Synopses & Reviews
From Oliver Twist and Great Expectations to A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities, the novels of Charles Dickens are among the best loved and most adapted in English literature. This charming and informative little gift book asks why, what, where, how, and who the Dickens was Charles Dickens? Why did he keep a pet raven that pecked at his childrenand#39;s shins? Why did he have a tunnel built under the road in front of his country house? Find out the answers to these and more questions, learn about his work and his most passionate social causes, and enjoy quirky stories and fascinating trivia about this singularly complex man and consummate artist.
Synopsis
From A Christmas Carol to Great Expectations, the novels of Charles Dickens are among the most loved in English literature. This charming, informative little book asks, who the Dickens was Charles Dickens? Find out some of the quirkiest facts about Dickensand#39;s life, learn about his work and his favorite social causes, and enjoy fascinating trivia about this complex man and consummate artist.
Synopsis
How many ants can you count? When ONE ant spots a picnic, it isn t long before his friends join in. Before long, they re munching the watermelon, enjoying the sandwiches, sipping the drinks, and nibbling the cupcakes. But watch out . . . soon there s so many you ll get ANTS IN YOUR PANTS This fun counting book features split pages and is perfect for young children just learning their numbers."
Synopsis
Although golf today has a dash of high society about it, that wasn't always the case. Golf: A Very Peculiar History traces the sport from its earliest ball-in-hole games and male-only origins right up to the scandals that rock its current celebrities and tournaments-with a few mulligans in between.
Synopsis
Packed with fascinating facts, quirky trivia, and mind-boggling statistics, Fishing examines one of the world's most ancient and popular pastimes. Rob Beattie tackles everything from fishing techniques to brave fishing adventures, from the history of fish and chips to what the well-dressed angler is wearing.
Synopsis
Which king's guards massacred his supporters by mistake? Who had an oversized tongue and slobbered when he ate? Who survived seven assassination attempts? It wasn't all thrones and scepters for British monarchs. Some were batty, others vicious, and some became much-loved icons. Meet these rulers, discover their bizarre habits, and enjoy quirky stories, fascinating facts, and fun lists.
Synopsis
Fill a glass and pore through this quirky portrait of whisky, from its humble origins and use as a medicine till today, when it takes pride of place in the liquor cabinet. Featuring tales of whisky's development through the ages along with stories about its powerful effect on drinkers, it delivers a warm aftertaste of hilarity with every shot of fact.
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Loved and worshipped, praised and admired, hated and feared: more than any other domesticated creature, cats provoke extremes of feeling, and this Peculiar History title reveals why. Feline fans will love the information on cat origins, cat biology, cats in different cultures, cats as pets, cat characters, and more.
Synopsis
One of the world's greatest cities comes to life in this engaging little book. London: A Very Peculiar Historyand#8482; takes a tour of iconic eras and landmarks, while also presenting lesser-known attractions and trivia. You'll find curious recipes for cockney delicacies, descriptions ofand#160; and#8220;lost buildings,and#8221; and lists of royal residences, famous markets, classic film scenes, and more. Humorous cartoon-style illustrations with amusing captions and speech bubbles round out this irresistible London visit.
Synopsis
From what escaping passengers tried to take to whether we'll ever succeed in raising the wreck, this Very Peculiar History commemorates the Titanic. It delves into the human stories of this tragedy, along with background on the ship's incredible engineering and design. A color insert contains a guide to the Titanic's decks, personal letters, and an in-depth look at the disaster.
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Explore the history of man's best friend and its relationship with humankind. Featuring chapters on dog origins and evolution, dog anatomical oddities, different dog species and breeds, and much more, this informative little book is a dog lover's delight.
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Dr. Frankenstein created a living creature from dead body parts, so who better to explain the basics of anatomy? Combining science with Mary Shelley's beloved novel, The Secret Journal of Viktor Frankenstein explores the workings of the human body through the voice of literature's infamous mad scientist. Featuring pullouts, gatefolds, and reproductions, it offers a peek into Frankenstein's lecture notes and diary.and#160;
Synopsis
Gobble, gobble, munch, and crunch: watch the pages disappear!and#160; Five hungry dinosaurs--from mighty little Microraptor to colorful Carnotaurus--sink their teeth into this tasty novelty book, created with the American Museum of Natural History and Caldecott-honor winner Steve Jenkins. Kids can count along as the dinosaurs take bite-sized chunks out of each page. The number of bites matches the counting number on each spread! Fun facts about the dinosaurs--and what they liked to eat--appear at the end, along with a listing of dinosaur details from 1-10.
Synopsis
Starting with a smiling cat standing next to a 1, Gyo Fujikawa's charming counting book features a host of irresistible creatures illustrating numbers up to 10. Each picture includes both the numeral and the written-out word for the number, along with adorable animals-a ballerina monkey, a sailor-suited goat, a golden chick in her bonnet-dressed in their finery and ready to play.
Can children count? With this book, yes they can!
About the Author
Steve Jenkins lives in Boulder, CO, and has written and illustrated nearly 20 picture books, including the Caldecott Honor-winning
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? His books have been called stunning, eye-popping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative. To learn more about Steve and his books, visit stevejenkinsbooks.com.and#160;The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the largest and most respected museums in the world. Since the Museum was founded in 1869, its collections have grown to include more than 32 million specimens and artifacts relating to the natural world and human cultures. The Museum showcases its collections in 46 exhibition halls, and behind the scenes a scientific staff of more than 200 carries out cutting-edge research. Millions of people from around the world visit the Museum each year. Visit the Museum online at amnh.org.