New Releases by Ruth Thomson

The book supports both the writing and spelling objectives of the National Literacy Strategy at KS2 and should appeal to parents keen to help their children extend their vocabulary and develop their writing skills.

Vincent van Gogh was a sensitive, passionate, and eccentric individual. Painting gave him the means to express who he was and what he was feeling. Although his career lasted less than ten years, he created more than 2,000 artworks, and today most people consider him one of the founders of modern art. In this irresistible narrative, readers explore van Gogh’s artistic influences, inspirations, and painting skills. In this vibrant presentation, the legacy of van Gogh’s still lifes, self-portraits, landscapes, and other works are clearly evaluated.

Portrait. Nature. Art. Documentary. A look at some of the world’s most iconic photographs invites viewers to focus on the medium’s place in art and history. Photographs can be beautiful or harrowing, honest or manipulative, dramatic or comforting. Photos Framed explores twenty-seven of the most important and vivid photos taken over the medium’s history, from a formal portrait of Louis Daguerre taken in 1844 to a candid shot of a Cuban girl and her doll in 2011. Readers are invited to use their powers of observation to zoom in on photographic elements, blow up details of the subject matter, think about the big picture, and pan out on the photographer. Photos Framed will open viewers’ eyes to the art of photography and its power to tell a story.

Through inmates' own voicesNfrom secret diary entries and artwork to excerpts from memoirs and recordings narrated after the warN"Terezin" explores the lives of Jewish people in one of the most infamous of the Nazi transit camps in Czechoslovakia. Illustrations.

"Between 1941 and 1945, the Nazi authorities turned the small town of Terezín, Czechoslovakia, into a ghetto and then into a transit camp for thousands of Jewish people, many of them artists. It was a "show" camp, where inmates were forced to use their artistic talents to fool the world, hiding the truth of gas chambers and horrific living conditions for imprisoned Jews. In this accessible, meticulously researched book, Ruth Thomson allows the inmates to speak for themselves though secret diary entries, artwork, and excerpts from memoirs and recordings made after the war. Terezín: Voices from the Holocaust is a moving portrait that demonstrates the strength of the human will to endure, to create, and to survive." -- cover, pg. 4.

Introduction to France's weather, landscape, jobs, transportation, food, religions, and festivals.

Introduction to India's weather, landscape, jobs, transportation, food, religions, and festivals.

Presents an introduction to Spain, describing its geography, weather, cities and towns, family life, food, leisure activities, and holidays.

Introduction to Poland's weather, landscape, jobs, transportation, food, religions, and festivals.

Presents an introduction to the life cycle of a bee, from its beginnings as an egg, to its life as a grub, to its full maturity as an adult.

Presents a comprehensive look at the characteristics of a sunflower as it develops from a seed into a flower.

Presents an introduction to the life cycle of a frog, from its beginning as an egg, to its life as a tadpole, to its maturity as an adult frog.

Presents an introduction to the life cycle of a chicken, from its beginnings as an egg, to its life as a chick, to its full maturity as an adult.

Interesting and unusual crafts created by many people around the world fill this brightly photographed series on design. Colorful pictures along with step-by-step instructions allow students to make their own creations. Introductory text for each craft provides a cultural background as to where the craft fits into tradition and why.

Learn how big oak trees grow from small acorns.

Pictures and simple text present the life cycle of a rose.

Describes the physical characteristics, habitat, food, and reproductive cycle of the crab.

A brilliant series that combines historical facts with interesting and relevant ideas for craft activities

Describes how a bean grows from a seed to an adult plant.

Describes how honeybees grow from an egg into a full-grown insect.

Describes how chickens grow from an egg into an adult chicken and introduce their physical characteristics.

Describes how a salmon grows from an egg, becomes stronger by feeding on plankton, and swims back upstream to where it was born as a fully grown adult.

Describes the physical characteristics of frogs and introduces their life cycle, from egg to tadpole to adult frog.

Describes the physical characteristics of an adult cat and the process by which it grows from a newborn kitten into a cat.

This book looks at the features of the seaside, from sandy to shingle beaches, physical features such as sand dunes, groynes and stacks to animals and plants found there. It also looks at the jobs people do, the different types of home, signs of the past, and modes of transport. A map at the end of the book encourages map skills. Questions throughout ask the reader to find out more about the seaside and encourages comparison between the place where they live and other types of location. Specially commissioned photographs show a wide range of types of seaside resort from across the UK.

This lively series provides an accessible introduction to the subject of art. Examining sculpture, still life, self-portraits, and textiles, each title features examples from a variety of artists, techniques, and cultures and includes simple activities and observation questions. While inspiring their creativity, the books also encourage kids to look for art in the world around them.

Features words and word games to help children speak in simple and complex sentences.

Throughout history, artists have portrayed all kinds of families—large and small, rich and poor, happy and sad, old and young. Learn about what portraits can say about a family's lifestyle, how to display wealth or poverty, and what different colors and arrangement of figures can convey.

Presents a variety of works of art that depict specific people in different media, explains how they express the artist's ideas, and suggests related projects.

Over 1,100 words, grouped under keywords, provide a wide variety of words to make writing more exciting.