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Comprising eleven pupil books and one accompanying teacher's handbook, Schofield & Sims WriteWell is a complete course designed to guide children from their first steps in mark-making towards the development of secure, fluent and comfortable joined handwriting that can be adapted for a range of purposes. Handwriting is a complex process that requires the simultaneous use of cognitive, physical and perceptual skills. As development can vary greatly from child to child, Schofield & Sims WriteWell splits learning into manageable modules, offering you the flexibility to select the appropriate book for your child's needs. Young writers can then move through the programme at their own pace as their handwriting skills flourish - a highly personalised approach that ensures a confident foundation for every child. Each pupil book contains 15 units, together with a child-friendly introduction and at least one longer `WriteWell challenge' task giving pupils the opportunity to use their best handwriting to `show off' everything they have learnt. Each of these units provides a clear handwriting focus, explained in the information panel at the beginning of each spread, followed by focused practise activities that gradually increase in difficulty, progressing from simple `Try it' and `Practise it' exercises involving tracing and copying, to more challenging `Apply it' activities that encourage children to use the handwriting focus in a realistic context. In WriteWell 7: More Joining children will learn how to join more letters, building upon the horizontal and diagonal joins they have already learnt in WriteWell 6: First Joining. A separate accompanying teacher's handbook, WriteWell Teacher's Handbook (ISBN 9780721716442), mirrors the structure of the pupil books and contains detailed teaching notes and photocopiable resources to help support the teaching of handwriting. A selection of free online resources is also available from the Schofield & Sims website.

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Comprising eleven pupil books and one accompanying teacher's handbook, Schofield & Sims WriteWell is a complete course designed to guide children from their first steps in mark-making towards the development of secure, fluent and comfortable joined handwriting that can be adapted for a range of purposes. Handwriting is a complex process that requires the simultaneous use of cognitive, physical and perceptual skills. As development can vary greatly from child to child, Schofield & Sims WriteWell splits learning into manageable modules, offering you the flexibility to select the appropriate book for your child's needs. Young writers can then move through the programme at their own pace as their handwriting skills flourish - a highly personalised approach that ensures a confident foundation for every child. Each pupil book contains 15 units, together with a child-friendly introduction and at least one longer `WriteWell challenge' task giving pupils the opportunity to use their best handwriting to `show off' everything they have learnt. Each of these units provides a clear handwriting focus, explained in the information panel at the beginning of each spread, followed by focused practise activities that gradually increase in difficulty, progressing from simple `Try it' and `Practise it' exercises involving tracing and copying, to more challenging `Apply it' activities that encourage children to use the handwriting focus in a realistic context. In WriteWell 4: Capital Letters and Numbers, capital letters and numbers are organised into related groups to promote correct formation. A separate accompanying teacher's handbook, WriteWell Teacher's Handbook (ISBN 9780721716442), mirrors the structure of the pupil books and contains detailed teaching notes and photocopiable resources to help support the teaching of handwriting. A selection of free online resources is also available from the Schofield & Sims website.

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Fans of Andy McNab, Orphan X and Frederick Forsyth, will love this unputdownable and action-packed debut thriller. 'BREATHLESS, COMPLEX AND SERIOUSLY HARDCORE' LEE CHILDOfficially Max McLean doesn't exist. Sniper. Spy. Assassin. His job is top secret, deadly... and often Max is the only thing keeping his country safe. Fortunately, he's bloody good at it.But Max is growing tired of unquestioned loyalty to his political masters. And when his latest job takes him deep into West African jungle, where a remote village has been quarantined after a sinister virus takes hold, it's time for answers.As the mission darkens further than he ever thought possible, Max faces a perilous, breath-taking quest for the truth, that will call into question everything that he once believed in, and leave the fate of humanity itself in his hands . . .The Break Line drips with authenticity, menace and first-hand knowledge of the frontline. Smart, unputdownable and packed with jaw-dropping plot twists, this is a thriller like no other._______________'Beautifully written and extensively researched, The Break Line is a riveting page-turner, a gruesome delight, and a study of what lies in the shadowed corners of the human heart' Gregg Hurwitz, author of Orphan X 'A thriller of an unusually classy calibre. Eloquently written, intensively researched ... Brabazon has crafted hugely gripping, thought-provoking yarn' Financial Times 'War correspondent James Brabazon brings his experience of the world's most dangerous places to this brutally compelling thriller . . .' Mail on Sunday'A taut, razor-edged thriller, packed with granular detail and authenticity' James Swallow, bestselling author of Nomad'It is insanely immersive, brilliantly blurring the lines between fiction and reality. I couldn't put it down' Tom Marcus, bestselling author of Soldier Spy

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This is the world's first guide to become the ultimate DJ - and the only guide you'll ever need, perfect for beginners and more experienced DJs who want to hone their skills from music industry experts. The illustrated tutorials and no-nonsense tips and advice will ensure you're standing at the decks and mixing in no time...!'A truly comprehensive tome ... Young musicians, as well as aspiring DJs, could learn a trick or two' -- Independent on Sunday'An absolute must' -- ***** Reader review'The DJ Bible' -- ***** Reader review'A must for a potentially good DJ! Just Buy it, You will not regret it' -- ***** Reader review'I never knew you could learn practical skills from literature but this book changed my life' -- ***** Reader review'Really useful BUY IT NOW!' -- ***** Reader review'Entertaining, informative and encouraging' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************************How to DJ Properly forms both the perfect introduction for the novice who wants a pair of Technics turntables for Christmas and contains enough spot-on advice and advanced instruction to be valuable to more experienced DJs.Written in an entertaining no-nonsense style, with a healthy dose of realism, it shatters some illusions about the dance industry and offers in return some powerfully inspiring visions as it explains the true rewards of the DJ's craft.Including everything you will ever need to know:*illustrated tutorials on mixing techniques and styles and using multiple decks (covers beatmatching, stopping, cutting, spinbacks and much more!)*tips on buying the right equipment and records*advice from superstar DJs and industry insider secrets aplenty*how to make your own tracks, how to get gigs and how to get people dancing, pace the night and throw the best party everIt really is a masterclass in becoming the ultimate DJ. Now all you need is to get out of your bedroom and do it . . .

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'ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN RECENT YEARS . . . PACKS A HELL OF AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH' Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of TimeFrom one of the most imaginative writers of her generation comes an extraordinary vision of the future.Ven was once a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age - a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven's world, such material must be closely guarded, so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated.But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he's willing to go to save this new world, and how much he is willing to lose.Notes from the Burning Age is the remarkable and captivating new novel from the award-winning Claire North that puts dystopian fiction in a whole new light.'Beautiful and riveting' Buzzfeed'Will keep readers hooked right up until the explosive close' Publishers Weekly'A gripping, utterly involving, dystopian eco-thriller that balances the intimacies of betrayal against global climate collapse' Daily Mail'An impassioned, urgent and compelling new work that burns as bright as the fires of our own burning age. This is not to be missed' Lavie Tidhar, World Fantasy Award-winning author'North's talent shines out' Sunday Times'An original and even dazzling writer' Kirkus'North goes from strength to strength' Guardian'Claire North's writing is terrific, smart and entertaining' Patrick Ness

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The epic story continues in Charm, the fifth in New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff's lush, action-packed and romantic young adult paranormal fantasy series.'Fandom's new favourite vampire romance obsession' Hypable'This generation's Twilight' Lynn Rush 'I'm having the BEST book hangover. Filled with danger, humour, and heart, Crave proves that vampires are definitely back!' J. Kenner'Beautifully descriptive with amazing pacing and wonderfully sinister settings' Christine Feehan...................He's under my skin . . .After Katmere, I shouldn't be surprised by anything. Including the existence of a world beyond my world called the Shadow Realm. Yet here I am, stuck in a strange, dangerous place with the worst of the supernaturals, the monster that other monsters fear: Hudson Vega. He might be Jaxon's brother and ridiculously hot, but he's a complete bona fide pain in my ass.The question is whether we'll find a way out before I kill him . . or run out of time.She's stealing my heart . . . It's a truth universally known - at least according to Grace - that everything is my fault. But I have a nasty suspicion that Grace isn't as human as she thinks, and she's the one keeping us trapped. Now we'll have to work together not only to survive, but to save all those we've come to call family who live here.Because there's something connecting us. Something stronger than fear . . . and way more bloody dangerous....................Don't miss a single book in the series that spawned a phenomenon! The Crave series is best enjoyed in order:CraveCrushCovetCourtCharmCherish'Suffice it to say: I have a new book boyfriend!' Pintip Dunn'Intricately crafted, deeply romantic' Victoria Scott'Funny, smart, and compelling' Emily McKay

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'An inspiring guide to developing your personal brand, achieving your career goals and shaping the future of work' Red'Everything every career woman needs to know and yet is rarely shared so honestly' Anya Hindmarch'Refreshingly relevant and practical' Roksanda IlincicWomen have made great advances in the workplace, but despite that - and the overwhelming amount of career advice out there - the same issues continue to arise: how to succeed in a man's world, how to combine a career with a family, how to be authentic and fit in, and whether it is even possible to achieve a work-life balance while chasing career goals.Unfortunately, much of the advice women are offered is badly out of date and lacking in 'cut-to-the-chase' strategies that really tally with their experience of the workplace now. What's more, the advice often tends to be defensive, focused on overcoming obstacles rather than drawing upon strengths.Style and Substance starts from a very different perspective. Written by Helena Morrissey, who has learned through her own experiences as a woman in the workplace and as a business leader, it will help you understand what really matters when it comes to career progression today, whatever your age, situation and aspirations.Style and Substance will show you how to build your own style - your personal brand - and how to have confidence in it, and in yourself. Once you realise how much agency you have and the steps that you can take to look the part, sound the part, feel the part and therefore be the part, you'll be empowered to achieve your goals in your own way, secure in who you are and what you have to offer.

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'Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic' Angela Knight'Hot, sexy, unique, intriguingly wicked' Christine Feehan _______________The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sinner brings another hot adventure of true love and ultimate sacrificeThe location of the glymera's notorious prison camp was lost after the raids. When a freak accident provides Nyx clues to where her sister may still be doing time, she becomes determined to find the secret subterranean labyrinth. Embarking on a journey under the earth, she learns a terrible truth- and meets a male who changes everything, forever.The Jackal has been in the camp for so long, he cannot recall anything of the freedom he once knew. Trapped by circumstances out of his control, he helps Nyx because he cannot help himself. After she discovers what happened to her sister, getting her back out becomes a deadly mission for them both.United by a passion they can't deny, they work together on an escape plan for Nyx- even though their destiny is to be forever apart. And as the Black Dagger Brotherhood is called upon for help, and Rhage discovers he has a half-brother who's falsely imprisoned, a devious warden plots the deaths of them all... even the Brothers. __________Find out why readers are OBSESSED with JR Ward 'Insanely good! . . . Intensely romantic and straight up flipping steamy, violent and gruesome, heartbreaking and deep. Her addictive writing tells a story like none other' Goodreads reviewer'I can't get enough of these sexy, tough, intriguing vampires' Amazon reviewer'Emotional by epic proportions' Kobo reviewer'The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a twisting, often surprising, but always awesome read' Amazon reviewer'A must read' Goodreads reviewer'The story had me captivated the whole way' Kobo reviewer'Each and every character is compelling' Amazon reviewer

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'The queen of paranormal romance . . . I love everything she does' J. R. WARD Discover a dizzying world of desire and an exotic, sensual race: the Leopard People. He's a man who's used to getting what he wants, but she's not the type of woman to take things lying down....Born into a world of crime, Mitya Amurov has had a hard life, and his leopard has developed into a feral beast to protect him. It's constantly trying to claw its way to the surface, until a chance encounter with a stranger instantly calms the predator inside him. While Mitya wants Ania desperately, it's only a matter of time before his past catches up with him, and he'd rather die than put her in danger. But Ania is dealing with dangers of her own.... Considering her family's history, Ania Dover should know better than to get mixed up with a criminal like Mitya, but she just can't stay away. Something wild in her responds to his presence. A need so strong it scares her. But she's not sure she can accept what he's offering. Ania has always been an independent woman, and Mitya expects to be obeyed in all things. Even with her body calling out for his, Ania won't let anything stop her from settling a deadly score years in the making-not even the man who wants to claim her as his mate.Everyone's talking about the Leopard People series... '[A] dark and seductive paranormal romance series.' HeroesandHeartbreakers.com'Heart-stopping action. Crazy sexy-time scenes. Tender emotions.' Harlequin Junkie'Hot-blooded . . . intense and thrilling . . . you don't want to miss it!' Joyfully Reviewed'With a Feehan novel you know you will get well-developed characters and...a dose of sizzling sexuality...an unbeatable mix.' RT Book Reviews

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SHORTLISTED FOR TWO IRISH BOOK AWARDS'Something they don't tell you about getting older is that you fall. Oh, you hear about it in passing, of course, "She had a fall, poor thing". Falling is not something you ever think about as a younger woman. You think about falling in love . . .'At 20 Londoner Ann Ingle fell madly in love with an Irish fellow she met on holiday in Cornwall. At the church to arrange their shotgun wedding she discovered that he hadn't even told her his real name.Sixty-odd years later Ann looks back on that first glorious fall and in a series of essays considers what she has learned from the life that followed - bringing eight children into the world, their father's years of mental illness and tragic death at 40, being a cash-strapped single mother in 1980s Dublin, coming into her own in her middle years - going to college, working and writing, and continuing to evolve and learn into her ninth decade, even as she accepts the realities of being 'old'.Candid about everything that matters - love, sex, heartbreak, money, class, religion, mental health, rearing children (and letting them go), reading and writing, ageing - Open-Hearted is a compelling story about living life in a spirit of curiosity and delight and with a willingness to look for good in others._________________________________'By some distance the most courageous, most poignant, most life-affirming memoir I've read in the last twenty years and more' Paul Howard'Genuinely inspirational. I LOVE ANN INGLE' Marian Keyes'What a beautiful openhearted, at times broken-hearted memoir ... honest, funny, searingly direct, a wonderful voice ... remarkable' Joe Duffy'Really beautiful. Searingly honest, astonishingly frank and very, very funny' Maia Dunphy

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022THE TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe Pulitzer Prize-winning, Booker-longlisted, bestselling author returns to her beloved heroine Lucy Barton in a luminous novel about love, loss, and the family secrets that can erupt and bewilder us at any point in lifeLucy Barton is a successful writer living in New York, navigating the second half of her life as a recent widow and parent to two adult daughters. A surprise encounter leads her to reconnect with William, her first husband - and longtime, on-again-off-again friend and confidante. Recalling their college years, the birth of their daughters, the painful dissolution of their marriage, and the lives they built with other people, Strout weaves a portrait, stunning in its subtlety, of a tender, complex, decades-long partnership.Oh William! captures the joy and sorrow of watching children grow up and start families of their own; of discovering family secrets, late in life, that alter everything we think we know about those closest to us; and the way people live and love, against all odds. At the heart of this story is the unforgettable, indomitable voice of Lucy Barton, who once again offers a profound, lasting reflection on the mystery of existence. 'This is the way of life,' Lucy says. 'The many things we do not know until it is too late.''A superbly gifted storyteller and a craftswoman in a league of her own' Hilary Mantel'A terrific writer' Zadie Smith'She gets better with each book' Maggie O'Farrell'One of America's finest writers' Sunday Times'This is meticulously observed writing, full of probing psychological insight. Lucy Barton is one of literature's immortal characters-brittle, damaged, unravelling, vulnerable and, most of all, ordinary-like us all' Booker Prize JudgesLUCY'S STORY CONTINUES IN LUCY BY THE SEA, AVAILABLE TO READ NOW!

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14 COUNTRIES, 42 WOMEN - FROM PERIODS TO ORGASMS TO FGM. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS OVERSHARING. 'Nimko's book is going to shift the conversation around women's bodies. Our bodies, and everything they do, make us who we are' - Amika George, founder of Free Periods Campaign______________________What do you do when you're homeless and on your period? What does it feel like to have a poo following childbirth? How do we learn to love our bodies again after they've been abused? It's rude. It's improper. It's disgusting. All justifications that leave women's questions about their bodies unanswered. And activist Nimko Ali has had enough of it.Following her own experience of FGM and rebuilding her relationship with her body, this important book contains the true stories of women sharing what they've always been told is secret and shameful - from east London to Ethiopia, from pregnancy to menopause. This is a call to arms. This is a cry to reclaim the narrative around our fannies and to refuse the taboos that silent us. ______________________ 'A beautiful book with such a wide range of uplifting but often heart-breaking stories. Made us cry and think in equal measure' - Pandora Sykes, co-host of The High Low'Nimko has blown apart all taboos, blown apart the echo chamber and included all women in the feminist conversation.' - Scarlett Curtis, author of Feminists Don't Wear Pink'There is no subject too taboo for her to tackle. We should all be talking about our vaginas and she is leading the way' - Bryony Gordon, author of Mad Girl'Nimko Ali is heroine for our time, she destroys the notion of things being too rude to discuss' - Caitlin Moran, author of How to Be a Woman

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Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone is the most influential and talked-about book on society in the last decade - now updated with a new chapter on the controversy the book has ignited. Why do we mistrust people more in the UK than in Japan? Why do Americans have higher rates of teenage pregnancy than the French? What makes the Swedish thinner than the Australians? The answer: inequality. This groundbreaking book, based on years of research, provides hard evidence to show: How almost everything - from life expectancy to mental illness, violence to illiteracy - is affected not by how wealthy a society is, but how equal it isThat societies with a bigger gap between rich and poor are bad for everyone in them - including the well-off How we can find positive solutions and move towards a happier, fairer future Urgent, provocative and genuinely uplifting, The Spirit Level has been heralded as providing a new way of thinking about ourselves and our communities, and could change the way you see the world. 'A big idea, big enough to change political thinking' - Guardian 'A remarkable new book ... the implications are profound' - Will Hutton, Observer 'The evidence is hard to dispute' - EconomistRichard Wilkinson studied economic history at the London School of Economics before training in epidemiology and is Professor Emeritus at the University of Nottingham Medical School and Honorary Professor at University College London.Kate Pickett is a Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York and a National Institute for Health Research Career Scientist. Her work with Richard Wilkinson on The Spirit Level was shortlisted for Research Project of the Year 2009 by the Times Higher Education Supplement, and their book was chosen as one of the Top Ten Books of the Decade by the New Statesman.

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Help your child power up their reading skills and learn all about one of the world's favourite animals, the elephant, with this fun-filled non-fiction reader carefully levelled to help children progress.DK Super Readers Level 4: Hope for the Elephants follows a young volunteer's time with elephants in India and Africa and introduces kids to everything they need to know about these much-loved animals - including where they live, why they are endangered, and what we can all do to help them - and is a motivating introduction to using essential non-fiction reading skills, proving ideal for children ready to enter the riveting world of reading. DK Super Readers take children on a journey through the wonderful world of nonfiction: travelling back to the time of dinosaurs, learning more about animals, exploring natural wonders and more, all while developing vital non-fiction reading skills and progressing from first words to reading confidently. The DK Super Readers series can help your child practice reading by:- Covering engaging, motivating, curriculum-aligned topics.- Building knowledge while progressing key Years 5 and 6 reading skills.- Developing subject vocabulary on topics such as elephants, volunteering, and endangered animals.- Boosting understanding and retention through comprehension quizzes.Each title, which has been levelled using MetaMetrics®: The Lexile Framework for Reading, integrates science, geography, history, and nature topics so there's something for all children's interests. The books and online content perfectly supplement core literacy programs and are mapped to the National Curriculum Standards. Children will love powering up their non-fiction reading skills and becoming reading heroes. DK Super Readers Level 4 titles are visually engaging, full of fun facts, and challenge young readers to broaden their subject knowledge while practising non-fiction reading skills. Perfect for children ages 9 to 11 (Year 5 and 6) who are confident readers ready for a challenge.

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Help your child power up their reading skills and learn all about sharks, both feared and fascinating, with this engaging non-fiction reader carefully levelled to help children progress.DK Super Readers Level 4: Shark Attack will introduce kids to everything they need to know about sharks - including how to swim safely with sharks, real-life encounters with sharks, and why we need to keep these predators safe in our oceans - and is a motivating introduction to using essential non-fiction reading skills, proving ideal for children ready to enter the riveting world of reading. DK Super Readers take children on a journey through the wonderful world of non-fiction: travelling back to the time of dinosaurs, learning more about animals, exploring natural wonders and more, all while developing vital non-fiction reading skills and progressing from first words to reading confidently. The DK Super Readers series can help your child practice reading by:- Covering engaging, motivating, curriculum-aligned topics.- Building knowledge while progressing key Years 5 and 6 reading skills.- Developing subject vocabulary on topics such as sharks, predators, and sea creatures.- Boosting understanding and retention through comprehension quizzes.Each title, which has been levelled using MetaMetrics®: The Lexile Framework for Reading, integrates science, geography, history, and nature topics so there's something for all children's interests. The books and online content perfectly supplement core literacy programs and are mapped to the National Curriculum Standards. Children will love powering up their non-fiction reading skills and becoming reading heroes. DK Super Readers Level 4 titles are visually engaging, full of fun facts, and challenge young readers to broaden their subject knowledge while practising non-fiction reading skills. Perfect for children ages 9 to 11 (Year 5 and 6) who are confident readers ready for a challenge.

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Help your child power up their reading skills and learn all about some of the world's most mysterious monsters with this fun-filled non-fiction reader carefully levelled to help children progress.DK Super Readers Level 4: Beastly Tales will introduce kids to everything they need to know about famous mysterious monsters - including the Yeti, Bigfoot, and the Loch Ness Monster - and is a motivating introduction to using essential non-fiction reading skills, proving ideal for children ready to enter the riveting world of reading. DK Super Readers take children on a journey through the wonderful world of non-fiction: travelling back to the time of dinosaurs, learning more about animals, exploring natural wonders and more, all while developing vital nonfiction reading skills and progressing from first words to reading confidently. The DK Super Readers series can help your child practice reading by:- Covering engaging, motivating, curriculum-aligned topics.- Building knowledge while progressing key Year 5 and 6 reading skills.- Developing subject vocabulary on topics such as mysterious monsters, the evidence for their existence, and people who claim to have seen them.- Boosting understanding and retention through comprehension quizzes.Each title, which has been levelled using MetaMetrics®: The Lexile Framework for Reading, integrates science, geography, history, and nature topics so there's something for all children's interests. The books and online content perfectly supplement core literacy programs and are mapped to the National Curriculum Standards. Children will love powering up their non-fiction reading skills and becoming reading heroes. DK Super Readers Level 4 titles are visually engaging, full of fun facts, and challenge young readers to broaden their subject knowledge while practising non-fiction reading skills. Perfect for children ages 9 to 11 (Year 5 and 6) who are confident readers ready for a challenge.

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Unearth a treasure trove of knowledge of over 130 gemstones from around the world.Learn how gemstones are formed and how to recognise them by their unique qualities and colours. A wonderful book for beginners, students, and gemstone-enthusiasts that includes the latest scientific research and gemstone classification.Gemstones is filled with all you need to know about these fascinating minerals - cut and uncut stones, organic gemstones, and precious metals. Inside you'll find: - Fast facts for quick reference, including chemical composition, hardness, gravity, lustre, and reflective value- Photo close-ups of key details and highlights of distinguishing features- Illustrations of faceting and shapes popular for each gemstone- A detailed introduction to everything a beginner gemologist needs to know including how gemstones form, the different properties, crystal shapes, faceting, and the history of gemsDelve into the one-of-a-kind characteristics, colours, and attributes of more than 130 gemstones with this compact visual guide. For easy classification, each stone's entry includes annotated photographs to highlight distinguishing features and concise details about the attributes of gems.Designed for beginners and experienced collectors alike, this gemology book explores what gemstones are, how they are classified, and how to identify them by their physical and optical properties. It also shows you how they were fashioned and imitated throughout history. Learn the differences between varieties of cut and uncut stones, organic gemstones, and precious metals. It includes a glossary for many more technical and scientific terms and over 800 high-quality photos of gems. It's the ideal gift for any budding gemologistThe DK Handbook series is an incredible collection of titles that fascinate curious minds. Other books include Rocks and Minerals, Dinosaurs, and Prehistoric Life, and Stars and Planets.

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- Is objectivity possible? - Can there be objectivity in matters of morals, or tastes? - What would a truly objective account of the world be like? - Is everything subjective, or relative? - Are moral judgments objective or culturally relative? Objectivity is both an essential and elusive philosophical concept. An account is generally considered to be objective if it attempts to capture the nature of the object studied without judgement of a conscious entity or subject. Objectivity stands in contrast to subjectivity: an objective account is impartial, one which could ideally be accepted by any subject, because it does not draw on any assumptions, prejudices, or values of particular subjects. Stephen Gaukroger shows that it is far from clear that we can resolve moral or aesthetic disputes in this way and it has often been argued that such an approach is not always appropriate for disciplines that deal with human, rather than natural, phenomena. Moreover, even in those cases where we seek to be objective, it may be difficult to judge what a truly objective account would look like, and whether it is achievable. This Very Short Introduction demonstrates that there are a number of common misunderstandings about what objectivity is, and explores the theoretical and practical problems of objectivity by assessing the basic questions raised by it. As well as considering the core philosophical issues, Gaukroger also deals with the way in which particular understandings of objectivity impinge on social research, science, and art. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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An exploration of everything Kant's philosophy can teach us about being the best people we can be, from using our human reasoning to its fullest potential to being affably drunk at dinner parties. Immanuel Kant is well known as one of the towering figures of Western philosophical history, but he is less well known for his savvy advice about hosting dinner parties. This philosophical genius was a man of many interests and talents: his famously formal and abstract ethical system is only part of his story. But Kant not only made a profound impact on how people think about big questions like how to treat one another--he also offered wise insights on things people confront in everyday life: things like gossip, friendship, manners, self-respect, cheerfulness, gratitude, mockery, contempt, and yes, dinner parties. In this book, philosopher Karen Stohr shows you how Kant's whole ethical picture fits together. It's a picture that is as relevant and useful now as it was in the 18th century--and maybe even more so. A Kantian way of living means using reason to guide your choices so that your life reflects your true nature as a free, rational being. This nature is one we share with others; Kantianism emphasizes the fundamental dignity and equality of each person. It presents an ideal for how we should live together without downplaying the challenges we face in the actual world. Though realistic about human weaknesses, Kant remained optimistic about our capacities and possibilities. He had great faith in the ability of human reason to point us in the direction of moral progress and to get us there. Each of us has the power within us to know and choose the right path--we just have to be willing to make that choice, and to discover how worthwhile life can be in the process.

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'Delightfully good ... an exuberant and learned celebration of British culture ... full of love for and fascination with everything from the origins of heavy metal in the metal-bashing industries of the West Midlands to John Lennon's and Damien Hirst's lust for money' Nick Cohen, Observer'Terrific ... I defy you not to be swept up in a narrative that's as colourful as it is dramatic' - John Preston, Mail on Sunday'Dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny' Spectator, Books of the YearBritain's empire has gone. We no longer matter as we once did. And yet there is still one area in which we can legitimately claim superpower status: our popular culture. It is extraordinary to think that one British writer, J. K. Rowling, has sold more than 400 million books; that Doctor Who is watched in almost every developed country in the world; that James Bond has been the central character in the longest-running film series in history; that The Lord of the Rings is the second best-selling novel ever written (behind only A Tale of Two Cities); that the Beatles are still the best-selling musical group of all time; and that only Shakespeare and the Bible have sold more books than Agatha Christie. To put it simply, no country on earth, relative to its size, has contributed more to the modern imagination.This is a book about the success and the meaning of Britain's modern popular culture, from Bond and the Beatles to Catherine Cookson and Coronation Street, from Harry Potter, heavy metal and Kate Bush to Damien Hirst, Downton Abbey and Grand Theft Auto.Dominic Sandbrook's superbly rich, entertaining and thought-provoking book makes it clear that The Great British Dream Factory is a very strange and wonderful place indeed.

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A series of provocative discussions on everything from individual authors to contemporary religious thinking, Against Interpretation and Other Essays is the definitive collection of Susan Sontag's best known and important works published in Penguin Modern Classics.Against Interpretation was Susan Sontag's first collection of essays and made her name as one of the most incisive thinkers of our time. Sontag was among the first critics to write about the intersection between 'high' and 'low' art forms, and to give them equal value as valid topics, shown here in her epoch-making pieces 'Notes on Camp' and 'Against Interpretation'. Here too are impassioned discussions of Sartre, Camus, Simone Weil, Godard, Beckett, Lévi-Strauss, science-fiction movies, psychoanalysis and contemporary religious thought. Originally published in 1966, this collection has never gone out of print and has been a major influence on generations of readers, and the field of cultural criticism, ever since. Susan Sontag (1933-2004) was born in Manhattan and studied at the universities of Chicago, Harvard and Oxford. She is the author of four novels - The Benefactor, Death Kit, The Volcano Lover and In America, which won the 2000 US National Book Award for fiction - a collection of stories, several plays, and six books of essays, among them Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors. Her books are translated into thirty-two languages. In 2001 she was awarded the Jerusalem Prize for the body of her work, and in 2003 she received the Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. If you enjoyed Against Interpretation and Other Essays, you might like Sontag's On Photography, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.'A dazzling intellectual performance' Vogue'Sontag offers enough food for thought to satisfy the most intellectual of appetites' The Times

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In sixty-four bite-sized pieces of advice, Michael Pollan's Food Rules tells you everything you need to know to eat healthily, dine happily and live well. Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much. Using those seven simple words as his guide, internationally-acclaimed food journalist Michael Pollan offers this indispensable handbook for anyone concerned about health and food. Sensible, easy to use and written in plain English, Food Rules is a set of memorable adages or designed to help you eat real food in reasonable amounts, gathered from a wide variety of sources: nutritionists, anthropologists, ancient cultures - and grandmothers. Whether at the supermarket, a restaurant or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is the perfect manual for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food we eat. 'In more than four decades I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible and simple to follow than these principles' The New York Times 'Instantly makes redundant all diet books and 99 per cent of discussions around healthy eating ... Sense, at last' Daily Mail, praise for In Defence of Food 'Pollan invites us to grab our pots and pans and cook some real food for dinner' Time Out, praise for In Defence of Food 'Read this witty book for a healthier life and diet' The Times, praise for In Defence of Food Michael Pollan has been writing for over twenty years about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect: food, agriculture, gardens, drugs, and architecture. The Omnivore's Dilemma, about the ethics and ecology of eating, was named one of the ten best books of 2006 by the New York Times and the Washington Post. He is also the author of The Botany of Desire, A Place of My Own and Second Nature and, most recently, In Defence of Food.

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'A wonderful book' Bill Bryson'Ashcroft achieves the sort of rich simplicity most science writers can only dream about ... this book carries the eponymous spark of life' Sunday Telegraph From before birth to the last breath we draw, from consciousness to sexual attraction, fighting infection to the beating of our hearts, electricity is essential to everything we think and do.In The Spark of Life award-winning physiologist Frances Ashcroft reveals the secrets of ion channels, which produce the electrical signals in our cells. Can someone really die of fright? How do cocaine, LSD and morphine work? Why do chilli peppers taste hot? Ashcroft explains all this and more with wit and clarity. Anyone who has ever wondered about what makes us human will find this book a revelation.'A rare gift for making difficult subjects accessible and fascinating' Bill Bryson 'She communicates complex science with engaging passion and eloquence' Helen Dunmore, Observer'Compelling and very readable, an excellent writer' Literary Review'Riveting ... she has a stock of good tales' New Scientist'Lively, conversational prose, refreshingly accessible to any lay reader ... a positively charged little book' Daily TelegraphFrances Ashcroft is Professor of Physiology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Trinity College Oxford. She is also Director of OXION, a consortium of scientists studying ion channels, the heroes of this book. Her scientific research focuses on how a rise in your blood sugar level stimulates the release of insulin and what why this process goes wrong in diabetes. She has won many prizes for her research, most recently the L'Oreal/UNESCO 2012 Women in Science award. She is also a recipient of the Lewis Thomas Prize for Science Writing for The Spark of Life. Her first book for the general reader was Life at the Extremes: The Science of Survival.

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'Astonishing ... enjoy its riches slowly, and savour every generous, erudite and undogmatic page' Boyd Tonkin, Financial Times'We English men have wits,' wrote the clergyman Ralph Lever in 1573, and, 'we have also framed unto ourselves a language.'Witcraft is a fresh and brilliant history of how philosophy became established in English. It presents a new form of philosophical storytelling and challenges what Jonathan Rée calls the 'condescending smugness' of traditional histories of philosophy. Rée tells the story of philosophy as it was lived and practised, embedded in its time and place, by men and women from many walks of life, engaged with the debates and culture of their age. And, by focusing on the rich history of works in English, including translations, he shows them to be quite as colourful, diverse, inventive and cosmopolitan as their continental counterparts.Witcraft offers new and compelling intellectual portraits not only of celebrated British and American philosophers, such as Hume, Emerson, Mill and James, but also of the remarkable philosophical work of literary authors, such as William Hazlitt and George Eliot, as well as a carnival of overlooked characters - priests and poets, teachers, servants and crofters, thinking for themselves and reaching their own conclusions about religion, politics, art and everything else.The book adopts a novel structure, examining its subject at fifty-year intervals from the sixteenth century to the twentieth. Researched over decades and illuminated by quotations from extensive archival material, it is a book full of stories and personalities as well as ideas, and shows philosophy springing from the life around it. Witcraft overturns the established orthodoxies of the history of philosophy, and celebrates the diversity, vitality and inventiveness of philosophical thought.

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Jamie Oliver will share everything he's learned as a chef as he invites you to Cook With JamieWhether you're a student, a young couple, an established cook or a novice, Cook With Jamie takes you through a whole load of simple and accessible recipes that will blow the socks off your family and any guests you might have round for dinner. There's information on Jamie's recommended kitchen equipment, advice on how to recognize and cook loads of different cuts of meat, as well as on how to get the best value and quality when you're out shopping.Cook with Jamie guides you through creating meals from scratch, including simple instructions for making your own pasta and gnocchi and even how to tackle preparing a fresh crab, lobster and squid. Learn to mix beautifully balanced dressings and mayo for the perfect addition to Jamie's recipes, like the warm Smoked Bacon and Jerusalem Artichoke Salad. From light starters to deserts with a twist, like moreish Bread and Butter Pudding with Marmalade Glaze and Cinnamon and Orange Butter, Cook with Jamie has recipes for every occasion and taste.Jamie shares classic dishes, new creations and some of the bestselling recipes from his award winning restaurants. Cook With Jamie is the perfect companion to anyone looking to improve their cooking and have fun in the kitchen.'You know what ... if you're going to eat three times a day for the rest of your life, you might as well learn to cook properly and enjoy it! So, roll up your sleeves and let me help you. Now is the time for you to get stuck in and reclaim your fantastic cooking heritage!' - Jamie'There is only one Jamie Oliver. Great to watch. Great to cook' Delia Smith

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**ONE OF THE BBC'S 100 GREATEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF ALL TIME** Haroun: What's the use of stories that aren't even true?I asked that question and the Unthinkable Thing happened: my father can't tell stories anymore. That means no more laughter in the city of Alifbay and now the place stinks of sadness. So it's up to me to put things right. If the water genie Iff can take me on the Hoopoe bird Butt all the way to Gup City then maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to persuade the Grand Comptroller to give my father his Story Water supply back. Trouble is, that is strictly forbidden, one hundred percent banned, no way Jose territory...Luka: What do sea monsters eat?The Old Man of the River of Time: Fish and Ships. Why was six afraid of seven?Luka: Because seven eight nine.Luckily, my father is the Riddle King and taught me everything I know. But the stakes are high in this riddle battle, couldn't be higher in fact! To save my father from Un-Life, I've got to beat the Old Man and steal the Fire of Life that burns at the top of the Mountain of Knowledge. Only problem is that nobody in the entire recorded history of the World of Magic has ever successfully stolen the Fire of Life...Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can read an interview with the author and solve some fiendish riddles!Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

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Johnny Johnson has been awarded an MBE for his remarkable services in World War II'I was anxious to fight. Hitler was the bastard who had started all this and he needed sorting out. We were under threat. Everything we stood for: our country, our families and our way of life was being attacked by this maniac. He could not be allowed to win. So for me and many, many others like me, there was no alternative. We were in a pickle and something had to be done.’Johnny Johnson is 95 years old and one of very few men who can recall first-hand the most daring and ingenious air raid of all time. He can also vividly remember his childhood spent working on a farm with his controlling father, the series of events that led him to the RAF and the rigorous training that followed. But it was his decision to join 617 Squadron, and the consequences, that have truly stayed etched in his mind. On 16 May 1943, Johnny, alongside 132 specially selected comrades, took off from Scampton airbase in Lincolnshire. For six weeks they had been trained to fulfil one mission that was near impossible: to destroy three dams deep within Germany’s Ruhr Valley. It was a daring task but, against the odds, Johnny and his crew survived. Sadly, 53 comrades did not.For the first time, Johnny relives every moment of that fatal night – and the devastating aftermath. He recalls with unique wit and insight the difficult training conducted in secrecy, the race against time to release the bombs, and the sheer strength and bravery shown by a small unit faced with great adversity and uncertainty. Embodying a whole squadron, and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come, Johnny’s story is like no other.

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Book 7 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.In London, the past is never dead. It only lies sleeping...Martin Chorley - aka the Faceless Man - wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice. But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long-term plan. A plan that has its roots in London's two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees. To save his beloved city Peter's going to need help from his former best friend and colleague - Lesley May - who brutally betrayed him and everything he thought she believed in. And, far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr Punch...Praise for the Rivers of London novels:'Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there more than the real London'NICK FROST'As brilliant and funny as ever'THE SUN'Charming, witty, exciting'THE INDEPENDENT'An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups'THE TIMESDiscover why this incredible series has sold over two million copies around the world. If you're a fan of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams - don't panic - you will love Ben Aaronovitch's imaginative, irreverent and all-round irresistible novels.

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'Delicious and utterly absorbing... This is a book to be relished and savoured. I can't recommend it enough' GILL THOMPSON, author of THE CHILD ON PLATFORM ONE'Historical fiction at its finest. Antoinette Chanel will capture your heart' ANN WEISGARBER, author of THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE ---The unforgettable story of the sisters who changed fashion forever. For readers who fell in love with THE PARIS WIFE and THE AGE OF LIGHT.Gabrielle and Antoinette know they're destined for something better. Abandoned to a convent orphanage, they are raised for simple lives. But at night they dream of a glittering future, and the Chanel sisters are determined to prove themselves worthy. Their journey propels Coco and Ninette out of poverty to performing in bohemian cafés and stylish music halls, and soon on to Paris and a small hat shop on the rue Cambon, where a boutique business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns. But when war breaks out, everything changes, and the Chanel sisters must navigate great loves, devastating losses and fight harder than ever to make their mark on the world.THE CHANEL SISTERS draws readers through all different walks of Parisian life in the early twentieth century to the extraordinary legacy that lives on today - the most iconic fashion house in haute couture. Praise for THE CHANEL SISTERS:'I loved this story of two ambitious women who dare to envision brilliant futures for themselves and refuse to settle for anything less... A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the rags-to-riches rise of fashion's most intriguing icon' Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott and Fast Girls'Hits all the right notes: luxury settings, especially Paris, love and betrayal, and family bonds that both build and bind' Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Queen's Secret

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From the bestselling author of The Paris Model comes another breathtaking story of glamour, romance and espionage. Success would depend on taking a dangerous risk.When Blaise Hill, a feisty young journalist from one of Sydney's toughest neighbourhoods, is dispatched to London at the dawn of the swinging sixties to report on Princess Margaret's controversial marriage to an unconventional photographer, she is drawn into an elite realm of glamour and intrigue.As the nation faces an explosive upheaval, Blaise must grapple with a series of shocking scandals at the pinnacle of British society. Yet, haunted by a threat from her past and torn between two very different men, who can she trust in a world of hidden motives and shifting alliances? If she makes the wrong choice, she will lose everything.Inspired by real events, The Royal Correspondent is a compelling story of love and betrayal, family secrets and conspiracy that takes you from the gritty life of a daily newspaper to the opulent splendour of Buckingham Palace.Praise for The Royal Correspondent:'Combines romance, a splash of espionage and lots of glamour, inspired by real events' Australian Women's Weekly'It will sweep you up with its winning combination of historical facts and fabulous fiction' Herald Sun'Vividly brings the swinging '60s to life' Who Weekly'This engaging read has it all - glamour, intrigue, gossip, espionage, romance and fashion ... it's a gripping read with well-drawn characters ... a well woven tale set on the cusp of changing times' Weekly Times'A fabulous story, with an extremely compelling protagonist at its heart ... Joel has hit her stride here' Better Reading'A world of glamour, intrigue and scandal' Woman's Day'Engaging characters and a well-paced story line brimming with social history, romance, and mystery will captivate readers across genres' Booklist'An engrossing story [which] will keep readers turning the pages' Publishers Weekly

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Another beautiful, revelatory country diary from one of the best nature writers in Britain.'If you’ve never read Mark Cocker, then you must. His style is sharp, selfless, and wonderfully evocative, his knowledge deep and wide-ranging but lightly borne, his curiosity joyful and infectious.' Mail On Sunday, Books of the YearFor seventeen years, as part of his daily writerly routine, the author and naturalist Mark Cocker has taken a two-mile walk down to the river from his cottage on the edge of the Norfolk Broads National Park. Over the course of those 10,000 daily paces he has learnt the art of patience to observe a butterfly, a bird, flower, bee, deer, otter or fly and to take pleasure in all the other inhabitants of his parish, no matter how seemingly insignificant. In turn these encounters have then been converted into literary epiphanies that are now a widely celebrated part of his work. In A Claxton Diary he has gathered some of the finest short essays that he has ever written on wildlife. They range over almost everything he can see, touch or smell, from the minute to the cosmic, from a strange micromoth called yellow-barred longhorn to that fiercest of winter storms the so-called ‘Beast from the East’.From the marvellous to the macabre, Cocker tries to capture nature without flinching and in its entirety. In so doing he provides us with a vision of an English country parish that for intimacy and precise detail is comparable with Gilbert White’s diary on Selbourne. Above all he reminds us that we are all just members of one miraculous family, fashioned from sunlight and the dust from old stars.

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE WRITERS' GUILD BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD | SHORTLISTED FOR THE HOLYER AN GOF LITERARY FICTION AWARD | LONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD'This unsparing debut novel portrays the unromantic side of Cornwall few visitors see and which so many novelists choose to overlook. Charlie Carroll inhabits his damaged heroine completely' Patrick Gale'A moving and affecting novel about life on the edge, with a very special flavour of wild and rugged Cornwall.' Emma Stonex, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERSAway from the hotels and holiday lets, there is an unseen side of Cornwall, where the shifting uncertainties of the future breed resentment and mistrust.Melody Janie is hidden. She lives alone in a caravan in Bones Break: a small cliff-top on Cornwall's north coast. She spends her time roaming her territory, spying on passing tourists and ramblers, and remembering. She sees everything and yet remains unseen.However, when a stranger enters her life, she is forced to confront not only him but the terrible tragedies of her past.The Lip is a novel about childhood, isolation and mental health, told in the unique and unforgettable voice of Melody Janie.'All of this is Bones Break. All of this is mine. I know every inch of it; I know it as intimately as the seagulls. I stand at dead-centre, my feet teetering on the edge of the lip. Below, the thundering tattoo of waves on rock. Wind catches the tips of my hair, lifting them above my ribs: less force than it takes to knock me down; enough to make me right myself with a step to the left, and then another back again. Here on the lip, it is vital to know where my feet are.'

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"Witty and meditative by turns, the overall effect is like being shown around by a wonderfully self-effacing, but impressively erudite guide" The Sunday Times BOOKS OF THE YEAR"Nooteboom has achieved the impossible: to say something new about the ageless city about which everything has been said" ALBERTO MANGUEL"The whole book is the illuminating testimony of a man who cannot look away and so sees things that others, even those with more specialist knowledge, have missed" GREGORY DOWLING, Wall Street JournalVENICE: "A dream of palaces and churches, of power and money, dominion and decline, a paradise of beauty." By the author of Roads to Santiago and Roads to BerlinWith this treasury of his time spent in Venice over a period of fifty-five years, Nooteboom makes himself the indispensable companion for all lovers of "the sailing, amphibious city", and for every new visitor.Because he is a master storyteller with an inexhaustible curiosity, and always with a suitcase of books (to which new discoveries are added), he brings vividly and poetically to life not only the tumultuous history of the Republic but along the way its doges, its villains, its heroes, its magnificent painters, its architects, its scholars, its skies, its canals and piazzas and alleyways, and on his expeditions its "bronze voices of time".Those who know and love this city and its literature will recognise Nooteboom - in Laura Watkinson's fine translation - as the dazzling heir and companion to Montaigne, Thomas Mann, Rilke, Ruskin, Proust, Brodsky, and Donna Leon. His homage to Venice is a generous introduction, learned and enchanting, and worthy of its magnificent subject."His writing is lyrical and densely textured. He is a poet of time and memory" - COLIN THUBRONTranslated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson

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Escape to Cornwall with this delightful summer read... Ellie Truman's mum has been struggling to keep the family hotel in Cornwall afloat since Ellie's dad passed away. Ellie is determined to help her mum, even if that means moving back to the sleepy Cornish village of Port Medden she fled from broken-hearted a few years ago.Running the hotel isn't easy and Ellie is grateful for the help from charming guest, Reece Mitchell. Ellie feels herself falling for Reece but should she trust him and risk getting her heart broken again? And will their hard work be enough to save the hotel?A gorgeous feel-good read, perfect for fans of CATHY BRAMLEY and PHILLIPA ASHLEY.Readers love Karen King's feel-good fiction: 'A great romance story by a superb author, I loved the main character from the start' 5* Amazon review'Such a lovely summer book that I just couldn't put down! Absolutely loved the character of Ellie and I was desperate to see how everything would work out' 5* Amazon review'The story takes you to wonderful scenes of pebbled beaches, rock pools, narrow streets and all the glory of summer. It's a great holiday read and even you if aren't on holiday it gives you a feel of that freedom and relaxation. You can't help falling in love with the main characters and following their every move with suspense. I loved this book and read it in a couple of days because once I started reading, I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended!' 5* Amazon review'Most enjoyable read. Always interesting. Very believable characters. I can thoroughly recommend it. What could be a better summer read than one set in beautiful Cornwall' 5* Amazon review'This was a truly delightful book to read. Just light-hearted feel good.' 5* Amazon review

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Robin Hood is England's greatest folk hero. Everyone knows the story of the outlaw who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Nick Rennison's highly entertaining book begins with the search for the historical Robin. Was there ever a real Robin Hood? Rennison looks at the candidates who have been proposed over the years, from petty thieves to Knights Templar, before moving on to examine the many ways in which Robin Hood has been portrayed in literature and on the screen. He began as the hero of dozens of late medieval ballads. He appeared in plays by contemporaries of Shakespeare. In the Romantic era Robin was reinvented by Walter Scott as a Saxon champion in the struggle against the Normans. During the nineteenth century, he emerged as a hero in children's literature. More recently he has been portrayed as everything from proto-socialist man of the people to anarchist thug. In the cinema he put in an appearance as early as 1908 and Douglas Fairbanks and then Errol Flynn turned him into the typical hero of Hollywood swashbucklers. In the last twenty years, Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe have provided their own very different interpretations of the character. On the small screen, Robin has been the hero of half-a-dozen TV shows from the 1950s series starring Richard Greene, which used many writers blacklisted by Hollywood, via the well-remembered Robin of Sherwood in the 1980s to the recent BBC series. As the twenty-first century nears the end of its second decade, Robin Hood is still very much with us. He is the subject of graphic novels and computer games and films, including the new Lionsgate release in November 2018.

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The perfect treat for fans of Downton Abbey, Poldark and Dilly Court - discover the third novel in a heart-warming new series set in the 1920s in a glamorous hotel on the Cornish Riviera . . . 1930, Liverpool. Reformed con-artist Leah Marshall has long yearned for the thrills of her former life. Now she has the chance to relive it all as an exciting new 'game' beckons, but she soon discovers the rules have changed. One slip-up and she could lose everything . . . including her life. Back home in Cornwall, the Foxes are making their own difficult decisions. An old agreement has turned sour, putting the hotel at risk once more, and the children have grown and are embarking on their own, sometimes perilous, paths. Matriarch Helen Fox knows she must take charge of her own future now, or be left alone while her family and home splinter around her. Should she hold on a little longer, or let go and move on? But when a new and deadly danger steps through the revolving doors of Fox Bay Hotel, Helen finds it might not be her choice to make after all . . . Praise for the Fox Bay Saga:'A brilliant read' RoNA award-winning, bestselling novelist Tania Crosse'Love, loss and old rivalries are skilfully woven against an atmospheric coastal backdrop holding a promise of new beginnings. A five star page turner from the start' Kay Brellend, author of A Workhouse Christmas'Terri Nixon has created a captivating backdrop for the Fox Bay Hotel, and the Fox family who run it. I guarantee their story will stay with you long after you have finished reading this beautifully written book' Lynne Francis, author of A Maid's Ruin'A moving story of tragedy, deception and one woman's determination to protect her family. I couldn't put it down!' Charlotte Betts, author of The Light Within Us

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The highly acclaimed, instant New York Times bestseller that '[gives] expression to a generational anxiety about the near future, one rooted in the threat of environmental crisis...The experience of reading California brings validation to anyone who sits upright in the middle of the night struck with the instability of the human project on this planet: others are awake, too' GuardianThe sunshine state lies in darkness.Los Angeles is in ruins, left to the angels now.And the world Cal and Frida have always known is gone.Cal and Frida have left the crumbling city of Los Angeles far behind them. They now live in a shack in the wilderness, working side-by-side to make their days tolerable despite the isolation and hardships they face. Consumed by fear of the future and mourning for a past they can't reclaim, they seek comfort and solace in one other. But the tentative existence they've built for themselves is thrown into doubt when Frida finds out she's pregnant. Terrified of the unknown but unsure of their ability to raise a child alone, Cal and Frida set out for the nearest settlement, a guarded and paranoid community with dark secrets. These people can offer them security, but Cal and Frida soon realise this community poses its own dangers. In this unfamiliar world, where everything and everyone can be perceived as a threat, the couple must quickly decide whom to trust.A gripping and provocative debut novel by a stunning new talent,California imagines a frighteningly realistic near future, in which clashes between mankind's dark nature and irrepressible resilience force us to question how far we will go to protect the ones we love.

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A powerful look at one of the most important issues facing our world today - climate change.This climate change book for kids explores the past, present and future of our climate. Get the facts and figures about how our planet's climate is changing, what the consequences will be and what you can do to help make a change!Discover everything you need to know about the climate crisis with this children's educational book. It includes:- The perfect introduction to a subject that fascinates children and ties in with a key school topic- Fresh new look with updated photography, fun diagrams, and new "eyewitness" features- Updated information by expert consultants in the field- A unique visual approach that immerses children on every page and an added wall chart is full of facts and imagesDK Eyewitness Climate Change explains why human activities are making the planet heat up. Learn all about the causes of climate change, such as fossil fuels and pollution. Explore the effects that global warming has on humans and animals across the world, from more frequent hurricanes and wildfires to melting ice caps and rising sea levels. Packed with incredible facts about our Earth's climate and written in easy-to-grasp text, this children's book will help cultivate the climatologists of tomorrow and inspire kids to help fight the climate emergency. Stunning photographs offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the dramatic changes that are affecting the weather, the environment, and the way we lead our lives.With a groundbreaking visual approach and clear, child-friendly text, DK Eyewitness books have been a trusted favourite for parents, teachers, and school-age children since 1985. Now with an exciting makeover, this popular series has been reinvigorated for the next generation of information-seekers and stay-at-home explorers!

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An exquisitely illustrated, one-of-a-kind celebration of the hidden beauty of nature and the ingenuity of birdsSusan Ogilvy started painting bird nests almost by accident. One day, while tidying up her garden after a storm, she found a chaffinch nest - a strange, sodden lump on the grass under a fir tree. She carried it inside and placed it on a newspaper; over the next few hours, as the water drained out of it, the sodden lump blossomed into a mossy jewel. She was amazed, and dropped everything to make a painting of the nest at exact life size.This was the start of an obsession; Ogilvy has since painted more than fifty bird nests from life, each time marvelling at its ingenious construction. Every species of bird has its own vernacular, but sources its materials - most commonly twigs, roots, grasses, reeds, leaves, moss, lichen, hair, feathers and cobwebs, less usually, mattress stuffing and string - according to local availability. Ogilvy would, of course, never disturb nesting birds; instead she relies upon serendipity, which is why all her nests have either been abandoned after fulfilling their purpose, or displaced by strong winds.Although Nests showcases the specimens she has found near her homes in Somerset and on the Isle of Arran, its subject matter is by no means only British, since these same birds can be found all over Europe, Scandinavia and as far afield as Russia, Turkey and North Africa. This wondrous book is all the more special for its rarity. Few modern books exist specifically on the subject of bird nests; the most recent among the author's reference works was published in 1932. Exquisitely designed and packaged, Nests will be an essential addition to the libraries of all nature lovers.

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Learn how to observe and navigate the night sky with this guide to stargazing for beginners!The dazzling reference book shines bright with crystal-clear charts of the planets, stars, and constellations in both the northern and southern hemispheres for each month of the year! It's perfect for anyone interested in stargazing and astronomy.This unique astronomy book explains and demystifies the changing night sky. It includes:- Illustrated overviews that introduce each month with a guide to the main attractions, such as bright stars, prominent constellations, and meteor showers- An introduction explains what the universe is, our place within it, how it appears to us in the night sky, and how our view of it changes with time and place- Each illustrated overview features a planet locator, showing the position of the planets during the month introduced- Charts that show the positions of all stars visible to the naked eye in even the darkest skiesDiscover a complete year-round atlas of the night sky! Filled with easy-to-use star charts showing the constellations, alongside specially commissioned artworks and photography, this space book has everything the budding astronomer needs to understand the night sky. You'll learn how to recognise different kinds of objects and see how they move through the sky over the course of the night and the year.Whether you're new to astronomy or a seasoned stargazer, The Night Sky Month by Month enables everyone to be awed by stargazing. It covers sky-watching without any equipment at all, as well as with the use of binoculars and telescopes. Plus, the newly updated edition features an astronomy calendar detailing the annual and one-off celestial events for the decade ahead, ensuring you'll never miss a visible planet or solar eclipse again. It's the perfect astronomy gift for adults fascinated with space.

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Keeping your garden in good shape has never been easier!Pruning is an essential part of garden maintenance. It's also one of the most difficult parts of gardening. This is your no-fuss guide to learning basic training and pruning techniques.Do you want to know how to prune the shrubs and climbers in your garden but don't know where to start? This gardening book for beginners will help you care for more than 80 of the most popular pruning plants.Whether you need to prune flowering trees or have a small garden that requires controlling, this complete pruning guide explores all the essential techniques. It also features an illustrated directory that answers all your pruning and training questions to help you put your skills into practice.You don't have to be a horticulture expert to get started, this indispensable reference book will take you through every single step! It includes: - Easy gardening tips on how to care for more than 80 shrubs and trees- Packed with practical, jargon-free know-how and simple pruning techniques- Easy-to-follow format to help grow your gardening knowledgeLet It Grow!Gorgeous, full-colour photography provides plenty of inspiration and ideas. Expert tips and step-by-step instructions on every page will help you care for your plants the right way.Grow Pruning & Training covers everything you need to know to make pruning fruit trees, shrubs, and climbing plants a simple and achievable process. It's the perfect book for first-time gardeners!Complete the Series:Make your green-fingered dreams a reality with the Grow series from DK. Learn how to brighten up even the trickiest areas in Grow Containers, or discover how to garden more sustainably in Grow Eco-Gardening. Alternatively, there are more titles to explore such as Grow Easy Veg and Grow Houseplants.

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Melanchthon and Calvin were late medieval people, stemming from a world of order and unity, and at the same time they fully lived in the early modern world, in which everything was changing. In this new world they committedly, enthusiastically, and restlessly sought to introduce some order, in theory as well as practice. The sixteenth-century church was governed by multiple coercive constructions and systems. Did the two Reformers really succeed in disconnecting themselves from them, and to what extent did they connect to, for example, the existing forms of eucharistic piety? The established church had come under serious criticism, and people were massively turning their backs on the less than attractive ecclesiastical practices -- something connecting that era to ours. In these highly turbulent and suspenseful 1520s, when it was not yet clear whether the ten-year-old evangelical movement in Germany was still viable, Melanchthon tried to introduce at least some order into the chaos by means of a confession accompanied by a church order. As it turned out, the new doctrine on Christian freedom and justification by faith alone was easily interpreted in a one-sided manner. Through a careful analysis of the sources, Herman A. Speelman examines Melanchthons church visitations in 1527 and Calvins five attempts to shape the modernisation of ecclesiastical life. In addition to the gospel, also penance and the preaching of the law received a place in the Protestant liturgy and spirituality .Melanchthons and Calvins contributions were not only to have an enormous impact on the theological evolutions in the evangelical movement in Europe, but they also proved to be of eminent importance for the way in which the new doctrine was given meaning in practice. Their instructions continue to be highly influential in large parts of Europe today.

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Paleo Cooking Bootcamp for Busy People is a step-by-step meal preparation course that allows you to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for an entire week in a single, highly focused two-hour power cooking session. The complete bootcamp program consists of four weekend cooking sessions (each lasting two hours), that enables you to eat delicious, paleo-approved meals for an entire month. This is a fantastic way to build momentum for a major dietary transition, or enjoy delicious meals without having to worry about preparing from scratch every time. Paleo Cooking Bootcamp for Busy People is inspired by author Katie French's live class presented in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it won the prestigious "Best of SF" designation by San Francisco magazine. With this book, you have a systematic, stress-free approach to ensure you adhere to your healthy eating goals during you and your family's hectic weekdays. For each week's menu, there is a grocery list, a list showing what order to cook everything (the "Cooking Order") during your session, and recipes with step-by-step instructions and vibrant photos. Even if you are a cooking novice, you can jump right in and build the skills and efficiency to quickly increase your confidence and enjoyment with meal preparation. Anyone will admit that a two-hour time investment on the weekend is worth the bounty it delivers to ease your everyday meal preparation stress and increase adherence to healthy choices, but making it happen requires a precise, intentional approach where no time is wasted. Paleo Cooking Bootcamp for Busy People takes the guesswork out of the equation and let's you go straight the fun stuff in the kitchen!

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Thrilling, Wonder, Captain America, America's Best, Marvel, Exciting, Startling: Alex Schomburg produced the most dazzling array of high-quality comic-book covers in the Golden Age of American Comics. Spider-Man, Hulk, and X-Men co-creator Stan Lee said, "Alex Schomburg was to comic books what Norman Rockwell was to The Saturday Evening Post." Golden Age comic books with Schomburg covers are selling for record prices in America's leading auction houses. This book collects, for the first time, a host of tantalizing Schomburg treasures in one volume. Superheroes, jungle girls, robots, wild animals, and space travelers abound in these romantic and nostalgic Pop-Art icons of the bygone WWII era. Alex Schomburg has won every major award for both science fiction and comic book art, from the Hugo Lifetime Achievement Award to the Inkpot, the Doc Smith Lensman Award, and the Frank R. Paul Award. He was inducted posthumously into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame. During WWII, Schomburg turned out a plethora of ornate, flamboyant, and outrageously pro-American comic book covers jammed with detail. Schomburg was Timely-Marvel's definitive 1940s cover artist. Ron Goulart, author of Comic Book Culture, called Schomburg the undisputed champ and Hieronymous Bosch of comics artists. After the war, Schomburg's comics subjects shifted toward adorable pin-up quality jungle girls and sci-fi (often signed "Xela") in the trademark airbrush style that made the artist famous as a book and magazine illustrator. About this book, Harlan Ellison said, "Finally and at last! The magnificent answer to the question, 'What do you buy for the Man Who Has Everything?' No matter what age he may be, this every-page-a-wonder assemblage of Schomburg paintings will thrill, charm and delight any guy on his anniversary, birthday, holiday or need for apology from you. It might please women, too, but for guys, for sure."

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Blast off with this new edition in the first book in the best selling Professor Astro Cat series! Featuring updated details about how rockets work, recent missions to Mars, space junk, and black holes.“Conducted by a cat in a retro-futuristic space suit, this tour of the solar system and beyond earns style points for both its illustrations and its selection of “Factoroids.” -Kirkus Reviews"Cute characters (such as the titular Professor Astro Cat and his assistant Astro Mouse) give a humorous, conversational tone to this nonfiction book's information about space, our solar system, and changing space exploration technology. Like the text, the book's browsable layout encourages readers to keep exploring. Overall, a great book to nurture interest in and wonder at the infinite possibilities of space." -The Horn Book"Both modern in its scientific spirit and with a sensibility modeled after the delightful mid-century children’s books from the Golden Age of space exploration, it tickles young readers - as well as their space-enchanted parents - into precisely that “palpable zest to make contact with the cosmos.” -Brain PickingsProfessor Astro Cat is the smartest cat in the alley. He's got a degree in just about every discipline under the sun! Speaking of the sun, he happens to be specialist on that too, and Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space will tell you everything that there could be to know about our star, our planet, our solar system, our galaxy, our universe, and many more new insights into the ever-developing science of space and the outer reaches of the universe!The professor's made sure of that; he's a fastidious little feline! Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space also explores topics such as gravity, extraterrestrial life, time, and many other fascinating subjects that will take you and your children on a journey to the very frontiers of space!

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Transform the everyday into La Douce Vie (the sweet life) with this giftable notebook trio, part of a beautiful stationery and gift collection illustrated by best-friends-turned-creative-power-duo, Sacree Frangine. Inspired by the moments that make life sweet, this set of three paperback notebooks illustrated by Sacree Frangine will bring an artful touch to everyday notes and musings. BELOVED ARTISTS: Known for modern compositions with warm, inviting color palettes, French creative duo Sacree Frangine have an iconic art style that has earned them a vast following online and an ever-growing list of collaborations that range from book covers and cosmetics packaging to homeware and textiles. AUTHENTIC STORY: At the heart of everything that Sacree Frangine produces is a story of sisterhood-a bond of friendship stretching back to childhood that grew into creative collaboration. Those themes of friendship and sisterhood, combined with a love of life's simple pleasures, are the inspiration for this line. SWEET GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION: Each notebook is this collection features a scenic depiction of simple joys: a striking still life, a leisurely moment in nature, and an awe-inspiring landscape. Tied together with a bellyband and string, this elegantly bundled set can be presented as is, making a lovely gift for any occasion. Pair with another item in the La Douce Vie line- La Douce Vie Notes or La Douce Vie Portable Puzzle -for an extra-special present for someone close to your heart. Perfect for: • Daily diary, dream journal, or travel journal • Poets, sketch artists, daydreamers, and list makers • Stationery collectors • People who love modern design and stylish desk decor • Fans of Sacree Frangine and their collabs with such brands as Chilly's, H&M, Canon, Causebox, Sephora, and Anthropologie • Gift for moms, sisters, or girlfriends on birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's or Galentine's Day, holidays, or any special occasion

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The fifth fabulously funny Mr Gum story by Andy Stanton, read by the author and with music and sound effects. A fantastic book for boys and girls aged 7-10 years old‘Worryingly splendid’ The GuardianThey’re the funniest books … I can’t recommend them enough’ Stephen Mangan‘They are brilliant’ Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2‘It’s hilarious, it’s brilliant…Stanton’s the Gov’nor, the Boss.’ – Danny Baker, BBC Radio LondonGood evening. Do you like bears called Padlock? Course you do. Do you like hot-air balloons? Course you do. Do you like tall sailing ships with mad sea captains, and horrifying old villains and words like ‘wab!’, ‘tungler’ and ‘kelp’? COURSE you do!Well, guess what, you lucky little nibbleheads? This book’s got all of those things – and a lot more besides. It’s a rollicker! It’s a frolicker! It’s a fun-time sun-time yollicker! So what you waiting for? GET LISTENING!Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear is the fifth in the internationally bestselling series by Andy Stanton, which has won everything from the Blue Peter Book Award (twice) to the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Red House Children’s Book Award. The books have been translated into over 25 languages worldwide, and have sold over 4 million copies.“Good evening. This is Andy Stanton, professional children’s author and part-time marshmallow. Hey, do you like hearing ‘Mr Gum’ read out loud by a complete idiot? Well, then, you’re in luck, because – for your entertainment, amusement and annoyance - every single word of these audio books is spoken by ME! And not only that, but these recordings are absolutely JAM-PACKED with silly voices, weird sound effects and utterly ridiculous songs (sorry about my singing, by the way, it’s appalling). So there you have it – what are you waiting for? GET LISTENING, YOU NIBBLEHEADS!”

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Shabba me whiskers! It’s the fourth fantastic Mr Gum story, read by the author and with music and sound effects. A fantastic book for boys and girls aged 7-10 years old‘Smooky Palooki! This book is well brilliant!’ Jeremy Strong‘They’re the funniest books … I can’t recommend them enough’ Stephen Mangan‘They are brilliant’ Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2‘It’s hilarious, it’s brilliant…Stanton’s the Gov’nor, the Boss.’ – Danny Baker, BBC Radio LondonGood evening, children, on this dark and windy night. Now, come gather round the fireplace, for ‘tis time for strange tales to be spun.Like the tale of Polly and that old tumbledown windmill by the riverside. But just what is the windmill’s terrible secret? Why is Mr Gum lurk-lurk-lurkin’ about? And how much does Old Granny know?Gather closer, children, for all shall be revealed… BRRR! SPOOKY!Mr Gum and the Power Crystals is the fourth in the internationally bestselling series by Andy Stanton, which has won everything from the Blue Peter Book Award (twice) to the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Red House Children’s Book Award. The books have been translated into over 25 languages worldwide, and have sold over 4 million copies.“Good evening. This is Andy Stanton, professional children’s author and part-time marshmallow. Hey, do you like hearing ‘Mr Gum’ read out loud by a complete idiot? Well, then, you’re in luck, because – for your entertainment, amusement and annoyance - every single word of these audio books is spoken by ME! And not only that, but these recordings are absolutely JAM-PACKED with silly voices, weird sound effects and utterly ridiculous songs (sorry about my singing, by the way, it’s appalling). So there you have it – what are you waiting for? GET LISTENING, YOU NIBBLEHEADS!”

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