Best Selling Books by Fiona MacDonald

Taking a unique look at one of the world''s most acclaimed and best-loved poets, ''Robert Burns, A Very Peculiar History'' provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of Scotland''s bard. Take a wee stroll through his romantic yet tragic life, and join him on his journey from underdog to celebrity. With much reference to his most famous works, Fiona Macdonald explores his profound, passionate poetry, as well as his use of the Scots language and his inspirations and influences. Featuring quirky stories and entertaining trivia throughout, find out what makes Burns so captivating to countless millions around the globe.

As a young servant to Catholic conspirator and would-be assassin Guy Fawkes, you''ll witness the secretive planning and thwarted execution of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605 at first-hand. Plunge into a morally-murky world of political intrigue, persecution and religious extremism not so very far away from our own... This title in the best-selling children’s history series, You Wouldn''t Want To…, features full-colour illustrations which combine humour and accurate technical detail and a narrative approach placing readers at the centre of the history, encouraging them to become emotionally-involved with the characters and aiding their understanding of what life would have been like as Guy Fawkes. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of information books for young readers. It is an ideal text for Key Stage 2 shared and guided reading and helps achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14.

Describes medieval daily life, families, food, clothing, health, education, work, entertainment, government, travel, warfare, customs, and beliefs in Europe.

This fascinating book examines how food is grown, prepared, and appreciated by different cultures around the world. Children will be interested to learn why certain foods are more popular in certain parts of the world and why we eat the foods we do.

Learn the surprising truth about pain: how it actually helps keep us alive, healthy, and feeling good. You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Pain! is part of a brand-new science and technology strand within the internationally acclaimed You Wouldn’t Want to Be series. The clear, engaging text and humorous illustrations bring the subject to life and stimulate young readers'' curiosity about the world around them. Specially commissioned cartoon-style illustrations in full colour make these books attractive and accessible even to reluctant readers. Information is conveyed through captions, labels and humorous speech bubbles in addition to the main text. Illustrated sidebars headed ‘How It Works’, ‘Top Tip’ or ‘You Can Do It’ supply more facts, describe simple, safe experiments, or steps that readers can take to help make the world a better place. Each volume includes a timeline and a list of ‘Did You Know?’ facts.

Includes suggested activities and handicraft projects.

Offers a behind-the-scenes look at how war was fought in the Middle Ages.

This book tells about the life, death, and tomb of Tutankhamen and what was happening elsewhere in the world in his time.

This book tells about Marco Polo''s travels - the people, places, and sights he saw - and what was happening elsewhere in the world at that time.

Surveys the food, hairstyles, jewelry, religion, festivals, sports, science, warfare, and other aspects of life in ancient Greece.

Examines the everyday life of women in the United States during the 1800s, contrasting society''s ideal view of women with their real lives.

Describes Aztec home life, families, farming, meals, work, clothing, trade, festivals, government, wars, health, and beliefs.

Uses humor in both text and illustrations to describe what it would be like to live without dentists, how important teeth are to health and daily life, and how people dealt with tooth decay in the past.

This book explores the ways in which notions of childhood are being influenced by a rapidly expanding consumer-media culture in the 21st Century. It has been argued that new stages of childhood are being created and defined by children’s role as consumers. The concept of ‘tween’, girls aged between 9 and 14, has generated the greatest debate. While the fantasy world of ‘tween’ offers girls a space to fashion a young, feminine identity it has been widely argued that the consumer-media’s messages pressure tween girls to consume and adopt highly sexualised appearances and behaviours. The author considers how the art of consumption for ‘tween’ girls is intrinsically linked with their desire for independence and belonging, and how their consumption is interwoven with other important social and cultural influences. The book will be of interest to scholars and students in the fields of Childhood and Youth Studies, Cultural Studies, Feminist andWomen’s Studies and Sociology.

This book foregrounds the provision of education for young people who have been remanded or sentenced into custody. Both international conventions and national legislation and guidelines in many countries point to the right of children and young people to access education while they are incarcerated. Moreover, education is often seen as an important protective and ‘rehabilitative’ factor. However, the conditions associated with incarceration generate particular challenges for enabling participation in education. Bridging the fields of education and youth justice, this book offers a social justice analysis through the lens of ‘participatory parity’, the book brings together rare interviews with staff and young people in youth justice settings in Australia, secondary data from these sites, a suite of pertinent and frank reports, and international scholarship. Drawing on this rich set of material, the book demonstrates not only the challenges but also the possibilities for education as a conduit for social justice in custodial youth justice. The book will be of immediate relevance to governments and youth justice staff for meaningfully meeting their obligation of enabling children and young people in custody to benefit from education; and of interest to scholars and researchers in education, youth work and criminology.

What would you say if someone gave you a bap, a dap, or a garron? How would you feel if they called you a dux or a sneuter? Do you know what to do with a flane, a hushock, a kist, or tassie? Could you wear raploch or schort-hoozle? Eat a cake that was gibbery, or keggum? And, with your nearest and dearest, how would you fancy a spot of houghmagandie? North of the Border - it''s not just the accent that''s different, the whole language is not the same. In fact, there are several different ways of speaking in Scotland, from the Borders in the south to the northernmost Orkney and Shetland Isles. This book will look at them all, although it will focus on Scots — the traditional language of the majority of Scottish people for the past thousand years and more. Fact boxes, a full glossary, timeline and index make the book both fun and informative to use.

Shows archaeologists as detectives of the past and how they work to solve mysteries of ancient cultures and civilisations by literally ''Digging Into History''

This book investigates how paid care work and employment are being transformed by policies of social care individualisation in the context of new gig economies of care. Drawing on a case study of the creation of a new individualised care market under Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme the book provides important insights into possible futures for social care employment where care is treated as an individual consumer service. Bringing together sociological, political science and socio-legal approaches the book demonstrates how, in individualised care markets and with ineffective labour laws, risks of business and employment are devolved to frontline care workers. The book argues for an urgent re-evaluation of current policy approaches to care and for new regulatory approaches to protect workers in diverse forms of employment.

An offbeat look at past civilisations Focusing on the unusual, this new series explores ancient worlds and cultures from a very different point of view. Did you know that one of the greatest Viking warriors was called Thorbjorn the Feeble? Or that a Roman tournament once involved 10,000 gladiators and 11,000 wild animals? Each book contains a table of contents, a glossary and an index.

Recounts the story of Alexander the Great and looks at what was happening all around the world in his time.

“Scots Wha Hae!” ''Scotland, A Very Peculiar History - Volume 2'' is the concluding part of a lively and informative account of the vibrant history of Scotland, from the beginnings of Stewart rule up to modern-day Scotland. Celebrating the many and varied cultural and historic achievements of the Scottish, from the fierce Jacobite uprising to John Logie Baird''s insulating socks, this ebook provides an objective account of the nation''s chequered (or rather, ''tartaned'') history. You''ll also find fact boxes, quotes, poetry and unbelievable recipes to share with your family and friends (although we''d advise that some old recipes are only fit for reading)!

Describes the development of cities, from the early agricultural centers in the Fertile Crescent to modern metropolises in industrialized countries.

Examines the history, culture, daily life, and explorations of the Vikings.

An illustrated survey of the construction and history of the Parthenon in ancient Greece.

Surveys the dwellings, occupations, food, religion, festivals, cathedrals, clothing, diseases, and customs that prevailed in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Looks at the lives and social conditions of women in medieval Europe.

Great Scots, A Very Peculiar History looks at a whole host of great (and not so great) Scots and their influence on the world. The book features a short history of each person, detailing their achievements, personalities and lifestyles in a quirky and memorable way. Including chapters about Scots in power, scientific Scots, scandalous Scots and many, many more, Great Scots, A Very Peculiar History celebrates the men and women who have helped to shape Scottish history.

Looks at the life and work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, an important nineteenth century English engineer. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

A history of three women and their struggles for social justice--Millicent Garrett Fawcett in England, Rosa Parks in the United States, and Winnie Mandela in South Africa.

A tour of Benin City, a West African town and capital of the Edo Empire, located in present-day Nigeria.

Glasgow, A Very Peculiar History explores the archaeological, social and cultural history of the eponymous city, from the earliest Pict settlers 10,000 years ago through its emergence as a nineteenth-century powerhouse of industry and struggles with poverty, unemployment and disaffection to its present-day incarnation as a hub of cutting-edge digital and start-up businesses. Featuring black and white illustrations, witty anecdotes, incredible information, a timeline and glossary, readers of all ages will be entertained and educated.

Most history books contain information about men, but that is only half the story. This book describes how women in ancient Rome were allowed little formal power in society, but, even in the homes of the ruling families, exerted power behind the scenes, within their family circles. It provides quotes from found pieces of writing and case studies of famous women as well as photographs of ancient artefacts, prints, manuscripts and artworks.

Discusses the cultural and social meanings behind the clothing and jewelry worn by people around the world.

Provides information about castles from all over the world, their stylistic differences and functions, and profiles the lives of typical inhabitants of medieval European castles.

Describes life for a medieval knight.

Describes and illustrates the features of each layer of the ocean, from the shore to the deepest abyssal zone. Also details common activities to do with the sea, including exploration, oil and gas rigs and deep sea fishing. Includes glossary. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.