Most Popular Books by Anna Claybourne

This ingenious book will show young readers just how much FUN maths can be! Strap in for an amazing roller-coaster ride through a world of mathematical games. Written by award-winning science writer Anna Claybourne, this inspiring book promotes maths learning with a twist. Inside you will find intense pen-and-paper puzzles, thrilling two-player games and exciting experiments using ordinary household objects. Young readers can rediscover subjects such as geometry, statistics, and measurement in a completely new light, learning time-saving tips and tricks for common maths problems. Featuring lively illustrations and a glossary of key terms, it promotes functional problem solving and builds confidence in maths. Perfect for readers aged 8+. ABOUT THE SERIES: The STEM in Action series puts maths and science learning into practice, bringing together tricks, games and experiments which involve key STEM concepts. With vibrant, hilarious illustrations, these guides make maths and science accessible and exciting for young readers.

Presents a tour of Renaissance Europe, discussing facts about fashion, diet, houses, religion, politics, culture, transportation, crime, and illness.

Reveals the real-life stories behind dozens of brilliant ideas, from the invention of the wheel, to the hi-tech gadgets of today. Describes the successes - and failures - of inventions in transport, food, household gadgets, communication, clothing, medicine and more. Humorously illustrated by Adam Larkum, with cartoons and simple diagrams showing how the inventions work. Includes invention timelines, a glossary and internet links to websites with games, biographies and tips on becoming an inventor.

"Animals have many disgusting and dreadful survival techniques. From lethal defences to revolting eating habits, this book is full of yucky, painful, and fascinating facts about animal adaptations and evolution"--Back cover.

Have you ever made a balloon kebab, written a secret message with invisible ink, or grown crystals in a jar? Find out how to perform lots of amazing experiments at home and learn all about the super-cool science behind them! Brimming with exciting, easy-to-perform experiments this book guarantees hours of fun for budding scientists aged 7+. ABOUT THE SERIES: Discovery Pack is a science reference series for kids, focusing on a variety of exciting topics from the human body to space exploration. Vibrantly illustrated in full-colour these books make science accessible and engaging.

Toasters, toilets, and televisions, computers, cars and chocolate bars, flying machines and even your jeans ... All these everyday things, and many more, are only here because someone bothered to invent them. this book reveals the real-life stories and bright sparks behind dozens of brilliant ideas - from ancient advances such as the wheel to the hi-tech gadgets of the modern world. [back cover].

Christmas customs, festive food, present-giving, songs and traditional stories from around the world with easy-reading text for children who have just started reading alone. Part of the Usborne Reading Programme developed with reading experts at the University of Roehampton. "Irresistible for children learning to read''" - Child Education Plus

This book describes the parts of a plant, how plants make their food, and how plants reproduce.

"A dynamic and comprehensive introduction to physical geography, which explores our world''s most dramatic features. It gets to the heart of fiery volcanoes, uncovers the causes of earthquakes and looks at incredible weather phenomena."--Adapted from back cover

Like humans, theses insects live in communities with home containing ''rooms'' and colonies with streets. Work is shared out, food is ''farmed'' and the young cared for. This book describes the astonishing organisation in the lives of these social insects. Ages 7-9.

"A discussion of major types of natural disasters, including descriptions of some of the most destructive; explanations of these phenomena, what causes them, and where they occur; and information about how to prepare for and survive these forces of nature. Features include an activity, glossary, list of resources, and index"--Provided by publisher.

Why does a band sound so good together? Each instrument has its own special sound. Discover the various properties of sound in this title.

This book is an introduction to gene science, briefly explaining GM (genetically modified) foods, cloning, the Human Genome Project, gene therapy, designer babies, and DNA testing.

A fact-packed, beautifully illustrated, all-around introduction to the human body and how it works. Engaging, friendly text and clear, simple explanations. Experiments and activities show how to take your own pulse, test your reaction time and fool your brain with optical illusions. Amazing facts and records, including the world''s tallest man, the oldest person ever and the longest fingernails on record. Recommended, regularly reviewed websites and downloadable pictures can be accessed via links at www.usborne-quicklinks.com.

An innovative series with engaging sidebars, colorful photography, and labeled diagrams uses familiar, everyday objects to present science concepts such as sound, motion, states of matter, and other science curriculum topics.

This no-nonsense series introduces a wide range of non-fiction subjects using a straightforward narrative approach. Young readers will find these lively texts on high interest subjects very approachable. A classic and uncluttered design uses a mix of photos and artwork to support the text, which is broken up into short chapters. Each book contains a simple contents, glossary and index. Tornadoes gives a first look at the swirling world of twisters. Simple diagrams explain how they start and exciting photos follow their progression to 500 kph windstorms.

Genetics is one of the most controversial topics in the news today, arousing strong feelings in many lively debates. This book will help young readers understand the issues surrounding it by explaining what genes and DNA are and how they affect life.

This series introduces you to the highest, longest, widest, and most unusual landforms in the world! Books include: maps to show the location of each landform, information about how the landforms were created, an introduction to the many plants and animals that call each landform home, and plenty of amazing facts.

Have you ever wondered why living things grow up to look like their parents? This title explores living creatures and reproduction in a thoughtful and informative way.

Sometimes in life things are bound to get noisy, and if that''s the case, why not learn from them? With the help of this informative book, readers perform exciting experiments and learn why and how certain items make certain sounds. Accessible step-by-step instructions correlate closely with eye-popping illustrations, ensuring readers of many ages and levels can follow along with these amazing activities. Each exciting project encourages readers to use their critical thinking skills and draw conclusions based on the experiments they perform.

This newly updated book will introdue you to the whold field of geography, from rocks and their formations, the Solar System, weather and climates, and oceans, to human settlements, populations trends, diverse ecosystems and environmental concerns.

''Forms of Energy'' explores the different types of energy that are around us all the time. You will discover how energy can be moving or stored. You will learn what causes sound, heat, and light energy. You will also find out how different sources of energy can be turned into electricity to power our machines and gadgets. So come on a fantastic journey into the world of forms of energy! Sci-Hi is an engaging, comprehensive, and visually stimulating series that takes learning science core curriculum to a whole new level.

Hands-on experiments are one of the best ways to learn important science lessons, and what better way to do so is there than to get a little messy? The projects in this book feature concise, step-by-step instructions and colorful illustrations that help engage and aid readers in completing the experiments. Eye-catching sidebars provide further insight on how and why each experiment works, and encourage readers to draw their own conclusions. These high-interest projects are a fun way to reinforce important lessons from elementary science curricula.

Describes the similarities and differences between animals that look alike, including eels, sea snakes, fluffy gliders, and flying squirrels.

Which desert was once a soggy swamp? Why is part of the Mojave Desert known as "Death Valley"? Which desert contains a very salty sea? The world has many deserts, some hot and sandy, others rocky, one even snowy and icy. Find out about these fascinating weather systems that have helped shape these landforms, the many different animals and plants that make their homes here, and how some people manage to survive in these inhospitable places.

A journey into the heart of a cell, covering the structure, function and importance of this unit of life. It outlines the history of genetic science and debates some of the issues, such as genetic engineering, cloning and GM foods. Links to relevant Internet sites are included.

Which coast is home to man-eating tigers? Why is one coastline known as "Skeleton Coast"? Which coastal feature is so big it is visible from space? The world has many types of coasts, from long, sandy beaches to swampy mangrove forests. Find out about the incredible features that are found along the world''s coasts, and the many different animals and plants that make their homes here.

Changing the temperature of certain things can result in some pretty cool outcomes. Readers of this innovative volume use heat and cold to perform a number of incredible experiments. Each project features concise, step-by-step instructions and colorful images that make it easy to follow along and learn from the activities. Helpful sidebars shed even more light on why and how the experiments work and help reinforce key science curricula. Each project is rated easy, medium, or difficult, making it simple to find the best project for a particular skill level.

This is the perfect introduction to the largest animal group on Earth for all budding entomologists. Each topic is presented in a neat 30-second soundbite, supported by a 3-second flash summary and a full-page colorful artwork. Fun active missions support the topics and encourage kids to find out more. With stunning artwork, the attention-grabbing format is engaging and immediate, introducing readers aged from 8 up to the wonderful world of bugs.

Tiny Science - giving MINI-scientists MAXIMUM understanding of the MICROscopic - get to grips with millions of microscopic creatures! A fun and visual series exploring the science of things we cannot see with the naked eye, zooming right in on the itty-bitty creatures, objects and machines that have an enormous impact on us and the world around us. Perfect for children keen to get up-close to the building blocks of our world. Tiny Science: Microscopic Creatures places teeny life forms UNDER THE MICROSCOPE to find answers to unBEASTable questions, such as ... - What is the absolute tiniest insect? - Is soil alive? - What exactly is an eyelash mite? Fun cartoon-style illustrations interact with real-life pictures of many amazing microscopic features, making this series ideal for engaging readers aged 8 and up. It''s time to explore the infinitesimal! Other Tiny Science books in the series: Germs Cells Genes and DNA Atoms and Molecules Nanotechnology

Have you ever been in a cave? Most of us haven''t, but there are adventurers and scientists who love finding new caves to explore. If you ever had the chance to climb down into a cave, what would you need to know? What would you pack? Who would you want to come with you? This book gives you the knowledge you need to plan your adventure!

Explores the behaviors and daily life of a wolf pack, as well as their habitat, environmental threats, and the advantages of group living.

Written in British English, Who Discovered Natural Selection? explains how scientists worked out the way in which living things evolve.

Written in British English, Who Split the Atom? explores the ways in which scientists uncovered the secrets of atoms-the tiny particles of matter that make up our world.

Radar delivers streetwise, hot-topic reads for kids. With bold, fresh design and topics that have bags of kid-appeal, Radar will encourage children to read - and keep reading! Current topics are presented with a strong magazine-style flavour, perfect, down time. reads or springboard for class discussion. Ages 8+.