Most Popular Books by Clive Gifford

How do you sum upthe world''s amazing inventions in just 100 words? This striking book takes on the challenge! From helicopters to fireworks, each of the carefully chosen 100 words has its own 100-word long description and quirky illustration, providing a fascinating introduction to inspiring inventions from history to the modern day. Basically, everything you need to know in a nut shell. Along with some expected inventions, such as trains and Internet, you''ll also discover less predictable inventions that will give you a fresh perspective. With balloons and submarine, you can explore the risks some inventors had to take. Through paper and pencil imagine how such seemingly simple objects would have been groundbreaking at the time of invention; whereas some inventions, such as skates, had a very funny beginning! With a clean, contemporary design, each word occupies a page of its own. A large striking illustration neatly encapsulates the accompanying 100 words of text.

This exciting new series explores different sports, describing how and where you play them as well as the equipment and kit you''ll need. In this book you can find out all about gymnastics and learn how to develop your skills as a gymnast.

Social welfare problems.

This series focuses on the combined pressures of population growth and dwindling resources on our planet. Through geographical explanation and the latest facts and figures, each book covers one key global issue and combines physical and human geography to give readers a more complex answer to difficult questions.

High-flying kicks await in Crabtree Contact''s Martial Arts Legends. Young readers are given an exciting introduction to the masters of karate, judo, taekwondo, and kung fu.

Examines events of the Vietnam War through the story of Xuan, a thirteen-year-old boy living with his family in the struggling village of Noy Thien in 1967.

Pollution is a massive global problem with far-reaching consequences. Air, water, radioactive, and terrestrial pollution affect the lives of millions of people daily, causing disease and death, and contributing to global warming. This book examines how pollution has become a worldwide issue and discusses the debate over possible solutions.

Three short stories designed to help beginner readers grasp the vital link between letters and the sounds they represent.

''Gangs'' deals with an issue of increasing concern in towns and cities throughout the world. It explores how young people are lured into gang life; the links between gangs and the crime on our streets; and whether gangs can be a good force or are always a threat to society.

Take to the field as Soccer World Cup plunges readers into the excitement of professional soccer in stadiums across the globe. Young soccer fans will love this absorbing look into the highest level of competitive soccer in the world.

Discusses the advances in the world of space exploration, early space exploration, and the potential advances for the future.

This book is backward! It starts at the end, ends at the beginning, and travels back in history to show you what life was like before major inventions and discoveries. Step into a time before smartphones, television, cars, or even the toilet; then learn about the major invention or discovery that changed the world. Explore bright, detailed, humorous scenes from different eras that will spark discussion and make you think about what life was like in history. Learn about the clever inventors, the accidental discoveries, and how people managed without the everyday things that we take for granted. Detailed, humorous scenes of different eras to explore Key topics of science, technology, and inventions

This exciting new series explores different sports, describing how and where you play them as well as the equipment and kit you''ll need. In this book you can find out all about skateboarding and learn how to develop your skills as a skateboarder.

An illustrated history of communications and media, discussing body language and gestures, writing, postal systems, the press, radio and television, propaganda, the computer revolution, and many other topics.

This insightful series explores different sports, discussing the rules, techniques and skills involved. Lots of information on the history of the sport is included along with world records and mini-biographies of sporting heroes. Each book uses large photographs, clear diagrams, simple language and a clean design to make the information accessible to this age level.

Earth''s landscapes are always changing, affecting our planet''s appearance and ability to support humans and wildlife. This comprehensive series scans the globe, using revealing photographs, abundant diagrams, and up-to-date statistics to explore both the natural and man-made causes behind such landscape-altering events as desertification, floods, and earthquakes.

This book considers major breakthroughs in the past, as well as looking ahead to some of the machines that will affect us all in the 21st century.

You know that man has walked on the Moon, but do you know the story of how he got there? With the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing on July 20th 2019, this book celebrates the Space Race rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Readers will learn about the neck-and-neck race between the two superpowers, through an illustrated story of the rivalry that gripped the world. From Russia''s first satellite, Sputnik, to Neil Armstrong planting a U.S. a flag on the moon, discover the events that unfolded through amazing nostalgic illustrations and engaging text. Explore, too, how these two space agencies now work together, and how the monumental achievements of the space race have created world-changing technology that we all use and benefit from today.

Presents examples of optical illusions and discusses how they happen by looking at how the brain and the eyes work together.

This series offers a detailed, informative and lively discussion on four of the key areas of physical geography. Each book helps develop the knowledge of how specific features of the Earth are formed, their causes and effects, patterns and processes, and our study and understanding of them. The series aims not only to answer, but also to inspire questions about different environments and landscapes, and our relationships with some of the greatest forces of nature we experience on Earth. Photographs bring the effects of the subject vividly to life, while diagrams enhance the readers'' practical understanding of the processes that have created the landscapes of the world in which we live today.

Introduces skiing, offers advice to beginners, and discusses the various types, including freestyle, cross-country, and downhill.

Have you been inspired by the 2012 Olympics? Sporting Skills: Athletics is a step by step guide to your favourite athletic disciplines, from sprinting, running and jumping to throwing the javelin, shot put, discus and other events. Take your game to the next level!

Make science accessible with this essential series that will capture children''s imagination while laying the foundation for future learning. With age-appropriate language and an eye-catching design, Discover Science gives young readers the answers to fundamental questions about the human body, animals, planet Earth, the Solar System and much more.

-- The inside workings of many big machines are explained in simple words and pictures-- Filled with stunningly realistic illustrations with cutaways and explanatory diagrams

In 2016, Tim Peake became the first British astronaut to live and work on the International Space Station. During his time on board he carried out experiments, performed a crucial spacewalk and took some amazing photographs. He also found time to run a marathon, present an award to Adele and read a bedtime story to children listening 400km below him on Earth. This book reveals how Major Tim''s fascination with flight and science began and how his career as an astronaut developed, documenting his history-making journey into space.

"Know it all, from how the sun shines to how the pyramids were built"--Cover.

This fun series takes a look at various sports and all the components that make up each game

Pele. Maradona. Zico. These soccer greats and others are featured in Soccer Legends. Full color photos and interesting text tell the stories behind the greatest players ever to take the field.

In which play would you find the characters, Bottom, Quince, Puck and Titania? How many of Shakespeare''s history plays featured a King called Henry in their title? Does Juliet die by poison, stabbing herself or throwing herself off of a balcony? So you''ve read Shakespeare''s plays, maybe seen them performed. Now you can test whether you really know about his plays and his extraordinary life. There are quizzes on Shakespeare''s life and times including questions on plays and theatres of the time; the 15 most popular plays each has a dedicated quiz; there are 5 additional quizzes covering Shakespeare''s remaining works - Poems & Sonnets/ Histories/ Tragedies/ Comedies/ Romances.

Spies uncover the fascinating truth about real-life agents and the secret organisations they work for: From spymasters and moles to defectors, double agents and sleepers, you''ll discover who''s who in espionage. (From back cover).

This series focuses on different aspects of healthy lifestyles and is aimed at Key Stage 3/4.

The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia captures the triumph and despair of pivotal moments in world football. Packed with pictures and profiles of the world''s most skilful footballers - old and new - from Beckham to Messi, Pelé to Ronaldo, Rooney to Neymar. Over 40 of the best sides to have lit up the game are covered in detail, including Brazil, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spain. All the drama of the ''beautiful game'' is fully analysed with dynamic full-spread photos and digital artworks that recreate famous moves and goals, while each chapter includes links to websites, providing a valuable access point to databases of players, international results, all the major tournaments, and club histories. Includes in-depth coverage of every aspect of football, including rules and skills; fans and the media; managers and tactics. Packed with the latest statistics on the ''beautiful game'' this is a superbly detailed reference book for all the family. Includes a pull-out World Cup wallchart to fill in as the tournament progresses.

Three short stories designed to help beginner readers grasp the vital link between letters and the sounds they represent.

Describes the kind of evidence that can be used by forensic scientists to solve crimes and discusses the methods used to analyze and interpret this evidence.

A brand-new look for a classic title, The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia is the perfect gift book for the 2022 World Cup and beyond

Discover the biggest creatures to have roamed the Earth, past and present, from the outright biggest - such as the colossal blue whale and the dinosaur Argentinosaurus “The clear organization and bite-sized chunks of information make this quite accessible to young lovers of animals past and present....an appealing collection for readers who like superlatives.”—Kirkus Reviews “Even the most enthusiastic animal or dinosaur fan will find much new to wonder about in this well-illustrated informational book about weird and wonderful big beasts. Divided into three major sections— ‘Forests and Plains,’ ‘Rivers and Seas,’ and ‘Giants of Today’—....A solid purchase with broad appeal.”—School Library Journal In addition to the largest animals on Earth, discover species that grew to monstrous sizes compared to others of their kind, such as the giant kangaroos of Australia, otters the size of wolves, and Argentavis, a giant bird with a wingspan almost as long as a bus! You''ll meet the giants of the jungle, desert, swamp, sea, ice, and sky through vibrantly illustrated scenes of them in their natural habitats, and compare the size of these humongous creatures to humans. A gatefold spread unfolds to reveal a line-up of all the giants featured in the book, to scale, while a visual timeline shows when they roamed the Earth.

The Soccer Encyclopedia is the perfect gift book for soccer fans.

This exciting new series explores different sports, describing how and where you play them as well as the equipment and kit you''ll need. In this book you can find out all about field athletics and learn how to develop your skills as a field athlete.

"Educational topic presented with simple and fun explanations: This book is a great way to increase any child''s understanding of space. The concepts addressed are presented with simple, fun explanations. Some of the topics addressed include: - The Earth, The Moon and In Between -Covers the Earth''s birth, to its atmosphere, why gravity matters, and the moon - Earth''s Neighborhood - Lean all about our Solar System and the Planets - Seething Stars, Giant Galaxies - all about stars, The Milky Way and Galaxies - Stargazing -Astronomy and telescopes - Destination: Space -Rockets, satellites, astronauts and more - How it All Began - The Big Bang, the Universe expanding, The Big Chill and The Big Rip"--