Most Popular Books by Fiona Macdonald

Originally published: Salariya Book Co., 2004.

Explores how kings and rulers in medieval Europe gained control and governed.

"The timeless novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth, is retold in this title in a graphic novel format. The graphic novel format helps readers understand and enjoy the classic story. Retold with easy to comprehend language and beautiful illustrations every reader will be excited to pick up this title."

With the echo of regal church bells still ringing in the ears of royalists and well-wishers worldwide, Fiona Macdonald take a look at the quirky, odd and downright bizarre circumstances surrounding the weddings of the kings, queens, princes and princesses of Britain. One must leave one''s sense of decorum at the palace gates as the author tells the wacky stories surrounding the preparations, dresses, ceremonies and national moods that went with the excitement of a royal wedding, from England''s resident marriage addict Henry VIII, through Anne Hyde, the ''commoner'' who birthed two queens, right up to Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their son and daughter-in-law to be. Featuring facts, figures and family trees, Royal Weddings, A Very Peculiar History is sure to keep one in the spirit of things, even after the last fleck of confetti has touched the ground.

Presents an overview of the causes, principal events, and outcome of the Protestant Reformation.

You are the son of a senior servant living in England in the 1400s. Instead of following in your father''s footsteps and becoming a servant, you''d much rather become a knight! During your training, you will discover the tools of the trade, such as your armour, weapons, and horse, and get a glimpse of what it''s really like to be a knight. After reading this book there will be no doubt in your mind that this is definitely armour you''d rather not wear! 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 a medieval knight. 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.

The story of ancient Greece is one of expansion, powerful statesmen and soldier citizens. In ancient Greek society, where the birth of male heirs was vital, women were tightly controlled by men and their laws. Women''s voices are rarely heard and their lives are shown mainly through the eyes of male writers and artists. In myths and poems women are often dismissed as foolish, untrustworthy, even dangerous.

Grade level: k, 1, 2, 3, p, e.

Describes the illnesses, plagues, diagnoses, and treatments during the Middle Ages.

Myths and legends reveal much about a culture, including its most prized values and significant beliefs. Fables may feature animal characters, but they offer morals for real life. This fascinating book is bursting with 100 facts about the stories that have been handed down by different cultures around the world as well as accompanying images, quizzes, and activities, including crafts. Not only is each bite-sized topic interesting in itself, but readers will find connections to modern life, such as the origin of Valentineu0092s Day. These myths and legends offer unique opportunities for a truly entertaining and educational reading experience.

Describes the training, weapons, and responsibilities of knights, and how the construction of castles evolved over time.

Whisky, A Very Peculiar History'' takes a sideways look at this most inebriating beverage from its simplistic origins to its pride of place in the drinks cabinets of the world. When Henry VIII disbanded the monasteries and let those brewing monks out into the wilderness, he had no idea of the kind of beast he''d unleashed. Whisky was used as a medicine, giving ''the glow of apparent well-being'' and even horses were known to be given a dram here and there (although via the kneecaps). Featuring quirky tales of whisky''s development and refining through the ages and detailed stories about its effect on the common man and woman, ''Whisky, A Very Peculiar History'' delivers a warm aftertaste of hilarity with every shot of fact.

The spread of female suffrage is one of the success stories of the 20th century, but it was not achieved without a great deal of hardship. Eyewitnesses tell the story from both sides of the Atlantic, and we learn that even today there is still some way to go. 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 a Suffragette. 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.

The invention of clocks and calendars has been very important in shaping the progress of human civilisation. This book tells their story, from early timekeeping methods and devices, and the formation of the modern Western calendar, to the creation of extremely accurate digital clocks. You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Clocks and calendars! 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.

Molecular Biology of Cancer has been extensively revised and covers heredity cancer, microarray technology and increased study of childhood cancers. It continues to provide a detailed overview of the process which lead to the development and proliferation of cancer cells, including the techniques available for their study. It also describes the means by which tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes may be used in the diagnosis and in determining the prognosis of a wide variety of cancers, including breast, genitourinary, lung and gastrointestinal cancer.

A study of various myths and legends of ancient Egypt.

For thousands of years, nurses have tended to the sick and the wounded. Although they don''t get the glory, nurses are just as important as doctors. They look after us in hospital, making sure that we have everything we need to make a quick and complete recovery. They keep wards organised, comfort relatives, and cheer us up when we''re bored of laying in hospital beds all day. You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Nurses! 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.

Explains why uniforms are used in various professions, and describes uniforms that have been worn around the world through the ages.

You are Christopher Columbus, the explorer who accidentally discovered America. Follow Columbus'' struggles to finance his journeys, his sometimes infamous behaviour and his final lonely days. 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 sailing with Christopher Columbus. 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.

How would you cope if there were no toilets? Where would you go? How would you keep yourself and your house clean? This book tells the fascinating story of a piece of technology that most of us take for granted. Find out why toilets are so important, how they improved over the years, and how they might develop in the future. You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Toilets! 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.

Royalty are always in the news, because people''s imaginations continue to be piqued by their wealth, power, and lifestyles. In this book, which focuses mostly on Great Britain, readers will learn of early kings, such as Alfred the Great, and modern rulers, such as Elizabeth II, and the impact they''ve made on the world. They''ll find out that King Arthur might not have been real, but Shakespeare''s infamous Macbeth was! Much history is discussed as well as the wars that made and slayed rulers over the centuries. Brief quizzes, useful activities, and colorful illustrations make this regal volume an appealing look at these historical figures.

This book examines the way people of the world wear head coverings from ancient to modern times.

It''s the end of the 15th century, and your local castle is looking for a jailer. Are you up to the job? Your charges will include all sorts of people, from hardened criminals to people with mental illnesses, and you won’t be expected to treat them kindly… 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 in a medieval dungeon. 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.

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 a slave in ancient Greece. 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.

The Celts lived thousands of years ago, but their myths are filled with characters, creatures, and stories that have fascinated people ever since. This book mixes dramatic retellings and non-fiction information to give a full picture of Celtic myths, exploring the gods, goddesses, heroes, villains, tricksters, and quests that make Celtic myths and legends so compelling.

For 5,000 years and more, libraries have been gathering and preserving writings of all kinds. They’re keepers of the world’s memory. They’re storehouses of knowledge, and imagination, and fun. Learn about how these places and their collections of written words allow us to check our facts, find important information, share stories, beliefs and ideas, build communities and learn valuable life skills. You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Libraries! 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.

Take an incredible tour through a medieval monastery and discover what happened within its cloistered walls. This is a full-colour illustrated guide to all aspects of medieval monasteries, their construction, the lives of the monks and nuns who lived in them, and the various monastic orders and the disciplines they followed. Superb cutaway illustrations and pinpoint enlargements accompany the text. Informative captions, maps, a complete glossary and an index enhance the book''s educational value.

Describes how people around the world have used precious stones, metals, dyes, and paints to decorate themselves throughout the ages.

Presents a general history of the cultural and social aspects of the ancient Maya and Aztec empires up to the arrival of Spanish conquerors, in a book that also provides readers with instructions for creating such related craft projects as a feather fan,a mosaic mask, a codex, and a miniature pyramid temple.

Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Celtic Mythology'' is a collection of classic myths from all over the Celtic world: from Scotland to Ireland to the Isle of Man to Wales and all the way to Brittany. These stories tell of the pride of warriors, the magic of gods and wars between clans. They tell of savage beasts and deadly chariots, of love lost and found, and of friendship and loyalty. An historical introduction explains who the Celts were, describing their beliefs and customs, and a ''Finding out more'' section provides you with the tools you need to discover even more about this increidble civilisation and their beliefs.

Discusses ancient Athens and its people, government, architecture, sports, and arts.

Text and cutaway illustrations depict how people lived and worked inside a medieval castle.

Fiona Macdonald interviewed by Anne Marsh, with photographs from her exhibition.