New Releases by John Farndon

Explore the beauty and power of planet Earth with this fantastic book. Packed with hundreds of mind-blowing photographs and extraordinary facts, children will be pulled in and engrossed from start to finish. The Earth Book explores natural forces such as fierce tornadoes, mighty ocean features such as colossal currents, Earth''s natural wonders such as Ayers Rock and explosive activity such as volcanic eruptions.

Jump aboard the friendly Stickmen''s tour of the core subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Neat nuggets of text, colorfully illustrated, break down each subject into its components, and shows how they are organized. With this book you''re armed and ready for everything STEM! Check out: - how tiny atoms (and cells) build into big stuff - a nanomachine that could repair brain cells - supertall buildings and mighty bridges - helpful decimals and handy ratios ... and much more. Clear, cut-away illustrations and diagrams reveal mechanisms at work, with the Stickmen always on hand to share facts (and jokes), explain functions - the Stickmen have their STEM thinking hats on and want you on their team!

Beautifully illustrated, packed with maps and diagrams, and containing up-to-date data on the status of endangered marine species, Atlas of Oceans is a celebration of Earth''s vibrant and awe-inspiring oceans and seas and an urgent call to action to protect one of our planet''s most vital resources. A tragedy is playing out beneath the surface of the world''s bodies of marine waters, one that began long before the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Although many books have explored the environmental problems being faced on land, Atlas of Oceans is the first one for a general audience that examines how creatures of the marine environment are, if anything, more vulnerable than their land-based counterparts. Fully illustrated with stunning photography of the most interesting aquatic areas, including: â??Ocean currents and climate Changing shorelines Tropical and polar waters Layers in the ocean Black and Caspian Sea Wildlife and habitat focuses And many more! You will be introduced to the dazzling diversity of creatures that inhabit the oceans and seas, and to the nature of the problems they face. Special features focus on the threats to particular animals, plants, and habitats, as well as on specific issues like over-fishing, global warming, and pollution. The book also includes success stories, recommendations for what can be done to preserve ocean ecosystems, and a complete rundown of the most endangered species of marine life. Explore Earth''s oceans and discover all that there is to preserve in Atlas of Oceans.

"Hurricanes, tornadoes, weather bombs, and blizzards...how our weather really works"--Cover.

Calling all scientists who love to see science at work while it is bubbling, popping, and exploding! This dynamically designed book has some truly awesome experiments and activities for scientists in training. Readers will learn about the forces of physics while following step-by-step instructions to create water-powered rockets, fizzy eruptions, and more. Carefully researched text explains these reactions, while fun facts and impressive diagrams permit young researchers to delve deeper into many significant subjects.

Look at the world differently, with a birds eye view. The Natural Word takes you on an amazing aerial journey to show you the world in a way you''ve never seen it, in a series of spectacular panoramic views.

How do hurricanes form? Why does the moon change shape? What are tectonic plates? You''ll discover the answer to these questions and many more when you step inside the inner workings of Planet Earth! From digging deep under the ground to floating to the highest layer of the atmosphere – you might be surprised where you end up.In this fascinating introduction to Planet Earth, large, colourful diagrams are brought to life by tiny people running around performing the actions that are explained in the text. The 80-page extent allows for an in-depth look at the workings of our planet, from the water cycle and the atmosphere, to how the seasons change and why hurricanes happen. Double gatefolds give a large space in which to explore complex processes such as the rock cycle and evolution. A follow-up to the successful book, Stuff You Should Know About the Human Body.

From cyber worlds to nano-technology, discover an array of always-changing technologies. High-interest, humorous illustrations and bite-sized facts will keep young readers engaged.

Follow four centuries of discovery and change, from the moment people set out to explore the world to turbulent times when it turned upside down—even for the people who stayed home! See how South American gold fueled Spain''s Golden Age, Ivan the Terrible expanded Russia at a terrible cost, a French king and an English king lost their heads (literally), and the United States won independence. Illustrated maps highlight key events and give a bird''s eye view of what was happening when and where—including mind-blowing inventions such as the telegraph, photography, and the car.

Jump back in time to discover what was happening during the mysterious Middle Ages. Some people occupied themselves with putting crowns on their heads, others kept busy discovering and spreading new religions, and some focused on invasion and conquest. Follow along as warlords carve out kingdoms in Europe, China''s only empress comes to power, Vikings set foot in America, and Mongol hordes create the greatest land empire. Fun, illustrated maps sweep you across the world from the Incas'' Machu Picchu to medieval Mali and shogun Japan and on to the court of Kublai Khan. What a ride!

"Illustrated spreads designed to engage young readers and keep them captivated as they learn accessible, fun facts."--

Explore the structures you encounter in your everyday life and around the world that exist because of engineering. Discover how the world''s tallest building stays standing and more with full-color illustrations designed to keep young readers engaged and entertained while they learn.

Describes the development of ancient civilization, from the Stone Age and the first Mesopotamian cities to the vast empires of China, the Mayans, and Rome.

Step back into our most recent past and see how the modern world arrived. The century ''took off'' with the Wright Brothers'' historic flight, then swing between two devastating world wars and people''s revolutions around the globe. Discover how... *The Russian Revolution overthrew the tsars *The Cold War split Europe *Hippies celebrated the Summer of Love *Mandela became South Africa''s first black president ...and lots more. Cool, illustrated maps show what was happening in different places at the same time, along with milestones such as talking pictures and TV, the first Moon landing and the World Wide Web. Breathtaking!

The molten rock just under Earth''s solid crust sometimes erupts suddenly and violently, causing streams of red-hot lava and scorching high-speed avalanches called pyroclastic flows. Volcanoes can bury entire cities in ash, poison the air with suffocating gases, trigger earthquakes and tsunamis, and drastically alter our climate. Witness the world''s most extreme volcanic disasters throughout history, from the Yellowstone supervolcano to Vesuvius and Krakatoa, and find out what could happen if they erupt again. Learn how volcanoes form, what causes them to erupt, and why the benefits may outweigh the dangers for the people who live near them. Discover the science and technology that could help volcanologists save lives by predicting future devastating explosions.

Discusses the cause and impact of hurricanes and tornados.

"Explore the devastation left behind by fires and floods though these dramatic stories. Clear text emphasizes scientific efforts to better understand how to prepare for and prevent fires and floods, while appropriately high-impact visuals keep readers engaged"--Provided by publsher.

"Using ... examples, vivid imagery, and ... diagrams, this ... guidebook to muscles and bones will keep readers engaged while teaching them all about how their bodies hold together, move, and grow stronger"--

Earthquakes can destroy entire cities in mere minutes and send shock waves rippling around the world. These devastating quakes become even more deadly when followed by monster waves. Tsunamis may travel faster than a jet across thousands of miles of ocean. Once they reach the coast, these huge walls of water can wash away everything in their path in one fatal whoosh. No place on Earth is entirely safe from earthquakes. But the technology to detect these hidden terrors is constantly improving. Discover the most fearsome earthquakes and tsunamis throughout history, as well as the science behind how and where these disasters strike.

Presents information on how to get energy from food and what happens along in the digestive system.

"With clever text, vibrant illustrations, and simple diagrams, this book gives readers a look into their circulatory and respiratory systems. Humorous text and imagery make this complex topic fun and engaging."--

Being sick is horrible. But it used to be worse. Inside this book, you''ll see evidence of the plagues of the past—rotting skin, dissolving lungs, and sinister swelling all over the body. Diseases like the Black Death wiped out whole towns and villages. Tuberculosis consumed young people like a bloodsucking vampire. And Smallpox left its victims scarred for life—if they survived. At the time, no one knew where these killer diseases came from or how to treat them. But eventually doctors discovered how these diseases and others were spread. Being sick isn''t quite as sickening as it was in the past!

"The dubious history of doctors"--Cover.

Meet some of the most interesting birds on Earth, and learn about their remarkable abilities—from elaborate nest-building and singing to logical thinking and language skills. Discover how these fascinating birds and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in diverse environments.

Meet some of the coolest land animals on Earth, and learn about their amazing abilities—from camouflage and communication to super senses and use of tools. Find out how these clever creatures and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in even the harshest environments.

"How do termites build their extraordinary cities? How high can a flea jump? And how do hunting wasps use pebbles? Meet some unusual insects and learn about their unique survival skills"--

Describes what life was like in the age of pirates, including life onboard a pirate ship, swordfighting, pillaging, and pirate punishments.

Without archaeology, ancient cultures would remain a mystery to us. Ancient weapons, treasures, and even human remains await young archaeologists who crack the pages of this truly captivating book. One hundred facts offer an understanding of the study of archaeology as well as some of the amazing discoveries that archaeologists have unearthed. Activities and quizzes keep the reader engaged, while historical photographs and detailed illustrations enhance each fascinating fact. This volume is a perfect introduction to archaeology and a valuable support to the social studies curriculum.

Climb into the cabs of the world''s fastest trucks. They may be big, but these machines can really move! Roar off in the three jet engines of the Shockwave—powered to 376 mph (605 km/h)! Ride in the Banks Sidewinder Dodge Dakota, which set a world record at 217 mph (349 km/h)! Go off-roading in the fastest off-road terrain conqueror, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Colorful illustrations capture these swift, powerful beasts on the road and off, while interesting text features highlight jet propulsion, turbocharging, and great truck racers past and present.