Best Selling Books by Sarah Ridley

The moving story of two brothers who fought in the First World War through the real letters, complete with hand-drawn cartoons, they sent to their sisters. Like so many families across the world, the Semple family were split apart by the First World War. While William and Robert were fighting the Germans in France, their younger sisters, Mabel and Jelly (Eileen), had to carry on with school back in England. To keep in touch, they wrote letters. The sisters treasured these letters, which gave snapshots of their brothers'' lives as soldiers. Many of the letters included cartoon illustrations to amuse the sisters. The book presents these letters with their illustrations. After each letter the author has written a short commentary, drawing out the facts about the war that can be taken from it. Altogether the book is a powerful and moving record of one family''s experience of the First World War and a moving read for readers aged nine and up. A powerful, moving record of one family''s first-hand experience of the First World War. - Education Today

Fashions changes all the time but what we wore can tell us a lot about the times we lived in. From clothes rationing, making do and mending to 1990s fashion, this book gives young children access to people''s memories alongside photographs to help them build up a picture of the past. It is part of the ''Tell me what you remember'' series, which explores changes in living memory through photographs and memories. It is a perfect teaching tool for KS1 or for children up to age 7.

Describes the process used to create aluminum cans, from the drilling and processing of bauxite rock to produce aluminum to the shaping and painting of the can.

Describes how cocoa beans are harvested and processed to form chocolate used to make candy bars and other treats.

This book tells the story of the rubber tire from Liquid latex to vulcanizing.

Describes the steps taken when producing a paper bag, from cutting down trees and the creation of pulp to the rolling and cutting of the final product.

Describes how wooden planks are made from trees and how these planks are shaped and pieced together to form chairs.

This book describes the entire process, from raw materials through production, for making a cotton T-shirt.

Describes the process used to create glass jars, from the combination of sand, glass, and quartz or the crushing of recycled glass to the molding of the molten glass.

Join Polly, Kim and the rest of the Espresso team to find out about water. Explore where our tap water comes from, how water makes electricity, and what a monsoon is. Plus learn to paint like the Impressionists, make a cloud in a jam jar, and much more

A princess in a portrait by the famous American painter, James McNeill Whistler, tells how he transforms the dreary room where she hangs in his wealthy patron''s house in London into the spectacular Peacock Room.

A look at baby animals in a range of habitats, exploring how their parents look after them, and how they learn, grow and thrive. Which baby animals are born in the ocean? What are baby eels called? What sound does a dolphin calf make? This book introduces young children to baby animals in ocean habitats. Clear and friendly text, suitable for children aged 5+, is complemented by beautiful photographs of animal babies in their natural environment. Part of the Animal Babies series looking at baby animals on farms, in the oceans and rainforests, and in snowy habitats.

Discover why it is important to stay fit, clean and well. This book is about looking after your teeth.

Everyone has memories of their school days. This book gives young children access to people''s memories alongside photographs to help them build up a picture of the past. From nursery education to the transition to secondary school, young children can explore what has changed and what remains the same. The book is part of the ''Tell me what you remember'' series, which explores changes in living memory through photographs and memories.

Looks at how common objects are made

This series brings history alive with fascinating photographs that reveal the lives of everyday people. This book explores the enduring popularity of the British seaside holiday and allows reader to compare and contrast seaside experiences through the ages.

Everyday History: Life in Roman Times takes you on a journey of discovery to ancient Rome. Find out how people lived, worked and what they ate and wore in both war and peace.

Apples are a tasty food, but do you know where they come from and how they end up on the supermarket shelves? Follow the story of an apple from the first pink buds on an apple tree, through the farming process to packing houses and eventually to your fruit bowl! The simple text in this book, suitable for children aged 5+, is accompanied by large, attractive photographs. Where food comes from is a series for young children, helping them question where their food comes from. It uncovers the role of farmers and others and begins an exploration of food groups. Children studying science topics including how plants change over time and healthy eating will also find these books useful.

An informative first look at famous figures through history.

This tackles leading health issues in an informative, approachable way for younger children. It provides up-to-date facts and information is supported by colour photographs.

Join Ash, Scully and the rest of the Espresso team to find out about the Olympic Games. Explore how the Olympics, as well as the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, started, what makes a champion, and much more. Plus hold your own Olympics, design an Olympic kit, and make a board game!

Bread is an everyday food, but do you know where it come from and how it ends up on the supermarket shelves? Follow the story of a loaf of bread, through wheat farming to the manufacturing process. The simple text in this book is accompanied by large, attractive photographs. Where food comes from is a series for young children aged 5+, helping them question where their food comes from. It uncovers the role of farmers and others and begins an exploration of food groups. Children studying science topics including how plants change over time and healthy eating will also find these books useful.

''Super Scientists'' introduce some of the world''s great scientists, simply retelling their lives and explaining why their work was important. Illustrated with archive images and photographs, the chronology of each lifetime is emphasised by a timeline that runs through the book.

An informative first look at famous figures through history.

The books in this series help young children to find out about minibeasts in their locality. Photographs of a range of minibeasts and an illustrated identification guide have been included.

Become a minibeast expert with this easy-to-understand guide to the wonderful and important creatures that live beside us. Have you ever wondered what the difference between a moth and a butterfly is? Or have you ever thought about how bees live together? This fascinating and comprehensive book for children aged 6+ is full of interesting facts and brilliant photographs. It also features guides to spotting your favourite minibeast in their natural habitats.

History Snapshots: Homes brings history alive by combining simple text and fascinating photos to reveal how everyday people lived in the past.

Which baby animals are born in cold, snowy places? What are baby seals called? What sound does a polar bear cub make? Introducing young children to baby animals in a range of habitats, exploring how their parents look after them, and how they learn, grow and thrive, this book features clear and friendly text and is suitable for children aged 5+.

Using photographs from British history as the starting point, the titles in this series explore what it was like to live in a certain era.

This book explores what makes an animal a mammal - how their characteristics are different from other groups of animals. It shows many examples of different types of mammals in their natural environment. The simple text, suitable for children aged 5+, is accompanied by large, attractive photographs. For children progressing through book bands it is suitable for reading at band 7: Turquoise. This book is part of the ''In the Animal Kingdom'' series which explores the classification of animals. Why not look for them all: Amphibians Live on Land and Water; Birds Have Feathers; Fish Live in Water; Reptiles Have Scaly Skin; Invertebrates Have No Backbone; Mammals Have Hair.

Promotion of Health.

Perfect for children aged 8+, this accessible biography of Florence Nightingale''s life shows us why we still remember her today - 200 years after her birth (May 1820). Not only did Florence improve the lives of British soldiers wounded in the Crimean War, but as a professional and hard-working, extremely clever public-health reformer she led the establishment of a training school for nurses, better designed hospitals, improved sanitation and the idea of healthcare for all (leading eventually to the NHS). All this at a time when girls and women were expected to live their lives in the private sphere of marriage and home. The book is packed with images of objects, photographs and sketches to illuminate her life story, including her pet owl, her wooden lunchbox and her travelling medicine chest. Then there are her books, and her endless lists and reports (she was fantastic with statistics), and of course the famous Turkish lantern she bought from a market in Istanbul and used to light her way down the corridors and wards of the military hospital at Scutari.

Super Scientists are first biographies introducing some of the world''s great scientists, simply retelling their lives and explaining why their work was important. Illustrated with archive images and photographs, the chronology of each lifetime is emphasised by a timeline that runs through the book. Marie Curie tells the story of this key scientific figure - covering her origins as the daughter of a Polish teacher through her work on radioactivity, winning the Nobel Prize, her professorship at the Sorbonne and her amazing legacy to science today.

This book explores what makes an animal an amphibian - how their characteristics are different from other groups of animals. It shows many examples of different types of amphibian in their natural environment. The simple text, suitable for children aged 5+, is accompanied by large, attractive photographs. For children progressing through book bands it is suitable for reading at level 8: Purple. This book is part of the ''In the Animal Kingdom'' series which explores the classification of animals. Why not look for them all: Amphibians Live on Land and in Water; Birds Have Feathers; Fish Live in Water; Reptiles Have Scaly Skin; Invertebrates Have No Backbone; Mammals Have Hair.

Find out about the circle of life on Earth''s amazing savannah habitat. Explore Ecosystems: Savannah dives into the diverse wonder of Africa''s grassland biome. This habitat is home to lions, ostriches, dung beetles, zebras and more. Readers find out how this ecosystem works through how the lives of these animals. It explores how savannah life relies not only on other living things, but on non-living things, such as the seasons, volcanoes and rivers. The importance of balance in the natural world is a key theme - showing how animals large and tiny have an impact on their environment. The Explore Ecosystems series is a perfect introduction to habitats for readers aged 7 and up. Titles in the series In a Desert In an Ocean In a Pond In a Rainforest On a Savannah In a Tree

History Snapshots: The Victorians brings history alive by combining simple text and fascinating photos to reveal how everyday people lived in the past.

Everyone has memories of the toys they played with and the pastimes they had when they were growing up. This book gives young children access to people''s memories alongside photographs to help them build up a picture of the past. From teddy bears and construction toys to dressing up and playing outside young children can explore what has changed and what remains popular. The book is part of the ''Tell me what you remember'' series, which explores changes in living memory through photographs and memories.