Search results for ""Author Weird"

'Top Bins! A personal best, a lap record and a hole in one for when rain has stopped play.' ALAN DAVIESHop, skip and jump into this wonderfully curious grand tour of the world of sports, brought to you by QI Elves James Harkin and Anna Ptaszynski.From sport's weirdest rules to its most unlikely heroes, via comically large cricket bats, pole-vaulting priests, creative football chants and exploding billiard balls, each chapter of Everything to Play For is brimming with surprising facts and intriguing stories.Even if you've never asked yourself what David Attenborough has to do with yellow tennis balls, why Victorian doctors feared the outbreak of 'bicycle face' or what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed, this book will give you the astonishing answers - and plenty more besides.**For more from the team behind QI's hit TV show, check out the QI FACTS series of books, @qikipedia, their weekly podcast at nosuchthingasafish.com or visit qi.com.

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Described by Philip Pullman as 'the most important British writer of fantasy since Tolkein', Alan Garner has been enrapturing readers with works like The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, The Owl Service, Red Shift and The Stone Book Quartet for more than half a century. Now, a group of the writers and artists he has inspired over the years have come together to celebrate his life and work in First Light.This anthology includes original contributions from David Almond, Margaret Atwood, John Burnside, Susan Cooper, Helen Dunmore, Stephen Fry, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Garner, Paul Kingsnorth, Katherine Langrish, Helen Macdonald, Robert Macfarlane, Gregory Maguire, Neel Mukherjee, Philip Pullman, Ali Smith, Elizabeth Wein, Michael Wood and many, many more.Whether a literary essay, a personal response to Garner's writing or a story about the man himself, each piece is a tribute to his remarkable impact. Edited by the acclaimed journalist and novelist Erica Wagner, First Light will touch the heart of anyone who grew up reading Alan Garner.

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We talk about the weather a lot. It exasperates, confounds and on occasion delights us. Our national conversation is dominated by the weather, but how much do we really know about it? In Bring Me Sunshine, Charlie Connelly sets off on the trail of our island obsession. He breezes through the lives of meteorological eccentrics, geniuses, rainmakers and cloud-busters and brings vividly to life great weather events from history. He sheds light on Britain's weirdest wind, why we have the wettest place in England to thank for the trusty pencil, the debt that umbrella owners owe to Robinson Crusoe and why people once thought firing cannons at clouds was a great idea. Having adventured round the shipping forecast areas for his bestselling Attention All Shipping, Connelly is the perfect guide through a mélange of gales, blizzards, mists, heatwaves and the occasional shower of fish. By turns informative, entertaining and hilarious, Bring Me Sunshine answers all your weather questions as well as helping you to distinguish your graupel from your petrichor.

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Paul Theroux's Ghost Train to the Eastern Star is a journey from London to Asia by train. Winner of the Stanford Dolman Lifetime Contribution to Travel Writing Award 2020Thirty years ago Paul Theroux left London and travelled across Asia and back again by train. His account of the journey - The Great Railway Bazaar - was a landmark book and made his name as the foremost travel writer of his generation. Now Theroux makes the trip all over again. Through Eastern Europe, India and Asia to discover the changes that have swept the continents, and also to learn what an old man will make of a young man's journey. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star is a brilliant chronicle of change and an exploration of how travel is 'the saddest of pleasures'.'A dazzler, giving us the highs and lows of his journey and tenderness and acerbic humour . . . fellow-travelling weirdoes, amateur taxi drivers, bar-girls and long-suffering locals are brought vividly to life' Spectator'Fans of Theroux are not likely to be disappointed. Theroux has great descriptive skill . . . the world is slightly less unknown by virtue of reading the book' Sunday Telegraph'Relaxed, curious, confident, surprisingly tender. Theroux's writing has an immediate, vivid and cursory quality that gives it a collective strength' Sunday Times'A brilliant eye, readable and vivid. Theroux has still got it' Observer'Fascinating, a joy to read' TatlerPaul Theroux's books include Dark Star Safari, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, Riding the Iron Rooster, The Great Railway Bazaar, The Elephanta Suite, A Dead Hand, The Tao of Travel and The Lower River. The Mosquito Coast and Dr Slaughter have both been made into successful films. Paul Theroux divides his time between Cape Cod and the Hawaiian islands.

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Peterson's weirdly fascinating environment will appeal to fans of epic world building, and the generous dose of ribaldry in the story is a welcome treat. -BooklistThe apocalypse happened, but no one knows how. All that's left are a smattering of bizarro cities called remnants, each ruled by a grotesque potentate known as an Odd. If you wind up in hock to the Odds, they ship you to a chain-gang that stretches thousands of miles across desert, steppe, and tundra. A good-hearted drifter named Eldridge is a longtime member of the Chain. Known as the Red Rook because of his triumph in the Xiang Tournament of 2603-a battle royale of live-action battle chess-Eldridge nevertheless wound up on the Chain because...well, he's always getting in trouble trying to help his friends. But when El's best buddy Boris joins the Chain, he brings word that the Odds have declared war on their friends, each of them being held captive by a different Odd in a different remnant. Eldridge and Boris escape t

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Announcing a smart, daring, original new take on the Torah. Imagine: 54 leading young Jewish writers, artists, photographers, screenwriters, architects, actors, musicians, and graphic artists grappling with the first five books of the Bible and giving new meaning to the 54 Torah portions that are traditionally read over the course of a year. From the foundational stories of Genesis and Exodus to the legalistic minutiae of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, Unscrolled is a reinterpreting, a reimagining, a creative and eclectic celebration of the Jewish Bible.Here’s a graphic-novel version of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, by Rebecca Odes and Sam Lipsyte. Lost creator Damon Lindelof writing about Abraham’s decision to sacrifice his son. Here’s Sloane Crosley bringing Pharaoh into the 21st century, where he’s checking out “boils,” “lice,” and “plague of frogs” on WebMD. Plus there’s Joshua Foer, Aimee Bender, A. J. Jacobs, David Auburn, Jill Soloway, Ben Greenman, Josh Radnor, Adam Mansbach, and more.Edited by Roger Bennett, a founder of Reboot, a network of young Jewish creatives and intellectuals, Unscrolled is a gathering of brilliant, diverse voices that will speak to anyone interested in Jewish thought and identity—and, with its singular design and use of color throughout, the perfect bar and bat mitzvah gift. First it presents a synopsis of the Torah portion, written by Bennett, and then the story is reinterpreted, in forms that range from the aforementioned graphic novel to transcripts, stories, poems, memoirs, letters, plays, infographics, monologues—each designed to give the reader a fresh new take on some of the oldest, wisest, and occasionally weirdest stories of the Western world, while inspiring new ideas about the Bible and its meaning, value, and place in our lives.

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A thrilling and charming middle grade fantasy steeped in Japanese lore and mythology, perfect for fans of the Zachary Ying series.Tessa Miyata has never fit in. When she and her two sisters are told they will be staying at their grandparents in Japan, Tessa is thrilled. A summer in Japan could be her chance to go on an adventure worthy of impressing her classmates back home.Her hopes are quickly dashed when, all too soon, she realizes that life in Japan is just like being in California: her sisters are old enough to go into Tokyo, while she can't even go to the corner store by herself. Plus, her grandparents want her to stay home with the neighbor kid, thirteen-year-old Jin Uehara, who's made it clear he's too cool to spend time with a weirdo like her.When Tessa is finally allowed to go to Tokyo, it's only to join her grandpa's retiree aerobic class with none other than Jin. Their disastrous forced hang out comes crashing to a halt when Tessa and Jin break the Miyata family's precious heirloom-accidentally releasing the malicious samurai god Taira Masakado and discovering a hidden part of the city where gods and mythological creatures walk among humans-including their new companion, a mythical nine-tailed fox who may be more trouble than he is help.Despite doing everything to avoid spending another minute together, Tessa and Jin must now work together to stop Taira Masakado before he traps them-and the rest of Tokyo-under his command, forever.Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Graci Kim, this brand new fantasy adventure will grip readers from the very first page and never let go.

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Perfect for fans of Hilo and Lunch Lady, this charming and funny young middle grade graphic novel follows one boy as he discovers that his perceived flaw—wild, red hair—may just be what saves the day. Ten-year-old Ted just wants to fit in. But his wild, red hair is a target for school bullies. Fortunately, he has his best friend, Stacy, to take his mind off all the mean comments. But Stacy needs Ted’s help to uncover the truth of a local urban legend—the elusive giant raccoon known as the Brookside Beast! However, after Stacy starts making new friends, Ted feels more alone and weirder than ever…until Ted discovers that he has a superpower! His hair can lift, stretch, and catch anything. For the first time in his life, Ted wonders if his unruly hair is a gift rather than a curse.Could it be the one thing that not only helps solve their town’s greatest mystery but also gets his best bud back?

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From the creator of the successful food blog Delightful E Made, a collection of healthy smoothies packed with protein! Loaded with fresh, simple ingredients, The Protein Smoothie Bible brings together protein, nutrition, and flavor in delicious, easy-to-make smoothies.This approachable guide to blending up smoothie success in your kitchen is the perfect way to become a healthier, happier, more energetic you! You’ll love creations such as the Strawberry Citrus Sunrise, Perfect Pear, Peach Powerhouse, and Chocolate-Covered Cherry.This smoothie collection is perfect for: Anyone wanting healthier breakfast, snack, and lunch options! Eliminate the junk and swap in a healthy, protein-packed smoothie—you’ll look and feel a million times better! Busy people who don’t have much time to fix something healthy and nutritious. P.S., you can eliminate that 3 p.m. slump! Athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want more options to power their workouts. Protein smoothies with real food are the perfect pre- and post-workout fuel! Parents who want healthy snack and lunch ideas for their kids that they’ll actually like and eat! Anyone looking to lose a few pounds! Protein smoothies made with yummy fruits and vegetables are the perfect way to not only add good nutrition to your body, but also help keep you fuller, longer! No depravation necessary. The Protein Smoothie Bible is the perfect tool to bring nutrition to your life with simple, everyday ingredients. No weirdo ingredients that you’ve never heard of here—just simple, fresh food that will help you look and feel amazing!

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'An honest, funny account of how we're all capable of changing for the better' SETH MEYERS'A great, motivating book that can really help - every bloke should read it' SHAUN RYDERSam Delaney was Jack the Lad. He was confident, loud and funny; an absolute legend, to be honest. Or at least that was what he pretended to be.But when he reached his thirties, work, relationships and fatherhood started to take their toll. Like so many blokes who seemed to be totally fine, he often felt like a complete failure whose life was out of control; anxiety and depression had secretly plagued him for years. Turning to drink and drugs only made things worse. Sam knew he needed help - the problem was that he thought self-help was for hippies, sobriety was for weirdos and therapy was for neurotics.Keeping it all inside was what nearly dragged Sam under. Then he began to open up and share his story with others. Soon his life started to get better and better. Now, he's written this book to help you do the same.Covering his complex upbringing, fast paced career, struggles with addiction and recovery, and detailing lessons he's learnt along the way, Sort Your Head Out is Sam's startlingly raw, compassionate and hilarious account of why opening up is the first step to sorting your head out.

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'An honest, funny account of how we're all capable of changing for the better' SETH MEYERS'A great, motivating book that can really help - every bloke should read it' SHAUN RYDERSam Delaney was Jack the Lad. He was confident, loud and funny; an absolute legend, to be honest. Or at least that was what he pretended to be.But when he reached his thirties, work, relationships and fatherhood started to take their toll. Like so many blokes who seemed to be totally fine, he often felt like a complete failure whose life was out of control; anxiety and depression had secretly plagued him for years. Turning to drink and drugs only made things worse. Sam knew he needed help - the problem was that he thought self-help was for hippies, sobriety was for weirdos and therapy was for neurotics.Keeping it all inside was what nearly dragged Sam under. Then he began to open up and share his story with others. Soon his life started to get better and better. Now, he's written this book to help you do the same.Covering his complex upbringing, fast paced career, struggles with addiction and recovery, and detailing lessons he's learnt along the way, Sort Your Head Out is Sam's startlingly raw, compassionate and hilarious account of why opening up is the first step to sorting your head out.

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The diminutive co-founder of Code Pink has become famous for fearlessly tackling head-on subjects the left and right studiously avoid. Sometimes, she does so in person--as at President Obama's speech at the National Defense College, or in Egypt, where she was assaulted by police. Here, she's researching the sinister nature of the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.In seven succinct chapters followed by a meditation on prospects for change, Benjamin--cited by the L.A. Times as "one of the high profile members of the peace movement"--shines a light on one of the weirder, and most important, elements of our foreign policy. What is the origin of this strange alliance between two countries that have very little in common? Why does it persist, and what are its consequences? Why, over a period of decades and across various presidential administrations, has the United States consistently supported a regime shown time and again to be one of the most powerful forces working against American interests? Saudi Arabia is perhaps the single most important source of funds for terrorists worldwide, promoting an extreme interpretation of Islam along with anti-Western sentiment, while brutally repressing non-violent dissidents at home.

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Shadowy geniuses whispering, Rasputinlike, into the ears of our elected politicians under a cloak of secrecy, or a crucial but undervalued cog in the machinery of government? …Or just a rag-tag band of weirdos and misfits? Despite the acres of speculation devoted to special advisers in recent years, from Alastair Campbell to Dominic Cummings, their role is much misunderstood. Who are the people Piers Morgan once called ‘these miserable little creatures’ and just how much influence do they have? Peter Cardwell served as SpAd to four Cabinet ministers, acting as media adviser, political fixer, troubleshooter and occasional wardrobe consultant. In this candid, compelling and frequently hilarious insider account, he takes the reader into the heart of Whitehall to reveal what the job really involves, from dealing with counter-terror emergencies in Cobra to explaining to the Justice Secretary what a dental dam is, to having your inside leg measured in a government office. Packed with advice on navigating the perks and pitfalls of the job, The Secret Life of Special Advisers will inform and entertain anyone who has ever wondered what these mysterious figures really do all day.

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This has always been the case, no matter how often that certainty has failed. Though no generation believes there’s nothing left to learn, every generation unconsciously assumes that what has already been defined and accepted is (probably) pretty close to how reality will be viewed in perpetuity. And then, of course, time passes. Ideas shift. Opinions invert. What once seemed reasonable eventually becomes absurd, replaced by modern perspectives that feel even more irrefutable and secure – until, of course, they don’t. But What If We’re Wrong? visualizes the contemporary world as it will appear to those who’ll perceive it as the distant past. Chuck Klosterman asks questions that are profound in their simplicity: How certain are we about our understanding of gravity? How certain are we about our understanding of time? What will be the defining memory of rock music, five hundred years from today? How seriously should we view the content of our dreams? How seriously should we view the content of television? Are all sports destined for extinction? Is it possible that the greatest artist of our era is currently unknown (or – weirder still – widely known, but entirely disrespected)? Is it possible that we ‘overrate’ democracy? And perhaps most disturbing, is it possible that we’ve reached the end of knowledge? Kinetically slingshotting through a broad spectrum of objective and subjective problems, But What If We’re Wrong? is built on interviews with a variety of creative thinkers – George Saunders, David Byrne, Jonathan Lethem, Kathryn Schulz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brian Greene, Junot Díaz, Amanda Petrusich, Ryan Adams, Nick Bostrom, Dan Carlin, and Richard Linklater, among others – interwoven with the type of high-wire humor and nontraditional analysis only Klosterman would dare to attempt. It’s a seemingly impossible achievement: a book about the things we cannot know, explained as if we did. It’s about how we live now, once ‘now’ has become ‘then’.

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“The poems of Rebecca Dunham’s Strike invoke the terse, noiseless monstrousness of the toxic-domestic, the ‘once-us,’ in which ‘to fall numb is not to fall/out of pain.’ This collection is Plathian in its riven depiction of anger, which both ‘presses/down and in,’ where denial ‘is beaten to silver foil, to silver leaf,’ and in which ‘[o]ver the butcher/paper’s sheets’ her ‘red story sprawls.’ In poems whose edges are honed on a whetstone of impeccable craft, and which delve into history, archetype, and ekphrasis, Dunham exposes the face that ‘ripples beneath her mask’ and builds a ravishing myth of the unveiled lyric interior.” —Diane Seuss “In Rebecca Dunham’s gorgeous new book there are secrets, shames, and a fury that bites like frost. Strike reminds me that ‘fidelity / demands not only virtue’s deep mortal stab, / but the love of it’; that anger burns clean; that forgiveness can burden the one who was hurt, asking them to console the one who made them suffer. Dunham brings to light a rage that has felt unutterable to me for so long, as well as the lineage of women who know betrayal’s slow burning. When you read this stunning book, you can’t fail to feel these poems strike you as well, how even after you set it down, you can still feel the scorch of it.” —Traci Brimhall “D.T. Suzuki describes the start of a bad poem as one that ‘does not fly straight to the target, nor does the target stand where it is…’ Rebecca Dunham’s Strike is a campaign of targets all hit, dead-center, by furiously composed poems—arrows that cannot miss. Whether real life fortifies her aim, or pure imagination, or the progeny of both, the reader need not know. What matters is that this writer is on fire—and for sharing her archery, her heartache, and her hunger for catharsis, we thank her, as this is poetry that confirms the weirdly compatible damnation and grace of language used to expunge and expose and exalt. ‘Heap of tortured hairpins/at my feet…,’ Strike hurts, and thereby saves.” —Larissa Szporluk

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Sloane and Amelia clash with rival detectives when they travel to a secluded mansion in search of a missing fortune in this “warmhearted, very funny, madcap caper” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) that’s the second book in the fun-filled Tangled Mysteries middle grade series perfect for fans of The Book Scavenger and Lemons.When Sloane Osborn and Amelia Miller-Poe arrive at Tangle Glen mansion, they have one goal: find the two million dollars that went missing on its premises decades ago. Solving the mystery would be just the kind of splashy victory their new detective agency needs to gain traction. Except that everything from the weirdly intense peony competition to the mansion’s cook who may or may not be hiding murder dolls in the attic seems to get in the way of their investigation. Not to mention Amelia’s obsession with speaking in 1920s slang, which sounds like a whole lot of nonsense to Sloane. And when it becomes clear that Amelia and Sloane aren’t the only ones searching for the missing millions, things start to get downright dangerous. So, when Sloane finds herself stranded on the edge of a slippery roof as a terrified bloodhound careens toward her, she can only ask herself: 1. Why are adults so obsessed with peonies? 2. Just how far are the other detectives willing to go to find the millions first? 3. Is the rain gutter on a hundred-year-old mansion strong enough to hold the weight of a thirteen-year-old girl and an exuberant dog?

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'Like a hairier Buffy The Vampire Slayer, a a big-hearted novel about finding your "pack" in unexpected places' Marie Claire, Best Books of the YearBrian, an aimless slacker in his twenties, works double shifts at his waiter job, never cleans his apartment and gets black-out drunk with his restaurant comrades, Nik and Darby. He's been struggling to manage his transition to adulthood almost as much as his monthly transitions to a werewolf. Really, he is not great at the whole werewolf thing, and his recent murderous slip-ups have caught the attention of Tyler, a Millennial were-entrepreneur determined to explore exponential growth strategies in the mythological wellness market. Tyler has got a plan and he wants Brian to be part of it, and weirdly his brand of self-help punditry actually encourages Brian to shape up and to stop accidently marking out bad tippers at the restaurant as potential monthly victims. But as Brian gets closer to Tyler's pack and drifts further away from Nik and Darby, he realises that Tyler's expansion plans are much more nefarious than a little lupine enlightenment...Big-hearted, goofy, anarchic and funny, Bored Gay Werewolf is a smart take on the doomsday logic of late capitalism and the complicated meeting point of masculinity and sexuality. More than that, though, and like Scooby Doo with Grindr or Stranger Things with sex and ennui, it's a buddy novel about finding your pack, the power of friendship, and learning how to be comfortable in your own, shaggy werewolf pelt

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Earth's extraordinary trees, plants, wonderful wildlife and more are all on dazzling display in this essential visual deck of fascinating flashcards for children aged 9+. Our World in Pictures: SI Trees Flashcards is an indispensable guide to more than 100 species of trees, ranging from the mighty Californian redwood to the ancient banyan tree. Featuring stunning pictures and fast facts that will allow curious young learners to grasp a wealth of knowledge in a fun way!Each card contains snappy and accessible information, displaying each tree in beautiful detail. The front of the card will show the tree with a clue of what it is. The back reveals the answer, plus a dataset about the tree: its size, location and distinguishing features alongside close-up pictures of the bark, leaves, and fruit. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to dig deep and discover: - The pack shows 165 trees from across the world.- Data sets on the cards include leaf type, tree shape, and size. - Front of the cards include Latin name and clues about the tree.- Bold and eye-catching images highlight the main features of each tree – their bark, leaves, fruit, and seeds.- Cards are two-sided, laminated, and packed in a durable cardboard carton Our World in Pictures: SI Trees Flashcards are packed with information on the world’s most amazing trees – from those that feed us to others that drip poison – to make you an expert in no time! You can use the cards to test your own knowledge, or how about using them to play a guessing game, quiz, or a competitive comparison game with a friend? Treasure seekers, get set to start your own collection with this engaging set of fun flashcards for children aged 9+. Learn all about the world one picture at a time!If you like Our World in Pictures: SI Trees Flashcards then you will love Our World In Pictures: Trees Leaves Flowers & Seeds. Part of the highly visual Our World In Pictures series, avid readers can explore over 1000 of the weirdest most wonderful wildlife and plants on the planet, in splendid detail with stunning illustrations throughout.

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The arsons started on a cold November midnight and didn’t stop for months. Night after night, the people of Accomack County waited to see which building would burn down next, regarding each other at first with compassion, and later suspicion. Vigilante groups sprang up, patrolling the rural Virginia coast with cameras and camouflage. Volunteer firefighters slept at their stations. The arsonist seemed to target abandoned buildings, but local police were stretched too thin to surveil them all. Accomack was desolate—there were hundreds of abandoned buildings. And by the dozen they were burning. The culprit, and the path that led to these crimes, is a story of twenty-first century America. Washington Post reporter Monica Hesse first drove down to the reeling county to cover a hearing for Charlie Smith, a struggling mechanic who upon his capture had promptly pleaded guilty to sixty-seven counts of arson. But as Charlie’s confession unspooled, it got deeper and weirder. He wasn’t lighting fires alone; his crimes were galvanized by a surprising love story. Over a year of investigating, Hesse uncovered the motives of Charlie and his accomplice, girlfriend Tonya Bundick, a woman of steel-like strength and an inscrutable past. Theirs was a love built on impossibly tight budgets and simple pleasures. They were each other’s inspiration and escape…until they weren’t. Though it’s hard to believe today, one hundred years ago Accomack was the richest rural county in the nation. Slowly it’s been drained of its industry—agriculture—as well as its wealth and population. In an already remote region, limited employment options offer little in the way of opportunity. A mesmerizing and crucial panorama with nationwide implications, American Fire asks what happens when a community gets left behind. Hesse brings to life the Eastern Shore and its inhabitants, battling a punishing economy and increasingly terrified by a string of fires they could not explain. The result evokes the soul of rural America—a land half gutted before the fires even began.

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One woman is in a world of otherworldly trouble—and she’s going to have to bet her life to save humankind. Ernestine “Ernie” Terwilliger has put her dreams aside to look after her eccentric mother. Case in point: saving her from a mysterious stranger who’s just stormed the terrified woman’s antique store wearing a rattlesnake tattoo, leveling threats, and brandishing the weirdest deck of cards Ernie’s ever seen. When Ernie grabs some of the cards and runs, she’s launched into a world she never knew existed—one her mother may know more about than she’s revealing. With a handful of stolen cards, Ernie has just been made an unwilling player in a game of good versus evil. But she’s not even playing with a full deck, and its original owner is more than happy to kill to get his cards back. Suddenly Ernie’s matching wits and plays with the supernatural Immortal Dealers, who can raise empires, damn souls, and shape the world’s destiny. It’s up to Ernie to defeat the most brutal member of their order. And if her roguish new ally isn’t bluffing, he can help. The mystery is all in the cards, and to save her life—and humanity—Ernie had better learn how to deal.

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The contentious history of the idea of the black hole—the most fascinating and bizarre celestial object in the heavens For more than half a century, physicists and astronomers engaged in heated dispute over the possibility of black holes in the universe. The weirdly alien notion of a space-time abyss from which nothing escapes—not even light—seemed to confound all logic. This engrossing book tells the story of the fierce black hole debates and the contributions of Einstein and Hawking and other leading thinkers who completely altered our view of the universe. Renowned science writer Marcia Bartusiak shows how the black hole helped revive Einstein’s greatest achievement, the general theory of relativity, after decades during which it had been pushed into the shadows. Not until astronomers discovered such surprising new phenomena as neutron stars and black holes did the once-sedate universe transform into an Einsteinian cosmos, filled with sources of titanic energy that can be understood only in the light of relativity. This book celebrates the hundredth anniversary of general relativity, uncovers how the black hole really got its name, and recounts the scientists’ frustrating, exhilarating, and at times humorous battles over the acceptance of one of history’s most dazzling ideas.

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Hilarious stories and advice about the ups and downs of growing up, from popular YouTube artist and storyteller, James Rallison. Like any shy teen turned young adult, YouTube star James Rallison ("The Odd 1s Out") is used to being on the outside looking in. He wasn't partying in high school or winning football games like his older brother. Instead, he posted comics on the Internet. Now, he's ready to share his hard-earned advice from his 21 years of life in the funny, relatable voice his fans love. In this illustrated collection, Rallison tells his own stories of growing up as the "odd one out": in art class with his twin sister (she was more talented), in the middle school locker room, and up to one strange year of college (he dropped out). Each story is filled with the little lessons he picked up along the way, serious and otherwise, like: How to be cool (in seventh grade) Why it's OK to be second-best at something, and How to survive your first, confidence-killing job interviews. Filled with fan-favourite comics and never-before-seen material, this tongue-in-cheek take on some of the weirdest, funniest parts of life is perfect for both avid followers and new converts.

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Nothing causes a stir on social media platforms like a topical discussion on the latest food trend. Modern-day chefs like to think that they are creative and often claim to push boundaries of food creation, but if we want to explore real culinary creativity then we need to look to our ancestors. Writer and food historian, Seren Charrington-Hollins delves into the history of culinary experimentation to bring us some of the weirdest and most stomach-churning food delicacies to ever grace a dining table. She uncovers the rather gruesome history behind some everyday staples, uncovers bizarre and curious recipes, whilst casting a light on foods that have fallen from culinary grace, such as cows udders and tripe; showing that revulsion is just a matter of taste, times and perhaps knowledge. From pickled brains to headcheese, through to song birds and nymph's thighs, this book explores foods that have evoked disgust and delight in diners depending on culinary perspective. So pull up a chair, unfold your napkin and get ready for a highly entertaining and enlightening journey to explore what makes a recipe revolting? Be warned; you'll need a strong stomach and an open mind.

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‘This band has no past’ was the first line of the farcical biography printed on the inner sleeve of Cheap Trick’s first album, but the band, of course, did have a past—a past that straddles two very different decades: from the tumult of the sixties to the anticlimax of the seventies, from the British Invasion to the record industry renaissance, with the band’s debut album arriving in 1977, the year vinyl sales peaked.This Band Has No Past tells the story of a bar band from the Midwest—the best and weirdest bar band in the Midwest— and how they doggedly pursued a most unlikely career in rock’n’roll. It traces every gnarly limb of the family tree of bands that culminated in Cheap Trick, then details how this unlikely foursome paid their dues—with interest—night after night, slogging it out everywhere from high schools to bars to bowling alleys to fans’ back yards, before signing to Epic Records and releasing two brilliant albums six months apart.Drawing on more than eighty original interviews, This Band Has No Past is packed full of new insights and information that fans of the band will devour. How was the Cheap Trick logo created? How did the checkerboard pattern come to be associated with the band? When did Rick Nielsen start wearing a ballcap 24/7? Who caught their mom and dad rolling on the couch? What kind of beer did David Bowie drink? And when might characters like Chuck Berry, Frank Zappa, Don Johnson, Otis Redding, Eddie Munster, Kim Fowley, John Belushi, Jim Belushi, Elvis Presley, Leslie West, Groucho Marx, Robert F. Kennedy, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, The Coneheads, Tom Petty, Harvey Weinstein, Michael Mann, Linda Blair, Eddie Van Halen, Elvis Costello, Matt Dillon, and Pam Grier turn up? Read on and find out.

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Packed with more than 1,000 incredible images and full of fascinating facts, this beautiful children’s book takes you on an exciting expedition through the wonders of the plant kingdom.Have you ever wondered which plants eat insects? Or how cacti store water? How about which flowers look like bees? Or where is the tallest tree in the world? If you find yourself seeking the answers to these quirky questions and so many more, then Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds may be the book for you! Explore the incredible world of plants, from the smallest seeds to the tallest trees, whilst you discover all about the weirdest, smelliest and deadliest flowers on our planet, with this engaging encyclopedia for children aged 9-12. Celebrate your child's curiosity as they explore:- Striking and detailed diagrams, drawings, and illustrations on every page - A highly visual approach to learning - An ideal combination of colorful diagrams with infographic text boxes- In association with The Smithsonian InstitutionThis captivating kids encyclopedia also takes a fun, more sideways look at some truly strange plants, such as trees with fruits like a giant’s fingers, orchids that look like monkey faces, seeds that spin like helicopters, and trees that drip poison! The striking illustrations, photographs and diagrams featured throughout provide an optimum visual learning experience for both children and adults alike, accompanied by an array of fun facts all about your favorite flowers, plants, trees and more.This plant encyclopedia includes at-a-glance panels that provide a quick reference to all the stats, making this nature book an ideal combination of colorful diagrams and infographic text boxes. In association with DK Smithsonian, the text proves easily accessible for readers aged 9-12, yet can be enjoyed by the entire family, making this enthralling children’s encyclopedia a beautiful and educational gift that can be passed down generations.Learn all about the world one picture at a time!If you like Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds, then why not complete the collection? Part of the highly visual Our World In Pictures series, avid readers can dive into the world of dinosaurs with The Dinosaur Book, become a vehicle virtuoso with Cars, Trains, Ships and Planes and venture on a journey across the globe with Countries, Cultures, People & Places.

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Packed with more than 1,000 incredible images and full of fascinating facts, this beautiful children's book takes you on an exciting expedition through the wonders of the plant kingdom.Have you ever wondered which plants eat insects? Or how cacti store water? How about which flowers look like bees? Or where is the tallest tree in the world? If you find yourself seeking the answers to these quirky questions and so many more, then Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds may be the book for you! Explore the incredible world of plants, from the smallest seeds to the tallest trees, whilst you discover all about the weirdest, smelliest and deadliest flowers on our planet, with this engaging encyclopedia for children aged 9-12. Celebrate your child's curiosity as they explore:-Striking and detailed diagrams, drawings and illustrations on every page -Highly visual approach to learning -Ideal combination of colourful diagrams with infographic text boxesThis captivating kids encyclopedia also takes a fun, more sideways look at some truly strange plants, such as trees with fruits like a giant's fingers, orchids that look like monkey faces, seeds that spin like helicopters, and trees that drip poison! The striking illustrations, photographs and diagrams featured throughout provide an optimum visual learning experience for both children and adults alike, accompanied by an array of fun facts all about your favourite flowers, plants, trees and more.This plant encyclopedia includes at-a-glance panels that provide a quick reference to all the stats, making this nature book an ideal combination of colourful diagrams and infographic text boxes. In association with DK Smithsonian, the text proves easily-accesible for readers aged 9-12, yet can be enjoyed by the entire family, making this enthralling children's encyclopedia a beautiful and educational gift that can be passed down generations.Learn all about the world one picture at a time!If you like Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds, then why not complete the collection? Part of the highly-visual Our World In Pictures series, avid readers can dive into the world of dinosaurs with The Dinosaur Book, become a vehicle virtuoso with Cars, Trains, Ships and Planes and venture on a journey across the globe with Countries, Cultures, People & Places.

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A study of the natural world as imagined by contemporary writers, specifically their portrayals of nature as monster In Zombiescapes and Phantom Zones: Ecocriticism and the Liminal from “Invisible Man” to “The Walking Dead,” Lee Rozelle chronicles the weirdest, ugliest, and most mixed-up characters to appear on the literary scene since World War II—creatures intimately linked to damaged habitats that rise from the muck, not to destroy or rule the world, but to save it. The book asks what happens to these landscapes after the madness, havoc, and destruction. What monsters and magic surface then? Rozelle argues that zombiescapes and phantom zones depicted in the book become catalysts for environmental reanimation and sources of hope. Liminality offers exciting and useful new ways to conceptualize places that have historically proven troublesome, unwieldy, or hard to define. Zombiescapes can reduce the effects of pollution, promote environmental justice, lessen economic disparity, and localize food production. The grotesques that ooze and crawl from these passages challenge readers to consider new ways to re-inhabit broken lands at a time when energy efficiency, fracking, climate change, the Pacific trade agreement, local food production, and sustainability shape the intellectual landscape. Rozelle focuses on literary works from 1950 to 2015—the zombiescapes and monsterscapes of post–World War II literature—that portray in troubling and often devastating ways the “brownfields” that have been divested of much of their biodiversity and ecological viability. However, he also highlights how these literary works suggest a new life and new potential for such environments. With an unlikely focus on places of ruination and an application of interdisciplinary, transnational approaches to a range of fields and texts, Rozelle advances the notion that places of distortion might become a nexus where revelation and advocacy are possible again. Zombiescapes and Phantom Zones has much to offer to various fields of scholarship, including literary studies, ecocriticism, and environmental studies. Research, academic, and undergraduate audiences will be captivated by Rozelle’s lively prose and unique anthropological, ecocritical, and literary analyses.

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A hilarious collection of the weirdest, stupidest and most outrageous things ever said on the internet on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Amazon, YouTube and even in good old-fashioned emails. Years ago if you said or did something stupid or embarrassing, it would have remained relatively private and have would soon been forgotten. Now thanks to advances in technology every cringe-making remark that we make online is preserved not only for the rest of eternity but is also instantly available for all the world to see! Wow! I'm a Genieous! presents an irresistible collection of ill-thought out comments, opinions, online disputes and sheer unashamed ignorance.So join us as we find the people who put the twit in Twitter and the mess in instant message. Contents include: Stupid Questions and Stupid Answers: e.g. "Does anyone know Obama's last name?" "Are there any lakes in the Lake District?" Angry Outbursts: Furious, insane or wildly over the top comments from You Tube etc Harrods it ain't - buying and selling on the internet: "I won a filthy Powerbook 540 which took about one month to arrive. The seller clearly used rubbish from their bin to pack the box; complete with McDonalds wrappers with old french fries and lettuce!" Observations To Leave You Speechless: "Does it rain in Australia? Because it's the other side of the world doesn't the rain just fall away into space?", "The Olympics has been going three thousand years?! We're only up to 2012!" "I like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur." Reviews from Hell: "The beach was too sandy and there were too many fish in the sea...", "We went on holiday to Spain and had problems with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish" Online Slip Ups: Internet-based disasters e.g. the school headmaster who asked his bursar to reply to a complaint from an old lady by telling her to "get stuffed" but accidentally copied her in on the message Communication Problems: Extraordinary spelling mistakes and terrible grammar e.g. "nothing more fun than wachting sex and city and raping Christmas pressants", "Why is the USA bombin Labia?" People Who Really Don't Deserve Our Money: e.g. An email from a Euromillions winner promising you a share of their win. As if!

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Discover more than 100 dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals in this exciting children’s dinosaur encyclopedia! Extraordinary Dinosaurs Visual Encyclopedia is the perfect book for young readers who want to get up close and personal with their favourite prehistoric creatures! Children will be excited to see the fastest, largest, and fiercest creatures, browse their habitats, learn about their claws and spikes, and find out how their fossils help scientists piece together hidden clues about their lives.This must-have dinosaur book for children aged 7–11 features fascinating information on all the major types of dinosaur as well as ancient fish, other prehistoric reptiles in the air or water, and early mammals. Kids will be drawn in and mesmerized by hundreds of exciting images and surprising information on many different dinosaur profiles.Inside the pages of this thrilling dinosaur book for kids, you’ll find:- More than 100 profiles on dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures- Fact-filled ‘top trump’ style profiles on remarkable dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures- Chapters that span time before the dinosaurs, the age of the dinosaurs, and life after many dinosaurs died out- Clear, engaging text packed with latest facts alongside stunning CGI visuals and artworksThis is the ultimate fact-filled dinosaur reference book for kids who love to have all the latest, weirdest, most in-depth info on the creatures of the prehistoric world at their fingertips. Dinosaur reconstructions and the latest fossil finds bring back to life the bone-crunching teeth of the Tyrannosaurus rex, the astonishingly large body of the Argentinosaurus, and the plane-sized wings of the soaring Hatzegopteryx. Each page reveals new facts from the latest paleontological research, including each animal’s size, group, habitat, time period, diet, and fossil discovery.

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Whether we’re big or small, it can be hard to get away from our screens. Most children spend between five and seven hours a day looking at some form of screen – and most grown-ups spend twice as much time. Screens promise endless entertainment, but the more time we spend with them, the more we lose sight of all that is strange, fascinating and delightful in the world around us. Even when we’re stuck indoors, there are infinite possibilities for banishing boredom and having fun so long as we use our imagination. All we need are a few helpful suggestions.... No-tech Fun contains 80 of the weirdest and most wonderful activities children can do at home , all without using a screen. Rather than scrolling or tapping, you’ll be invited to draw, make, write, invent, dress up, hide, seek and discover. You can paint like Picasso or meditate like Buddha; become an indoor entomologist or a home Olympian; make up a new language or a mythical creature; and even find the fun in some household chores. Inventive and irreverent, this book is the perfect companion for humdrum days and wet weekends. It is a compendium of the world’s strangest, silliest and most stimulating activities.

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RSPB Spotlight: Frogs and Toads is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct and detailed text written by an expert on these amphibians. They were bestowed with magical properties in folklore, they were sought after as ingredients of witches’ broth, and they are comic characters that have invaded popular culture, from Kermit the Frog to Toad of Toad Hall. Frogs and toads are charismatic members of Britain’s wildlife. But what do you really know about them? Scratch beneath the surface, and you will discover some of nature’s weirdest creatures, amphibians whose ecology we are only now coming to understand. Spotlight Frogs and Toads is a compelling account of Britain’s four native amphibian species: the Common Frog, the Pool Frog, the Common Toad and the rare and secretive Natterjack Toad. New research suggests that, in the next ten years, three out of four UK species are likely to be listed as threatened. Revealing a host of secrets, including how they migrate, what they eat, and how they got to the UK in the first place, Jules Howard inspires us all to look down, rather than up, in spring. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photographs and informative expert text.

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** SOON TO BE A MAJOR HBO SERIES STARRING JODIE COMER **A YOU MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR'A startlingly funny sex comedy with dark undertones that's high on quirk and scabrous wit.' Sunday Times, 'Books of the Year''By turns funny, eccentric and raunchy.' Grazia'Made me laugh and think too much (the right amount?) about sex and death and honesty.' MONICA HEISEY 'Offbeat, unhinged and brilliant.' Stylist'Utterly addictive. . . I laughed so hard it ached.' GILLIAN ANDERSON'Juicy, salacious and compelling. Trauma shouldn't be this fun.' SARA PASCOEGreta liked knowing people's secrets. That wasn't a problem. Until she met Big Swiss.Big Swiss. That's Greta's nickname for her - she is tall, and she is from Switzerland. Well that's how Greta imagines her; they haven't actually met in person. Nor has Greta actually ever been to Switzerland.What Greta doesn't know is that she's about to bump into Big Swiss in the local dog park. A new - and not entirely honest - relationship is going to be born.A relationship that will transform both of their lives . . .Readers are obsessed with Big Swiss:'Thing thing is a riot.' 'Slightly deranged, endlessly entertaining, and weirdly touching.' 'Kooky, funny, and very gripping.' 'Beagin really understands the human condition.' 'From the dark, dry comedy to the conversations surrounding sexuality, trauma and the complexities of our relationships to one another, this book had it ALL.' 'I absolutely adored this!' 'Bonkers but brilliant. I was hooked from the get go.''Darkly funny, wildly eccentric and impossibly great.' 'I loved this book all the way through, couldn't put it down.' 'I devoured this book.' 'Wonderful, witty, thought-provoking.' 'Got me out of a reading slump and heartbroken it's over.'

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Murder most fowl? In this sardonic and campy YA thriller, an anxious, introverted nonbinary teen birder somehow finds themself investigating a murder with their neighbor/fellow anime lover, all while falling for a cute girl from their birding group...and trying not to get killed next. Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor’s life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice—succumb to their long list of fears (including #3 Murder and #55 Breaking into a Dead Guy’s Apartment), or investigate what happened. Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca’s crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13 Beautiful People, #11 Parents Discovering They’re a Raging Lesbian), the trio uncover a conspiracy much larger—and weirder—than imagined. And when the killer catches wind of the investigation, suddenly Bianca’s #1 fear of public speaking doesn’t sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.In this absurdist, darkly comical YA thriller that is a deceptively deep exploration of anxiety and identity, perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.

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I am how I've always been.My name is Auden Dare.I am eleven years old. Auden Dare has an unusual perspective on life: he cannot see in colour. He's always had this rare condition - and life is beginning to get harder for Auden. The war for water that is raging across the world is getting a little closer all the time. It hardly rains any more, anywhere. Everyone is thirsty all the time, and grubby, and exhausted. Auden has to learn to live without his father, who is away fighting, and has had to move to a new town with his mother, and start a new school, where everyone thinks he's a weirdo. But when he meets Vivi Rookmini, a smiling girl bright with cleverness, his hopes begin to lift. It soon becomes clear to Auden, though, that there are some strange things afoot in his new hometown. He and his mother have moved into the old cottage of his recently-dead uncle Jonah Bloom - a scientist and professor at the university. The place is in disarray - and although Auden's mother tells him it's because Jonah was a messy old thing, Auden knows differently. Someone else did this - someone who was looking for something of Jonah's. Auden had heard too that Jonah was working on something that could cure Auden's condition - could this be it? Then Auden and Vivi make an extraordinary discovery. Hidden away under the shed at the bottom of Jonah's garden is an engimatic and ingenious robot, who calls himself Paragon. A talking, walking, human-like robot. Apparently built by Jonah - but why? The answer to this will take Auden and Vivi on a thrilling journey of discovery as they seek to find out just what exactly Paragon is - and what link he has to Auden - and find that the truth is bigger and more wonderful than either of them could have imagined.

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A deluded mother who invented her past, an alcoholic father who couldn't deal with the present, a son who wondered if this could really be his family. Richard Glover's favourite dinner party game is called 'Who's Got the Weirdest Parents?'. It's a game he always thinks he'll win. There was his mother, a deluded snob, who made up large swathes of her past and who ran away with Richard's English teacher, a Tolkien devotee, nudist and stuffed-toy collector. There was his father, a distant alcoholic, who ran through a gamut of wives, yachts and failed dreams. And there was Richard himself, a confused teenager, vulnerable to strange men, trying to find a family he could belong to. As he eventually accepted, the only way to make sense of the present was to go back to the past - but beware of what you might find there. Truth can leave wounds - even if they are only flesh wounds.Part poignant family memoir, part hopeful search for the truth, this is a book for anyone who's wondered if their family is the oddest one on the planet. The answer: 'No'. There is always something stranger out there.PRAISE FOR FLESH WOUNDS'Both poignant and wildly entertaining' - Sydney Morning Herald'A new classic ... a breathtaking accomplishment in style and empathy' - The Australian'Heartbreaking and hilarious ... I couldn't put it down' - Sun Herald'Engrossing and extremely funny'- The Saturday Paper'Not since Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James has there been a funnier, more poignant portrait of an Australian childhood.' - Australian Financial Review'Sad, funny, revealing, optimistic and hopeful' - Jeanette Winterson

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Astonish your friends and family with this incredible collection of mind-boggling facts about the scariest animals ever to walk the Earth. This unbelievably fascinating dinosaur book for children will teach you all you need to know about prehistoric animals, like which dinosaur had the sharpest teeth, the longest claws, the smallest brain, the largest droppings, and lots more! Did you know that the largest dinosaur was longer than a tennis court but its babies were no bigger than a newborn human baby? That the smallest dinosaur weighed less than a teaspoon of sugar? Or that the largest flying reptile was as tall as a giraffe, with wings the size of a small plane? Children aged 9+ will love all these facts and more, presented either with jaw-dropping CGI illustrations or eye-popping photography – plus additional boxes feature diagrams that make information easy to understand. Celebrate your child's curiosity as they explore:- 1,000 jaw-dropping, mind-blowing facts that will be sure to wow family and friends. - Stunning CGI graphics, fun visual comparisons, and diagrams make stats and facts easy to understand.- Science boxes are illustrated with engaging diagrams.- Photo stories feature additional incredible stories and comparisons.In 1,000 Amazing Dinosaur Facts children can discover the fastest, the slowest, the deadliest, and the downright weirdest dinosaurs ever to roam the planet! This book of mind-blowing dinosaur facts will make the ideal gift for kids who love all things prehistoric, giving a real sense of the colossal scale of dinosaurs and how and where they lived.More in the SeriesIf you like 1,000 Amazing Dinosaur Facts then why not complete the collection? Dive into disgusting facts with 1,000 Amazing Gross Facts and discover the secret science of everything icky and sticky.

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Astonish your friends and family with this incredible collection of mind-boggling facts about the scariest animals ever to walk the Earth. This unbelievably fascinating dinosaur book for children will teach you all you need to know about prehistoric animals, like which dinosaur had the sharpest teeth, the longest claws, the smallest brain, the largest droppings, and lots more!Did you know that the largest dinosaur was longer than a tennis court but its babies were no bigger than a newborn human baby? That the smallest dinosaur weighed less than a teaspoon of sugar? Or that the largest flying reptile was as tall as a giraffe, with wings the size of a small plane? Children aged 9+ will love all these facts and more, presented either with jaw-dropping CGI illustrations or eye-popping photography - plus additional boxes feature diagrams that make information easy to understand.Celebrate your child's curiosity as they explore:- 1,000 jaw-dropping, mind-blowing facts that will be sure to wow family and friends.- Stunning CGI graphics, fun visual comparisons, and diagrams make stats and facts easy to understand.- Science boxes are illustrated with engaging diagrams.- Photo stories feature additional incredible stories and comparisons.In 1,000 Amazing Dinosaur Facts children can discover the fastest, the slowest, the deadliest, and the downright weirdest dinosaurs ever to roam the planet! This book of mind-blowing dinosaur facts will make the ideal gift for kids who love all things prehistoric, giving a real sense of the colossal scale of dinosaurs and how and where they lived.More in the SeriesIf you like 1,000 Amazing Dinosaur Facts then why not complete the collection? Dive into disgusting facts with 1,000 Amazing Gross Facts and discover the secret science of everything icky and sticky.

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Discover more than 100 dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals in this exciting children's dinosaur encyclopedia! Extraordinary Dinosaurs Visual Encyclopedia is the perfect book for young readers who want to get up close and personal with their favourite prehistoric creatures! Children will be excited to see the fastest, largest, and fiercest creatures, browse their habitats, learn about their claws and spikes, and find out how their fossils help scientists piece together hidden clues about their lives.This must-have dinosaur book for children aged 7-11 features fascinating information on all the major types of dinosaur as well as ancient fish, other prehistoric reptiles in the air or water, and early mammals. Kids will be drawn in and mesmerised by hundreds of exciting images and surprising information on many different dinosaur profiles.Inside the pages of this thrilling dinosaur book for kids, you'll find:- More than 100 profiles on dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures- Fact-filled 'top trump' style profiles on remarkable dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures- Chapters that span time before the dinosaurs, the age of the dinosaurs, and life after many dinosaurs died out- Clear, engaging text packed with latest facts alongside stunning CGI visuals and artworksThis is the ultimate fact-filled dinosaur reference book for kids who love to have all the latest, weirdest, most in-depth info on the creatures of the prehistoric world at their fingertips. Dinosaur reconstructions and the latest fossil finds bring back to life the bone-crunching teeth of the Tyrannosaurus rex, the astonishingly large body of the Argentinosaurus, and the plane-sized wings of the soaring Hatzegopteryx. Each page reveals new facts from the latest paleontological research, including each animal's size, group, habitat, time period, diet, and fossil discovery.

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A tour of the Solar System’s tallest, hottest, coldest and weirdest volcanoes – and a look inside what makes them erupt. The volcano – among the most familiar and perhaps the most terrifying of all geological phenomena. However, Earth isn't the only planet to harbour volcanoes. In fact, the Solar System, and probably the entire Universe, is littered with them. Our own Moon, which is now a dormant piece of rock, had lava flowing across its surface billions of years ago, while Mars can be credited with the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons, which stands 25km high. While Mars's volcanoes are long dead, volcanic activity continues in almost every other corner of the Solar System, in the most unexpected of locations. We tend to think of Earth volcanoes as erupting hot, molten lava and emitting huge, billowing clouds of incandescent ash. However, it isn't necessarily the same across the rest of the Solar System. For a start, some volcanoes aren't even particularly hot. Those on Pluto, for example, erupt an icy slush of substances such as water, methane, nitrogen or ammonia, that freeze to form ice mountains as hard as rock. While others, like the volcanoes on one of Jupiter’s moons, Io, erupt the hottest lavas in the Solar System onto a surface covered in a frosty coating of sulphur. Whether they are formed of fire or ice, volcanoes are of huge importance for scientists trying to picture the inner workings of a planet or moon. Volcanoes dredge up materials from the otherwise inaccessible depths and helpfully deliver them to the surface. The way in which they erupt, and the products they generate, can even help scientists ponder bigger questions on the possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System. Fire and Ice is an exploration of the Solar System's volcanoes, from the highest peaks of Mars to the intensely inhospitable surface of Venus and the red-hot summits of Io, to the coldest, seemingly dormant icy carapaces of Enceladus and Europa, an unusual look at how these cosmic features are made, and whether such active planetary systems might host life.

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Tired of looking at your screen? Well get off your ass and DO something! We’re spending so many hours a day watching TV, gaming, scrolling through timelines on social media and asking Google the weirdest questions. We’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to actually DO things. And that’s where this book comes in. 'The Book of Do-ness' is a very funny, practical and (un)useful guide for all the people out there who have the urge to spend less time being digital but who need a little nudge in the right direction. The last decade has seen great change. We’ve entered the Digital Age. New products are released every day. It’s become unthinkable to live without our digital equipment. And that’s a good thing! We can entertain ourselves and communicate in so many more and exciting ways. It has made our lives easier, more fun and even more social. But there’s a downside. Nowadays, we spend way too many hours a day behind a screen. This book is written for all the people who would like to spend less time digitally, but need that little bit of help in finding new ideas to do so. With these ideas you’ll never get bored, and hopefully it will train your ability to think a little differently when it comes to DOing things. It’s easy and fun, and you might even become more sociable after reading it… This is also your invitation to join The First International Screenless Day! Click here for more info about this event.

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THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION'S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLYBeing a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across something I couldn't get a laugh at. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip. Well, apart from in the 1970s, but that's a whole other story . . . When Billy set out from Glasgow as a young man he never looked back. He played his banjo on boats and trains, under trees, and on top of famous monuments. He danced naked in snow, wind and fire. He slept in bus stations, under bridges and on strangers' floors. He travelled by foot, bike, ship, plane, sleigh - even piggy-backed - to get to his next destination. Billy has wandered to every corner of the earth and believes that being a Rambling Man is about more than just travelling - it's a state of mind. Rambling Men and Women are free spirits who live on their wits, are interested in people and endlessly curious about the world. They love to play music, make art or tell stories along the way but, above all, they have a longing in their heart for the open road.In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America's famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion.

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A tour of the Solar System’s tallest, hottest, coldest and weirdest volcanoes – and a look inside what makes them erupt. The volcano – among the most familiar and perhaps the most terrifying of all geological phenomena. However, Earth isn't the only planet to harbour volcanoes. In fact, the Solar System, and probably the entire Universe, is littered with them. Our own Moon, which is now a dormant piece of rock, had lava flowing across its surface billions of years ago, while Mars can be credited with the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons, which stands 25km high. While Mars's volcanoes are long dead, volcanic activity continues in almost every other corner of the Solar System, in the most unexpected of locations. We tend to think of Earth volcanoes as erupting hot, molten lava and emitting huge, billowing clouds of incandescent ash. However, it isn't necessarily the same across the rest of the Solar System. For a start, some volcanoes aren't even particularly hot. Those on Pluto, for example, erupt an icy slush of substances such as water, methane, nitrogen or ammonia, that freeze to form ice mountains as hard as rock. While others, like the volcanoes on one of Jupiter’s moons, Io, erupt the hottest lavas in the Solar System onto a surface covered in a frosty coating of sulphur. Whether they are formed of fire or ice, volcanoes are of huge importance for scientists trying to picture the inner workings of a planet or moon. Volcanoes dredge up materials from the otherwise inaccessible depths and helpfully deliver them to the surface. The way in which they erupt, and the products they generate, can even help scientists ponder bigger questions on the possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System. Fire and Ice is an exploration of the Solar System's volcanoes, from the highest peaks of Mars to the intensely inhospitable surface of Venus and the red-hot summits of Io, to the coldest, seemingly dormant icy carapaces of Enceladus and Europa, an unusual look at how these cosmic features are made, and whether such active planetary systems might host life.

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Discover the wonderful world of trees in this stunning array of fun flash cards for children aged 9+. Earth's extraordinary trees, plants, wonderful wildlife and more are all on dazzling display in this essential visual deck of fascinating flashcards for children aged 9+. Our World in Pictures: Trees Flash Cards is an indispensable guide to more than 100 species of trees, ranging from the mighty Californian redwood to the ancient banyan tree. Featuring stunning pictures and fast facts that will allow curious young learners to grasp a wealth of knowledge in a fun way!Each card contains snappy and accessible information, displaying each tree in beautiful detail. The front of the card will show the tree with a clue of what it is. The back reveals the answer, plus a dataset about the tree: its size, location and distinguishing features alongside close-up pictures of the bark, leaves, and fruit. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to dig deep and discover: - The pack shows 165 trees from across the world.- Data sets on the cards include leaf type, tree shape, and size. - Front of the cards include Latin name and clues about the tree.- Bold and eye-catching images highlight the main features of each tree - their bark, leaves, fruit, and seeds.- Cards are two-sided, laminated, and packed in a durable cardboard cartonOur World in Pictures: Trees Flash Cards are packed with information on the world's most amazing trees - from those that feed us to others that drip poison - to make you an expert in no time! You can use the cards to test your own knowledge, or how about using them to play a guessing game, quiz, or a competitive comparison game with a friend? Treasure seekers, get set to start your own collection with this engaging set of fun flashcards for children aged 9+. Learn all about the world one picture at a time!If you like Our World in Pictures: Trees Flash Cards then you will love Our World In Pictures: Trees Leaves Flowers & Seeds. Part of the highly-visual Our World In Pictures series, avid readers can explore over 1000 of the weirdest most wonderful wildlife and plants on the planet, in splendid detail with stunning illustrations throughout.

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Explore the science behind what makes the world spin, in over 200 questions children ask about our own planet.You'll find out fun facts like how the Earth was formed, why we can't live on Mars if the Earth is getting warmer, and many more. This book is perfect for all those curious young minds ages 6-8 that want to discover the wonders of the world.Children have some of the most enquiring minds on the planet, making them the perfect group for DK's exciting Earth encyclopedia, Why Does The Earth Need The Moon?, which covers all the greatest subjects - from geography, geology and science, to questions about living things, humans and history.Ideally written for children ages 6-8, this encyclopedia covers all their best and weirdest questions, and some they haven't even thought to ask yet! Did you know that the Earth's biggest waterfall is underwater, or that mountains grow? The genius of this book is the question and answer format that leads children to learn fun facts accompanied by beautiful visual illustrations and photos of our stunning planet. Follow along and take the quizzes along the way to test your general knowledge or even compete with your friends for the best score!Fantastic Facts For Curious Minds!Why Does The Earth Need The Moon? answers all the amazing questions children have about the planet they live on. Can you freeze in a desert? Can a cliff turn into sand? Why are places hot or cold? Be surprised by how many answers you get from over 200 questions.This incredible encyclopedia helps children tackle their burning questions about the massive topic that is our planet. Learn about how oceans start and land begins to form, what lies at the bottom of the sea, and the awesome power of weather. This is an essential book for getting kids to learn about the key issues facing the world today. Discover how global warming is threatening our future and why recycling is so important in keeping the Earth healthy.Children will love learning from this amazing encyclopedia that is overflowing with questions and answers. This educational book breaks down questions into easy-to-read chunks that will satisfy any curious young mind.Packed with fantastic facts here's what you'll learn about:- The formation of the Earth- Rocks, minerals and mountains- Our vast oceans- The sky and weather- The past, present and future of life on the planet

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