New Releases by James Maclaine

A collection of amazing facts exploring the wonders of our world. You''ll never guess what Planet Earth used to look like, which mountaintop is closest to the stars, how coral reefs are built from seawater and sunlight, and how many different languages you''d need to learn to speak to everyone in the world. All is revealed in this delightful information book, filled with quirky and surprising things to know.

Everything you want to know about whales in an easy-to-read book. How do whales sleep? Why do they blow bubbles? What can narwhals do with their tusks? This book has the answers to these questions and many more, along with photographs, step-by-step illustrations and links to websites with video clips and activities.

Sail past the Statue of Liberty, take a stroll in Central Park and cross the Brooklyn Bridge as you sticker your way through New York''s most famous sights. There are over 200 stickers to bring the bustling scenes to life with yellow cabs, ice skaters, hot dog vendors and much more, plus links to websites to find out more about New York City.

You''ll never guess how monkeys clean their teeth, why penguins steal stones, which baby animal is bigger than its parents or just how high bumblebees can fly! All is revealed in this delightful information book, filled with friendly, humorous pictures and quirky, surprising facts about all kinds of animals. You''ll want to share this book with everyone you know!

Ingenious things to make and do with different types of paper and paint. Discover the trick for making dot painting pictures, decorate paper leopards, tigers and lions with fingerprints and scrape paint with scraps of cardboard to create patterns that shimmer. Print a display of fireworks, create your own scratch art and mix 3D paint that dries solid and keeps its shape. And if you blow through a paper straw, you''ll see drops of paint turn into swirly jellyfish.

Uncover this surprising and inspiring collection of things to make, play and do with all sorts of paper and glue. Race paper dogs down a slope, fold giant butterflies from old wrapping paper and discover ways to hide and reveal messages in pieces of paper. Find out how to decorate paper with marbled patterns, turn two paper cups into a rotating time machine and discover the secret recipe for planets made from glue. And if you follow the templates and simple step-by-step instructions, you can cut, fold and stick together a shark that bends and thrashes its tail.

Put your tactics to the test with a variety of classic "pencil and paper" games and new ones, too. Then, take a line for a walk, turn pencil shavings into pictures and discover simple but effective shading techniques. Join dots and fill in squares to reveal surprising scenes, then complete posters and signs using your own imagination and words. You''ll also find shape puzzles, codes to crack, patterns activities and a mini golf course you can play with just a pencil.

A collection of amazing facts exploring the wonderful world of dinosaurs. You''ll never guess where Tyrannosaurus rexes lived, what a Spinosaurus could do with its nose, why the head of a Parasaurolophus was like a trombone or how very heavy dinosaurs sat on their eggs without crushing them! All is revealed in this delightful information book, filled with quirky and surprising things to know about all kinds of dinosaurs.

Puzzles, games and write-in activities for the holidays. From sunny fishing villages to camping in the great outdoors, glamorous hotels to snowy ski slopes, whale watching trips to trekking in the desert, this book will take you on the best holiday you can imagine. Use the clues to find your suitcase on the baggage carousel, put the puffins into matching pairs, spot the odd prize out at the fairground and decorate the surfboards with patterns. And if you join all 297 tiny fishes, you''ll reveal the creature that''s hiding in the aquarium.

Dozens of inspiring pictures, patterns and doodles to draw and colour. Fill an icy landscape with penguins. See how long a line you can doodle without stopping. Complete a crowd of monsters marching across the page or transform shapes into a gallery of faces. This eclectic activity book has lots of exciting ideas for you to explore with your pencils, crayons or felt-tip pens. There''s even a herd of giraffes who need you to colour in their patches!

Spectacular designs for supersonic planes to tear out, fold and fly. Fold and fly 100 fully coloured paper jet planes - each one its own unique design. This book contains 100 tear-out sheets with guidelines to help you fold, clear, step-by-step instructions for making each type of plane and lots of flying tips.

A simple and fascinating guide to science experiments for children. How can you bend water with a ruler? What makes grass green? How do machines work? What happens if you add raisins to a fizzy drink? Why don''t seals freeze in icy water? Can anything stop paper clips from sinking? This book will show you how to discover the answers to these questions and more - making you think like a scientist in a few simple steps.

A boredom-busting collection of original puzzles and games. The essential companion to every train journey. This write-in book is easy to dip in and out of on short trips, again and again, or distract and entertain you on long journeys for hours and hours. It''s bursting with mind-bending puzzles, fun activities and exciting games you can play on your own or in a group. Pad format with removable tear-off sheets is easy to use and practical for journeys. A welcome addition to the hugely successful, reliable and recognisable Never Get Bored series, known for its imaginative and inventive approach to activities and puzzles. With stylish, bold artwork on every page from three talented illustrators.

An imaginative compendium of ideas to delight readers and dispel boredom. Discover how to doodle a sloth, turn pencil shavings into pictures and draw in ways you never imagined. Then try printing, spattering paints and painting with dots. There are ideas for portraits, patterns, optical illusions and more, so you''ll soon have enough artworks for your own exhibition - and this book will show you how to stage one too.

A fantastically festive write-in activity book, packed with puzzles, codes to crack, games to play, doodles to draw and lots more. Activities include helping Santa fill his sack with presents, decorating a Christmas tree, making snowflake decorations, and an advent calendar to colour in day-by-day.

Where do otters sleep? When can baby otters start to swim? Why do some sea otters have purple teeth? Beginner readers can discover the answers to these questions and lots of other fascinating facts in this engaging information book. With simple text and stunning photographs and illustrations, plus links to websites with video clips and activities. An exciting addition to the Usborne Beginners series, which is now more than 80 titles strong. Written with expert advice from David Macdonald (Oxford University''s first Professor of Wildlife Conservation), the book includes information about the 13 different types of otters, including Eurasian otters, Asian small-clawed otters, hairy-nosed otters, sea otters and giant otters. With beautiful and clear step-by-step and full scene illustrations from artist Maribel Lechuga, as well as humorous ''factbox'' illustrations too.

"How many types of otters are there? What tricks can otters use to catch fish? Where do sea otters sleep? In this book, you''ll find the answers and lots more about the fascinating lives of otters." --Page 4 of cover.

A boredom-busting collection of things to make, play and do outdoors. Step outdoors with this book and wave goodbye to boredom! Open a bug hotel, read the night sky and go bird spotting, then learn to draw animals, write a nature poem, and do an outdoor quiz. With specially selected links to websites for even more fun outdoor activities. Wherever you are, wherever you go, there''ll never be a dull moment again!

This brilliant reference book reveals the world''s many varieties of lizards, from tiny geckos that could fit on your fingertips to fearsome Komodo dragons. Discover which lizards swim in the sea, why some lizards change the colour of their skin and how one type of lizard uses its extraordinary blue tongue to stay safe. Illustrations: Full colour throughout

A boredom-busting collection of things to make, play and do. This treasure trove of boredom-busting ideas will keep children entertained for hours on end, whatever the weather. Stage a shadow puppet show, make musical instruments, fly a kite and lots more, then stimulate your brain with riddles, word games and memory puzzles. With specially selected links to websites with even more fun things to do.

"When were the first fireworks made? How many satellites have been sent into space? And what does the word kimono mean? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this stunningly illustrated book, guaranteed to keep fact-loving, question-asking children entertained for hours on end. Includes internet links to websites to find out even more."

Join Algernon the raccoon at Miss Molly''s School of Manners and take lessons in the Careful Listening Laboratory and the Art of Sharing Studio, learn table manners in the Dining Hall of Decorum, visit Sorry Sickbay, and shine at Good Sports Day.

Marvel at amazing mobs of meerkats in this engaging, easy-to-read book. How do meerkats hunt deadly scorpions? Why do they have dark patches around their eyes? What sounds do meerkats make and what do they mean? How does a meerkat show others it''s in charge? This book has all the answers, with clear photographs, detailed illustrations, simple text and links to websites with more information and fun activities.Chapters in this book include:- Curious creatures- Furry bodies- Living together- Burrow homes- Hungry diggers- Eating habits- Keeping watch- Action stations- Keep back!- Baby meerkats- Babysitters- In training- Angry mobs- Meerkat messages

A lively introduction to the fascinating world of donkeys, complete with amazing photographs of the different species living in very different habitats. This book contains the perfect balance of descriptive facts with fascinating illustrations and photography, while remaining approachable for young children.