New Releases by John Farndon

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 Heart Beat? is a fantastic introduction to the incredible ways that our body keeps us alive. The respiratory, circulatory, and immune systems 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 and accessible young guide to an important subject. Stuff kids want to know, that need an answer... How much blood is in your body? What are germs, and are they all baddies? What are boogers made of? Yuk! Find the answers to these questions and much more! Kids will love the hilarious illustrations. 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!

Explore the beauty and power of planet Earth with this fantastic book. Packed with hundreds of mind-blowing photographs and extraordinary facts, children will be pulled in and engrossed from start to finish. The Earth Book explores natural forces such as fierce tornadoes, mighty ocean features such as colossal currents, Earth''s natural wonders such as Ayers Rock and explosive activity such as volcanic eruptions.

Look at the world differently, with a birds eye view. The Natural Word takes you on an amazing aerial journey to show you the world in a way you''ve never seen it, in a series of spectacular panoramic views.

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.

Find out how atoms fit together and how our solar system spins. Take a look at Earth''s biomes and then explore the human body and more with full-color illustrations designed to keep young readers engaged and entertained while they learn.

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.

This is the ultimate photographic guide to the world of rocks and minerals, as well as how to build your own collection. An extensive introduction section describes the impact of factors such as time, weather and water erosion on the development of these substances, and the part played by natural phenomena such as volcanoes and earthquakes. Specimens are grouped according to their chemical composition and characteristics, and all entries include quick-reference identification checklists to aid recognition. A scientific introduction looks at the origins of these materials and their impact on the landscape, with examples of striking natural formations and explanatory diagrams. The amateur geologist is shown how to identify specimens by their appearance, texture, hardness, and density, as well as how to extract samples safely, how to clean and store rocks and minerals, and build and present their own collection. Featuring over 800 images, this book is a classic illustrated encyclopedia and field guide on an endlessly fascinating and richly consuming subject.

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.

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!

Imagine facing a storm so vast you can only see it all from space, or winds that uproot trees and hurl cars in the air. The unleashed power of extreme storms can flatten homes and drown low-lying land in torrential rain, and they come with a steep cost in dollars—and lives. Learn all about the science behind horrifying hurricanes, terrible typhoons, and catastrophic cyclones. See the damage done by the world''s worst tornadoes. Discover the drone and satellite technology for forecasting and tracking powerful storms and the storm chasers who risk their lives to increase our understanding of these devastating disasters.

In just a few seconds, a spark can turn a forest into a rapidly spreading inferno of intense heat and suffocating smoke. Firefighters try to control the wildfire—a battle that might last for months. Water can be used to fight wildfires, but too much water can cause deadly floods. Floods reduce land to swamp and sweep away houses and bridges. In their wake, they leave food shortages, contaminated drinking water, and diseases like cholera and typhus. Follow the scorched trail of the worst wildfires ever, learn what causes flash floods, and discover the technology that helps predict these devastating disasters.

Earthquakes can destroy entire cities in mere minutes and send shock waves rippling around the world. These devastating quakes become even more deadly when followed by monster waves. Tsunamis may travel faster than a jet across thousands of miles of ocean. Once they reach the coast, these huge walls of water can wash away everything in their path in one fatal whoosh. No place on Earth is entirely safe from earthquakes. But the technology to detect these hidden terrors is constantly improving. Discover the most fearsome earthquakes and tsunamis throughout history, as well as the science behind how and where these disasters strike.

People have always needed doctors. But the doctors of the past might not look like the doctors you are used to seeing! Sometimes their healing methods were weird, disgusting, or even dangerous. Doctors in the Middle Ages sniffed patients'' urine to diagnose disease, and barbers might cut off a person''s injured arm or leg. The ancient Chinese fought smallpox by blowing powdered pus up the nose. Many of these old remedies turned out to be dangerous, but others paved the way for modern blood transfusions, vaccines, and anesthetics. If you''re not too squeamish, read this book to learn more about the history of doctors!

Meet some of the most intriguing sea-dwelling animals on Earth and learn about their superstar abilities—from hunting and hiding to solving puzzles and playing. Discover how these spectacular marine animals and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in oceans all over the world.

"How do chimpanzees know how to use tools? What makes a dog so loyal? Get to know more about these land-based animals and learn about their unique survival skills."--

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.

Meet some of the most interesting birds on Earth, and learn about their remarkable abilities—from elaborate nest-building and singing to logical thinking and language skills. Discover how these fascinating birds and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in diverse environments.

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!

At the age of five, Takeshi joins the other youngsters in a samurai''s castle to train as a noble fighter. Join him in action as he fires arrows while riding on horseback and defeats three foes in bare-handed combat. Take on the samurai''s "way of the warrior" lifestyle and it will make you strong—but always remember that honor can be more important than life.

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!

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.

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

Join the savvy Stickmen on a fun tour of modern cars and locomotives. See the inner and outer workings of these vehicles. The Stickmen share facts (and jokes), explain functions, and occasionally get doused in oil!

Jump behind the wheel of the sleekest, swiftest automobiles, both on and off the race track. Prepare to burn up the tarmac in the Bugatti Veyron—the latest version of the first supercar reaches 269 mph (433 km/h)! Race in the Ultimate Aero, whose carbon-fiber body weighs less than its driver. Get an adrenaline rush in the jet-powered Thrust SSC, it carries the world land speed record of 760.343 mph (1,223.65 km/h)! These streamlined supercars blast off the page in true-to-life illustrations alongside facts about top design technology, such as wind-tunnel testing and scissor doors.

"Each spread of this high-energy book profiles a different plane and delves into records it has broken, stunts it has performed, and other amazing feats related to its speed"--Provided by publisher.

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.

From pregnancy to toddlerhood, Super Bright Baby: 50 Things You Really Need to Know will help parents nurture their child''s burgeoning mind. Expert author John Farndon recommends strategies - including ways to bond, intelligence-building play and teaching your child to read - that can be used throughout every stage of a baby''s development. With a timeline covering learning and growing milestones, boxes outlining the scientific facts for each topic, and quotes from leading childcare experts, this book is the smart choice for parents who want a great future for their children.