Showing titles in Geography & Cultures

Miss Arabella Braithewaite of Switherby knows there is no future for the 10 orphans - a remarkable mix of genteel and working-class children - she has gathered together in these years of England’s grim factory growth in the early 1820s. Her plan, quite outrageous in the eyes of most, is to take the children to Australia to take up a land grant. Thus, one day the townsfolk gather to watch a line of departing “pilgrims” led by the fearless “Missabella”.

In the late morning of 29th May 1953, the sun was shining brightly on the roof of the world, a gentle breeze was blowing and two men were there to witness it for the first time ever...their names were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay and the roof of the world was Everest. This is the breathtaking story of how two very different yet equally determined men battled frost-biting temperatures, tumbling ice rocks, powerful winds and death-defying ridges to climb the world’s highest mountain.

Nella, the main character from Nickelodeon’s Nella the Princess Knight, is planning a “best sisters” playdate with her little sister, Princess Norma—but will two bumbling giant brothers ruin the day?

When her crown is stolen, Princess Paris fears she’ll never get it back. How can she represent her king without her crown? She doesn’t feel much like a princess and worries all the animals on the Royal Savanna won’t take her seriously without it. But as each animal Paris meets faces a unique problem, she discovers that being a princess requires more than wearing a shiny crown.

Noble Prince Jen is the one person that his father, King Ta'i, trusts enough to send on a mission to the legendary kingdom of Tien-Kuo. The prince eagerly begins his quest bearing only enormous pride and humble gifts. From the onset, however, the young ruler marches headlong into misfortune. Separated from his faithful servant, the prince finds himself fending off murderers, falling prey to trickery, and searching for a village girl who plays a magic flute. But it isn’t until he faces his most challenging personal trial that the he fully realizes the power hidden in each humble gift.

The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie off to the mountains of Africa. There, they run into a huge mountain gorilla! At first they don't know whether they should shake hands or turn tail. But the ominous-looking creature turns out to be surprisingly gentle. Not only that, the gorilla may be able to help them learn their next bit of magic, which Morgan has challenged them to do.

With Ravenskill hosting this year's games, all eyes are on Seven Salazar, Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux: the most famous Spares in the Twelve Towns. Thorn is ready to compete as a fashion champion, but when a hex is used to turn her fellow champions to stone, suspicion lands on the Witchlings. As the Witchlings attempt to unravel the mystery of the stonifications, future Uncle Seven is harboring a dangerous secret: While she's supposed to be able to communicate with animals, the voices she hears most clearly belong to monstruos, and one spine-chilling voice is the loudest of all.

Katie can't leave her house during the day: she has a rare disease that makes even the smallest amount of sunlight deadly. But everything changes when one evening, singing her heart out on a deserted station platform, she meets Charlie. Before the night is out, Katie is smitten. But she hasn't told Charlie her secret. She just wants to have her normal love story before reality kicks in. Lost in her nighttime summer romance, Katie knows that love will light the way.

When SPEARS receives an emergency distress call from its marine outpost in Antarctica, there is only one team they can send. Agnes and Attie are soon up to their eyes in an icebound mystery. What is causing the tremors threatening to destroy the rescue centre? Why are the local Adelie penguins behaving so bizarrely? And what exactly is the celebrity nature presenter Cynthia Steelsharp doing, out there in the ice-fields?

Dawn Buckle spends most of her days trying to get people to notice her. But whether at home or at school, it's as if she's completely invisible. And that's exactly what makes her the ideal recruit for S.H,.H. (Strictly Hush Hush) - a secret intelligence agency. How the world's most forgettable girl transforms herself into a world-class spy and tracks down a surprising secret agent will delight listeners.

When Brigid sees a tiny carrot moving about in the garden she can't believe her eyes. When the carrot turns out to be a tiny leprechaun, she can't believe her luck. She is the only human who can see him - but where is his pot of gold?

This humorous retelling of a favorite folktale recounts how the Chinese came to give their children short names. This perfect listen-together storybook is one adults and children will enjoy sharing together again and again. When the eldest son fell in the well and most of the time getting help was spent pronouncing the name of the one in trouble, the Chinese, according to legend, decided to give all their children short names.

Best-selling author and screenwriter Alistair MacLean follows Lawrence as he breaks with tradition to live with Arabs and, using modern-day guerrilla tactics, helps them defeat the Turks and gain an independent state. In addition to the enthralling details of the campaign, MacLean provides valuable insight into the origins of the Middle East we know today.

What is a bucket list? A bucket list is a type of wish list. It lists things that you want to do before you die or "kick the bucket". You do not have do everything on your bucket list, and you can change your list anytime you feel like it. Finally, you do not have to make a bucket list. This is a bucket list of some of the famous landmarks found in the United States of America that you might visit. This list is not complete. You may think of others.

It's June - winter in South Africa, and Martine and her grandmother are enjoying a cold but beautiful walk along the beach when they find a stranded, dying dolphin.

When she is 11 years old, Martine is orphaned and sent to live with her grandmother on a game reserve in South Africa. Her grandmother seems strangely unwelcoming, and Martine has a difficult time settling in at her new school, where she is conspicuously an outsider. But she has an ally in Tendai, one of the keepers on the reserve, from whom she learns the lore and survival techniques of the bush, and in Grace, who instantly senses there is something special about Martine.

Discover Slavic culture with two ancient tales from the Eastern European world. The "Twelve Months" is a story about persistence, not unlike our "Cinderilla", but set in a fantastic world where seasons are all and winter, deadly. "The Two Brothers "is a tale about justice in a world where money corrupts easily. Enjoy these ancient tales from a faraway land, recorded by the best storytellers in a warm and lively way.

Jack and Annie are whisked back to the Civil War, where they meet Clara Barton and save the life of their very own great-great-great-grand-father.

The exceptional talents behind some of the nation’s best-loved books - from The Gruffalo to The BFG, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt to the Charlie and Lola series - the Children’s Laureates are the perfect ambassadors for children’s literature. It’s been 20 wonderful years of the Laureateship and now all 10 former honourees have banded together to celebrate the only way they know how: through stories and poems.

When eight-year-old Agnes is signed up for SPEARS (the Society for the Protection of Endangered and Awesomely Rare Species), she has no idea of the adventures that lie ahead with her elephant-shrew mentor Attie (short for 'Attenborough'). Operation Honeyhunt sends them to the Brazilian rain forest, on a mission to save an endangered, dance-loving bee named Elton. Will Agnes pass the test and become a full SPEARS Agent? Species in danger? Girl and shrew to the rescue!