New Releases by John Farndon

Explore rocks and minerals with the bestselling Magnificent Book of series. Stunning illustrations, fun facts, and a detailed map bring the subject to life for readers 8-12. Delve beneath the earth’s surface to discover the wonders that hide there, from glittering minerals to stunning patterned rocks. See the watermelon colors of tourmaline, the shimmering glow of beryl, and the radiant beauty of amethyst. Each rock and mineral is depicted in stunning and accurate original illustrations. Find out how these incredible natural creations are formed, why they are such vivid colors, and why some are so rare. With incredible illustrations, intriguing facts, and full-color, poster-sized illustrations, The Magnificent Book of Rocks and Minerals is the ideal reference for the whole family. 36 ROCKS AND MINERALS: Learn about dozens of rocks and minerals, from the shining emerald to the huge crystals of fluorite. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Vibrant, detailed images bring these incredible rocks and minerals to life. A map at the back of the book shows where each specimen can be found. FASCINATING FACTS: Includes hundreds of fascinating facts in an easy-to-read format that will enthrall budding geologists and petrologists of all ages. COLLECT THE SERIES: More bestselling, beautifully illustrated compendiums for all ages include The Magnificent Book of Endangered Animals, The Magnificent Book of Butterflies and Moths, The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs, The Magnificent Book of Sharks, and The Magnificent Book of Dragons.

This exciting book brings together over 30 of the fastest machines ever invented. With fantastically detailed, true-to-life illustrations showcasing speedy supercars, spectacular superbikes, powerful planes, and mighty monster trucks, Megafast is packed with awesome speed machines that have broken records around the world. With incredible statistics on maximum speeds, facts about engineering, and anecdotes about the journey from factory to road, racetrack, or air, speed-lovers will find themselves entertained for hours. Discover the ultimate, world record-breaking speed machines. From supersonic planes to jet-powered motorcycles, uncover the fastest vehicles ever made. Find out what wins the race for the most powerful engine of all time! Bite-size facts and a dashboard of stats show off each machine's special features. With some of the world's most famous vehicles, as well as some you may not have heard of before, Megafast is full of record-breakers, world-class technology, and daring designs. The perfect gift for kids who are fascinated by speed, this eye-catching and captivating book is one to return to again and again.

How Does Your Brain Work? is a fantastic introduction to the science behind what goes on in your head. The brain, nervous system and senses are explained through hilarious, colorful illustrations and an engaging question and answer format, designed to appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Packed with plenty of giggle-worthy gross bits, it's a fun, accessible look at an important subject. Stuff kids want to know, that need an answer... where are all those memories kept? can people hear when they are asleep? what are dreams exactly? is the brain our very own mission control? Find the answers to these questions and much more! Kids will love the hilarious illustrations and the fresh take on a popular topic. With so many fun facts to uncover, science has never been more fun!

What''s in Your Guts? is a fantastic introduction to the science behind the human digestive system for young kids. Hilarious, colorful illustrations and an engaging question-and-answer format makes this key subject fun and accessible for even the most reluctant readers. It''s also packed with plenty of giggle-worthy gross bits that kids love to read about! Stuff kids want to know, that need an answer... how does your body turn food into poop? why do farts smell bad? why do we need to pee, it''s sometimes very inconvenient! what''s so good about our liver? Find the answers to these questions and much more! With so many fun facts to uncover, science has never been more fun!

Kids will go bonkers about this book, where each page is filled with simple text explaining what amazing machines our bodies are! Brilliant illustrations bring gross bits to life that kids will find both hilarious and informative. Discover all about the powerful brain and how it's our very own mission control. Did you know the largest muscle in your body is your butt, and the hardest worker is your heart? Our busy nervous system sends and receives messages all around our bodies in super-fast time. Find out how our amazing bodies fight off nasty viruses. What makes for smelly toots and why do we burp? It's young science at its best! Awesome illustrations and an engaging question-and-answer format introduces kids to the muscular, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and nervous systems. It appeals to even the most reluctant of readers and makes learning great fun.

In this fascinating introduction to Planet Earth, large, colorful diagrams are brought to life by tiny people running around performing the actions that are explained in the text. With Earth’s processes visualized in this imaginative and fun way and accompanied by bite-sized, informative text, even complex ideas are easy to understand. Readers can take 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 Need to 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.

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.

Learn how number systems and measurements allow us to make sense of the world. Discover how important addition and subtraction are and look at cell division with illustrated spreads designed to give readers fast, digestible facts that keep them 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!

Take an enthralling journey from the Stone Age onward, and see how our ancestors became great builders and rulers. They grew food, discovered metals, made tools, and invented writing. You will see a mighty civilization in Egypt, wise Chinese philosophy, Maya culture in Central America, the colossal Roman Empire, and much more. Illustrated maps let you compare what is happening across the globe at various moments in time. While the Santorini volcano was wiping out the Minoan civilization, flushing toilets were being invented in the Indus Valley (Pakistan). The Greeks held the earliest Olympic Games while the Zapotec built pyramids in Mexico. Find out where it all started!

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!

Food is the body''s fuel—but what happens to each yummy mouthful from the moment you take a bite? The Stickmen unravel the long process of digestion carried out by your winding system of guts. Learn about your stomach and its army of acids, the chemical powerhouse in your liver, and your busy kidneys that keep you toxin-free. Find out how you get energy and heat from food and how your body gets rid of the stuff it doesn''t need. Illustrations, diagrams, and text tell all about the mashing, squeezing, pushing, and filtering that happen along your digestive system.

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!

It''s easy to take a pill when we aren''t feeling well. But did you know that the art of making medicines goes back thousands of years? Early remedies weren''t always so easy—or effective. Some seemed downright disgusting. Wine infused with a venomous snake was used to cure fatigue and hair loss. Snail slime soothed burns, and a mixture of ear wax and mud treated headaches. Discover more about how medicine was practiced centuries ago and how, eventually, scientists discovered some truly amazing remedies, from the magic bullet that treated syphilis to the insulin used for diabetes.

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.

Meet some of the most fascinating insects and arachnids on Earth, and learn about their incredible abilities—from building and weight-lifting to long-distance migration and hunting. Find out how these surprising creatures use their instincts and skills to thrive despite their small size.

It's 1718 and the world goes dark for Jamie Flynn, who's been snatched from the docks to join Blackbeard's crew of the fearsome pirates. Join him on board as he learns to fight with a cutlass and pistol, and follow him as he storms a treasure ship and shares in the spoils. You'll need your sea legs and strong nerves to live like a Caribbean pirate!

Travel down the Nile and into the heart of an ancient tomb with young Neferu, who is training to mummify a great pharaoh. Look over his shoulder to witness the dog-headed Anubis weighing the heart of a corpse, or the brains being removed and the body wrapped. Unlock the secrets and rituals as you see how to prepare for the afterlife in Ancient Egypt more than three thousand years ago. But make sure to keep safe by using spells from the Book of the Dead!

It''s the year 1492, the height of the Aztec Empire, and Ten Vulture is learning to become a priest—and a deadly warrior. On his adventures, he has to learn a secret language and rituals and make human sacrifices to the gods. Visit the largest city in the Americas and take part in the ultimate bloodletting ceremony alongside Ten Vulture. You''ll need a courageous heart and a strong stomach!

"Original edition copyright 2015 by Hungry Tomato Ltd."--Title page verso.

Motorcycles are made for speed—but some get there louder and faster than others! You'll need your toughest gear to ride the turbo-charged MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K—perhaps the most powerful (and expensive) road bike ever. Blow past speeds of 200 mph (320 km/h) with the Kawasaki Ninja of the Night. Ride the world's fastest production motorcycle, the Suzuki Hayabusa, and hit 188 to 194 mph (303 to 312 km/h). Hang on tight as detailed illustrations take you on the road, around the track, and across salt flats on these powerful bikes. Get the latest facts on how they reach those extreme speeds—and stay on the road.

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.

How does a giant cruise ship stay upright? Just how big is an aircraft carrier? How are submarines powered? Join the Stickmen for a close look at how watercrafts work, though be careful—you may get into deep water!

From the ever-curious mind that brought you the bestselling Do You Think You're Clever? comes a brand-new trip to the far reaches of the intellectual universe, courtesy of even more notoriously provocative Oxbridge interview questions. How would you poison someone without the police finding out? (Medicine, Cambridge) What makes a strong woman? (Theology, Oxford) Instead of politicians, why don't we let the managers of IKEA run the country? (Social and Political Sciences, Cambridge) How do you organise a successful revolution? (History, Oxford) Whether you're interested in going to Oxbridge or just want to give your brain a workout, join polymath John Farndon on another exhilarating journey through the twists and turns of thought, and explore just what it means to be genuinely clever – rather than just smart.

Stuff You Need to Know virtually overflows with illustrations and information about 28 activities and objects from everyday life. In fact, the book is so jam-packed that eight gatefolds provide the extra room needed to explain complex activities. Each item is on a double-page spread filled edge to edge with informative text in numbered sequence. Accurate, lighthearted illustrations reveal everything a step at a time. The "stuff" ranges from taking out the garbage to launching a rocket. Here are some examples: Electricity -- Steam power, turbine, magnet, generator, current, transformer, mains, fuse, meter Making a Pizza (gatefold): How does a pizzeria deliver a pizza so quickly? Ingredients for the pizza base and topping, what they are, and where they come from. Microwave Oven -- Molecules, waves, cross-section of a microwave oven, protective layer, timer 3D Printer -- 3D model, CAD, programming in sections, nozzles, layers, spool, nozzle, acetone Setting Up a Satellite (gatefold) -- SatNet, geostationary, ACTS, transponder, thrusters, parabolic antennae Solar Panels -- Thermal energy, photo voltaic panels, pump, solar energy, solar power stations Toilet Tank -- Float, siphon tank, siphon ball, bowl, flow, suction, piston, valve, water supply pipe Weather Report -- Weather balloons, weather centers, satellites, GTS, supercomputer, chart, forecast. Stuff You Need to Know! has the fascinating stories behind the everyday activities that we all take for granted. Readers of all ages will be surprised where the answers take them.

"In consultation with The Cousteau Society."