder and a digger and has a big imagination. She's digging for dinosaurs when she hits an imaginary bone and poof--she and her brother Herbert and face to face with a Dino. So naturally, they bake cakes and pies and enjoy! The Hippo Park Pals mini picture books are all set in the playground, where the animals play, imagine, and have lots of fun and feelings--just like pre-schoolers do.
£9.04
Astra Publishing House A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree
Boisterous and buzzing, A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree is destined to be an instant classic...with delightfully funny illustrations and clever, fun-to-read text, from the acclaimed author of One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree. When a hungry, fuzzy brown bear and a hive of angry bees come face to face, everybody's abuzz! Award-winning author Daniel Bernstrom and critically acclaimed illustrator Brandon James Scott have created a rowdy, rhythmic read-aloud that's also perfect for beginning readers. This epic chase story features Bernstrom's signature alliterative wordplay and verbal pizzazz, along with Scott's expressive characters that jump off the pages. A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree has the kind of high-energy, uninhibited playfulness that makes kids want to run, chase, find out something about bear and bee behaviour—and learn to read!
£15.29
Astra Publishing House The Perfect Split
Each read-aloud book in the Mouse Math series focuses on a single, basic math concept and features adorable mice, Albert and Wanda, who live in a People House. Entertaining fiction stories capture kids’ imaginations as the mice learn about numbers, shapes, sizes and more. Over 3 million copies sold worldwide! Melty's has games! Pizza! Prizes! Albert and Leo promise to split everything evenly, from the food to the tickets to the prizes. But some things just can't be split. When it comes to one special prize--winner takes all! Every Mouse Math title includes back matter activities that support and extend reading comprehension and math skills, plus free online activities. (Math concept: Equal to, less than, greater than). Beautifully illustrated with stunning pictures and cute characters
£6.99
Astra Publishing House Bear Can Dance!
Bear wishes he could fly. He wants to swoop and glide and feel the wind in his fur. Yet no matter how hard he flaps his arms, he can't get off the ground. Goose and Fox offer support, but Bear remains earthbound--until he hears music. Suddenly, Bear is gliding and swooping and light on his feet. In Suzanne Bloom's lovable story, the seventh in the popular Goose and Bear series, Bear discovers that not getting what you want isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it may lead to something surprising.
£14.99
Astra Publishing House Comics: Easy as ABC: The Essential Guide to Comics for Kids
Filled with activities, Comics: Easy as ABC is a fun way for young readers to effortlessly and playfully start thinking like writers and artists. This simple guide is also aimed at parents, teachers, and librarians: all will enjoy learning the ABCs of this popular and rapidly growing medium.Children kindergarten-age and up are shown how to use basic shapes to make faces, eyes, noses, and design their own characters. Ivan Brunetti’s funny and incisive advice on the language of comics (panels, lettering, balloons, and so much more) naturally leads budding artists and writers into thinking about their characters, settings, and prompts. A section with essential tips on how to read comics with young children rounds out the package. Featuring advice from master cartoonists and star authors— including Geoffrey Hayes, Eleanor Davis, Art Spiegelman, and many others.
£10.99
Astra Publishing House Tippy and the Night Parade
When Tippy wakes up, there's a peacock in her bedroom, a bird in her hair, and mice dancing on the headboard... Yet all Tippy remembers is falling asleep. In her first book for children, award-winning cartoonist Lilli Carré takes Tippy on a nocturnal adventure up a mountain, down a hole, and back home for endless bedtime enjoyment.
£7.78
Astra Publishing House A Trip to the Top of the Volcano with Mouse: TOON Level 1
Can we have pizza now?Join Mouse and a young explorer as they prepare to climb Mount Etna. Help them list what they’ll need: “walking sticks,” “mountain boots,” “sunglasses . . .““Can I have pepperoni?” asks Mouse. From sea to snow, young readers will giggle with delight as they experience the magical world drawn by Frank Viva. Over and over again, the bestselling author of Young Frank, Architect will make them expereince an unforgettable journey to the top of one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
£7.99
Astra Publishing House The Museum of Nothing
Discover all the many ways that nothing is really something! This mind-bendingly clever picture book about a visit to the Museum of Nothing will have curious readers marveling and laughing along. There is so much more to nothing than you think! Join Oona and Otto on a tour of the funny, fascinating Museum of Nothing in this imaginative read-aloud from noted designer Guarnaccia. This museum proudly displays every kind of nothing. There's the Hall of Holes (donut, button, black), the Zero Wing, the Nobody Room�where the Invisible Man is the star attraction�and more. With pages full of witty details to discover, this captivating book is perfect for curious kids ages 5-9 looking for their next big mind-bending adventure.
£16.19
Astra Publishing House The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester
The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester explores healing in the aftermath of trauma and the fullness of queer joy. In this queer contemporary YA mystery, a nonbinary autistic teen realizes they must not only solve a 30-year-old mystery but also face the demons lurking in their past in order to live a satisfying life. Sam Sylvester has long collected stories of half-lived lives—of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam’s own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near-death experience haunts them. They’re certain they don’t have much time left. . . . But Sam's life seems to be on the upswing after meeting several new friends and a potential love interest in Shep, their next-door neighbour. Yet the past keeps roaring back—in Sam’s memories and in the form of a thirty-year-old suspicious death that took place in Sam’s new home. Sam can’t resist trying to find out more about the kid who died and who now seems to guide their investigation. When Sam starts receiving threatening notes, they know they’re on the path to uncovering a murderer. But are they digging through the past or digging their own future grave? “Look no further for your next favourite read, because The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester has it all: a gripping murder mystery that will keep you turning pages, ghosts, romance, and a treasure trove of queer characters with depth and heart. Here’s something rare—a suspenseful story that also feels like a hug.” —Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series
£9.99
Astra Publishing House Shipwrecked!: Diving for Hidden Time Capsules on the Ocean Floor
From National Book Award winning author Martin W. Sandler, here is a fascinating look at what shipwrecks reveal about our world's past and how exploring them led to the development of a whole new field of science: marine archaeology. Most of the world's ocean floor remains to be discovered. In fact, it's estimated to be home to over 3 million sunken vessels and countless treasures of the past. This enthralling and adventure-filled nonfiction book for young readers recounts some of the most captivating shipwrecks from history, ranging from the Shinan, a Chinese merchant ship laden with riches from the 14th century, to the the HMS Erebus and Terror, two polar exploration ships that mysteriously disappeared in the early 1800s. Combining new research, stunning archival material, and vivid storytelling, Shipwrecked! dives deep into the world of marine archaeology and shows young readers what each discovery reveals about the world before our time.
£20.69
Astra Publishing House Y/N: A Novel
Finalist for the 2023 Center for Fiction First Novel PrizeNew York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2023New York Times 2023 Critics' PickNew Yorker Best Book of 2023 (Essential Read)NPR Best Book of 2023TIME Must-Read Book of 2023Bookshop.org Best Book of 2023Chicago Public Library Favorite Book of 2023Ms. Magazine Best Book of 2023 It’s as if her life only began once Moon appeared in it. The desultory copywriting work, the boyfriend, and the want of anything not-Moon quickly fall away when she beholds the idol in concert, where Moon dances as if his movements are creating their own gravitational field; on livestreams, as fans from around the world comment in dozens of languages; even on skincare products endorsed by the wildly popular Korean boyband, of which Moon is the youngest, most luminous member. Seized by ineffable desire, our unnamed narrator begins writing Y/N fanfic—in which you, the reader, insert [Your/Name] and play out an intimate relationship with the unattainable star.Surreal, hilarious, and shrewdly poignant, Y/N is a provocative literary debut about the universal longing for transcendence and the tragic struggle to assert one’s singular story amidst the amnesiac effects of globalization. Esther Yi’s prose unsettles the boundary between high and mass art, exploding our expectations of a novel about “identity” and offering in its place a sui generis picture of the loneliness that afflicts modern life.
£20.31
Astra Publishing House One of a Kind: The Life of Sydney Taylor
£16.53
Astra Publishing House Empire of Silence
Hadrian Marlowe, a man revered as a hero and despised as a murderer, chronicles his tale in the galaxy-spanning debut of the Sun Eater series, merging the best of space opera and epic fantasy.It was not his war.The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders.But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier.On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe starts down a path that can only end in fire. He flees his father and a future as a torturer only to be left stranded on a strange, backwater world.Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, Hadrian must fight a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never understand.
£20.75
Astra Publishing House Reckoning
Now in paperback, the sixth book in the thrilling Donovan sci-fi series returns to a treacherous alien planet where corporate threats and dangerous creatures imperil the lives of the colonists. Three years after Ashanti spaced for Solar System, Turalon reappears in the Donovanian sky. The Corporation has returned. Donovan's wealth is a lure for the powerful families who control the Board. Unburdened by morals, they are bringing their battle for supremacy to Port Authority and a showdown that could tear The Corporation apart. Much to her disgust, Falise Taglioni has been chosen to ensure that her family emerges triumphant; she comes with instructions for her brother, Dek. After all, she could always manipulate him to her will. And she will again, even if she has to destroy Talina Perez in the process. And if her war with the Grunnels, Xian Chans, and Radceks destroys Port Authority in the process? Who cares? But nothing on Donovan is static, and in the three years since Ashanti's departure, life on the planet has hardened Kalico Aguila and the scrappy inhabitants of Port Authority. Life in the bush breeds a different kind of human: genetically altered, tough, and self-reliant. And on Donovan, determining who is predator and who is prey has never been easy. Meanwhile, for Kylee Simonov and her bonded quetzal, Flute, there will be a final comeuppance. Because on Donovan, blood vendetta needs to be paid. And then she's going to town. After which, nothing will be the same.
£18.00
Astra Publishing House Sleep No More
The 17th novel of the Hugo-nominated, New York Times bestselling October Daye urban fantasy series.October is very happy with her life as the second daughter of her pureblood parents, Amandine and Simon Torquill. Born to be the changeling handmaid to her beloved sister August, she spends her days working in her family’s tower, serving as August’s companion, and waiting for the day when her sister sets up a household of her own. Everything is right in October’s Faerie. Everything is perfect.Everything is a lie.October has been pulled from her own reality and thrown into a twisted reinterpretation of Faerie where nothing is as it should be and everything has been distorted to support Titania’s ideals. Bound by the Summer Queen’s magic and thrust into a world turned upside down, October has no way of knowing who she can trust, where she can turn, or even who she really is. As strangers who claim to know her begin to appear and the edges of Titania’s paradise begin to unravel, Toby will have to decide whether she can risk everything she knows based on only their stories of another world.But first she’ll have to survive this one, as Titania demonstrates why she needed to be banished in the first place—and this time, much more than Toby’s own life is at stake.
£22.18
Astra Publishing House Backpacking through Bedlam
Seanan McGuire's New York Times-bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated urban fantasy InCryptid series continues with the twelfth book following the Price family, cryptozoologists who study and protect the creatures living in secret all around us.Reunion, noun:1. The state of being united again. Reconciliation, noun:1. An act of reconciling, as when former enemies agree to an amiable truce.2. The process of making consistent or compatible.3. See also “impossible.” Alice Price-Healy gave up her life for fifty years to focus completely on the search for her missing husband. The danger of focus like that is that it leaves little room for thinking about what happens after…and now that she’s finally managed to find Thomas, she has no idea what she’s supposed to do next. The fact that he comes with a surrogate daughter who may or may not have some connection to Alice’s recently adopted grandson is just icing on the complicated cake.So the three of them are heading for the most complicated place in the universe: they’re going home.But things on Earth have changed while Alice, Thomas, and Sally have been away. The Covenant of St. George, antagonized by Verity’s declaration of war and Sarah’s temporary relocation of an entire college campus, is trying to retake North America from the cryptids and cryptozoologists who’ve been keeping the peace for the past hundred years. And they’re starting in New York.Alice and company have barely been back for an hour before the Ocean Lady and the Queen of the Routewitches are sending them to New York to help, and they find themselves embroiled in the politics of dragons, kidnappings, and of course, the most dangerous people of all: family.Getting “back to normal” may be the hardest task Alice has undertaken yet.
£14.85
Astra Publishing House Be the Serpent
Now in paperback, the sixteenth novel of the Hugo-nominated, New York Times bestselling October Daye urban fantasy series.October Daye is finally something she never expected to be: married. All the trials and turmoils and terrors of a hero’s life have done very little to prepare her for the expectation that she will actually share her life with someone else, the good parts and the bad ones alike, not just allow them to dabble around the edges in the things she wants to share. But with an official break from hero duties from the Queen in the Mists, and her family wholly on board with this new version of “normal,” she’s doing her best to adjust.It isn’t always easy, but she’s a hero, right? She’s done harder.Until an old friend and ally turns out to have been an enemy in disguise for this entire time, and October’s brief respite turns into a battle for her life, her community, and everything she has ever believed to be true.The debts of the Broken Ride are coming due, and whether she incurred them or not, she’s going to be the one who has to pay.
£10.44
Astra Publishing House Terminal Peace
The third and final book of The Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse follows a group of unlikely heroes trying to save the galaxy from a zombie plague. Marion “Mops” Adamopoulos and her team were trained to clean spaceships. They were not prepared to fight an interplanetary war with the xenocidal Prodryans or to make first contact with the Jynx, a race that might not be as primitive as they seem. But if there’s one lesson Mops and her crew have learned, things like “training” and “being remotely qualified” are overrated. The war is escalating. (This might be Mops’ fault.) The survival of humanity—those few who weren’t turned to feral, shambling monsters by an alien plague—as well as the fate of all other non-Prodryans, will depend on what Captain Mops and the crew of the EDFS Pufferfish discover on the ringed planet of Tuxatl. But the Jynx on Tuxatl are fighting a war of their own, and their world’s long-buried secrets could be more dangerous than the Prodryans. To make matters worse, Mops is starting to feel a little feral herself!
£22.50
Astra Publishing House The Wise Man's Fear
Discover book two of Patrick Rothfuss’ #1 New York Times-bestselling epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle. “I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda DAY TWO: THE WISE MAN’S FEAR “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me. So begins a tale told from his own point of view—a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in The Wise Man’s Fear, Day Two of The Kingkiller Chronicle, an escalating rivalry with a powerful member of the nobility forces Kvothe to leave the University and seek his fortune abroad. Adrift, penniless, and alone, he travels to Vintas, where he quickly becomes entangled in the politics of courtly society. While attempting to curry favor with a powerful noble, Kvothe uncovers an assassination attempt, comes into conflict with a rival arcanist, and leads a group of mercenaries into the wild, in an attempt to solve the mystery of who (or what) is waylaying travelers on the King's Road. All the while, Kvothe searches for answers, attempting to uncover the truth about the mysterious Amyr, the Chandrian, and the death of his parents. In The Wise Man's Fear, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.
£21.49
Astra Publishing House Rosemary And Rue: An October Daye Novel
October Toby' Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After being rejected by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a 'normal' life. Unfortunately for her, the faerie world has other ideas. The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances.'
£8.62
Astra Publishing House Black Sun Rising
Blending science fiction and fantasy, the first book of the Coldfire Trilogy tells a dark tale of an alien world where nightmares are made manifest.Over a millennium ago, Erna, a seismically active yet beautiful world was settled by colonists from far-distant Earth. But the seemingly habitable planet was fraught with perils no one could have foretold. The colonists found themselves caught in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a terrifying natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, drawing forth a person's worst nightmare images or most treasured dreams and indiscriminately giving them life.Twelve centuries after fate first stranded the colonists on Erna, mankind has achieved an uneasy stalemate, and human sorcerers manipulate the fae for their own profit, little realizing that demonic forces which feed upon such efforts are rapidly gaining in strength. Now, as the hordes of the dark fae multiply, four people—Priest, Adept, Apprentice, and Sorcerer—are about to be drawn inexorably together for a mission which will force them to confront an evil beyond their imagining, in a conflict which will put not only their own lives but the very fate of humankind in jeopardy.
£17.50
Astra Publishing House Nick and Nack Put on a Puppet Show
Stories + Puzzles = Reading Success! Highlights Puzzle Readers offer an innovative approach to learning that integrates puzzles and stories to develop motivated, confident readers.Nick and his robot pal Nack love to build things. As they make puppets and a stage in this Level 1 Highlights Puzzle Reader, kids can find supplies in Hidden Pictures scenes that double as picture support for the simple story text, which is full of repeated words. With bonus craft directions, Nick and Nack Put on a Puppet Show will appeal to junior makers who are just discovering reading.
£5.81
Astra Publishing House Pangolina
From legendary naturalist Jane Goodall, an absorbing fictional tale that will steal hearts and open minds about the plight of the pangolin, the only mammalian species with scales, and endangered by illegal trafficking.After a blissful babyhood being cared for by her loving mother, Pangolina ventures out alone into the forest to become an independent adult, helped along by wise, older animal companions, including a civet and a bat. But one day cruel hunters trap Pangolina, putting her into a cage along with her friends, and bring them to a market to be sold as wild game. Pangolina is especially vulnerable, since her scales are prized by humans who believe they have curative powers. To the rescue comes a small girl who knows that pangolins are friendly fellow creatures who have feelings too, and who convinces her mother to buy Pangolina and set her free. Jane Goodall's many followers and all animal-loving children and adult picture book fans will be riveted by this suspenseful and heartwarming fictional story set in China and including an authoritative informational page about pangolins and suggestions for how to help fight animal trafficking.
£14.39
Astra Publishing House Sharing
A perfect sharing book for your toddler — with clever cut outs showing how two friends can be happy enjoying things they want together.★ A Kirkus Best Book of 2020★ An ABC Best Books for Young Readers selection★ "Sharing is caring, and this small gem of a board book is a delight to share with little listeners.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewWhen two rabbits want the same carrot, how can they decide who gets it? When two monkeys want the same banana, what are they to do? The answer becomes clear when you turn the die-cut pages to find the answers underneath in this clever concept book from a board book master. This adorable and interactive book is the perfect way for young children to learn the importance of sharing--both the things they crave and the time of others.“Many of us struggle all our lives with this concept. The brilliant Yusuke Yonezu, master board book creator, shows toddlers (and grownups) how it's done.” —Maria Russo, Editorial Director, mineditionUS
£10.99
Astra Publishing House Look and Cook Snacks: A First Book of Recipes in Pictures
The first of its kind, Look and Cook: Snacks is an entirely visual introduction to cooking, designed for children who can't yet read, including twenty delicious, easy, and healthy snack recipes. Easy-to-follow and almost entirely wordless, this cookbook lets your child take charge of their discovery of the kitchen and make delicious snacks for the entire family to enjoy! From scrumptious fruit smoothies to easy-peasy pizzas, Look and Cook: Snacks is the perfect first recipe book for children new to the joys of cooking. Step-by-step instructions visually teach kids basics�like mixing and measuring�and introduce them to safe-to-use kitchen equipment and staple ingredients found in any pantry or fridge.
£17.09
Astra Publishing House Winter Pasture: One Woman's Journey with China's Kazakh Herders
Winner of the People's Literature Award, WINTER PASTURE has been a bestselling book in China for several years. Li Juan has been widely lauded in the international literary community for her unique contribution to the narrative non-fiction genre. WINTER PASTURE is her crowning achievement, shattering the boundaries between nature writing and personal memoir. Li Juan and her mother own a small convenience store in the Altai Mountains in Northwestern China, where she writes about her life among grasslands and snowy peaks. To her neighbors' surprise, Li decides to join a family of Kazakh herders as they take their 30 boisterous camels, 500 sheep and over 100 cattle and horses to pasture for the winter. The so-called "winter pasture" occurs in a remote region that stretches from the Ulungur River to the Heavenly Mountains. As she journeys across the vast, seemingly endless sand dunes, she helps herd sheep, rides horses, chases after camels, builds an underground home using manure, gathers snow for water, and more. With a keen eye for the understated elegance of the natural world, and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor, Li vividly captures both the extraordinary hardships and the ordinary preoccupations of the day-to-day of the men and women struggling to get by in this desolate landscape. Her companions include Cuma, the often drunk but mostly responsible father; his teenage daughter, Kama, who feels the burden of the world on her shoulders and dreams of going to college; his reticent wife, a paragon of decorum against all odds, who is simply known as "sister-in-law." In bringing this faraway world to English language readers here for the first time, Li creates an intimate bond with the rugged people, the remote places and the nomadic lifestyle. In the signature style that made her an international sensation, Li Juan transcends the travel memoir genre to deliver an indelible and immersive reading experience on every page.
£22.50
Astra Publishing House Secret Life of the Sea Otter, The
Follow a year in the life of an adorable sea otter as she creatively hunts for food, deftly avoids danger from a great white shark, and gives birth to a pup. Living off the coast of California in the Northern Pacific Ocean, Lutris the sea otter shares her life in a giant kelp forest habitat with many other otters and animals. Lutris is resourceful and relies on her keen sense of sight and smell to find food and survive. When her pup is born, Lutris lovingly tends to and teaches her daughter until she is ready to head out into the world on her own. Filled with important facts and gorgeous illustrations, readers will be fascinated by the story of these remarkable mammals. This latest title in the Secret Life series has been vetted by a sea otter expert and includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.
£15.99