John Farndon

Step back into the recent past and discover the moments that defined the modern world. The century took off with the Wright brothers' historic flight, then swung between two devastating world wars, while people's revolutions around the globe shook up society and transformed politics. Discover how the Russian Revolution overthrew the tsars, the Cold War split Europe, suffragettes won the right for women to vote, Nelson Mandela became South Africa's...

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.

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...

Muscles help you run, jump, play sports, and even sit still long enough to read this book. Your bony skeleton holds you up and keeps everything in its place. Let the Stickmen give you a tour of your incredible body! Find out why muscles are strong and how they get even stronger, how many bones make up your skeleton, and how your body twists, bends, and moves. Along the way, you'll discover the world's oldest skeleton, the longest and strongest muscle,...

From skyscrapers to jet aircraft, from mobile phones to computers, the products of modern science surround us on all sides. Perhaps the most significant product of science, however, is not the microwave, or the space station or the widescreen TV; it is the scientific method itself. Those societies that have actively embraced this method have flourished. The men and women who appear in The Great Scientists haver all excelled in their chosen field of...

Includes lifecycle, behavior, and habitat.

This is a fabulous photographic guide to the world of rocks and minerals, as well as how to build your own collection. Expertly written text 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...

Identifies the parts of a flower and describes the process of pollination, the great diversity of flowers, the relationship between flowers and insects, and the wide variety of uses humans have found for flowers.

"A beautifully illustrated guide to more than 75 of the world's most celebrated, rare, and seminal books and handwritten manuscripts ever produced, with discussions of their purpose, features, and creators. From ancient masterpieces such as The Art of War, written on the leaves of bamboo, to the stunningly illustrated Birds of America, to Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, [this book] delves into the stories behind the most incredible tomes ever produced,...