Search results for ""strange object""

When high school girl Himari Takakura escapes the clutches of death thanks to a quirky spirit inhabiting a penguin hat, she gets a new lease on life - but there’s a catch. In order for her to stay alive, her twin brothers (with the help of three penguins) must track down a strange object called the PENGUINDRUM and in doing so, delve into the mysteries of their very existence.

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Featuring 23 unique story starter prompts plus cool, colorful artwork, Unusual Objects in Fantastic Places makes creative writing more fun than ever! It all begins with a strange object in a peculiar place… you decide what happens next! Accompanied by bold and bright illustrations, each prompt transports you to a different location with a new item that appears out of place. Let your imagination run wild as you read the beginning of the story and write in plot twists, add new characters or objects, and more—the possibilities are endless! Part of the Totally Weird Activity Book series created by childhood friends Mark and Ted, Unusual Objects in Fantastic Places is perfect for aspiring writers, avid readers, and creative kids who have a story to tell.

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Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. This book is about a strange object—strange in part because it is something that we all have been, and that many of us eat. Nicole Walker‘s Egg relishes in sharp juxtapositions of seemingly fanciful or repellent topics, so that reproductive science and gustatory habits are considered alongside one another, and personal narrative and broad swaths of natural history jostle, like yolk and albumen. Mapping curious eggs across times, scales, and spaces, Egg draws together surprising perspectives on this common object—egg as food, as art object, as metaphor and feminist symbol, as cultural icon. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic.

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An atmospheric and riveting fantasy adventure, perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge and Cornelia Funke.Pip lives on his wits in the city of Clarel. When he pickpockets the wrong man, he finds himself in possession of a strange object – a heart in a silver casket. What’s more, the heart seems to be trying to communicate with Pip, and the royal officials who lost it will stop at nothing to get it back.Pip has unwittingly broken an ancient spell, and his theft will have far-reaching consequences for the whole city. As the ancient war between the Spectres and witches of Clarel reignites, the heart prepares to seek revenge for all it has suffered…Alison Croggon conjures a rich, immersive world with brilliant and memorable characters in this captivating story of loyalty, courage and friendship.

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Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available. After astronomers discover a strange object in space filled with energy crystals that can transform human abilities, a new age of Space exploration begins! Conditions back on Earth have grown hostile, and young Rhea Halley’s world is turned upside down. As people rush to evacuate the Earth, where will Rhea go? Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. Pages 46 and 47 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall. Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

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Six-year-old Zoe and Raheem live on the same street in a northern city. They are friends and when Zoe finds a strange object in her back yard she runs round to Raheem's house and asks him to come and look at it. Raheem declares that the object is a large egg and Zoe agrees. She thinks it is an Elephant's egg but Raheem is not too sure. They ask their mums to come and look but they are too busy. They ask others in their family but no one gives them an answer so they decide they will stay awake all night to find out if an elephant comes for the egg. Awake in the deep night Zoe and Raheem see quite a different creature come lumbering down their street - its a brontosaurus, not an elephant! This story is about the powerful friendships of children that cross racial and gender barriers.

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In this fantastical picture book perfect for fans of Aaron Becker's Journey, a human child and a child from another planet discover that no matter where you live or what your books are like, reading�and sharing�are universal. A cosmic celebration of the joy of sharing books and having new experiences awaits readers in this captivating wordless picture book for ages 3 to 6. A child busy reading in a treehouse spots a family who seems to have just arrived on Earth for a picnic. The youngest member of the alien family holds a mind-bendingly strange object. Could it be a book from outer space? At the end of this gorgeously illustrated tale, each child returns home with a book from far away to remember a kind stranger. Sure to take its place among gently fantastical favorites like Sophie Blackall's If You Come to Earth and Carson Ellis's Du Iz Tak?, this picture book will enchant and delight curious kids and book lovers everywhere.

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Raven has flown down from his world above the sky and has filled the Earth with creatures. But when he sees that the people have forgotten to respect what he has created, Raven angrily rips the shining sun from its place in the sky, leaving the Earth to freeze with just the moon for light. Life becomes hard for the people below. Little Darkness is an ordinary Inuit boy, except that he has been born with a special gift. But he will only discover it when he finds a strange object on the ice and hears the haunting lullaby his mother sang to him when he was a little baby. In deciding to pick up the object, his adventure will begin, taking him into a vast world beyond imagining. His journey will change him, the Earth, and all its inhabitants forever. Song of the Raven offers an Inuit message of hope and healing for children, parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to cherish and sustain our beautiful Earth.

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Three dark and disturbing horror stories from an astonishing new voice, including the viral-sensation tale of obsession, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke. For fans of Kathe Koja, Clive Barker and Stephen Graham Jones. Winner of the Splatterpunk Award for Best Novella. A whirlpool of darkness churns at the heart of a macabre ballet between two lonely young women in an internet chat room in the early 2000s-a darkness that threatens to forever transform them once they finally succumb to their most horrific desires. A couple isolate themselves on a remote island in an attempt to recover from their teenage son's death, when a mysterious young man knocks on their door during a storm... And a man confronts his neighbour when he discovers a strange object in his back yard, only to be drawn into an ever-more dangerous game. Three devastating, beautifully written horror stories from one of the genre's most cutting-edge voices. What have you done today to deserve your eyes?

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'VISIONARY' Stephen GreenblattHarvard's top astronomer takes us inside the mind-blowing story of the first interstellar visitor to our solar system In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb conclusively showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too fast along a strange orbit, and leaving no trail of gas or debris in its wake. There was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilization. In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes readers inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. He outlines his theory and its profound implications: for science, for religion, and for the future of our planet. A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination, Extraterrestrial challenges readers to aim for the stars-and to think critically about what's out there, no matter how strange it seems.

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A warm and funny story about a boy who hates having to choose! From one of the nation's favourite children's authors, former Children's Laureate Anne Fine. Perfect for children learning to read. Green shirt or blue shirt? Feeding the ducks or going on the swings? Olly finds it so hard to make decisions! But then he’s given a strange object that might just be the answer to his problem … Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for early readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. Clear type Up to 8 lines per page Bright, appealing pictures for added interest A variety of sentence structures A wider range of vocabulary Strong themes and characters to discuss Ideal for beginner readers aged 5-6 All Reading Ladder titles are developed with leading literacy consultant Nikki Gamble, making them perfect early years reading books for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading throughout Key Stage 1. Book band: Turquoise For more information about the series and advice on supporting children's reading, see our reading ladder page www.egmont.co.uk/reading-ladder

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From master storyteller Garth Nix, the chilling story of a strange object that falls into the wrong hands and has the potential to destroy the world. Perfect for fans of STRANGER THINGS and Neil Gaiman.It's not fair. Kim's always lived in the shadow of his younger sister, Eila - which is not how it's supposed to be. Eila is a prodigy, and everyone talks about how smart she is but, in Kim's eyes, she has no common sense.One day Kim and Eila are walking in the woods, and Eila finds an enigmatic, otherworldly object. Kim thinks it's bad news . . . but Eila begins to commune with it. Kim has every reason to be worried, because soon Eila is able to control the minds of everyone around her - in ways she says is the best for everyone.Kim needs to put his problem-solving mind to the ultimate test. How can he save his sister, and also save the world from the thing his sister has become and the forces she has unleashed?

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"Amongst the Top 50 Horror Books of All Time" Cosmopolitan Three dark and disturbing horror stories from an astonishing new voice, including the viral-sensation tale of obsession, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke. For fans of Kathe Koja, Clive Barker and Stephen Graham Jones. Winner of the Splatterpunk Award for Best Novella. A whirlpool of darkness churns at the heart of a macabre ballet between two lonely young women in an internet chat room in the early 2000s-a darkness that threatens to forever transform them once they finally succumb to their most horrific desires. A couple isolate themselves on a remote island in an attempt to recover from their teenage son's death, when a mysterious young man knocks on their door during a storm... And a man confronts his neighbour when he discovers a strange object in his back yard, only to be drawn into an ever-more dangerous game. From Bram Stoker Award finalist Eric LaRocca, this is devastating, beautifully written horror from one of the genre's most cutting-edge voices. What have you done today to deserve your eyes?

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The perfect book group read for fans of Kate Morton, Rachel Hore and Santa Montefiore.A secret buried so deep, only a liar could uncover it'..towards the end, comes a twist in the plot so bold it will leave you blinking...A thoroughly satisfying read.' WI LifeOne hot summer in 1922.A house at the heart of the village. A crime that will shock the community. A man accused and two women with everything to lose. When Donny Cartwright is accused of murder, his sister Pudding is determined to discover the identity of the real killer. Together with newcomer, Irene, she begins to uncover the truth - a secret that has been buried for years. But when they happen upon a strange object, hidden in the past, they realise it will change everything . . .Your favourite authors love Katherine Webb: 'An enormously talented writer' Santa Montefiore'I've loved all of Katherine Webb's books' Kate Riordan'Katherine Webb's writing is beautiful' Elizabeth Fremantle'Webb has a true gift for uncovering the mysteries of the human heart' Kate Williams'A truly gifted writer of historical fiction' Lucinda Riley

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‘Mitchell is well aware of what will make kids laugh. An observant and captivatingly funny story’ Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week A hilarious adventure for readers aged 9+ from the author of Escape from Camp Boring. When Things Went Wild is also a timely call to protect our environment. When Kit’s family move to a crumbling house in the Scottish Highlands, he’s got a lot to deal with – terrible Wi-Fi, a new school in the middle of nowhere, and, as always, his annoying little brother, Jack. But it’s not until the brothers find a strange object on the moors that Kit’s problems really begin. A policewoman comes knocking, and the boys learn that they have found a tracker that has been removed from the leg of a golden eagle. The illegal killing of these majestic birds is all too common, and now a pair of nesting eagles are under threat. Kit and Jack start to investigate, soon joined by Tamora – the most popular girl in school – and her younger sister, Bea. Who is trying to harm the eagles, and why? Chief suspects are landowner Lord Cavendish, local farmer McNab and sinister game keeper Mosby . . . Can the city kids cope with the country – and catch the culprit?

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'An astronomical Sherlock Holmes' WASHINGTON POST'Visionary' STEPHEN GREENBLATT'Compelling . . . The book is not so much a claim for one object as an argument for a more open-minded approach to science - a combination of humility and wonder' NEW STATESMAN</font>Harvard's top astronomer takes us inside the mind-blowing story of the first interstellar visitor to our solar system In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb conclusively showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too fast along a strange orbit, and leaving no trail of gas or debris in its wake. There was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilization. In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes readers inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. He outlines his theory and its profound implications: for science, for religion, and for the future of our planet. A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination, Extraterrestrial challenges readers to aim for the stars-and to think critically about what's out there, no matter how strange it seems.

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What do you get when you cross imaginative and loveable characters, enchanting and inspiring illustrations and a giggle-inducing story? Pugtato, a simple, good spud and a hilarious mashup of pet and vegetable characters by the inimitable illustrator Sophie Corrigan! Join Pugtato and his cute and quirky spuddies in this heartwarming picture book that celebrates the power of friendship, compassion, and believing in your own unique gifts.When Pugtato’s simple, quiet life is disrupted after he digs up a strange object in his garden, he enlists his best “spuddies” to help (they are more clever than he is, after all). Tweetroot is certain it’s a new egg for her nest. Tomatoad is quite sure it’s a toy just for him. And Purrsnip simply won’t stop scratching it! Luckily, Pugtato has another very special spuddy to ask …Pugtato Finds a Thing delivers: A delightful, giggle-inducing, rhyming , read-aloud story perfect for kids ages 4-8 Imaginative, silly pet and vegetable mashups such as Pugtato, Tomatoad, Carrat, Cowbbage, Croccoli, Unicorn on the Cob and more! A beautiful eye-catching cover rich with color and embossed texture Young children will learn invaluable lessons from Pugtato about: Friendship Compassion Acceptance Creativity You’ll also want to follow Pugtato’s adventures in Pugtato Babysits the Snouts, Pugtato, Let’s Be Best Spuddies, and Pugtato and Friends Audio Collection: 3 Books in 1.

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London-born Brian Burdett had only one career objective - to be a pilot. By the time that he touched down on his last flight, Brian had flown more than twenty-five different types of aircraft both for the RAF and a variety of famous commercial airlines. It all began for Brian, as it has for so many, with the Air Cadets, flying Tiger Moths at the age of just fourteen. He obtained his civil license at the age of seventeen, and six months later he was accepted into the RAF. The year was 1954. With the RAF he graduated from Piston Provost trainers, to the de Havilland Vampire and eventually the Hawker Hunter. It was to fly Hunters that Brian was posted to 257 (Burma) Squadron at Wattisham in Suffolk, where the jets were frequently scrambled to intercept Soviet intruders in the dark days of the Cold War. His RAF career developed further with a transfer to Transport Command where Brian could fly the planes he loved the best - the big jets. After training on Handley Page Hastings, Brian was given the chance to fly the famous de Havilland Comet. With 216 Squadron, flying high above the ceiling for commercial aircraft, Brian flew the long-distance routes between the RAF bases around the world, through the Middle East, Pakistan, Shri Lanka and down to South Africa and Australasia. This included taking personnel to Woomera and Christmas Island nuclear testing sites. After a period as a trainer at Cranwell, Brian became the youngest four-jet captain in the world. He then flew VIPs around Europe in the RAF's VC10s, his passengers included the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, among other dignitaries. Brian eventually turned to the commercial world, flying Falcons, VC 10s, Tristars and every type of Boeing 747, for a variety of airlines. His adventures are legion. From a double engine failure on take-off and still managing to land safely, to losing control in cloud and levelling off feet from the ground, to a mid-air near miss with an American aircraft that no-one knew was there, to spotting a strange object that remains unidentified to this day. Brian's last flight was into Los Angeles in an Airbus 340, in December 2000\. He had 22,500 hours in his log book, after forty-seven years aloft.

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A hard-SF cli-fi saga set against the background of the birth of the solar system. Filled to the brim with big ideas and breathtaking worldbuildingIn the year 2570, a sleeper will wake . . .In the mid-21st century, the Kernel, a strange object on a five-hundred-year-orbit, is detected coming from high above the plane of the solar system. Could it be an alien artefact? In the middle of climate-change crises, there is no mood for space-exploration stunts - but Reid Malenfant, elderly, once a shuttle pilot and frustrated would-be asteroid miner, decides to go take a look anyway. Nothing more is heard of him. But his ex-wife, Emma Stoney, sets up a trust fund to search for him the next time the Kernel returns . . .By 2570 Earth is transformed. A mere billion people are supported by advanced technology on a world that is almost indistinguishable from the natural, with recovered forests, oceans, ice caps. It is not an age for expansion; there are only small science bases beyond the Earth. But this is a world you would want to live in: a Star Trek without the stars.After 500 years the Kernel returns, and a descendant of Stoney, who Malenfant will call Emma II, mounts a mission to see what became of Malenfant. She finds him still alive, cryo-preserved . . . His culture-shock encounter with a conservative future is entertaining . . . But the Kernel itself turns out to be attached to a kind of wormhole, through which Malenfant and Emma II, exploring further, plummet back in time, across five billion years . . .Readers are blown away by World Engines: Destroyer:'The book quickly becomes epic in a massive, yet thoroughly believable way, precisely because the story is grounded in all of these well-realised characters' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'It is a really good Cli-Fi but not only ecological . . . It touches on very many different topics that are very much in our future' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'It's a great sci-fi novel, well written and gripping. I loved the amazing world building, the fleshed out cast of characters and the plot' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This is a complex book with a lot going on . . . Suffice to say this was a fantastic read with a great story, good characters & a world that I would very much like to come back to' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The large scale is always where Baxter is so exciting and passionate and it pays off in spades in the final act. Worth your time to read and enjoy' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'If you love your science fiction hard, look no further than Stephen Baxter to find your fix. He was literally a rocket scientist. His work is always grounded in science' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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