Search results for ""MACMILLAN""

Jeremy James always seems to be getting into mischief and is fed up with grown-ups never knowing the answer to important questions . . .Join Jeremy James as he finds himself in a runaway car, causes havoc at a birthday party and comes up with a cunning plan on how to get rich.Illustrated throughout by the award-winning Axel Scheffler, David Henry Wilson's funny and gentle stories about the inimitable Jeremy James are much-loved classics, perfect for younger readers.

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"How I long to sail!" said the tiny snail.The Snail and the Whale is a delightful tale of adventure and friendship by the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo. One little snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of an enormous whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it's the tiny snail's big plan that saves the day.This edition features the classic story with a stunning, redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!Also available with redesigned covers are: The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Room on the Broom, The Smartest Giant in Town, Monkey Puzzle, Charlie Cook's Favourite Book, and A Squash and a Squeeze.

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In print for the first time in 20 years, Rag, Tag and Bobtail and Other Magical Stories is a classic collection of stories from Enid Blyton, one of the best-loved children's writers of all time.Join pixies Rag, Tag and Bobtail, rabbits Flop and Whiskers, the quarrelsome tin soldiers, the little brown pony, the two good fairies and many other lovable characters in this collection of twenty-three delightful and funny short stories about magical adventures, naughty children and charming animals.

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Sweeping from Paris and Chartres to the City of Tears itself – the great refugee city of Amsterdam – this is a story of one family’s fight to stay together and survive against the devastating tides of history . . .Sunday Times ‘Best Paperbacks of 2022’‘Feisty female characters, a plot of heart-stopping jeopardy and evocative settings’ – Daily Mail ‘Mosse is a master storyteller’ – Madeline Miller, author of Circe‘Magnificent, epic’ – Marian KeyesMay 1572: for ten violent years the Wars of Religion have raged across France. Neighbours have become enemies, countless lives have been lost, and the country has been torn apart over matters of religion, citizenship and sovereignty. But now a precarious peace is in the balance and a royal wedding has been negotiated. It is a marriage that could see France reunited at last.An invitation has arrived for Minou Joubert and her family to attend this historic wedding in Paris in August. But what Minou does not know is that the Joubert family’s oldest enemy, Vidal, will also be there. Nor that, within days of the marriage, on the eve of the Feast Day of St Bartholomew, her family will be scattered to the four winds and one of her beloved children will have disappeared without trace . . .The City of Tears by Kate Mosse follows on from her Sunday Times number one bestseller, The Burning Chambers and The Joubert Family Chronicles continue with The Ghost Ship.

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A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake . . . and a hungry Gruffalo!Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic and has become a best-selling phenomenon across the world with over 13.5 million copies sold. This award-winning rhyming story of a mouse and a monster has found its way into the hearts and bedtimes of an entire generation of children and will undoubtedly continue to enchant children for years and years to come. No home should be without The Gruffalo!This edition features the classic story with a stunning redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!Also available with redesigned covers are The Gruffalo's Child, Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, The Smartest Giant in Town, Monkey Puzzle, Charlie Cook's Favourite Book, and A Squash and a Squeeze.

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A sparkling magical adventure from a Hugo Award-winning author. In Zen Cho's The True Queen we travel to Regency London, Fairyland and an enchanted island. Sisters are separated, plots thicken and there's a new contender for the throne of Fairy.‘A sheer delight from beginning to end' – Samantha Shannon, author of The Bone Season.Fairyland’s future lies in doubt . . .The enchanted island of Janda Baik, in the Malay Archipelago, has long been home to witches. And Muna and her sister Sakti wake on its shores under a curse, which has quite stolen away their memories. Their only hope of salvation lies in distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal runs a controversial academy for female magicians. But the pair travel via the formidable Fairy Queen’s realm, where Sakti simply disappears.To save her sister, Muna must learn to navigate Regency London’s high society and trick the English into believing she’s a magical prodigy. But when the Sorceress Royal’s friends become accidentally embroiled in a plot – involving the Fairy Queen’s contentious succession – Muna is drawn right in. She must also find Sakti, break their curse and somehow stay out of trouble. But if fairyland’s true queen does finally return, trouble may find her first . . .'A joyous mash-up of Jane Austen and high fantasy’ – M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts.This standalone adventure is set in the same world as Zen Cho's award-winning novel - The Sorcerer to the Crown.

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Written by the brilliant Julia Donaldson and stunningly illustrated by the award-winning Sara Ogilvie, The Hospital Dog is a big-hearted tale about a very special, very brave dog. This board book edition of the story is perfect for little ones. Here is a dog, a Dalmatian called Dot,Is she quite ordinary? NO, SHE’S NOT!After their breakfast and a swim in the sea, Dot and her owner Rose jump on the bus to the hospital. Dot loves visiting the children of Wallaby Ward and they’re always pleased to see her too; from a crying baby to a bored teenager – a pat, a stroke and a cuddle with Dot cheers everyone up. But the work of the hospital dog doesn’t stop there and when one of her patients is in trouble, it’s up to Dot to save the day!Winner of the Indie Book Awards 2021, this fantastic rhyming story comes from the bestselling partnership behind The Detective Dog.

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'Deserves to be an instant classic. I haven’t loved a book this much in a long time . . . What Strange Paradise . . . reads as a parable for our times . . . Such beautiful writing . . . This is an extraordinary book.' – New York TimesFrom the widely acclaimed author of American War, Omar El Akkad, a beautifully written, unrelentingly dramatic and profoundly moving novel that brings the global refugee crisis down to the level of a child’s eyes.More bodies have washed up on the shores of a small island. Another over-filled, ill-equipped, dilapidated ship has sunk under the weight of its too-many passengers: Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians, all of them desperate to escape untenable lives in their homelands. And only one had made the passage: nine-year-old Amir, a Syrian boy who has the good fortune to fall into the hands not of the officials, but of Vänna: a teenage girl, native to the island, who lives inside her own sense of homelessness in a place and among people she has come to disdain. And though Vänna and Amir are complete strangers and don’t speak a common language, Vänna determines to do whatever it takes to save him. In alternating chapters, we learn the story of Amir’s life and of how he came to be on the boat; and we follow the duo as they make their way towards a vision of safety. But as the novel unfurls, we begin to understand that this is not merely the story of two children finding their way through a hostile world. Omar El Akkad's What Strange Paradise is the story of our collective moment in this time: of empathy and indifference, of hope and despair – and of the way each of those things can blind us to reality, or guide us to a better one.

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Winnie-the-Pooh and Me is a brand-new rhyming Winnie-the-Pooh adventure, featuring the best-loved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood.Someone has come along to join Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin on their adventure, but who could it be? It can't be Kanga and Roo – they're sailing a boat – and it can't be Owl, because he's at home. Could it be Heffalumps who want to eat Pooh's beloved honey? Or perhaps Pooh and Christopher Robin are accompanied by a pair of friends who are never far away on a sunny day.With gentle rhyming verse by bestselling author Jeanne Willis, inspired by A. A. Milne's classic poem 'Us Two' from Now We Are Six, and charming illustrations by Mark Burgess, in the style of E. H. Shepard, this authorised sequel is the perfect gift for anyone who loves the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends.

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Julia Donaldson celebrates her readers in this delightful and imaginative picture book, inspired by the children she has met at hundreds of book signings over the years.I've signed for boys called Romeoand girls called Juliet .I've signed for Roman, Saxon, Dane-Though not for Norman yet. From months of the year, colours, flowers, food and gemstones, Julia has seamlessly grouped together a charming selection of children's names and woven them together in her unmistakable rhyming style.Set in a magical transforming bookshop, Julia Donaldson's Book of Names is a love letter to the world of books and young bookworms – illustrated by the award-winning Nila Aye. Readers will enjoy trying to find their own name, and even if it isn't included, there is a special dedicated space for them to add it, or even better, for Julia to sign!

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'The funniest, most poignant novel of the year' - VogueFor fans of Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang, Disorientation is an uproarious and big-hearted satire – alive with sharp edges, immense warmth, and a cast of unforgettable characters – that asks: who gets to tell our stories? Ingrid Yang is desperate to finish her PhD dissertation on the much-lauded poet Xiao-Wen Chou and never read about ‘Chinese-y’ things again, when she accidentally stumbles upon a strange note in the Chou archives that she thinks may be her ticket out of academic hell.But Ingrid has no idea that the note will lead to an explosive secret, upending her entire life and the lives of those around her. Her clumsy exploits to discover the truth set off a rollercoaster of mishaps and misadventures, from campus protests and over-the-counter drug hallucinations, to book burnings and a movement that stinks of Yellow Peril propaganda. In the aftermath, she’ll have to question everything, from her relationship with her fiancé to the kind of person she dares to be.'The funniest novel I’ve read all year' - Aravind Adiga, author of The White Tiger'Fearless' - Observer'Elaine Hsieh Chou's pen is a scalpel' - Raven Leilani, author of Luster

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Join everyone's favourite ladybird in this fantastically funny farmyard caper from the stellar picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard.Those crafty robbers Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are out of jail, and they're heading back to the farm with another cunning plan to cause trouble. They've been stealing eggs from the fat red hen, but now they're setting their sights higher and are planning to steal the fat red hen herself! Fortunately the quiet, clever ladybird is on their trail, and she and her farm animal friends have a plan of their own. With slapstick action, animal noises and a mysterious Snuggly Snerd bird, What the Ladybird Heard Next is a story you'll be reading over and over again.Now available as a board book, this much-loved classic is perfect for young readers, with brilliant rhyming verse from Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, and bright, distinctive illustrations from award-winning illustrator, Lydia Monks.Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday and What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside.

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Help the monkeys look for their friend in Who's Hiding in the Jungle? Lift the felt flaps to see where he is. Which other animals will you find hiding underneath?With soft flaps on every spread that are easy for babies to lift, helping them develop fine motor skills, and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, bestselling illustrator of The Gruffalo, this is the perfect gift to share with little ones.Discover more animal adventures from Axel Scheffler: Who's Hiding on the Farm?, In the Jungle and My First Search and Find: On the Farm.

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Preschoolers will love discovering fun facts about their body in My First Body Book from Campbell Books. With acetate windows that show through to your bones, heart, lungs and more, plus pull-tabs for different processes such as digestion and how your brain sends messages, this book is perfect for hands-on learning.Packed full with people of all shapes and sizes and with a focus on health and well-being, STEAM learning has never been so much fun!Vibrant illustrations by Yujin Shin bring the book to life, with plenty to spot and talk about in the pictures.Children can have more learning fun in My First Clock Book!

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Play a game of hide-and-seek on safari to find out Where is Little Elephant? Young children can follow the clues and lift the sturdy flaps with peep-through holes to see if Elephant is hiding underneath. There are lots of animal friends to meet along the way, as well as a surprise pop-up ending to reveal Elephant's hiding place. Bright, bold illustration from Jean Claude makes this an ideal gift purchase for animal-mad toddlers.Disover more hidden animals with Where is Little Kitten?, Where is Little Tiger? and Where is Little Bunny?

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Search the meadow and play a game of hide and seek in Where is Little Bunny?Young children can follow the clues and lift the sturdy flaps with peep-through holes to see if Little Bunny is hiding underneath. Meet his animal friends along the way as you explore the meadow, before a surprise pop-up ending reveals Little Bunny's secret hiding place. Bright, bold illustration from Jean Claude makes this an ideal gift purchase for animal-mad toddlers.Disover more hidden animals with Where is Little Tiger?

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The slow-burning, brilliantly twisty mystery from Jane Harper, the international bestselling Number One author of The Dry'A fantastic crime writer' - Bella MackieIn Exiles, Investigator Aaron Falk finds himself drawn into a complex web of tightly held secrets in South Australia's wine country.A mother disappears from a busy festival on a warm spring night.Her baby lies alone in the pram, waiting for a return that never comes.A year later, Kim Gillespie’s absence still casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather to welcome a new addition to the family.Joining the celebrations on a rare break from work is federal investigator Aaron Falk, who begins to suspect that all is not as it seems.As he looks into Kim’s case, long-held secrets and resentments begin to come to the fore, secrets that show that her community is not as close as it appears.Falk will have to tread carefully if he is to expose the dark fractures at its heart, but sometimes it takes an outsider to get to the truth . . .Exiles is a New York Times and Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller and the final Aaron falk mystery********Praise for Jane Harper'An avalanche of suspense' - David Baldacci'Addictive storytelling' - Ann Cleeves‘A hugely gifted writer’ - Marian Keyes'Exceptional' - Jane Casey'Outstanding' - C.L. Taylor‘Spellbinding’ - Ian Rankin‘A stunningly atmospheric read’ - Val McDermid‘Brilliantly paced’ - Susie Steiner‘I devoured it in a day. Her best yet!’ - Liane Moriarty‘Phenomenal’ - Chris Whitaker

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The Sunday Times bestseller full of inspiring tales of life as a shepherdess, by the star of Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm.From bestselling author Amanda Owen come more stories of life at Ravenseat, the remote Yorkshire hill farm she shares with husband Clive, eight children and 1,000 sheep. In A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess she describes the age-old cycles of a farming year and the constant challenges the family faces, from being cut off in winter to tending their flock on some of Yorkshire's highest, bleakest moors – land so inaccessible that in places it can only be reached on foot.Writing with her trademark warmth and humour, Amanda takes us into her life as nine-year-old Miles gets his first flock, Reuben takes up the flugelhorn and she gives birth to a new baby girl. She is touched by the epic two-day journey of a mother sheep determined to find her lamb and gives a new home to an ageing and neglected horse. Meanwhile Clive is almost arrested on a midnight stakeout to catch a sheep-worrying dog and becomes the object of affection for a randy young bull.Funny, poignant and charming, A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess is a must for anyone interested in the countryside and those who farm it.'Amanda Owen is like a breath of fresh air. Amanda's life is one of old-fashioned values, hard graft and plenty of love. She, like her life, is extraordinary' - Ben Fogle

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Why is snot green? Do rabbits fart? What is space made of? Where does all the water go at low tide? Can animals talk? What are scabs for? Will computers ever be cleverer than people? Discover the answers to these and an awful lot of other brilliant questions frequently asked at the Science Museum in this wonderfully funny and informative book by Glenn Murphy.Divided into five sections, which cover everything from the Big Bang to bodily functions and cool gadgets:- Lost in Space- The Angry Planet- Animal Answers- Being Human- Fantastic FuturesPacked with doodles and information about all sorts of incredible things, and published in association with the Science Museum, this book contains absolutely no boring bits!Discover more funny science with Disgusting Science: A Revolting Look at What Makes Things Gross.

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The phenomenal number one bestseller and a major BBC TV series. Winner of the Specsavers National Book Award and Waterstones Book of the Year.A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick.Beautiful, intoxicating and filled with heart-pounding suspense, Jessie Burton's historical novel set in Amsterdam, The Miniaturist, is a story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution.On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. She has come from the country to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt, but instead she is met by his sharp-tongued sister, Marin. Only later does Johannes appear and present her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in unexpected ways . . .Nella is at first mystified by the closed world of the Brandt household, but as she uncovers its secrets she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?'My first instinct on finishing this book was to immediately read it again' - Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites

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Grandpa Green wasn't always a gardener. He was a boy who lived on a farm and a child who had chickenpox. He was a soldier, a husband and, most of all, an artist. Follow his grandson through a garden where memories are handed down through the shapes of topiary trees and imagination recreates things forgotten. Grandpa Green opens the door to a garden of wonder which parents and grandparents will be able to share with children for generations to come. An ode to the joys of a full life well lived as well as exploring some of the sorrow life brings, Lane Smith's Grandpa Green is a lyrical and sumptuously detailed delight, culminating in a giant fold-out page.

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Have you ever seen something that wasn't really there? Heard someone call your name in an empty house? Sensed someone following you and turned around to find nothing? Hallucinations don't belong wholly to the insane. Much more commonly, they are linked to sensory deprivation, intoxication, illness, or injury. In some conditions, hallucinations can lead to religious epiphanies or even the feeling of leaving one's own body. Humans have always sought such life-changing visions, and for thousands of years have used hallucinogenic compounds to achieve them. In Hallucinations, with his usual elegance, curiosity, and compassion, Dr Oliver Sacks weaves together stories of his patients and of his own mind-altering experiences to illuminate what hallucinations tell us about the organization and structure of our brains, how they have influenced every culture's folklore and art, and why the potential for hallucination is present in us all, a vital part of the human condition.

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A hot but grumpy farmer.A sunshine, no-nonsense social media influencer.A small town of busybodies, and four very cute kittens . . .-----'I found my happy falling in love with Beckett and Evie. This book is grumpy and sunshine in its greatest form' – Hannah Grace author of ICEBREAKER'A delicious indulgence’ – Chloe Liese, author of TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHTIn the Weeds is a sweet and steamy second-chance romance about finding your happiness, from TikTok favourite author B.K. Borison, for fans of Elena Armas and Hannah Grace.Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine and he’s officially a man distracted.So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he’s . . . confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a social media influencer and global phenomenon.Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, Evelyn is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy – Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with. Nothing at all . . .In the Weeds is the second book in a quartet of cosy romances. Enjoy more seasonally-inspired stories with Lovelight Farms and Mixed Signals.-------5* READER REVIEWS'Can I rate a book higher than a 5? Go read this if you haven't. Now.''EVERYTHING that my soul needed to feel happy and at home''This book was everything I hoped it would be, and so much more'

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Captivating and suspenseful, Best Kept Secret is the third novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s outstanding Clifton Chronicles. It sees our hero Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington, brother of Harry’s beloved wife Emma, become entwined in the fate of the Barrington family fortune.It is 1945 and the House of Lords vote on who should inherit the Barrington estate ends in a tie, casting a long shadow over the lives of those involved.Author Harry begins to promote his novel, whilst Emma, after her father’s mysterious death, searches for the girl found abandoned in his office on the night he died.Politician Giles defends his seat in the House of Commons and finds not only his future but his family’s fortune at stake. Ultimately his fate is dictated by Harry’s son Sebastian, even as Sebastian himself becomes embroiled in an international art fraud.As they move out of the shadows of war, a new generation of Cliftons and Barringtons comes to the fore, and a thrilling new episode in Jeffrey Archer’s captivating family saga begins.Continue the bestselling series with Be Careful What You Wish For and Mightier than the Sword.

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Engrossing and memorable, The Sins of the Father is the second novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s celebrated the Clifton Chronicles. It takes us to New York in 1939 where our hero Harry Clifton is in desperate need of help.Only days before Britain declares war on Germany, Harry joins the Merchant Navy, unable to face long-held family secrets and the fact he will never be able to marry his true love Emma Barrington. But when his ship is sunk mid-Atlantic, Harry takes the opportunity to assume the identity of one his deceased rescuers and begin a new life.Landing in America, he quickly discovers he has made a mistake and without any way to prove his true identity, Harry is now chained to a past that could be far worse than the one he had hoped to escape . . .Brimming with intrigue, Jeffrey Archer takes readers into a world they will never want to leave as the Clifton Chronicles continues its powerful journey with family loyalties stretched to their limits and fates decided.Continue the bestselling series with Best Kept Secret and Be Careful What You Wish For.

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From Chris Guillebeau, the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, comes a captivating guide that explains how to create new income streams and thrive in today's turbulent economy. The nine-to-five is dead. This is Gonzo Capitalism.'A must-read guide to the new economy. This book will help you navigate emerging paths to prosperity that you didn’t even know existed!'Ozan Varol, bestselling author of Think Like a Rocket ScientistBurdened with piling student debt, stagnant wages, and a rising cost of living, a growing number of enterprising individuals are abandoning the traditional nine-to-five model of modern work. Instead, they’re turning to an ecosystem of unregulated, decentralized platforms to build their own version of success.In Gonzo Capitalism, serial entrepreneur and self-help expert Chris Guillebeau explores this brave new world – from the tech workers working multiple jobs at once to the British teenager who earned $500,000 naming other people’s babies, to the global community of online gamers getting ‘paid to play’. Along the way, he shows you how our turbulent economy really works, and how to come up with your own unconventional ways to turn your time and talents into a better way of living.

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When darkness descends, expect sparks. The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson is a spellbinding debut for fans of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue.Welcome to the Circus of the Fantasticals . . .After World War I, a select few wake up with frightening magical abilities. Rin can jump through time. Her wife, Odette, can heal the unhealable. And their friend, Mauve, sees what others can’t. Alone, afraid and exiled from regular society, the trio create a haven for Sparks – people like them – a circus housing those who are powerful and lost.Now it’s 1926, and Rin runs the Circus of the Fantasticals. It travels across the States, spreading enchantment and joy to those who need it. Rin hopes their performances leave the world brighter than before. But new threats loom that even circus lights can’t vanquish. Another devastating war is barrelling across the world. Worse still, Rin’s past creeps closer every day, a malevolent shadow she can’t fully escape. This takes the form of a rival circus, with tents as black as midnight. Its leader has dark powers and even darker desires. For the Sparks have something he wants – and Rin knows he won’t stop until he has it.‘This is the magic circus book that I have been looking for all my life. It's compelling and brilliant' - Seanan McGuire*Longlisted for Best Novel at the British Science Fiction Association Awards 2023*

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Taking us from the mundane to the magical, this collection of short stories will entertain and delight.Drawing inspiration from East Asian and Malaysian myth and folklore, Zen Cho guides the reader through enchanted realms inhabited by dragons, vampires and incorrigible grandmothers.We’ll meet an elderly ex-member of parliament, who recalls her youthful romance with an orang bunian. This was forbidden. Not because her lover was an invisible jungle spirit, but because she was Muslim and he was not. A teenage vampire struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love . . . and eating people. A mischievous matriarch returns from the dead to disrupt her own funeral rites, pitting granddaughter against granddaughter. An earth spirit becomes entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord. And Chang E, the Chinese moon goddess, spins off into outer space – the ultimate metaphor for diaspora.Spirits Abroad won the Ray Bradbury LA Times' Prize for science fiction and fantasy and contains the Hugo Award winner If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again.‘Among the best short fiction I've encountered . . . This collection was a joy to read’ – Veronica Roth, author of Divergent'Absolutely fantastic . . . A wonderfully satisfying and immersive reading experience. Get it, stat’ – KJ Charles, author of The Magpie Lord‘This collection is a delight . . . Just as I'd decided on a favourite, along came ANOTHER FAVOURITE, and ANOTHER’ – Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

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The Times Best Politics and Current Affairs Books of the YearAn entertaining and revealing history of modern British politics from Steve Richards, broadcaster, journalist, and author of The Prime Ministers We Never Had.'Through wonderful vignettes, Richards offers a masterful, clear-eyed and, above all, entertaining history of British politics. To pilot a better future, we need to learn how not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The book is a lesson in just that' – Will HuttonEvery few weeks in British politics, a columnist will reach for the word ‘unprecedented’ as a cabinet minister resigns or yet another inquiry is called. We have become so accustomed to turmoil that it is impossible to take a breath and see where we are headed. In this magisterial history, respected broadcaster and journalist Steve Richards puts the recent chaos into context and takes a step back to explore ten critical moments that have shaped modern Britain.From the Suez Crisis of 1956 to the Covid-19 pandemic, from 1945 to Thatcher, Richards argues that it is only with distance that we can perceive the tectonic plates shifting – and events that may seem earth-shattering in the moment might be a passing tremor with the perspective of history.With his trademark insight, forged over several decades as one of the UK’s foremost political commentators, Richards blends anecdote and analysis to explore the biggest events in British political history. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand our nation, this landmark work is enlightening and entertaining in equal measure.'An engaging canter through postwar Britain . . . shaped by a lifetime of reading' – Prospect

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A warm yet gritty saga set in Liverpool, The Orphans from Liverpool Lane is a heartfelt story from Eliza Morton, the acclaimed author of Angel of Liverpool.All she wants is to go home . . .1944, Liverpool.Marcia is only twelve years old the first time she is sent to the orphanage with her older sister, Cynthia. With their father in a POW camp in Singapore, her mother is struggling to cope and hands them over to the nuns to be 'orphans of the living' - a harsh term for those children with living parents, whose families have abandoned them.Things look up when their father finally returns and the girls are allowed home, but it's clear the years in the camp have taken their toll on the sweet man Marcia barely remembers - and the family disintegrates.Cynthia finds an escape with an aunt and her ambitions to be a dancer. But Marcia is sent back to the orphanage. And while she finds friends among her fellow 'orphans', it is no substitute for the family she so desperately craves . . .

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Push, pull and slide the tabs to join in with a first dance class in Busy Dancing! Pirouette in ballet class, learn how to tap dance and breakdance on stage in this first introduction to dance, perfect for fans of ballroom glitz! A perfect present for toddlers, young children will love playing with this bright and colourful board book with a gentle rhyme and wonderful illustrations by Jana Curll. Busy Dancing has been endorsed and recommended by Dr Amanda Gummer's Good Toy Guide.Listen along to an audio recording of this story by scanning the QR code on the back cover. Discover more of the Busy Book series with titles such as Busy Baking, Busy Party and Busy Zoo!

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'Rich, intricate worldbuilding meets swoonworthy romance. . . Phédre and Joscelin’s story is the beating heart of every romantasy to follow' - Olivie BlakeThe second book in the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy, Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey is a sweeping fantasy of romance, luxuriance and intrigue – perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.Temptress. Traitor. Tormentor.Phèdre was trained as a spy, courtesan and strategist under her tutor’s watchful eye. He also saw she’d been touched by the god Kushiel’s dart, chosen to experience pain and pleasure as one. Above all, he taught Phèdre to observe and analyse – skills that may yet save her life.Once before, Phèdre sacrificed everything to save her country, but the gods still cast a shadow over her land. For while their young queen is beloved by her people, traitors remain. Those who want others on the throne and aren’t done with schemes for power and revenge. To do her duty, Phèdre must again leave her homeland – only to uncover an earth-shattering plot. One masterminded by the one person she can’t deny. . .‘Kushiel’s Chosen is elegant, intricate, sensual, and captivating’ - Robert Jordan, author of The Wheel of Time series‘Ms Carey’s alternate Renaissance period is perfection’ - Romantic Times‘A great love story, intense spirituality, high eroticism, and lots of adventure, intrigue and swordplay’ -Booklist starred reviewStart the journey with Kushiel’s Dart, and finish with Kushiel’s Avatar.

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The bestselling I Wonder Why series has the answers to all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about the natural world, history, space, and more!Why does the Sun rise in the morning? Can animals tell the time? Where is it night all day long? Learn the answers to these questions and more in I Wonder Why: The Sun Rises, a fascinating question-and-answer book all about time and the seasons. Information is presented in bite-sized nuggets, making it ideal for dipping in and out.Colourful illustrations by award-winning artist Marie-Ève Tremblay bring the subjects to life, from seasonal festivals celebrated around the world to the calendars used by ancient Romans and Aztecs. This is the ideal book for kids who are curious about the world around them.

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Step inside the busy, bustling factory that is the human body and find out about all the different body parts and systems that keep whirring night and day!The Human Body Factory is an action-packed and informative guide to your insides. Each ‘department' is introduced by the busy workers who keep everything running smoothly, from the big boss sending out orders in the brain to waste being sorted and pushed out of the body. The ingenious artworks are packed with funny details, all backed up with Dan Green's fascinating facts and easy-to-understand text describing and explaining the body's processes. There's a fun search-and-find activity on each page, as well as a quiz at the end to see how much you've discovered about the human body.Whether it's busy workers wearing biohazard suits in the large intestine, lab technicians mixing gastric juices in the stomach with a giant whisk, or the lungs depicted as a gym, you'll find plenty to amaze and amuse in this comprehensive, fact-filled guide to the human body.

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Winner of the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration.Written by wildlife activist and scientist Trang Nguyen – who was featured as one of the environmental heroes in episode eight of the BBC’s Planet Earth III – Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear is an inspirational graphic-novel adventure, based on a true story about a young conservationist who overcomes the odds to save a sun bear.When Chang discovers a bear farm near her home in Vietnam, she decides to do everything she can to save wild animals – by becoming a conservationist. After teaching herself survival skills and learning all she can about the rainforest, Chang is finally accepted as a rescue centre volunteer. But her toughest challenge yet comes when she makes a vow to return Sorya – the sun bear she raised from infancy – back to the wild. Because despite being a different species, Sorya is Chang’s best friend. And letting a friend go is never easy, even when it’s the right thing to do.With breathtaking graphic-novel style illustrations by award-winning manga artist Jeet Zdung, Chang’s daring story is for any young reader, animal lover, and intrepid explorer who’s ready for adventure!'A beautiful, moving and uplifting tale of perseverance and overcoming challenge, and how small steps can make a big difference.' - BookTrust'I cannot praise this book enough.' – Mat Tobin'The epitome of wild and free.' - Kirkus Reviews, starred review'Stirring and gorgeously rendered, this eco-conscious tale is a superb purchase for all libraries.' - School Library Journal, starred review

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The world can seem a scary place to live. Forests are burning, plastic is filling the oceans and the air is polluted. But we can all help save the planet – including you!Activists Assemble — Save Your Planet details the major current environmental issues, why they occur, and how they can be resolved. Written by the former Feature Editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine Ben Hoare and beautifully illustrated by Jade Orlando, discover how and why the world is getting hotter, the consequences of deforestation, and the impact of too many vehicles. Become a real-life super hero and help to protect the environment - from quick and easy fixes to changes that could have a long-term global effect. Meet the famous faces leading the way in the worldwide crusade to be more environmentally friendly and take the quiz to find out just how green you truly are. . . and could be. This is our planet — we can save it! An activity section gives readers the opportunity to explore environmentalism further: they can test their eco-hero knowledge, start important conversations using the 'discussion time' questions, as well as space to write down their thoughts and observations.

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Take an unforgettable tour around the world to meet the creatures that share our city spaces – from bears to bats, penguins to opossums – and learn about how they have adapted and thrived in this gorgeously illustrated gift book written by award-winning natural history journalist Ben Hoare.Wild City travels the globe, exploring how animals have adapted to live alongside humans, in busy cities including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, Stockholm, London, Alexandria, Singapore and Mumbai. Discover hawks by a world-famous shopping street, snakes slithering through city sewers, and penguins waiting patiently to cross the road. Feature spreads take a closer look at the animals, showing how some wander in plain sight while others hide away in our homes, and we meet wildlife heroes from around the world – ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make our wild neighbours feel welcome.Lyrical and factual text written by the award-winning Ben Hoare is perfectly complemented by Lucy Rose's stunning illustrations. The beautiful cityscapes are full of detail with something new to discover with every look.

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All She Wants is a laugh out loud story about a Liverpool girl who becomes a famous soap star, by Coronation Street scriptwriter Jonathan Harvey.'A mad-cap, laugh-out-loud roller coaster of a ride . . . with an unexpectedly tender sting in the tail.' - Marian Keyes, author of The BreakThere are some things in life you can always rely on. Living in the shadow of your ‘perfect’ brother Joey, getting the flu over Christmas, and your Mother showing you up in the supermarket.Then there are some things you really don’t count on happening: a good dose of fame, getting completely trashed at an awards ceremony, and catching your fella doing something unmentionable on your wedding day.This is my story, it’s dead tragic. You have been warned . . .'Utterly original, sharply written and very funny. I laughed, and then I laughed. And then I had to go back and re-read the bits that I'd missed and laugh some more.' - Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You‘Hugely Enjoyable’ – comedian Kathy Burke.

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‘The Tenderloin bleeds its raw honesty onto every page – it is a truly felt and moving book’ Kevin Barry, author of City of Bohane It’s 1995 and Evan has embarked on an adventure that will change his life – leaving home in Dublin for the rolling hills and fog-swept bays of San Francisco. Between the Internet revolution and the rave culture of this liberal city, young naive Evan is completely clueless about how to succeed. But he’s determined to stumble on, looking for work, looking for love, and – ultimately – looking to define himself. Soon, though, the troubles of his past catch up with him, and everything begins to unravel. ‘Funny, sharp-eyed and deeply atmospheric’ Belinda McKeon, author of Solace ‘A bracingly honest, entertaining and sharply well-observed coming of age story’ Sunday Independent

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Demelza is the second book in Winston Graham's hugely popular Poldark series, which has become a television phenomenon starring Aidan Turner.Demelza Carne, the impoverished miner's daughter Ross Poldark rescued from a fairground rabble, is now his wife. But in the events of these turbulent years test their marriage and their love. Demelza's efforts to adapt to the ways of the gentry - and her husbane - bring her confusion and heartache, despite the joy in the birth of their first child. Ross begins a bitter struggle for the rights of the mining communities - and sows the seed of an enduring enmity with powerful George Warleggan.Demelza is followed by Jeremy Poldark, the third title in this evocative series set in 18th century Cornwall. 'From the incomparable Winston Graham...who has everything that anyone else has, then a whole lot more' Guardian

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A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2023'A beautiful, compelling memoir . . . Father and Son is an exquisite, sometimes lunatic tension between powerful emotions and carnage on one side, and on the other, the conventional codes of what must remain unsaid. This, Raban's final work, is a gorgeous achievement" – Ian McEwanOn 11 June 2011, three days short of his sixty-ninth birthday, Jonathan Raban suffered a stroke which left him unable to use the right side of his body. Learning to use a wheelchair in a rehab facility outside Seattle and resisting the ministrations of the nurses overseeing his recovery, Raban began to reflect upon the measure of his own life in the face of his own mortality. Together with the chronicle of his recovery is the extraordinary story of his parents’ marriage, the early years of which were conducted by letter while his father fought in the Second World War.Jonathan Raban engages profoundly and candidly with some of the biggest questions at the heart of what it means to be alive, laying bare the human capacity to withstand trauma, as well as the warmth, strength, and humour that persist despite it. Father and Son, the final work from the peerless man of letters, is a tremendous, continent-sweeping story of love and resilience in the face of immense loss.

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J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan is a thrilling adventure for all ages - the story of the boy who refuses to grow up is a tale that never gets old. It follows the Darling children, Wendy, John and Michael, who befriend the magical Peter and are whisked away to Neverland, where the villainous Captain Hook and the brave Lost Boys await.With illustrations by F. D. Bedford, gorgeously coloured by one of Britain's leading colourists, Barbara Frith, this majestic Macmillan Collector's Library edition brings to life one of the world's favourite tales.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Oliver Twist is one of Charles Dickens's most popular novels, with many famous film, television and musical adaptations. It tells the story of the orphaned Oliver who is brought up in a harsh workhouse, then initiated into the criminal world of Fagin and his gang, before being eventually rescued by a loving family. This is a classic story of good against evil, packed with humour and pathos, drama and suspense, and peopled with some of Dickens' most memorable characters.This Macmillan Collector's Library edition features original illustrations by George Cruikshank, with an afterword by Sam Gilpin.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Sensual, dark and thrilling, Bram Stoker's Dracula remains the seminal work of Gothic fiction, and in this elegant Macmillan Collector's Library edition, which includes an illuminating afterword by Jonty Claypole, readers can experience the horror and excitement as never before.When Jonathan Harker is summoned to Transylvania to finalize a property deal for the mysterious Count Dracula, he stumbles upon an ancient evil he is unprepared to face. When that evil escapes to England, the entire nation is suddenly under threat and only an aged vampire hunter, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, can put a stop to the bloodshed. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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To the Lighthouse, considered by many to be Virginia Woolf's finest novel, is a remarkably original work, showing the thoughts and actions of the members of a family and their guests on two separate occasions, ten years apart. The setting is Mr and Mrs Ramsay's house on a Scottish island, where they traditionally take their summer holidays, overlooking a bay with a lighthouse. An experimental work that pushes the limits of what we know about the world and ourselves, Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse is one of the most beautifully crafted of all novels written in the English language.This Macmillan Collector’s Library edition features an afterword by Sam Gilpin.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Now in its 153rd edition, The Statesman's Yearbook continues to be the reference work of choice for accurate and reliable information on every country in the world. Covering political, economic, social and cultural aspects, the Yearbook is also available online for subscribing institutions: www.statesmansyearbook.com.

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The misadventures of Lemuel Gulliver certainly are extraordinary. First he is shipwrecked in a strange land, and finds himself a prisoner of the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput. Then he washes up in Brobdingnag, where the people are giants of extraordinary proportions. Further exploits see him stranded with the scientists and philosophers of Laputa, and meeting a race of talking horses who rule over bestial humans. One of the finest satires in the English language, Gulliver’s Travels delights in the mockery of everything from government to religion and – despite the passing of nearly three centuries – remains just as funny and relevant today. This gorgeous Macmillan Collector’s Library edition of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver’s Travels features the beautiful artwork of the celebrated English illustrator Arthur Rackham, and an afterword by author and critic, Henry Hitchings. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector’s Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector’s Library are books to love and treasure.

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Dorian Gray is young, arrogant, and devastatingly handsome. Confronted by his beauty in the form of a portrait, and struck by the terrible realization that he will age, Dorian wishes to retain his charms forever and finds his desire granted. He abandons himself to a life of hedonism, vice and murder, yet his face remains unmarked by his evil. But, hidden in his attic, the painting ages and corrupts, and one day Dorian must stand face to face with the man he has become.A perfect depiction of fin-de-siècle decadence, Oscar Wilde's only novel highlights the tension between the polished surface and murky depths of Victorian high society.This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray features an afterword by the playwright and actor Peter Harness.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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