David Long

As mascots, messengers, rat-catchers and even spies, animals have long marched into war alongside servicemen and women. Dogs, horses, cats (even birds, camels and elephants) have saved thousands of lives through instinct, intelligence, courage and devotion. Like Jet, a dog who searched through ruins during the Blitz bombings to find survivors, or Sergeant Stubby, a dog who caught a spy. Or the pigeons who braved hurricanes, hawks and even snipers to help during WWII ... Engaging, uplifting and deeply moving, Jet the Rescue Dog tells the stories of these brave, silent heroes with sensitivity and gentle humour for readers age 8+. With black and white illustrations throughout.

In 1917, during World War I, the battle of Passchendaele was fought on the Western Front in Belgium. Find out why the battle was important and what life was like for the soldiers who fought and died there. Pearl/Band 18 books offer fluent readers a complex, substantial text with challenging themes to facilitate sustained comprehension, bridging the gap between a reading programme and longer chapter books. Text type: an information book Curriculum links: history

From the worlds oldest indoor loo to a theatre where spectators fill their pockets with poo, the definitive guide to the stranger side of Scotland shows theres a lot more to the place than tartan, haggis and tossing the caber. Inside youll find: The worlds longest man-made echo A city where aliens are welcome What the Royals really think of it Britains weirdest wig The worst Scottish accents ever Our tallest hedge and oldest tree Loch monsters nastier than Nessie A road you can roll up Scots in Space Whether its Ruthven or Ruthven? Britains loneliest bus stop (and its loveliest) A school for spies The cost of burning witches An aeroplane made from seaweed . . . and why the Queen needs rubber glovesPraise for Bizarre London: In a market niche thats now as crowded as the 18:22 to Reading, Bizarre London pummels its bantamweight rivals with knockout clouts of trivia that even this weary correspondent hadnt encountered before.The Londonist

The PDSA Dickin Medal (regarded as the animals Victoria Cross) has been awarded to just 64 animals, from the Blitz to present day, for their courage in times of crisis. Among these incredible true-life stories you will meetG.I. Joe the plucky pigeon, who rescued over 100 lives by flying twenty miles in twenty minutes to deliver a message in World War II.Theo the steadfast springer spaniel, who served as a bomb-detection dog in Afghanistan.Rip the trusty mongrel, who saved many victims of the Blitz air-raids.Olga the courageous police horse, who bolted from the path of a flying bomb in World War II only to return to the scene and remain on duty.These heart-warming tales of gallantry and devotion will stay with you long after you turn the pages.Previously published as The Animals VC.

Where can you eat dinner under the sea? Which country has the most pyramids? Can a church become a swimming pool?Including a stunning central gatefold map that opens out to reveal where all 80 structures are located, this book is a visual celebration of the incredible structures people have built throughout history and their cultural significance. From ancient wonders such as Stonehenge to bridges spanning countries, record breaking rollercoasters and hotels where even the beds are made of ice.Discover a floating palace, a terracotta army, a cinema in a bank vault, and a building so tall that clouds form at the top!

From the Wright Brothers twelve seconds aloft to the Moon landings less than a lifetime later, the story of aviation is not just a series of astonishing advances made at breathtaking speed. Its also about the courage and ingenuity of the men and women who made such rapid progress possible; about the romance of soaring above the clouds; and perhaps most of all about the exciting and exhilarating realisation of a dream which is literally centuries old.

A single spy can save thousands of lives.Spies and secret agents have been hard at work for centuries, risking their lives, and sometimes changing the course of history. Discover twenty-seven of the most courageous and daring, including Britains first female spy, a teacher turned saboteur, the spy who sang for Hitler and the man who never was . . .An unputdownable collection of real life adventures, stunningly illustrated by Terri Po.

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

A beautiful and thrilling round-up of 32 of the best Magnificent Machines from across history by Blue Peter award-winning David Long.The longest ship ever built, the heaviest digger and the largest aeroplane, the worlds first working motorcar, and its most expensive one. What machines like these have in common is that they all say a lot about the inventiveness and imagination of the people who conceived and created them. Some of them are useful, others are just a bit of fun, but the best ones are truly magnificent, and fascinating to discover.Designed to drive faster, fly higher, carry more cargo or - in the case of space rockets - travel hundreds of thousands of miles to places no-one has ever been before, not every idea has worked but the best have been inspired and inspirational, and in a few cases they have gone on to change the world. It is the human stories and atmospheric art that make this a book to actually read and delight in.

For years we have explored history through the eyes of the people that lived there... but now its finally time to hear what the animals have to say! Get ready to journey back down the path of human history and uncover the tracks of the animals who lived through it, too. From the greyhound who had a paw in the formation of the Church of England to the bravery of Alexander the Greats mighty warhorse to the tiny fleas who started the black death, this is history as its never been told before.

From a slave posting himself to freedom to daring prison breaks, award-winning David Long captures the astonishing true stories of the greatest escapes of all time.From the author of Survivors, the winner of the Best Book With Facts Blue Peter Book Award 2017.From slaves fleeing captivity to wartime heroes and heroines being smuggled across occupied Europe, from dangerous criminals tricking their way out of jail to ordinary people who got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time . . .Over thirty tales of adventure, inspiration and derring do. As well as famous stories like the Great Escape and Harriet Tubmans epic 500-mile trek to freedom, this fascinating book includes lesser-known escapes like Yoshie Shiratori, a Japanese fisherman who escaped jail four times, Nadia Murad, who was inspired by her escape to win the Nobel Peace Prize and Henry Box Brown, a slave who posted himself to freedom in a wooden crate.Stunningly illustrated in full-colour by comic-book artist, Jamie Coe.

Astonishing real-life rescue missions from on, under and above the earth from the award-winning team behind Survivors and Heroes.How far would you go to save a life? Scrambling from the wreckage of his school after an earthquake, a nine-year-old Sichuan boy rescued two unconscious friends. I was hall monitor, he said afterwards. It is my job to look after my classmates.Whether dragging a friend from a blazing car, masterminding a search far below the earths surface, or recovering astronauts from an aborted space mission, Rescue reveals the ingenuity, courage and doggedness of the human spirit all over the world.Another unputdownable collection of eye-opening and moving true adventures, both contemporary and historical. Impeccably told by David Long and brought to vibrant life by illustrator Kerry Hyndman.Praise for the series:True-story fans will love this.Inis Childrens Books Ireland Full of incredible real-life stories . . . Ultimately an inspirational book, beautifully illustrated.Angels and UrchinsA great collection of harrowing, true survivor stories.Kirkus

Winner of the Best Book With FactsBlue Peter Book Award 2017. Amazing real-life stories about extreme survival.Beautifully presented in a large, paperback format, and fully illustrated in colour throughout, this wonderful anthology is a treat for all the family. Be shocked and amazed by these incredible real-life stories of extreme survival, including . . .The Man Who Sucked Blood from a Shark, a sailor who survived for 133 days on a raft in the Atlantic when his ship was torpedoed, using sharks blood in place of fresh water. The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, a teenager who fell 2 miles from an aeroplane and trekked through the Amazon jungle to safety. The Woman Who Froze to Death - Yet Lived, a woman who was trapped under freezing water for so long her heart stopped. Four hours later, medics managed to warm her blood enough to revive her. Combining classic tales such as Ernest Shackletons Antarctic voyage, as well as more modern exploits such as the adventurer who inspired the movie 127 Hours, these astonishing stories will be retold by young readers to all of their friends.A gorgeously presented hardback book, full of incredible real-life stories of extreme survival . . . Ultimately an inspirational book, beautifully illustrated.Angels and UrchinsTrue-story fans will love this.Inis Childrens Books IrelandA wonderful mixture of the scariness of peril and the glorious uplift of survival. Its insightful, inspirational and all absolutely true.Bookbag

Thirty-three incredible stories of animal heroics from the team that brought you Blue Peter Award-winning SURVIVORSFor as long as there have been wars, animals have been out there saving lives. Courageous dogs, cats, birds, horses, and even a bear have shown courage and devotion, and this book tells you their extraordinary stories. Includes the story of Jet the Alsatian who became a hero of the Blitz, pulling survivors from burning rubble, night after night. Gallipoli Murphy, the donkey who served as an ambulance. Simon, the cat who saved his crew. And many, many more. These animals help us to remember that not all heroes are human. Glorious full-colour double-page illustrations throughout.Praise for the series:True-story fans will love this.Inis Childrens Books Ireland Full of incredible real-life stories . . . Ultimately an inspirational book, beautifully illustrated.Angels and UrchinsA great collection of harrowing, true survivor stories.Kirkus

Coge la lupa, sigue las huellas que los faraones han dejado en la arena de la historia, y descubre más de 200 curiosidades del antiguo Egipto. Viaja al antiguo Egipto y descubre cómo vivían los FARAONES, los esclavos y los escribas. Aprende los JEROGLIFICOS, descubre el secreto de las MOMIAS y maravillate con una PIRAMIDE vista desde dentro. ¡Horas y horas de diversion en el desierto!

¡Atención, grumete! Coge la lupa de la cubierta y navega por los siete mares con este libro de piratas que esconde más de 200 secretos.Durante tu aventura a través de las páginas de este libro, descubriras a once piratas reales, aprenderas acerca de la vida en altamar -sobre y bajo cubierta- y exploraras hasta el mas minimo detalle algunos de los momentos claves en la historia de la pirateria.

A fascinating tour of Londons strangest and most intriguing locations. Ranging from architectural evidence of past incidents and stories of life beneath the city, to anecdotes of magic, mystery and murder, this is a perfect companion for the curious Londoner. It includes: A Museum of Magical Curiosities; The Citys Lost Tunnels and Citadels; The Ghost of a "She-Wolf; The Bawdy House Riots; The Story of Jack the Stripper; The Atmospheric Railway; The Thames Ringway Bicycle Race; A Banker Hanged at Newgate; The Crossdressing Highwayman; Bluebottles, Rozzers and Woodentops; The Hidden Statue of a Beaver; The Belgravia of Death; Whitehalls Licensed Brothel; Pin-Makers, Mole-Takers and Rat Catchers; Drinking in The Bucket of Blood; Londons Most Haunted House.All of London is here!

Millions live there, millions more visit each year but how many really know London?Find out: How New Yorks famous Central Park came to be modelled on a seventeenth-century London square When Primrose Hill almost gained a pyramid even larger than the Great Pyramid of Cheops Why about 640 people came to be drowned in the Thames in a single night What the royal family might do to escape London if the balloon ever goes up

Beyond the Gatehouse is a lighthearted, witty but factual biographical account of the eccentric lifestyles of the builders and residents of some of Englands best-known country houses.Extraordinary buildings require extraordinary people, and over the centuries our historic houses have produced more than their fair share of oddballs. Insulated from the outside world by vast wealth, rolling acres and the social status that a title implies, aristocrats have always been able to amuse themselves and now us by pursuing their idiosyncratic interests and manias to the point of eccentricity. The 12th Duke of Bedford preferred parrots to people forcing his children to steal the birds food to make up their own meagre rations while the 5th Duke of Portland paid his staff a bonus on the understanding they would never speak to him. The Hon. Henry Cavendish inherited a million pounds in the 1780s, but never spent more than five shillings on dinner, while more recently the 2nd Lord Rothschild spent weeks training a team of zebra to pull his carriage up the Mall and into Buckingham Palace.David Long lifts the lid on all thats bizarre, implausible, unthinkable and delightfully wacky about our glorious heritage homes and their unusual occupants.

Many of the worlds most famous hats have their origins in Britain; in the Middle Ages there were civil and religious laws requiring hats to be worn and in Victorian Britain a person would no more leave home without a hat than a pair of trousers. It is no surprise that Londons oldest surviving shop, Lock and Co., is a hatter. From practical everyday caps and bonnets to military headwear, top hats, and even the coronation crown, hats of all sorts have passed through its doors and continue to do so after more than 300 years. In this fascinating new book David Long reveals how much of Britains social history can be understood through its headwear, and in exploring the ways in which a hat speaks volumes about its wearers rank and status he tells the stories of the people beneath some of the most famous hats of history.