Books by Tom Jackson

The Magic School Bus Presents: Our Solar System: A Nonfiction Companion to the Original Magic School Bus Series

by Tom Jackson

THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS PRESENTS THE PLANETS is a photographic nonfiction companion book to the original bestselling title, THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS LOST IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
LOST IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM taught thousands of kids about the planets, moons, stars, and everything else you'd want to know about outer space. MAGIC SCHOOL BUS PRESENTS THE PLANETS will expand upon the original title with fresh, updated, Common Core aligned content about the amazing planets in our solar system. With vivid full-color photographs on each page as well as illustrations of the beloved Ms. Frizzle and her students, the Magic School Bus Presents series will enthrall a whole new generation of Magic School Bus readers.Don’t miss the all-new Magic School Bus: Rides Again book series and the animated show streaming on Netflix now!

Basher Science: An A to Z of Science

by Tom Jackson

This handy visual dictionary covers the key topics in the core STEM subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics.

The A-Z of Science brings the unique and popular Basher illustrative approach of capturing key scientific concepts as quirky but memorable characters, combined with the informative, humorous, and accessible text of science author Tom Jackson. This handy guide will be a sure-fire hit with school students learning these core subjects for the first time, as well as a useful reference guide and reminder for older high-school and college students looking for a revision guide.

The entries are organized alphabetically, and cover all the topics you would expect to find in a core science book, from acids and atoms to X-rays and zygotes. Break-out feature spreads cover more complex, high-interest topics such as classification, cell, and nitrogen cycle.

The A-Z of Science includes over 300 scientific definitions, many of them accompanied by Basher's perennially popular hip-kicky illustrations. It's a must-have book for every student of science!

Basher Science: Engineering: The Riveting World of Buildings and Machines

by Tom Jackson, Simon Basher

How does a 3D printer work? What stops a skyscraper from falling over? Where does a smart phone store information?

Welcome to the world of engineering! Discover how the familiar machines and buildings in today's world are constructed, and how they function. How do scientists choose the right materials for the right job? Which scientific principles lie behind each machine or structure?

Basher's highly original books explain difficult scientific concepts in ingenious ways, making them tangible, understandable and even lovable. Chatty first-person text and stylish, contemporary character illustrations give a voice, personality, and story to each topic -- it's a truly brilliant way to communicate science.

Basher Games: Chess: We've Got All the Best Moves! (Basher Mini)

by Tom Jackson

• Which member of the Piece Patrol is the most powerful?
• Can you tell a pin from a fork?
• Who is the greatest chess player of all time?

Basher’s Chess has the answers to these questions and more. Get to know the major players on the chessboard and find out the different moves they make to try and capture King. See how a game of chess unfolds from Opening to Endgame and pick up some top tips and strategies along the way. Meet the world’s greatest chess players―including Abhimanyu Mishra, Magnus Carlsen, and Judit Polgár―and discover how you, too, can become a master of the game!

Perfect for home or school, Basher's highly original books make difficult concepts tangible, understandable, and even lovable. Chatty first-person text and stylish, contemporary character illustrations give a voice, personality, and story to each topic―a brilliant way to communicate science, history, and geography. . .

Basher Science Mini: Pandemic

by Tom Jackson

Do you know what happens when Virus goes viral? How does Immune System fight infection when it strikes? And why do masks matter?

Kids need real science information about the Covid-19 pandemic that has kept them away from school, kept their parents away from work, and may even have harmed people they know and love. And they want information about how to deal with their feelings, too. The Basher mix of science and humor makes these difficult times less frightening by providing approachable and easily understandable information in a format kids know and love.

From Smallpox to Social Distancing, this book is crammed with bad actors from the world of pandemics. Find out about history’s nastiest diseases, then discover how Vaccine, Treatment, and Clinical Trial help to beat back today’s viruses. And turn to Hygiene, Face Mask, Lockdown, and Resourcefulness for advice on keeping safe physically―and mentally.

Basher’s distinctive, colorful illustrations and Tom Jackson’s lively, engaging text will demystify pandemics, while informing kids about the coronavirus that has changed their lives.

The Perfect Resume: Today's Ultimate Job Search Tool

by Tom Jackson

Tackle the tough employment market and land the job you want.

Today, more than ever, it takes a powerful resume to open doors to the opportunities you seek. Increasingly important as hiring systems change, the right resume defines your objectives, your talent, and the unique benefits you offer. Done right, it also gets this information into the hands of the right decision makers.

Based on new research into hiring and staffing methods, executive search, electronic screening systems, and public and private job banks, The Perfect Resume puts you ahead of the pack, whether you are after your first job or a competitive senior slot.

Learn how today’s employment process has radically altered the way resumes are used and jobs are filled

Understand how to start from the roots of your values, needs, and desires, not simply published help wanted listings

Assess your key strengths, capabilities, and experiences and focus them toward the situations you want most

Choose formats and delivery methods that are best able to penetrate electronic and bureaucratic prescreening systems and get interviews

Use e-mail and custom cover letters to spotlight your worth

Review case histories showing how people with special needs adapted their resumes and letters to get heard

Decide how to present yourself in a way that makes the most of your best

Dinopedia: "An Encyclopedia of Prehistoric Beasts"

by Tom Jackson

From the ferocious sea monster Ichthyosaurus and the lumbering plated Stegosaurus to Velociratpor, the stealthy two-legged hunter and Quetzalcoatlus, the God of the skies, Dinopedia is a guide to prehistoric beasts. Discover how experts figured out chickens are actually dinosaurs, and explore the answers to the big questions we all want to know about dinosaurs: What did dinosaurs sound like? How did dinosaurs move? What color were dinosaurs?

Lovingly brought to life by the illustration duo behind Mythopedia and Return of the Wild, Good Wives and Warriors, this book shows dinosaurs as they've never been presented before.

Let the weird and wonderful creatures of the past spark your child's imagination and inspire them to learn about the Earth as it was millions, and millions, and MILLIONS of years ago.

Follow the Link: A Journey Through Technology: From Frogs' Legs to the Titanic

by Tom Jackson

Follow the Link: A Journey Through Technology takes the reader on a journey through a network of knowledge. It tells the story of how we figured out what electricity is and how we learned to use it to communicate with each other. Over the centuries, we have taken the same power that creates a flash of lightning and used it to make Wi-Fi hotspots, power touchscreens, and send video messages. The inspiration behind new ideas is often surprising, unpredictable and sometimes rather bizarre - discover how an experiment with frogs' legs made people think animals were kept alive by lightning, and other strange and incredible tales of progress.

Mathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers (100 Ponderables) Revised and Updated

by Tom Jackson

REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION
Here is the essential guide to mathematics, an authoritative reference book and timeline that explores the work of history's greatest mathematicians. These include the teasing genius of Pierre de Fermat, who said he knew the answers but rarely gave them up, the helpful guidance of Fibonacci, whose 13th-century compendium for bookkeepers proved to be a valuable tool for the most high-minded mathematicians, and the fractal pattern discovered by Waclaw Sierpinski now used to plan the route a mailman takes. With a glimpse of the abstract landscapes of infinite numbers and multi-dimensional shapes that these incredible minds explore, we can begin to get beyond school-day sums and understand the true power of mathematics. 100 milestone facts reveal the greatest mathematical breakthroughs through the eyes of the people who made them. Authoritative text, historical imagery, and helpful diagrams are combined with stories and everyday examples to make the complex mathematics accessible to everyone. Includes a 12-page foldout Timeline poster which stretches out to 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) long. Mathematics is part of the bestselling 100 Ponderables series which tackles STEM subjects by partnering lively text about significant milestones with stunning illustrations. Every book includes a timeline/chart poster which puts these milestones in historical context. Perfect for smart kids and curious adults!

Numbers: How Counting Changed the World (Inside Mathematics)

by Tom Jackson

Think math is boring? Think again! Numbers: How Counting Changed the World cracks open the history of numbers to explore the surprising, fascinating, and sometimes mind-boggling evolution of mathematics through the ages.

Did you know that the division symbol is actually a dagger? Or that something as simple as 1, 2, 3, nearly ended up breaking math for good? What is an imaginary number exactly? Numbers may seem simple on the surface but they will defy your imagination. Written to engage, entertain and enthuse readers young and old, Numbers: How Counting Changed the World takes an entirely new approach to the wonderful world of mathematics. Along the way, readers will meet the early geniuses who figured out what numbers are and what we could do with them. Theyll learn how numbers influence almost everything around us from the invention of the first computer, to the way we count and experience time itself. And theyll encounter strange and quirky stories about some of maths biggest names. From John Napier, the inventor of algorithms, who never went anywhere without his pet rooster, to Pythagoras, who just might have been a murderer, Numbers: How Counting Changed the World shows that there is much more to numbers than 1, 2, 3.

The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures

by Tom Jackson

The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures takes young readers back millions of years to the Age of Dinosaurs, showcasing 36 incredible animals with rich, colorful illustrations and interesting facts. From the savage Velociraptor and the terrifying Allosaurus to the soaring Pterodactylus and deep-diving Ichthyosaurus, all types of prehistoric creatures are presented in stunning detail. Fact boxes list the location where each animal's fossils were found, the meaning of its name, its size, and other key characteristics. The magnificent creatures of the prehistoric world are waiting to be discovered on these pages.

The Magnificent Book of Dangerous Animals

by Tom Jackson

Learn about 36 dangerous animals in this beautifully illustrated reference book filled with fascinating facts.

The Magnificent Book of Dangerous Animals takes you into the wilderness where you will encounter all sorts of wild and dangerous creatures.

From predatory orcas powering the waves to green anacondas ready to deliver a deadly hug, The Magnificent Book of Dangerous Animals captures a variety of dangerous animals through stunning illustrations. Meet charging hippos, shocking eels, venomous snails, and poisonous frogs. Fascinating and fearsome facts accompany every up-close illustration, explaining just why you shouldn’t get any closer.

Discover hundreds of fascinating facts about dangerous creatures in this gorgeous reference that you will revisit again and again.

36 CREATURES: Learn about dozens of ferocious creatures, from leopards and lions to sharks and scorpions.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Vibrant, detailed images bring the animals to life.

FASCINATING FACTS: Includes hundreds of fascinating facts in an easy-to-read format that will enthrall animal lovers of all ages.

MAP OF THE WORLD: Includes a beautiful, full-color map that shows where in the world each dangerous animal lives.

COLLECT THE SERIES: More beautifully illustrated compendiums for all ages include The Magnificent Book of Birds, The Magnificent Book of Horses, The Magnificent Book of Extinct Animals, and The Magnificent Book of Birds.

The Magnificent Book of Horses

by Weldon Owen, Tom Jackson, Diana Ferguson

This beautifully illustrated series will have you captivated. Stunning illustrations, intriguing facts, and a large format make an engaging reference to revisit time and again.

From stocky Shetland ponies and gentle Welsh cobs to energetic Arabian horses and muscular destriers, dozens of horse breeds are depicted in beautiful full-color illustrations. Accompanied by a selection of intriguing facts about each horse, this is a wonderful reference young equestrians will revisit time and again.

The Magnificent Book of Horses

by Weldon Owen, Tom Jackson, Diana Ferguson

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The Short Story of Science: A Pocket Guide to Key Histories, Experiments, Theories, Instruments and Methods

by Tom Jackson

The Short Story of Science is a new introduction to the complete subject of science. Covering 60 key experiments, from Archimedes' investigations of buoyancy to the discovery of dark matter, and then linking these to the history of science, as well as to the key theories and methods, the book simplifies and explains all the key breakthroughs.

Accessible and concise, generously illustrated throughout, and with all the essential information presented without jargon, readers are given all the tools they need to enjoy the fascinating history of scientific knowledge.

The Magnificent Book of Fantasy Creatures

by Tom Jackson

Meet fire-breathing dragons, magical fairies, ancient monsters, and shapeshifting spirits as you take a journey through the fantastic realm of legend, myth, and folklore.

From the blood-sucking vampire and the three-headed dog Cerberus to the beautiful unicorn and the powerful centaur, a myriad of fantasy creatures from across the globe and many different cultures are brought to life in this large-format volume bursting with detailed full-color images.

Fascinating facts accompany each illustration, so you can find out why looking at a basilisk means certain death, where to find a Yeti, and why you should never disturb an ogre.

DOZENS OF FANTASY CREATURES: Learn about 36 giants, spirits, demons, and monsters.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Vibrant, detailed images bring these creatures of myth, folklore, and legend to life.

FASCINATING FACTS: Includes hundreds of fascinating facts in an easy-to-read format that will enthral mythology lovers of all ages.

CLASSROOM TO COFFEE TABLE: This beautiful volume is equally at home on a school bookshelf to support student learning as in a living room to be enjoyed by the whole family.

COLLECT THE SERIES: More fascinating compendiums for all ages include The Magnificent Book of Monsters, The Magnificent Book of Dragons, The Magnificent Book of Extinct Animals, and The Magnificent Book of Sharks, and more!

The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs

by Tom Jackson

Travel back in time to meet the most magnificent dinosaurs in close up.

The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs takes you back to prehistoric times to meet 36 incredible beasts.

From the terrifying T. rex to the speedy Velociraptor, this book depicts some of the most incredible dinosaurs in stunning and accurate original illustrations. Intriguing facts accompany every illustration, so you can learn which is the largest land predator ever found, how the feathered Deinonychus kept its huge hooked claws sharp, and why Triceratops had a large bony frill. This is the perfect book for dinosaur-lovers everywhere.

36 DINOSAURS: Learn about dozens of dinosaurs from all over the world, from the stealthy Spinosaurus to the mighty Dreadnoughtus.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Vibrant, detailed images bring these incredible beasts to back to life.

FASCINATING FACTS: Includes hundreds of fascinating facts in an easy-to-read format that will excite dinosaur-lovers of all ages.

MAP OF THE DINOSAUR WORLD: A full-page color map shows where each dinosaur originates.

COLLECT THE SERIES: More beautifully illustrated collections for all ages include The Magnificent Book of Extinct Animals, The Magnificent Book of Cats, The Magnificent Book of Sharks, The Magnificent Book of Horses, and The Magnificent Book of Birds.

The Magnificent Book of Ocean Creatures

by Tom Jackson

Dive into the world’s oceans, exploring sunlit coral reefs, wide open seas, and the murky depths to meet 36 magnificent ocean creatures.

Take a journey through oceans and seas to find 36 magnificent marine animals, from the immense blue whale to speedy flying fish. See fierce predators like the great white shark and orca, as well as truly bizarre creatures such as the giant clam and the sea slug. During your watery adventure you can find out how whales talk to each other, where sea turtles sleep, and how sea stars eat. Marvel at the hooded seal’s extraordinary air bag and at the humpback anglerfish’s glowing ‘fishing rod’. Learn how the sea otter uses a tool to crack open shellfish and why the queen parrotfish is an expert reef-cleaner.

With stunning illustrations, intriguing facts, and full-color, poster-sized illustrations, this is the ideal reference for all the family.

36 OCEAN CREATURES: Learn about dozens of ocean creatures, from the spiny lobster to the majestic sailfish.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Vibrant, detailed images bring these fascinating ocean creatures to life.

FASCINATING FACTS: Includes hundreds of illuminating facts in an easy-to-read format that will enthrall animal-lovers of all ages.

MAP OF THE OCEAN WORLD: A full-page map shows where each ocean creature is found.

COLLECT THE SERIES: More beautifully illustrated compendiums for all ages include The Magnificent Book of Cats, The Magnificent Book of Birds, The Magnificent Book of Horses, The Magnificent Book of Extinct Animals, and The Magnificent Book of Sharks.

The Magnificent Book of Reptiles and Amphibians

by Tom Jackson

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Future Humans: Hows-Whys - Tech - Medicine - Human Enhancement - Genetics - Wrongs - Rights - Playing God-Who Wants to Live Forever? - Science vs Morality (What's the Issue?)

by Tom Jackson

What is transhumanism? What is AI? Are these good developments or bad ones? How might immortality be possible? And should we even want to live forever? Get the facts and make up your own mind on these and more questions related to enhanced human potential with Future Humans, part of the new What's the Issue? series.

What does it really mean to be human? In the future, might we be forced to rethink the answer? In this fascinating book, explore these questions through topics like: Prosthetics and implants Plastic surgery Performance drugs External memory Genetic modifications Nanotechnology Smart drugs (cognitive enhancers) Cyborgs Bioprinting The What's the Issue? series tackles engaging, thought-provoking subjects chosen from the headlines and public debates. What's the Issue? asks “what’s all the fuss about?,” presents the key facts, reviews what’s at stake in each case, and weighs the pros and cons. The goal of the series is to help young people understand difficult concepts, provide them with the tools to inform their own opinions, and help them to see and influence changes within our society.

Space Atlas: A journey from earth to the stars and beyond (Amazing Adventures)

by Tom Jackson

What is life like on the International Space Station? Can we survive on Mars? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Just how big is the universe anyway? The ultimate guide to our galaxy, Space Atlas answers all these questions and more while exploring the far reaches of space, from our own planet to neutron stars, thousands of light years away.

Showcasing significant locations in space, which are explored in depth with stunning illustrations, photos of space, interesting fact files, diagrams, and information on scientific achievements, this unique atlas tells you everything you could ever want to know about the universe, while taking you on a stunning visual journey through the stars.

Featuring in-depth explorations of the Sun, the Earth, the solar system, black holes, quasars, and the Milky Way, Space Atlas presents a mix of stunning, graphic illustrations and factual photographs that brings the subject of space to life in the most beautiful and informative way.

Machines in Motion: The Amazing History of Transportation

by Tom Jackson

Every day, all over the world, people travel: short trips or great, long voyages, moving slowly and steadily or racing along at super-fast speeds. They make their trips in cars, trains, planes, ships and on bikes-and some people have even blasted off in rockets! But how did these vehicles become what we know now?

With intricately illustrated timelines, this book takes readers on a journey through the developmental history of various modes of transportation – from chariots to electric cars, dugout canoes to ocean liners, cable cars to bullet trains, and the many iterations in between. The fascinating stories behind each of these machines join together to reveal a comprehensive history of how new and inventive forms of transportation have built off one another to change our world.

Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World and Might Do So Again

by Tom Jackson

The refrigerator may seem mundane nowadays, but it is one of the wonders of twentieth-century science--lifesaver, food preserver, social liberator. Part historical narrative, part scientific decoder, Chilled looks at early efforts to harness the cold at the ice pits of Persia (Iranians still call their fridges the "ice pit") and ice harvests on the Regents Canal. As people learned more about what cold actually was, scientists invented machines for producing it on demand. The discovery of refrigeration and its applications features a cast of characters that includes the Ice King of Boston, Galileo, Francis Bacon, an expert on gnomes, a magician who chilled a cathedral, a Renaissance duke addicted to iced eggnog, and a Bavarian nobleman from New England.

Refrigeration technology has been crucial in some of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the last one hundred years, from the discovery of superconductors to the search for the Higgs boson. Refrigeration is needed to make soap, store penicillin, and without it, in vitro fertilization would be impossible. And the fridge will still be pulling the strings behind the scenes as teleporters and intelligent-computer brains turn our science-fiction vision of the future into fact.

Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World and Might Do So Again

by Tom Jackson

The refrigerator may seem mundane nowadays, but it is one of the wonders of twentieth-century science--lifesaver, food preserver, social liberator. Part historical narrative, part scientific decoder, CHILLED recounts early efforts to harness the cold at the ice pits of Persia and ice harvests on the Regents Canal. As people learned more about what cold actually was, scientists invented machines for producing it on demand. The discovery of refrigeration and its applications features a cast of characters that includes the Ice King of Boston, Galileo, Francis Bacon, an expert on gnomes, a magician who chilled a cathedral, a Renaissance duke addicted to iced eggnog, and a Bavarian nobleman from New England.

Refrigeration technology has been crucial in some of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the last one hundred years, from the discovery of superconductors to the search for the Higgs boson. And the fridge will still be pulling the strings behind the scenes as teleporters and intelligent-computer brains turn our science-fiction vision of the future into fact.

Hackers: Hows-Whys - Election Meddling - Identity Theft - Activism - Wrongs-Rights - Freedom of Speech - Fake News - Clickbait (What's the Issue?)

by Tom Jackson

What are hackers? Are they good? Bad? What can we do to protect ourselves, businesses, and society against hackers? How can we control them? And should we try? Get the facts and make up your own mind on these and more questions with Hackers, part of the new What's the Issue? series.

Should states be allowed access to all communications? What level of privacy should an individual expect? Who owns the Internet? In this fascinating starting point to understanding the wider subject of the Internet and Internet safety, explore these questions through topics like: Spying Encryption Security Hacking techniques Cyber warfare Cryptocurrencies The Dark Web The What's the Issue? series tackles engaging, thought-provoking subjects chosen from the headlines and public debates. What's the Issue? asks “what’s all the fuss about?,” presents the key facts, reviews what’s at stake in each case, and weighs the pros and cons. The goal of the series is to help young people understand difficult concepts, provide them with the tools to inform their own opinions, and help them to see and influence changes within our society.

The Human Body in Minutes

by Tom Jackson

This concise, illuminating guide takes us on a comprehensive tour of our bodies, explaining how they work and why they work that way, from the basic unit of the cell, through the tissues and organs that make up the body's systems, to how these systems work together to form a complete human being, from evolution, genetics, and conception through to disease, death, and how technology will transform the body of the future.

The Human Body in Minutes covers the features and functions of all the major body systems including the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, reproductive, nervous, and hormonal systems, as well as human evolution, inheritance and genetics, human behavior, and illness and medicine.

With 200 cutting-edge anatomical images, cross-sections, and closeups that detail and explain the brain, eye, heart, skin, skeleton, lung, kidney, ear, blood liver, stomach, muscles, veins, arteries, DNA, chromosomes, and all of the key features of our bodies, this is the perfect, easy reference to the anatomy, physiology, and science of the human body.

Follow the Link: A Journey Through Transportation: From Hot Lava to a Spy Rocket

by Tom Jackson

Find out about lava bombs, lost cities, lodestones, and magnets, how the pyramids were made, who invented the coach trip, and why plumbers are called plumbers in this fantastic book jam-packed with super interesting facts and information about inventions and discoveries! Embark on a journey through a network of knowledge down the centuries and discover how we figured out the way to unlock the materials found in nature and then put them to work to transport us wherever we want to go. Did you know that cold rocks were turned into hot metals, invisible forces were picked up by carved stone, and sand and soot were used to make the toughest spacecraft ever? Explore how ideas have evolved through time with this brilliant fact-filled book.

Basher Science: Wild Weather: A Hot Topic! It's Really Wild!

by Dan Green, Tom Jackson

How much do you know about supermachines? How many gadgets can you name? There’s always more to discover with Basher Science: Technology.

Learn about the tech marvels that have revolutionized the world around us, by meeting a whole community of characters that bring scientific concepts to life. This book is a fascinating guide to the things that drive our inventive, ever-changing and highly-engineered world.

Simon Basher's exciting, vibrant illustrations combine with engaging, first-person text by Dan Green to help make complex topics fun and accessible. By bringing concepts to life as characters, this book offers a fresh perspective, making core scientific subjects tangible and understandable.

Thousands of children are already enjoying the Basher universe. Find out even more with the Basher Science series, including: Planet Earth, Algebra and Geometry, Human Body, and Engineering.

Cool Pasta Reinventing the Pasta Salad

by Tom Jackson

Pasta salads are back, but not as you know them... Cool Pasta presents bright, delicious and original pasta recipes that will breathe fresh life into your favorite store-cupboard staple. Pasta salad is the perfect warm weather dish: rummage through the shelves of your local store to rustle up a summery lunch for the next few days, prepare a big platterful for when company's comin', or simply eat it straight from the mixing bowl as you scan your diary for potluck or picnic potential. With 60+ innovative recipes including Tuna Melt - the iconic sandwich reimagined as a pasta salad, Spanakopasta with grilled feta and crispy filo shards, silky and tangy Brown ButterGnocchi Chaat, and a tongue-numbing Sichuan-Style Pici Salad, Cool Pasta takes the heat off every social occasion and brings texture, contrast and exciting flavours to the al fresco table.

How Technology Works From Monster Trucks to Mars Rovers

by Clive Gifford, Jack Challoner, Tom Jackson, Dorling Kindersley (COR), Hilary Lamb

Get inside the machinery of the modern world and understand the science that makes it all work with this all-in-one encyclopedia.

Make technology fun, fascinating, and accessible with this inspiring guide for children aged 9+ that explains the machinery of everyday life.

Each page of this detailed encyclopedia will guide kids through the technology that surrounds them. Have you ever been tempted to take the back off your TV? Have you wondered about what's going on beneath your feet on the street where you live? Children can lift the lid on the technology they use all the time but take for granted. It also takes them to places they'll never get the chance to see, such as the inside of a nuclear storage facility or the crew capsule on top of a Moon rocket.

This technology encyclopedia for kids offers:

- Important insights into the science that makes machinery work, explained in an accessible way for 9-12 year olds.
Zoom-ins, pull-outs, cutaways, and sequences that reveal hidden features and explain how things - work.
- Technology at every scale, from your own body to an electric scooter or a national power grid.


How Technology Works takes kids on a journey of discovery, starting with technology at work inside the human body before exploring cities and factories and then blasting off into space. Along the way, they will lose themselves in super-detailed illustrations that reveal amazing hidden things and explain how they work.

How Science Works The Facts Visually Explained

by Tom Jackson

This visual guide is packed with amazing diagrams and infographics to answer all your burning scientific head-scratchers - from gravity and black holes to earthquakes and gene therapy.

In How Science Works you will find the most fascinating phenomena in the Universe visually explained, from pulleys to string theory, light to lasers, and chemical reactions to artificial intelligence. If you have ever wondered why the sky is blue, how a black hole works, or what happens in a tsunami, this indispensable guide is for you.

Rather than long columns of text, How Science Works is filled with diagrams and infographics, to make even the most difficult concept fun and easy to grasp. Turn the pages to understand dark matter, radioactivity and so much more, and find answers to the really big questions including how life began, will the Universe end, and are we really alone?

With hours of enthralling reading, How Science Works is the book you wished you'd had at school and it's the one you'll want for your family.

Insect Architecture How Insects Build, Engineer, and Shape Their World

by Tom Jackson, Michael S. Engel

The essential illustrated guide to the ingenious techniques that insects use to construct an astounding array of natural structures, from nests to shelters to traps

Insect Architecture takes you inside the amazing structures that insects build, from the paper galleries of yellowjacket wasps to elaborate termite mounds complete with royal chambers and air-conditioning systems. Each chapter focuses on a group of insect architects, describing the materials and methods they use while exploring the structures themselves in detail. Blending spectacular illustrations with illuminating case studies of representative species from around the world, this is the ultimate guide to insect artistry and innovation.

• Features a wealth of color photos, explanatory diagrams and blueprints, step-by-step sequences, and visual spreads
• Covers all major groups of insect architects and the broad array of structures they build
• Explains how anatomy, life cycle, and habitat are the ingredients to extraordinary creations
• Profiles the insect world’s most accomplished builders—from beetles, bees, and cicadas to moths, wasps, ants, and termites
• Discusses the ecological impacts of insect architecture
• Reveals how insect builders have inspired human design innovations

The New Science Encyclopedia Chemistry * Physics * Biology

by Tom Jackson, Janet Bingham

This comprehensive hardback encyclopedia will teach children all they want to know about the wonders of science, presented with striking gold cover accents and full-color illustrations.

From botany and biotechnology to atomic structure and fundamental forces of the Universe, science is the story of all life. This thoughtful and thorough primer shows how scientists have shaped the modern world, and how the subject continues to offer crucial insights into our lives and the lives of so many other creatures on our extraordinary planet.

Key scientific concepts chemistry, physics and biology are explained in simple, easy-to-understand terms, and clarified by clever diagrams as well as, eye-catching photography from around the world.

For all inquisitive children aged 8+.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus New Encyclopedias are entertaining and visually spectacular reference guides for young readers, complete with eye-opening stats and fascinating facts with full-color photography.

Plankton A Worldwide Guide

by Tom Jackson, Jennifer Parker

A richly illustrated guide to the marvelously diverse plankton of the world and their fundamental role in planetary food webs

Plankton are the unsung heroes of planet Earth. Passive drifters through the world’s seas, oceans, and freshwater environments, most are invisible or very small, but some are longer than a whale. They are the global ocean’s foundation food, supporting almost all oceanic life, and they are also vitally important for land-based plants, animals, and other organisms. Plankton provides an incomparable look at these remarkable creatures, opening a window on the elegance and grace of microscopic marine life.

This engaging book reveals the amazing diversity of plankton, how they belong to a wide range of living groups, and how their ecology, lifestyles, and adaptations have evolved to suit an enormous range of conditions. It looks at plankton life cycles, the different ways plankton feed and grow, and the vast range of strategies they use for reproduction. It tracks where, how, and why plankton drift through the water; shares perspectives on migrations and population explosions or “blooms” and why they happen; and discusses the life-sustaining role of plankton in numerous intertwined food webs throughout the world.

Beautifully illustrated, Plankton sheds critical light on how global warming, pollution, diminishing resources, and overexploitation will adversely impact planktonic life, and how these effects will reverberate to every corner of our planet.

Psychology An Illustrated History of the Mind from Hypnotism to Brain Scans

by Tom Jackson

Here is the essential guide to psychology, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines how we learned to understand the mysteries of the human mind.
Psychology is a young science. While great thinkers have pondered the nature of thought itself for centuries, the idea of using scientific experiments to examine the way we think, make decisions, and behave was only arrived at in the mid-19th century. However, the impact of psychology has been far reaching. Thanks to the work of Sigmund Freud, William James, Abraham Maslow, and many others, we now consider the psychological impact of events, along with their economic, political and legal aspects. Nevertheless, psychology studies a very difficult subject, the human mind, and finding ways of measuring our thoughts is not easy. New techniques, such the functional MRI scanner and improved understanding of brain function, may help to unlock the secrets of what makes us who we are. What do you think?

Psychology is is part of the bestselling 100 Ponderables series which tackles STEM subjects by partnering lively text about significant milestones with stunning illustrations. Every book includes a timeline/chart poster which puts these milestones in historical context. Perfect for smart kids and curious adults!

Volcano Atlas An Epic Journey Around the World's Most Incredible Volcanoes

by Tom Jackson

Join us on a fiery tour of volcanoes around the world! Each ferocious volcano is brought to life with fact files and labelled diagrams.

In this follow-up to Space Atlas, Ocean Atlas, Dinosaur Atlas, and Endangered Animals Atlas, readers will be taken on a journey around the globe and across the oceans, discovering the most spectacular, historic, and unusual volcanoes and volcanic regions in the world.

Marvel at the eruption of Vesuvius that buried Pompeii, the lake of lava found at Erta Ale, the 450 volcanoes located in the Ring of Fire, and the hidden power of the Yellowstone supervolcano, quietly waiting to erupt.

On this Amazing Adventure, readers will discover how volcanoes are formed, the most significant volcanic eruptions of the past, and the potentially destructive eruptions of the future.

So maybe you’ve wondered:

• How are volcanoes formed?
• What different types of volcanoes are there?
• What is the most destructive eruption that has ever happened?
• What is blue lava and how is it formed?

This expansive guide to volcanoes and volcanic eruptions answers all these questions and more, as readers journey around the world and marvel at the power it holds. Make geography fun and support school learning by bringing explosive, volcanic excitement to their reading!

Wild Animals

by Tom Jackson, Barry Madden

Illustrated with more than 250 outstanding photographs, Wild Animals presents an in-depth look at the natural world’s most deadly, endangered or just plain strange creatures, from poisonous spiders to aggressive caimans and man-eating sharks. The selection spans a broad spectrum of wildlife, from large carnivores such as the grizzly bear and great white shark to smaller creatures such as the kiwi, elephant beetle and sea spider. Each of the world's habitats is covered, with examples carefully drawn from every region of the planet – from the majestic lion of the African plains and the polar bear of the Arctic wastes, to the Komodo dragon of Southeast Asia, whose saliva carries poisonous bacteria that can kill a person in hours. Featuring around 175 species, each photographic entry is supported with a fascinating caption, explaining how the animal manages to be so deadly. Beautifully presented, this accessible book is a wonderful introduction to some of the planet’s most fascinating wild creatures.