usborne

<p>Lift-the-flap Very First Questions And Answers Are Dinosaurs Real?</p>

<p>We see dinosaurs everywhere - on TV, in books, dinosaur toys and printed on clothes - but what were they really like? How big were they? What did they eat? And where did they all go? This charming book allows young children to find out for themselves.</p>

<p>Awful Auntie Paperback</p>

<p>From number one bestselling author David Walliams comes another heartfelt but hilarious hoot of an adventure</p>

<p>Stella Saxby is the sole heir to Saxby Hall. But awful Aunt Alberta and her giant owl will stop at nothing to get it from her. Luckily Stella has a secret – and slightly spooky – weapon up her sleeve…</p>

<p>Beren And Luthien</p>

<p>Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for the first time as a continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of Beren and Luthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, Dwarves and Orcs and the rich landscape and creatures unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth.</p>

<p>The tale of Beren and Luthien was, or became, an essential element in the evolution of The Silmarillion, the myths and legends of the First Age of the World conceived by J.R.R. Tolkien. Returning from France and the battle of the Somme at the end of 1916, he wrote the tale in the following year.</p>

<p>Essential to the story, and never changed, is the fate that shadowed the love of Beren and Luthien: for Beren was a mortal man, but Luthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, in deep opposition to Beren, imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Luthien. This is the kernel of the legend; and it leads to the supremely heroic attempt of Beren and Luthien together to rob the greatest of all evil beings, Melkor, called Morgoth, the Black Enemy, of a Silmaril.</p>

<p>In this book Christopher Tolkien has attempted to extract the story of Beren and Luthien from the comprehensive work in which it was embedded; but that story was itself changing as it developed new associations within the larger history. To show something of the process whereby this legend of Middle-earth evolved over the years, he has told the story in his father's own words by giving, first, its original form, and then passages in prose and verse from later texts that illustrate the narrative as it changed. Presented together for the first time, they reveal aspects of the story, both in event and in narrative immediacy, that were afterwards lost.</p>

<p>Morgoth's Ring</p>

<p>The first of two companion volumes which documents the later writing of The Silmarillion, Tolkien's epic tale of war.</p>

<p>After The Lord of the Rings was at last achieved, J R R Tolkien turned his attention once again to 'the Matter of the Elder Days'. The text of the Annals of Aman, the 'Blessed Land' in the far West, is given in full; while in writings hitherto unknown is seen the nature of the problems that Tolkien explored in his later years, as new and radical ideas, portending upheaval in the old narratives, emerged at the heart of the mythology, and as the destinies of Men and Elves, mortals and immortals, became of central significance, together with a vastly enlarged perception of the evil of Melkor, the Shadow upon Arda.</p>

<p>The second part of this history of the later Silmarillion is concerned with developments in the legends of Beleriand after the completion of The Lord of the Rings.</p>

<p>Wild Cards: Mississippi Roll</p>

<p>The return of the famous shared-world superhero books created and edited by George R. R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire</p>

<p>ALL ABOARD, IF YOU DARE.</p>

<p>In the aftermath of World War II, the Earth s population was devastated by a terrifying alien virus. Those who survived were changed forever. Some, known as jokers, were cursed with bizarre mental and physical abnormalities; others, granted superhuman abilities, are the lucky few known as aces.</p>

<p>In this volatile and divided world, intrigue and violence are never far away and a trip up the Mississippi River aboard the steamer Natchez is no exception. Boats full of joker refugees spark conflict between super-powered aces. Zombies and vast alligators lurk beneath the water. And in the steam of the engine room, a spirit stands ready to defend its riverboat home.</p>

<p>Edited by George R.R. Martin, Mississippi Roll features the writing talents of Stephen Leigh, John Jos. Miller, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Carrie Vaughn, David D. Levine and Cherie Priest.</p>

<p>Praise for WILD CARDS</p>

<p>GREAT Guardian</p>

<p>A complex, intricately imagined universe Telegraph</p>

<p>Mermaid Snap (Snap Cards)</p>

<p>A new addition to the range of Usborne Snap cards for young children. There are 52 snap cards (13 matching sets of 4), with labelled pictures of different mermaids. Simple instructions are included on the back of the box, and the game can be played with fewer cards to make it easier for younger players to join in. Illustrations: Full colour throughout</p>

<p>A fantastic book of Christmas things to do, from festive puzzles to doodling and colouring, with dozens of stickers. Children can decorate a Christmas tree with sticker baubles, spot the penguins ice skating and guess what the presents are in their colourful wrapping paper. A great way to keep kids busy over the holidays.</p>

<p>Baby Bunny’s Easter Surprise</p>

<p>An irresistible picture book about a very cheeky baby bunny!</p>

<p>When baby bunny, Letty, discovers that her mummy is the real-life Easter Bunny, she follows her, secretly, through the forest as she hides her special deliveries. But seeing all the choccylicious Easter eggs is much too tempting. Letty nibbles one here and there . . . and soon, the eggs are gone! Will mummy have enough eggs left for Letty’s forest friends?

A joyous – and very cheeky – Easter rhyming romp!</p>

<p>Science Encyclopedia</p>

<p>A comprehensive science reference book covering key topics from gravity, flight and floating to genes and DNA, with clearly written explanations and superb photographs and illustrations.</p>

<p>QR codes for each topic provide instant access via a mobile phone or tablet to over 180 video clips of experiments, animals in their habitats and animated lessons that enhance the information in the book.</p>

<p>Includes links to an additional 1000 recommended websites for further study and homework help via the Usborne Quicklinks website. With a glossary of 1,500 scientific terms, as well as key dates and biographies of scientists and inventors, and 140 simple experiments for children to try at home.</p>

<p>An exciting reference book that will stimulate children’s curiosity and inspire the scientists of the future.</p>

<p>Butterflies To Spot</p>

<p>With this beautifully illustrated little guide, children can identify all kinds of butterflies when they're out and about. There's a spotting chart and stickers at the back, so they can keep track of the ones they've seen.</p>

<p>First Magic Painting Farm</p>

<p>Filled with simple, stylish images designed to appeal to young children. Just brush water over the bold black and white designs to watch a sturdy tractor, a smiling scarecrow and a cheepy chick burst into colour.</p>

<p>Only If You're Lucky</p>

<p>A gripping college-set psychological thriller about female friendship and dark secrets</p>

<p>*An Amazon's Best Mystery and Thriller pick for January 2024*</p>

<p>'Utterly hypnotic … Reader beware—this will keep you breathless to the very end.' Lisa Gardner</p>

<p>'Dark, intense, and completely addictive.’ Laurie Elizabeth Flynn</p>

<p>‘A wonderfully disturbing read – I raced through it’ Sabine Durrant</p>

<p>'A pitch dark, pitch perfect novel… Beautifully written, a stunning thriller.' Andrea Mara</p>

<p>Six months ago, we moved in together.</p>

<p>Lucy, Nicole, Sloane and me.</p>

<p>Lucy pulled us into her orbit and showed us what college life could be.</p>

<p>Now Lucy is missing, and a boy from the house next door is dead.</p>

<p>The police are asking questions, but we won’t break.</p>

<p>We’ll keep her secrets.</p>

<p>And ours.</p>

<p>The Outrage</p>

<p>"You know, when you live in a time of progress, it seems that progress is the only possible way. The idea that everything we'd gained, all of those hard-won rights, could be taken away from us, and that open minds could be closed again? But then the Outrage happened."</p>

<p>Welcome to England, where the Protectorate enforces the Public Good. Here, there are rules for everything - what to eat, what to wear, what to do, what to say, what to read, what to think, who to obey, who to hate, who to love. Your safety is assured, so long as you follow the rules.</p>

<p>Gabriel is a natural born rule-breaker. And his biggest crime of all? Being gay.</p>

<p>Gabriel knows his sexuality must be kept secret from all but his closest friends, not only to protect himself, but to protect his boyfriend. Because Eric isn't just the boy who has stolen Gabriel's heart. He's the son of the chief inspector at Degenerate Investigations - the man who poses the single biggest threat to Gabriel's life.</p>

<p>And the Protectorate are experts at exposing secrets.</p>

<p>Lift The Flap Spotty Frog</p>

<p>Babies will love lifting the chunky, shaped flaps to find the spotty frog and follow her around the pond to meet all the other animals that live there. Where's the spotty frog gone now? Babies can use their developing motor skills to find out! Meet a speedy fish, a hungry heron, five fluffy ducklings and lots of wiggly tadpoles, while you follow the spotty frog as she hops, dives and swims around the pond.</p>

<p>Times Tables Matching Games And Book</p>

<p>These entertaining games for 2-5 players will help children to learn their first times tables. The attractive box contains 4 bingo boards, 36 cards and a book; they can read the book to find out about the numbers in the two, five and ten times tables, then play two different games using the boards and cards. Game instructions are at the back of the book.</p><p>1. Times Tables Matching Games And Book</p><p>2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản</p>

<p>Where Does My Food Come From?: The Story Of How Your Favourite Food Is Made</p>

<p>A fully illustrated non-fiction picture book that lets readers discover how their favourite foods are grown and made – with exclusive recipes from Annabel Karmel for each one.</p>

<p>Images from renowned children's artist Alex Willmore make each food cheekily spring to life on the page, telling the story of its creation to the reader. Find out how eggs, cheese, tomatoes, pasta, strawberries, honey and chocolate are grown and made, and enjoy the fun, step-by-step food activities in each section too. Best of all, Annabel includes two fantastic, child-friendly recipes for each food. They're perfect for getting kids to create and eat wonderful meals with their favourite food – and for getting fussy eaters to try new foods too.</p>

<p>Take Your Breath Away</p>

<p>A missing woman. A husband suspected.

The truth will … Take Your Breath Away

Linwood Barclay is…

‘A suspense master’ Stephen King &nbsp;&nbsp;

‘In a class of his own’ T.M. Logan

‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world’ Mark Billingham</p>

<p>It’s always the husband, isn’t it?

When his wife Brie vanishes from their home one night, never to be seen again, people assume Andy got away with murder. The police can’t build a case against him, but still his friends and neighbours abandon him.</p>

<p>Six years later, Andy’s life is back on track, and he’s settled with a new girlfriend. And when he hears his old house has been bulldozed and rebuilt, he’s not bothered. Things are good.</p>

<p>But then one day, a woman who looks like Brie shows up at their old address, screaming ‘Where’s my house? What happened to my house?’ before vanishing as quickly as she appeared.</p>

<p>And as dark suspicions resurface, Andy’s future depends on discovering what the hell is going on. The trick is staying alive long enough to find out…</p>

<p>PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY:</p>

<p>‘A suspense master’ STEPHEN KING</p>

<p>‘A full-throttle powerhouse of a thriller – Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own’ T.M. LOGAN</p>

<p>‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world’ MARK BILLINGHAM</p>

<p>‘The twists keep coming’ THE TIMES</p>

<p>'No one can thrill you and chill you better than Barclay' TESS GERRITSEN</p>

<p>‘Another lightning-paced page-turner with a twist that really did take my breath away. Absolutely classic Linwood’ MARK EDWARDS</p>

<p>‘Gripping, propulsive, and surprising – he wasn’t kidding, I’m breathless’ DAVID KOEPP</p>

<p>‘If you want someone to jangle your nerves and mess with your mind, Barclay’s your man’ SAGA</p>

<p>'Nothing is more satisfying than tucking into a new Linwood Barclay novel' SHARI LAPENA</p>

<p>‘[Exhibits] Barclay’s remarkable strengths in plotting and characterisation. Perhaps only John Grisham is his equal in creating show-stealing supporting characters’ SUNDAY TIMES</p>

<p>‘Linwood Barclay is a stone-cold pro’ JOE HILL</p>

<p>‘A fast-moving, high-concept thriller from the talented Barclay … a rip-roaring rollercoaster of a ride’ DAILY MAIL</p>

<p>Little Sticker Dolly Dressing Christmas</p>

<p>This festive activity book for little children is full of Christmas scenes to decorate. Dress the dolls for a Christmas market, ice skating, building a snowman and lots more. With over 200 stickers of festive outfits and Christmas decorations.</p>

<p>I Have Something To Tell You</p>

<p>Don’t miss the captivating new book from Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Lewis!

A terrible secret</p>

<p>When Jessica’s husband comes home one night and says he has something to tell her, her world is turned upside down.</p>

<p>A case too close to home</p>

<p>With secrets unravelling at home, Jessica has to carry on. As a lawyer, she must protect the innocent, and she’s defending a man accused of killing his wife.</p>

<p>An ending you won’t see coming</p>

<p>As her two worlds collide, Jessica no longer knows who to trust.</p>

<p>Look out for the latest thrilling book from the Sunday Times bestselling author – available to pre-order now!</p>

<p>Baby's Very First Noisy Book: Christmas</p>

<p>This is a delightful book for young children containing beautifully designed, high-contrast images. The sound panel has magical Christmas sounds, which bring the pictures to life. They include sparkly snowflakes, twittering birds on festive branches and Santa racing across the sky in his sleigh. It is a perfect gift for any baby, especially if it's their first Christmas.</p>

<p>First Colouring Book Christmas</p>

<p>Little children will enjoy bringing charming Christmas scenes to life in this fun colouring book. Scenes to colour include Santa's workshop, a Christmas tree, Santa delivering presents and lots more. The backgrounds are already coloured, so children can focus on the fun parts.</p>

<p>Usborne Minis: Christmas Puzzles</p>

<p>Spot the differences in Santa’s workshop, complete a Christmas crossword, find the perfect Christmas tree and much more in this festive activity book, filled with wordsearches, mazes, logic puzzles and more. Part of a range of pocket-sized paperbacks that make perfect stocking fillers, with all the answers at the back of the book.</p>

<p>Lift-the-flap Construction And Demolition</p>

<p>It takes hundreds of people, dozens of machines and years of work to construct a skyscraper. Lift the flaps to see construction crews digging, drilling, pouring, heaving and hoisting as they build a brand new building at the heart of a busy city. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites where you can watch a demolition and fly over skyscrapers.</p>

<p>Wild Cards: Joker Moon</p>

<p>The return of the famous shared-world superhero books created and edited by fantasy titan George R.R. Martin.</p>

<p>In the aftermath of World War II, the Earth's population was devastated by a terrifying alien virus. Those who survived were changed for ever. This is the story of that world.</p>

<p>Theodorus was a dreamer.</p>

<p>As a child, he dreamed of aeroplanes, rockets and outer space. When the wild card virus touched him and transformed him into a monstrous snail centaur weighing several tons, his boyhood dreams seemed out of reach, but a Witherspoon is not so easily defeated. Years and decades passed, and Theodorus grew to maturity and came into his fortune . . . but still his dream endured.</p>

<p>But now when he looked upward into the night sky, he saw more than just the Moon . . . he saw a joker homeland, a refuge where the outcast children of the wild card could make a place of their own, safe from hate and harm.</p>

<p>An impossible dream, some said. Others, alarmed by the prospect, brought all their power to bear to oppose him. Theodorus persisted . . .</p>

<p>. . . never dreaming that the Moon was already inhabited. And the Moon Maid did not want company.</p>

<p>For decades, George R.R. Martin - bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire - has collaborated with an ever-shifting ensemble of science fiction and fantasy icons to create the amazing Wild Cards universe.</p>

<p>The Odyssey Graphic Novel</p>

<p>Greek warrior Odysseus is desperate to make his way home to the island of Ithaca. But giants, sirens and many-headed serpents are just some of the obstacles that stand in his way. Join him on his amazing adventures in this dynamic graphic novel.</p>

<p>Megamonster</p>

<p>The hilarious children’s book from No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams – a timeless adventure illustrated by artistic genius, Tony Ross. On a volcanic island, in the middle of shark-infested waters, stands The Cruel School. The lessons are ludicrous, the school dinners are disgusting and the teachers are terrifying. When Larker is sent to the school, she quickly realises that VERY odd things are going on involving sinister Science teacher Doctor Doktur, a secret cave and a ‘Monsterfication Machine’. Can Larker unravel the teacher’s wicked plot?</p>

<p>The Lay Of Aotrou And Itroun</p>

<p>Unavailable for more than 70 years, this early but important work is published for the first time with Tolkien's 'Corrigan' poems and other supporting material, including a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien.</p>

<p>Set 'In Britain's land beyond the seas' during the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a childless Breton Lord and Lady (the 'Aotrou' and 'Itroun' of the title) and the tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan, or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.</p>

<p>Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien's imagination, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter 'Corrigan' poems that lead up to it and which are also included, was the outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly Breton, myth and legend.</p>

<p>Originally written in 1930 and long out of print, this early but seminal work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of his canon and should be set alongside Tolkien's other retellings of myth and legend, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, The Fall of Arthur and The Story of Kullervo. Like these works, it belongs to a small but important corpus of his ventures into 'real-world' mythologies, each of which in its own way would be a formative influence on his own legendarium.</p>

<p>Little First Stickers Funny Hats</p>

<p>A silly book full of silly animals and over 150 silly stickers to add to the silly scenes.</p>

<p>A perfect size for little hands, this engaging sticker book will delight and entertain young children for hours while they add some very silly hats to the friendly animal characters. With lots to talk about on every page, this is also a fun and interactive way for children to develop their vocabulary.</p>

<p>The Fall Of Arthur</p>

<p>The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the extraordinary story of the final days of England's legendary hero, King Arthur.</p>

<p>The Fall of Arthur, the only venture by J.R.R. Tolkien into the legends of Arthur King of Britain, may well be regarded as his finest and most skilful achievement in the use of the Old English alliterative metre, in which he brought to his transforming perceptions of the old narratives a pervasive sense of the grave and fateful nature of all that is told: of Arthur's expedition overseas into distant heathen lands, of Guinevere's flight from Camelot, of the great sea-battle on Arthur's return to Britain, in the portrait of the traitor Mordred, in the tormented doubts of Lancelot in his French castle.</p>

<p>Unhappily, The Fall of Arthur was one of several long narrative poems that he abandoned in that period. In this case he evidently began it in the earlier nineteen-thirties, and it was sufficiently advanced for him to send it to a very perceptive friend who read it with great enthusiasm at the end of 1934 and urgently pressed him 'You simply must finish it!' But in vain: he abandoned it, at some date unknown, though there is some evidence that it may have been in 1937, the year of the publication of The Hobbit and the first stirrings of The Lord of the Rings. Years later, in a letter of 1955, he said that 'he hoped to finish a long poem on The Fall of Arthur'; but that day never came.</p>

<p>Associated with the text of the poem, however, are many manuscript pages: a great quantity of drafting and experimentation in verse, in which the strange evolution of the poem's structure is revealed, together with narrative synopses and very significant if tantalising notes. In these latter can be discerned clear if mysterious associations of the Arthurian conclusion with The Silmarillion, and the bitter ending of the love of Lancelot and Guinevere, which was never written.</p>

<p>Worry Proofing Your Anxious Child</p>

<p>From the best-selling author of Living with IT and Taming the Black Dog comes a practical guide for parents of anxious children. If your child is too often: clingy, seeks reassurance, invents illnesses, avoids interactions, avoids trying new things, becomes emotional over minor upsets, is afraid to sleep alone, is reluctant to go to school or is scared of numerous things ... then anxiety could be an issue for them.Commonly, a child experiencing anxiety doubts themselves, lacks confidence and becomes easily overwhelmed. So how do you best help them?From Australia's bestselling anxiety expert, Bev Aisbett, comes Worry-Proofing Your Anxious Child, a calm, clear, commonsense and above all reassuring guide to help parents (and teachers) of anxious children. Filled with simple explanations and practical advice, this informative guide will assist everyone in helping an anxious child overcome their anxieties. Bev Aisbett is Australia's leading author in books around managing anxiety. In 1993, after recovering from severe anxiety and depression herself, Bev turned to her artistic talents to create the first of her ground-breaking illustrated self-help books Living with IT: A Survivor's Guide to Panic Attacks, which rapidly became a national bestseller, with over 200,000 copies sold. In 2013, HarperCollins published the fully revised and updated 20th anniversary edition of this classic book.</p>

<p>A fun activity book of puzzles, activities and stickers to help children learn the times tables from 2 to 12. Puzzles include solving number clues to reach Treasure Island, or working out how long it takes to fly between alien planets. Activities are arranged by times table, and quizzes after each section let children test what they've learned.</p>

<p>Don't Tickle The Tiger (Usborne Touchy-Feely Sounds)</p>

<p>You mustn’t tickle the tiger or you might make it roar... but that touchy-feely patch is ever so tempting! Little children will love pressing the touchy-feely patches to hear the animal sounds in this hilarious and charming book. The fifth title in an exciting new series. Combines touchy-feely with sounds and holes in the pages to create a fun and amusing experience for little children. A musical finale features all the animals being noisy at once.</p>

<p>The Wind In The Willows Graphic Novel</p>

<p>When Mole pops his head out of the ground one fine, spring morning, his friend Rat introduces him to the world of the riverbank and its most famous resident, the exuberant Mr. Toad. Mole soon finds himself caught up in Toad's mischievous exploits, culminating in a battle for Toad Hall itself.</p>

<p>Step-by-step Drawing Zoo Animals</p>

<p>Complete beginners can learn how to draw all kinds of zoo animals, from an elephant to a lion and a camel to a giraffe. Each page has colourful, step-by-step instructions with plenty of space for doodling and practising your own drawings. Includes additional hints and tips for drawing animals in various habitats, changing their facial expressions and colouring in.</p>

<p>Lift The Flap Very First Questions And Answers - Why Should I Brush My Teeth?</p>

<p>Why don't animals have toothbrushes? Should everyone brush their teeth? And why do baby teeth fall out? Curious young children can discover the answers to these questions and many more in this entertaining book, with over 30 flaps to lift, gentle humour and easy-to-understand text on every page.</p>

<p>Just what goes on behind the screen, beneath the keyboard and inside the electronic 'brain' of a computer? This colourful book has 70 flaps to lift to uncover what happens when a computer is switched on, how coding works and the story of the first computers. A fun and informative introduction to a key UK curriculum topic.</p>

<p>The Memory Thieves</p>

<p>Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022</p>

<p>What you don't remember can't hurt you...</p>

<p>Cyan has lived at the Elsewhere Sanctuary for as long as he can remember, freed by Dr Haven from dark memories of his past life. But when Cyan finds a mysterious warning carved into the bones of a whale skeleton, he starts to wonder what he had to forget to be so happy.</p>

<p>New resident, Jonquil, begins to resist the sanctuary's treatment, preferring to hold on to her memories - even the bad ones. So when Dr Haven resorts to harsher measures, Cyan embarks on a secret mission to discover the truth about the sanctuary...and himself.</p>

<p>"Marvellously visual and gripping" - A. M. Howell</p>

<p>Usborne First Jigsaws And Book: Bugs</p>

<p>Step into the tiny, fascinating world of bugs and creepy crawlies, with this set of eight jigsaws and an early-years book. Specially designed for very young children, the simple two-piece puzzles engage hands and minds for a creative learning experience. With adorable illustrations by Elisa Ferro, this is the perfect playtime treat.</p>

<p>High: Soar To New Heights</p>

<p>What wonders are soaring far above your head? Come on a journey to meet the creatures who live high in the treetops, the birds that ride the wind, the people who have braved the highest mountain summits, and the stories we tell to explain the night-time's dazzling stars. There is a whole world in the sky, waiting to be discovered...</p>

<p>High&nbsp;is an illustrated non-fiction book that explores the natural world above us and the efforts humans have made to venture high above the Earth, from early flying machines to modern skyscrapers. Linking seemingly diverse subject matter, it invites the reader to explore the wonder of the universe.</p>