Best of
Geography

2020

The World Beneath Their Feet: Mountaineering, Madness, and the Deadly Race to Summit the Himalayas


Scott Ellsworth - 2020
    Teams of mountaineers from Great Britain, Nazi Germany, and the United States were all competing to be the first to climb the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest and K2. Unlike climbers today, they had few photographs or maps, no properly working oxygen systems, and they wore leather boots and cotton parkas. Amazingly, and against all odds, they soon went farther and higher than anyone could have imagined. And as they did, their story caught the world's attention. The climbers were mobbed at train stations, and were featured in movies and plays. James Hilton created the mythical land of Shangri-La in Lost Horizon, while an English eccentric named Maurice Wilson set out for Tibet in order to climb Mount Everest alone. And in the darkened corridors of the Third Reich, officials soon discovered the propaganda value of planting a Nazi flag on top of the world's highest mountains Set in London, New York, Germany, and in India, China, and Tibet, The World Beneath Their Feet is a story not only of climbing and mountain climbers, but also of passion and ambition, courage and folly, tradition and innovation, tragedy and triumph. Scott Ellsworth tells a rollicking, real-life adventure story that moves seamlessly from the streets of Manhattan to the footlights of the West End, deadly avalanches on Nanga Parbat, rioting in the Kashmir, and the wild mountain dreams of a New Zealand beekeeper named Edmund Hillary and a young Sherpa runaway called Tenzing Norgay. Climbing the Himalayas was the Greatest Generation's moonshot-one that was clouded by the onset of war and then, incredibly, fully accomplished. A gritty, fascinating history that promises to enrapture fans of Hampton Sides, Erik Larson, Jon Krakauer, and Laura Hillenbrand, The World Beneath Their Feet brings this forgotten story back to life.

St. Joseph and His World


Mike Aqualina - 2020
    

Unbreaking India: Decision on Article 370 and the CAA


Sanjay Dixit - 2020
    Author Sanjay Dixit delves deep into the past and traces the events, actions and their repercussions that finally led to the Union of India introducing these two measures. He looks at these events from all perspectives-historical, social and political.For Article 370, he traces the entire history of Kashmir from its pre-Islamic past and to the events that unfolded at the time of the Partition of India, leading to the initial inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution of India. Dixit also studies in detail the legal and constitutional labyrinths, discussing the various Presidential Orders and case laws from the Constitutional Bench jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.For CAA, Dixit traces the constitutional history of India from the time of the partition of Bengal in 1905 to the unfortunate events of the Partition in 1947. His study relies heavily on Dr B.R. Ambedkar's analysis of the reasons for the Partition and the theology of a 'separate nation' that prevailed during the period. The author contends that this same theology has been staging a comeback now in the form of mazhabi pehchan which forms the crux of the anti-CAA protests.The informed position of the author, his lucidity of language and directness of approach lend clarity to his arguments and makes this an accessible and important read.

Dame Traveler: Live the Spirit of Adventure


Nastasia Yakoub - 2020
     From backpackers in Peru to artists in Berlin to storytellers in Morocco, Dame Traveler celebrates the diversity and bravery of women from around the world who are not afraid to think (and live) outside the box.The revolutionary Dame Traveler Instagram account was founded by Nastasia Yakoub, who was born into a strict Chaldean-Middle Eastern community where women are expected to marry young and put aside other personal ambitions. But at the age of twenty, Nastasia embarked on a solo trip to South Africa to volunteer at an orphanage in Cape Town, which sparked a love of world travel. Recognizing a void in the travel industry, she founded Dame Traveler, the first female travel community on Instagram, now more than half a million strong. Nastasia herself has traveled to sixty-three countries on solo adventures, sharing colorful photos of her tantalizing travels along the way.Dame Traveler celebrates these women with a photographic collection of 200 stunning images paired with inspiring captions, 80% of which have never been seen on the Instagram account. Organized into sections on architecture, culture, nature, and water, each entry features travel information, plus tips, advice, unique solo-travel experiences, and wisdom from contributing globe-trotters to embolden the next generation of Dame Travelers.

Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention


Ben Wilson - 2020
    Historian Ben Wilson, author of bestselling and award-winning books on British history, now tells the grand, glorious story of how city living has allowed human culture to flourish. Beginning with Uruk, the world's first city, dating to 5000 BC and memorably portrayed in the Epic of Gilgamesh, he shows us that cities were never a necessity but that once they existed their density created such a blossoming of human endeavor--producing new professions, forms of art, worship, and trade--that they kick-started nothing less than civilization. Guiding readers through famous cities over 7,000 years, he reveals the innovations driven by each: civics in the agora of Athens, global trade in ninth-century Baghdad, finance in the coffeehouses of London, domestic comforts in the heart of Amsterdam, peacocking in Belle Epoque Paris. In the modern age, he studies the impact of verticality in New York City, the sprawl of L.A., and the eco-reimagining of twenty-first-century Shanghai. Lively, erudite, page turning, and irresistible, Metropolis is a grand tour of human achievement.

Where Were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?


Yona Z. McDonough - 2020
    They told tales of hanging gardens that were built for a Babylonian queen, and a colossal statue that guided ships through the harbor of Rhodes in Greece. These writers compiled a list of the very best of these sights that are now known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Author Yona Zeldis McDonough takes the readers on a trip to the Great Pyramids in Egypt (the only Wonder still standing), the Statue of Zeus at Olympia in ancient Greece, and the other spectacles, detailing the creativity and skill that these early civilizations possessed.

The Dragon Ark: Join the Quest to Save the Rarest Dragon on Earth


Curatoria Draconis - 2020
    Curatoria Draconis, also known as the Dragon Protector, is on a mission to find the rarest dragon on Earth: the Chinese Celestial Dragon. Aboard the Dragon Ark, you’ll travel all over the globe and see some of the most incredible dragons—care for Deep-Sea Dragons off the coast of New Zealand, journey into the Amazon Rainforest to spot plant-loving Parvula Dragons, and travel alongside the Ice Dragons in Antarctica. Travel the world to seek out secretive and magnificent beasts, to observe and protect them in their natural habitat.

Our World: A First Book of Geography


Sue Lowell Gallion - 2020
    Secondary text offers more detailed, curriculum-focused facts and encourages readers to consider their own living environments, making the reading experience personal yet set within a global backdrop. This informative homage to Earth is sure to inspire readers to learn more about their planet – and to engage with the world around them.Ages 2–5

Bloodletting and Germs: A Doctor in Nineteenth Century Rural New York


Thomas Rosenthal - 2020
    You're sick and your village doctor has little more to offer than letting blood and purging your intestines. Or think of being the doctor, repeatedly staring at death and seeking cures while holding the hand of a feverish child. On his way to America's frontier in 1834 the newly graduated doctor, Jabez Allen MD, stops for one night in an upstate New York village. He meets a sick child, a teacher, and a young socialite abolitionist and stays a lifetime.Millicent, the abolitionist, and a conductor in the Underground Railroad, becomes Dr. Allen's wife. When they later employ Civia, a runaway slave, as a wet nurse they discover a woman of ever hopeful outlook and unexplored talents. Civia becomes indispensable to Dr. Allen's medical practice. Anti-slavery passions join Millicent and Civia and force Dr. Allen to confront the nineteenth century medical theories attempting to label Negros as physiologically inferior. Then the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act results the arrest of Civia and her family. Through it all, patients and practice force Dr. Allen to deal with the contagions of his day, including the cholera that drains life from the daughter of the very man who signed the Fugitive Slave Act, President Millard Fillmore. She dies under Dr. Allen's care. Dr. Allen is drawn to investigate a typhoid outbreak in a nearby village. Joined by Dr. Austin Flint, their discoveries result in three scientific papers used as an investigative model by John Snow and referenced in Snow's 1855 treatise on London Cholera.Dr. Allen is elected President of his county's Medical Society, makes the acquaintance of nationally known medical scientists, and participates in the 1878 AMA meeting where organized medicine argues the scientific foundation for the germ theory.Bloodletting and Germs is a historical novel written as Dr. Allen's memoir. Citing over four hundred sources, it is true to the events of Dr. Allen's life and to the forces changing medical care in the nineteenth century. Dr. Allen teaches us about managing the unknown as a small-town hero. His doctoring, and his life, put humanity's face on a period of profound scientific and social transformation.

Until June


Barbara M. Britton - 2020
    Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran.Geoff Chambers makes it clear that he isn't too fond of the runt sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted veteran, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively...Although, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

Farmers Unite! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices


Lindsay H. Metcalf - 2020
    So, on February 5, 1979, thousands of tractors from all parts of the USA took to the highways and flooded Washington, DC, in protest. Farmers wanted fair prices for their products and demanded action from Congress. After police corralled the tractors on the National Mall, the farmers and their tractors stayed through a snowstorm and dug out the city. Americans were now convinced they needed farmers, but the law took longer.Lindsay H. Metcalf, a journalist who grew up on a family farm, shares this rarely told story of grassroots perseverance and economic justice rooted in the 1980s farm crisis. It is the story of the struggle and triumph of the American farmer that still resonates today.

The Shame Game: Overturning the Toxic Poverty Narrative


Mary O'Hara - 2020
    People living in poverty have been depicted as lazy, dependent, and irresponsible so regularly and for so long that it has powerfully affected how people see, think about, and treat their fellow citizens who are financially vulnerable. Drawing on a two-year storytelling project and her own experience of childhood poverty, this book by journalist and author Mary O’Hara argues for a radical overhaul of this fundamentally pernicious portrayal. We can’t begin to address poverty until we actually see it clearly. To start the process of doing that, O’Hara turns not to pundits or social scientists, but to the real experts on poverty: the people who live it.

From Here to There: The Art and Science of Finding and Losing Our Way


Michael Shaw Bond - 2020
    This feature of our cognition is easily taken for granted, but it's also critical to our species' evolutionary success. In From Here to There, Michael Bond tells stories of the lost and found--Polynesian sailors, orienteering champions, early aviators--and surveys the science of human navigation.Navigation skills are deeply embedded in our biology. The ability to find our way over large distances in prehistoric times gave Homo sapiens an advantage, allowing us to explore the farthest regions of the planet. Wayfinding also shaped vital cognitive functions outside the realm of navigation, including abstract thinking, imagination, and memory. Bond brings a reporter's curiosity and nose for narrative to the latest research from psychologists, neuroscientists, animal behaviorists, and anthropologists. He also turns to the people who design and expertly maneuver the world we navigate: search-and-rescue volunteers, cartographers, ordnance mappers, urban planners, and more. The result is a global expedition that furthers our understanding of human orienting in the natural and built environments.A beguiling mix of storytelling and science, From Here to There covers the full spectrum of human navigation and spatial understanding. In an age of GPS and Google Maps, Bond urges us to exercise our evolved navigation skills and reap the surprising cognitive rewards.

Ernest Shackleton


Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara - 2020
    When Ernest Shackleton was young, he longed for a life of adventure. After a career in the Merchant Navy, he joined a landmark expedition to try to reach the South Pole for the first time in history. Although he had to go home early, he never gave up. His own expeditions set new records for the closest anyone had ever been to the South Pole, and he is remembered now as a courageous and inspirational leader. This exciting book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the intrepid explorer's life. ​Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

The Constitution: Decoded, Annotated, and Explained


Katie Kennedy - 2020
    The book decodes the original document with a direct translation of the text, dissecting every word, phrase and idea. Then it connects the document to major historical figures and events using full-color illustrations and examples of how the document works in practice.

Countries of the World: Our World in Pictures


D.K. Publishing - 2020
    

The River That Made Seattle: A Human and Natural History of the Duwamish


B.J. Cummings - 2020
    Chief Se'alth and his allies fished and lived in villages here and white settlers established their first settlements nearby. Industrialists later straightened the river's natural turns and built factories on its banks, floating in raw materials and shipping out airplane parts, cement, and steel. Unfortunately, the very utility of the river has been its undoing, as decades of dumping led to the river being declared a Superfund cleanup site.Using previously unpublished accounts by Indigenous people and settlers, BJ Cummings's compelling narrative restores the Duwamish River to its central place in Seattle and Pacific Northwest history. Writing from the perspective of environmental justice--and herself a key figure in river restoration efforts--Cummings vividly portrays the people and conflicts that shaped the region's culture and natural environment. She conducted research with members of the Duwamish Tribe, with whom she has long worked as an advocate. Cummings shares the river's story as a call for action in aligning decisions about the river and its future with values of collaboration, respect, and justice.

Always Italy


Frances Mayes - 2020
    In these illuminating pages, Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun and many other bestsellers, and New York Times travel writer Ondine Cohane reveal an Italy that only the locals know, filled with top destinations and unforgettable travel experiences in every region. From the colorful coastline of Cinque Terre and the quiet ports of the Aeolian Islands to the Renaissance architecture of Florence and the best pizza in Rome, every section features insider secrets and off-the-beaten-path recommendations (for example, a little restaurant in Piedmont known for its tajarin, a pasta that is the perfect bed for the region's celebrated truffles). Here are the best places to stay, eat, and tour, paired with the rich history of each city, hillside town, and unique terrain. Along the way, you'll make stops at the country's hidden gems--art galleries, local restaurants, little-known hiking trails, spas, and premier spots for R&R. Inspiring and utterly unique, this vivid treasury is a must-have for anyone who wants to experience the best of Italy.

Emily's Idea


Christine Evans - 2020
    Many beautiful ideas do.She folded, doodled, and snipped.But also, like many ideas, Emily’s small idea grew.When a little girl decides to create a paper chain of dolls, her idea catches on. Then it spreads far and wide as children around the world begin to create and share their own. This is the story of how that girl makes it happen.For readers ages 4 to 8.Includes a make-your-own page to help you get started on your own paper doll chains.

Where Is the Congo?


Megan Stine - 2020
    Dealing with present-day issues of climate change, it is home to bonobo apes, mountain gorillas, forest elephants, and more.With details about the exploration (and exploitation) by the European colonialists and the aftermath of their arrival in the Congo, this book will give readers a better understanding of the second largest rainforest in the world.

Hand Drawn Vancouver: Sketches of the City's Neighbourhoods, Buildings, and People


Emma FitzGerald - 2020
    Included are more than 100 sketches completed on location that, together, capture the essence of Vancouver. From Stanley Park's seawall to Kitsilano's salt-water swimming pool, and East Van's first craft brewery to the ferries in Horseshoe Bay, Hand Drawn Vancouver is a love letter to this beautiful and iconic city.

The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2021


Sarah Janssen - 2020
    

100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Scenic Trails


Kate Siber - 2020
    From short day hikes--California's Sierra High Route, Lake Agnes Teahouse in Alberta, Norway's Mt. Skala--to multiday excursions like Mt. Meru in Tanzania and multi-week treks (Egypt's Sinai Trail, Bhutan's Snowman Trek, and the Bibbulum Track in Australia), you'll find a hike that matches your interests and skill level. Crossing all continents and climates (from the jungles of Costa Rica to the ice fields in Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Parks), as well as experiences (a wine route through Switzerland or moose spotting on the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming,) there is a trail for everyone in these pages. So pack your gear and lace your boots: this comprehensive and innovative guide will lead you to experience the best hikes of your life!

Me and the World: An Infographic Exploration


Mireia Trius - 2020
    This content-rich book teaches about other kids and cultures around the world, all while stepping back and really seeing the big picture.Me and the World is the perfect introduction for a generation entering an increasingly digitized, data-driven world.• Packed with dynamic illustrated spreads about customs of other countries• Invites readers to see themselves in its pages through a data lens• Guided by a relatable, school-aged narratorMe and the World pairs visual literacy with data literacy, using colorful illustrations and infographics to present information in a way young readers will not only understand, but enjoy.Equal parts educational and entertaining, this makes a great pick for parents and grandparents, as well as librarians, science teachers, and educators.• Perfect for reluctant readers, especially those who would otherwise gravitate toward numbers-based pursuits like math and science, rather than than reading• The graphs, infographics, and maps are the perfect resource for educators looking for engaging content for children to understand data.• Ideal for children ages 8 to 12 years old• Add it to the shelf with books like The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems by Rachel Ignotofsky, The History Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK, and The Science Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK.

Minneapolis: An Urban Biography


Tom Weber - 2020
    Anthony Falls, and the beautiful lakes that dot the city's neighborhoods. Energized by the power of a magnificent waterfall that was harnessed with stolen technology, it became a major, even global, city.In this succinct and thought-provoking book, Tom Weber provides a biography of the City of Lakes, starting with Bdote, the confluence of the Mississippi and the Minnesota River and a sacred place for Dakota people, who have lived here for millennia. Since the city's beginnings in the 1850s, Minneapolis has experienced continual collapses and rebuilding. Some collapses were real, as when the falls were nearly destroyed; some are metaphorical, as when corruption and the mob threatened to overtake the life of the city. Taking readers to specific places on the Mississippi, Weber highlights stories of immigrants, milling, the American Indian Movement, the KKK, the university, business innovators, the vibrant arts and music scene, powerful sports teams, and a wealth of other topics.The serenity of Minneapolis’s beautiful waters underlies the tumultuous, contentious striving that has built the city. This book tells the story of its residents, living their history in the balance.

Antarctic Atlas: New Maps and Graphics That Tell the Story of A Continent


Peter Fretwell - 2020
    From a leading cartographer with the British Antarctic Survey, this new collection of maps and data reveals Antarctica as we have never seen it before.This is not just a book of traditional maps. It measures everything from the thickness of ice beneath our feet to the direction of ice flows. It maps volcanic lakes, mountain ranges the size of the Alps and gorges longer than the Grand Canyon, all hidden beneath the ice. It shows us how air bubbles trapped in ice tell us what the earth's atmosphere was like 750,000 years ago, proving the effects of greenhouse gases. Colonies of emperor penguins abound around the coastline, and the journeys of individual seals around the continent and down to the sea bed in search of food have been intricately tracked and mapped. Twenty-nine nations have research stations in Antarctica and their unique architecture is laid out here, along with the challenges of surviving in Antarctica'sunforgiving environment.Antarctica is also the frontier of our fight against climate change. If its ice melts, it will swamp almost every coastal city in the world. Antarctic Atlas illustrates the harsh beauty and magic of this mysterious continent, and shows how, far from being abstract, it has direct relevance to us all.

Fighting for a Hand to Hold: Confronting Medical Colonialism against Indigenous Children in Canada


Samir Shaheen-Hussain - 2020
    Pediatric emergency physician Samir Shaheen-Hussain's captivating narrative of this successful campaign, which garnered unprecedented public attention and media coverage, seeks to answer lingering questions about why such a cruel practice remained in place for so long. In doing so it serves as an indispensable case study of contemporary medical colonialism in Quebec. Fighting for a Hand to Hold exposes the medical establishment's role in the displacement, colonization, and genocide of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Through meticulously gathered government documentation, historical scholarship, media reports, public inquiries, and personal testimonies, Shaheen-Hussain connects the draconian medevac practice with often-disregarded crimes and medical violence inflicted specifically on Indigenous children. This devastating history and ongoing medical colonialism prevent Indigenous communities from attaining internationally recognized measures of health and social well-being because of the pervasive, systemic anti-Indigenous racism that persists in the Canadian public health care system - and in settler society at large. Shaheen-Hussain's unique perspective combines his experience as a frontline pediatrician with his long-standing involvement in anti-authoritarian social justice movements. Sparked by the indifference and callousness of those in power, this book draws on the innovative work of Indigenous scholars and activists to conclude that a broader decolonization struggle calling for reparations, land reclamation, and self-determination for Indigenous peoples is critical to achieve reconciliation in Canada.

Flash of Light, Wall of Fire: Japanese Photographs Documenting the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki


Dolph Briscoe Center for American History - 2020
    For the most part the images they produced were censored or confiscated, but many were preserved in secret. Some were published widely in Japan during the 1950s, though not in the United States. Later, prints and negatives were gathered by groups such as the Anti-Nuclear Photographers' Movement of Japan, whose collection is now housed at the Briscoe Center for American History. The center's Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Photographs Archive consists of more than eight hundred photographs, over one hundred of which are seen here for the first time in an English-language publication.To mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the bombings, Flash of Light, Wall of Fire features the work of twenty-three Japanese photographers who risked their lives to capture the devastation. Together these images serve as a visual record of nuclear destruction, the horrific effects of radiation exposure, and the mass suffering that ensued. A preface by Briscoe Center Executive Director Don Carleton, an essay by Michael B. Stoff, and an afterword by Japanese journalist Michiko Tanaka explore how the images were collected and preserved as well as how they helped provoke calls for peace and the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

The West Bank of Greater New Orleans: A Historical Geography


Richard Campanella - 2020
    At one time it was the Gulf South's St. Louis, boasting a diversified industrial sector as well as a riverine, mercantilist, and agricultural economy. Today the mostly suburban West Bank is proud but not pretentious, pleasant if not prominent, and a distinct, affordable alternative to the more famous neighborhoods of the East Bank.Richard Campanella is the first to examine the West Bank holistically, as a legitimate subregion with its own story to tell. No other part of greater New Orleans has more diverse yet deeply rooted populations: folks who speak in local accents, who exhibit longstanding cultural traits, and, in some cases, who maintain family ownership of lands held since antebellum times--even as immigrants settle here in growing numbers. Campanella demonstrates that West Bankers have had great agency in their own place--making, and he challenges the notion that their story is subsidiary to a more important narrative across the river.The West Bank of Greater New Orleans is not a traditional history, nor a cultural history, but rather a historical geography, a spatial explanation of how the West Bank's landscape formed: its terrain, environment, land use, jurisdictions, waterways, industries, infrastructure, neighborhoods, and settlement patterns, past and present. The book explores the drivers, conditions, and power structures behind those landscape transformations, using custom maps, aerial images, photographic montages, and a detailed historical timeline to help tell that complex geographical story. As Campanella shows, there is no "greater New Orleans" without its cross--river component. The West Bank is an essential part of this remarkable metropolis.--John M. Barry, author of Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America

China Through Time: A 2,500-Year Journey Along the World's Greatest Canal


Edward Aves - 2020
    With stunning, panoramic illustrations and lively, engaging text, China Through Time brings key periods and turning points in the canal's history to life.Cutaway views show the inside of buildings and introduce children to important places, characters, and events - from humble workers to mighty emperors, and from floods and wars to life in bustling ports and modern cities.Children will also love searching for the mischievous time-travelling cat, Lihua, who appears in each of the artworks.Perfect for parents and children to pore over together, China Through Time makes a gorgeous gift or collector's item. Fun, interactive, and packed with details, it vividly presents Chinese history to children as they have never seen it before.

Unforgettable Journeys: Slow Down and See the World


D.K. Eyewitness - 2020
    Explore 200 inspirational journeys across the globe with this stunning visual guide.There is no better way to see the world than to move through it, taking your time. These once-in-a-lifetime journeys will stay with you forever.Get inspired by whatever mode of transport you love most - on foot, by bike, by car, on the water, or by rail! In our fast-paced, modern world, Unforgettable Journeys will allow you to take a back seat and enjoy the ebb and flow of travel thoughtfully.Enjoy an epic bike ride along the ancient Silk Road, a cruise around Antarctica, or a train journey in Zambia. This travel guide is organized by types of transportation. Whether you're an avid hiker, cyclist, or driver, or love to be on the water or on rails, we've got you covered.We've picked the world's best adventures, from famous experiences like riding the Orient Express to driving Route 66 and walking the Camino de Santiago. If that's not your thing, we also travel off-the-beaten-path by cycling around Botswana, kayaking through Finnish Lakeland, and scaling the cirques of La R�union on foot.This stunning, hardcover book is packed with gorgeous full-color photos and fascinating overviews of each carefully chosen destination, making it the perfect gift for dreamers and travelers alike.Discover the Joys of Slow TravelThis travel book is a vibrant celebration of taking the scenic route! Explore over 200 once-in-a-lifetime travel moments that will inspire you to travel the world.This inspirational travel journal includes:- A wide range of different travel types from hiking to sailing.- Discover the world's most famous adventures like the Orient Express and driving Route 66.- Taking the road less traveled by cycling around Botswana or kayaking through Finnish Lakeland.

Where Is Chichen Itza?


Paula K. Manzanero - 2020
    The book also provides details about the culture of the Maya of Chichen Itza and the stunning architecture they built like the El Castillo pyramid, the Temple of the Warriors, and the massive ball court that was used for games and rituals.

Atlas of Record-Breaking Adventures: A collection of the BIGGEST, FASTEST, LONGEST, HOTTEST, TOUGHEST, TALLEST and MOST DEADLY things from around the world


Emily Hawkins - 2020
    Journey from one extreme to the other as you turn the page to discover what record-breaker is next. This is a high-octane tour around the world, stopping off at every continent to marvel at natural and human phenomena. From the highest waterfall to the deepest underground city, the largest primate to the smelliest flower, this is an adventure that can’t be beaten.Whether you’re exploring the hottest place on Earth in Ethiopia, the world’s largest cave in Vietnam, or riding the longest railway across Russia, adventure is all around you in this fun-packed atlas.Richly detailed illustrations by Lucy Letherland bring every adventure to life—as well as some quirky characters hiding among all the excitement.Emily Hawkins’ expertise provides all you need to know to plan your next adventure—or whisk you there from the comfort of your sofa!With over 30 scenes to explore, adventurers 7 years and older will find hundreds of things to spot, with facts about our astonishing planet to learn on every page. Get ready to meet some incredible record-breakers in this beautifully illustrated compendium of wonders.Praise for the Atlas of Adventures series: ‘It encourages curiosity, understanding and tolerance and nurtures a love of the world around us.’ – The Bookbag, on Atlas of Adventures ‘Lucy Letherland’s inky illustrations make the book a joy to look at.’ – The Guardian, on Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures ‘… it is akin to opening up a chest of treasures.’ – BooksforTopics, on Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World ‘Another absolutely gorgeous addition to the Atlas of Adventures series.’ – Goodreads, on Atlas of Ocean Adventures

Maps: Deluxe Edition


Aleksandra Mizielińska - 2020
    This book features new and updated material on every spread and twenty-four entirely new maps. In addition to geographic features like borders and cities, this volume features places of historical and cultural interest, eminent personalities, cultural events, and iconic animals, allowing you to explore the globe without leaving your couch.

To Live and Defy in LA: How Gangsta Rap Changed America


Felicia Angeja Viator - 2020
    Rap was considered the poetry of the street, and it was thought to breed only in the close quarters of housing projects infested with drugs and crime or graffiti-covered subway cars. As a writer for Billboard explained in 1988, LA was certainly not "hard-edged and urban" enough to generate "authentic" hip-hop. A new brand of black rebel music would never come from La-La Land.But it did. In To Live and Defy in LA, Felicia Viator tells the story of the young black men who built gangsta rap and changed LA and the world. She takes readers into South Central, Compton, Long Beach, and Watts two decades after the long hot summer of 1965. This was the world of crack cocaine, street gangs, and Daryl Gates, and it was the environment in which rappers such as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E came of age.By the end of the 1980s, these self-styled "ghetto reporters" had fought their way onto the nation's radio and TV stations and thus into America's consciousness, mocking law-and-order crusaders, exposing police brutality, outraging both feminists and traditionalists with their often retrograde treatment of sex and gender, and demanding that America confront an urban crisis that was too often ignored.

Sing Me the Summer


Alison Lester - 2020
    Combining Jane Godwin’s sparkling text and Alison Lester’s whimsical watercolours, Sing Me the Summer celebrates those precious everyday moments that stay with us forever.

Oceanology: The Secrets of the Sea Revealed


D.K. Publishing - 2020
    Published in association with the Smithsonian Institution, the book explores every corner of the oceans, from coral reefs and mangrove swamps to deep ocean trenches.Along the way, and with the help of clear, simple illustrations, it explains how life has adapted to the marine environment, revealing for example how a stonefish delivers its lethal venom and how a sponge sustains itself by sifting food from passing currents. It also examines the physical forces and processes that shape the oceans, from global circulation systems and tides to undersea volcanoes and tsunamis.To most of us, the marine world is out of reach. But with the help of photography and the latest technology, Oceanology brings us up close to animals, plants, and other living things that inhabit a fantastic and almost incomprehensibly beautiful other dimension.

National Geographic Kids U.S. Atlas 2020, 6th Edition


National Geographic Kids - 2020
    state in this amazing 6th edition atlas, packed with maps, stats, facts, and pictures. National Geographic's world-renowned cartographers have paired up with education experts to create maps of all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C., that pinpoint the physical features, capitals, and other towns and cities. Discover the latest data along with colorful photography of each state and the people who live there. Key points reflect the latest information about land and water, people, and places. Lively essays cover each region of the country. Eight specially themed maps on nature, population, economy, energy, climate, and more delve deeper into key issues. State birds and state flags add to the high visual interest. This is a great reference for home and school with all the basics kids need to know to succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond.

Collision of Worlds: A Deep History of the Fall of Aztec Mexico and the Forging of New Spain


David Carballo - 2020
    It served as a template for the forging of much of Latin America and initiated the globalized world we inhabit today. The violent clash that culminated in the Aztec-Spanish war of 1519-21 and the new colonial order it created were millennia in the making, entwining the previously independent cultural developments of both sides of the Atlantic.Collision of Worlds provides a deep history of this encounter, one that considers temporal depth in the richly layered cultures of Mexico and Spain, from their prehistories to the urban and imperial societies they built in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Leading Mesoamerican archaeologist David Carballo offers a unique perspective on these fabled events with a focus on the physical world of places and things, their similarities and differences in trans-Atlantic perspective, and their interweaving in an encounter characterized by conquest and colonialism, but also resilience on the part of Native peoples. An engrossing and sweeping account, Collision of Worlds debunks long-held myths and contextualizes the deep roots and enduring consequences of the Aztec-Spanish conflict as never before.

National Geographic Almanac 2021: Trending Topics - Big Ideas in Science - Photos, Maps, Facts More


National Geographic Society - 2020
    Highlights this year include the James Webb telescope, launching in 2021; a brand-new wildflower guide; a guided tour of the moons of our solar system; a beautiful infographic on jellyfish; and a feature on lithium, central to the work of recent Nobel prize-winning chemistry.Divided into lively chapters including Exploration & Adventure, Life on Earth, and The Science of Us, this year's almanac features top photos from National Geographic's celebrated Instagram account and geniuses past and present including Jane Goodall, Amelia Earhart, and acclaimed conservationist Kris Tompkins, dedicated to preserving much of Patagonia.With new discoveries on every page, this cutting-edge book--called a "category buster" by Booklist--brings you, as Publishers Weekly puts it, "all the things that National Geographic does best."

Voices of Young Heroes: A World War 2 Book for Kids (History Speaks!)


Kelly Milner Halls - 2020
    

Seen But Not Seen: Influential Canadians and the First Nations from the 1840s to Today


Donald B. Smith - 2020
    The ultimate objective was assimilation into the dominant society.Seen but Not Seen explores the history of Indigenous marginalization and why non-Indigenous Canadians failed to recognize Indigenous societies and cultures as worthy of respect. Approaching the issue biographically, Donald B. Smith presents the commentaries of sixteen influential Canadians - including John A. Macdonald, George Grant, and Emily Carr - who spoke extensively on Indigenous subjects. Supported by documentary records spanning over nearly two centuries, Seen but Not Seen covers fresh ground in the history of settler-Indigenous relations.

The Ordnance Survey Great British Treasure Hunt


Ordnance Survey - 2020
    Based on 40 brand new maps stretching across the whole of Britain, The Ordnance Survey Great British Treasure Hunt will offer hours of brain-teasing fun. From the highlands of Scotland, to the White Cliffs of Dover and taking in iconic locations like Loch Ness, Glastonbury Tor, Stratford-Upon-Avon and the cloisters of Cambridge, you'll have to piece together the clues, scour the maps and crack codes and anagrams on the trail of a mysterious treasure.As you travel across Britain you'll discover the riches of myth and history that are hidden throughout the land.With over 330 puzzles ranging from easy to mind-boggling and an ultimate master puzzle with the chance to win real treasure, there's only one question left.Do YOU have what it takes to accept the challenge?

Tiny Travelers India Treasure Quest


Steven Wolfe Pereira - 2020
    From the beautiful festival of color Holi, to the incredible Himalayas, Tiny Travelers will enjoy getting closer to Indian culture, making magical discoveries along the way.Each illustrated spread invites children to discover hidden "treasures" - icons, animals, statues, instruments and more - that make up incredible India.

Taking Time


Jo Loring-Fisher - 2020
    Taking time to gather up the blossom dancing free. Taking time to imagine the deep sounds of the sea. Taking time to cherish you . . . and cherish me.This poem is inspired by principles of mindfulness and invites children around the world to experience the wonders of nature and home.

London


Patrick Keiller - 2020
    The unseen pair complete a series of excursions around the city in an attempt to investigate what Robinson calls ‘the problem of London’, during which a palimpsest of the city is revealed.London is a unique take on the essay-film format, with scathing reflections on the recent past, enlivened by offbeat humour and wide-ranging literary anecdotes. A variety of unexpected scenes recover the familiar London of the near past: Concorde almost touches suburban houses as it lands; Union Jacks fly from Wembley Stadium’s Twin Towers and pigeons flock around tourists in Trafalgar Square. Such images, in combination with the script, allow us to see beyond the London typically presented.It is both a fascinating reflection on the diverse histories of Britain’s capital and an illuminating record of 1992, the year of John Major’s re-election, IRA bombs and the first crack in the House of Windsor. With an afterword and location notes from the director, the book’s publication is the first time the film has been fully reproduced in print.

Come and Be Shocked: Baltimore Beyond John Waters and the Wire


Mary Rizzo - 2020
    Whether it's the small-town eccentricity of Charm City (think duckpin bowling and marble-stooped row houses) or the gang violence of "Bodymore, Murdaland," Baltimore has figured prominently in popular culture about cities since the 1950s.In Come and Be Shocked, Mary Rizzo examines the cultural history and racial politics of these contrasting images of the city. From the 1950s, a period of urban crisis and urban renewal, to the early twenty-first century, Rizzo looks at how artists created powerful images of Baltimore. How, Rizzo asks, do the imaginary cities created by artists affect the real cities that we live in? How does public policy (intentionally or not) shape the kinds of cultural representations that artists create? And why has the relationship between artists and Baltimore city officials been so fraught, resulting in public battles over film permits and censorship?To answer these questions, Rizzo explores the rise of tourism, urban branding, and citizen activism. She considers artists working in the margins, from the East Baltimore poets writing in Chicory, a community magazine funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity, to a young John Waters, who shot his early low-budget movies on the streets, guerrilla-style. She also investigates more mainstream art, from the teen dance sensation The Buddy Deane Show to the comedy-drama Roc to the crime show The Wire, from Anne Tyler's award-winning book The Accidental Tourist to Barry Levinson's movie classic Diner.

Catastrophic Thinking: Extinction and the Value of Diversity from Darwin to the Anthropocene


David Sepkoski - 2020
    We’re told that human activity is currently producing a sixth mass extinction, perhaps of even greater magnitude than the five previous geological catastrophes that drastically altered life on Earth. Indeed, there is a very real concern that the human species may itself be poised to go the way of the dinosaurs, victims of the most recent mass extinction some 65 million years ago.   How we interpret the causes and consequences of extinction and their ensuing moral imperatives is deeply embedded in the cultural values of any given historical moment. And, as David Sepkoski reveals, the history of scientific ideas about extinction over the past two hundred years—as both a past and a current process—is implicated in major changes in the way Western society has approached biological and cultural diversity. It seems self-evident to most of us that diverse ecosystems and societies are intrinsically valuable, but the current fascination with diversity is a relatively recent phenomenon. In fact, the way we value diversity depends crucially on our sense that it is precarious—that it is something actively threatened, and that its loss could have profound consequences. In Catastrophic Thinking, Sepkoski uncovers how and why we learned to value diversity as a precious resource at the same time as we learned to think catastrophically about extinction.

What’s Out There? Amazing plants, rocks, creatures and cultures that make Australia extraordinary.


Nicole Stewart - 2020
    Really old. We are the home of the oldest living plant, oldest animal fossils and the oldest continuing culture of people on earth. This book takes 6- to 10-year-olds on a colourful journey of Australia from the time of Gondwanaland and megafauna through to today. There are pages on ‘Australia’s Not-very-famous Animals’, ‘Who’s Poo?’ with scat and tracks of all shapes and sizes, 'Legends of Rock' all about the amazing qualities of our world-famous rocks, and the word ‘kangaroo’ in a range of Indigenous languages. With a colourfully chaotic mix of beautiful illustrations, eye-opening insights and fascinating facts, this 104-page story of Australia will amaze kids and adults alike.

A Wonderful World of Weather


Kay Barnham - 2020
    How does weather work and how does it affect people's lives? Find out about the weather, from clouds and fog to snow, sleet, and hail.

Beyond the Steppe Frontier: A History of the Sino-Russian Border


Sören Urbansky - 2020
    Beyond the Steppe Frontier rectifies this by exploring the demarcation’s remarkable transformation—from a vaguely marked frontier in the seventeenth century to its twentieth-century incarnation as a tightly patrolled barrier girded by watchtowers, barbed wire, and border guards. Through the perspectives of locals, including railroad employees, herdsmen, and smugglers from both sides, Sören Urbansky explores the daily life of communities and their entanglements with transnational and global flows of people, commodities, and ideas. Urbansky challenges top-down interpretations by stressing the significance of the local population in supporting, and undermining, border making.Because Russian, Chinese, and native worlds are intricately interwoven, national separations largely remained invisible at the border between the two largest Eurasian empires. This overlapping and mingling came to an end only when the border gained geopolitical significance during the twentieth century. Relying on a wealth of sources culled from little-known archives from across Eurasia, Urbansky demonstrates how states succeeded in suppressing traditional borderland cultures by cutting kin, cultural, economic, and religious connections across the state perimeter, through laws, physical force, deportation, reeducation, forced assimilation, and propaganda.Beyond the Steppe Frontier sheds critical new light on a pivotal geographical periphery and expands our understanding of how borders are determined.

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals


Jill McDonald - 2020
    Told in clear and easy terms ("Croak! What's that sound? It's the red-eyed tree frog.") and featuring bright, cheerful illustrations, Hello, World! makes learning fun for young children. And each page offers helpful prompts for engaging with your child. It's a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops.Look for all the books in the Hello, World! series: Solar System, Weather, Backyard Bugs, Birds, Dinosaurs, My Body, How Do Apples Grow?, Ocean Life, Moon Landing, Pets, Arctic Animals, and Construction Site.

Jet Stream: A Journey Through Our Changing Climate


Tim Woollings - 2020
    These events have fuelled intense discussions in scientific conferences, government agencies, cafes, and on street corners around the world. Why are these events happening? Is this the emerging signal of climate change, and should we expect more of this? Media reports vary widely, but one mysterious agent has risen to prominence in many cases: the jet stream.The story begins on a windswept beach in Barbados, from where we follow the ascent of a weather balloon that will travel along the jet stream all around the world. From this viewpoint we observe the effect of the jet in influencing human life around the hemisphere, and witness startling changes emerging. What is the jet stream and how well do we understand it? How does it affect our weather and is it changing? These are the main questions tackled in this book. We learn about how our view of the wind has developed from Aristotle's early theories up to today's understanding. We see that the jet is intimately connected with dramatic contrasts between climate zones and has played a key historical role in determining patterns of trade. We learn about the basic physics underlying the jet and how this knowledge is incorporated into computer models which predict both tomorrow's weather and the climate of future decades. And finally, we discuss how climate change is expected to affect the jet, and introduce the vital scientific debate over whether these changes have contributed to recent extreme weather events.

Household War: How Americans Lived and Fought the Civil War


Lisa Tendrich FrankJoan Cashin - 2020
    The essays in the volume complicate the standard distinctions between battlefront and homefront, soldier and civilian, and men and women. From this vantage point, they look at the interplay of family and politics, studying the ways in which the Civil War shaped and was shaped by the American household. They explore how households influenced Confederate and Union military strategy, the motivations of soldiers and civilians, and the occupation of captured cities, as well as the experiences of Native Americans, women, children, freedpeople, injured veterans, and others. The result is a unique and much needed approach to the study of the Civil War.Household War demonstrates that the Civil War can be understood as a revolutionary moment in the transformation of the household order. The original essays by distinguished historians provide an inclusive examination of how the war flowed from, required, and resulted in the restructuring of the nineteenth-century household. Contributors explore notions of the household before, during, and after the war, unpacking subjects such as home, family, quarrels, domestic service and slavery, manhood, the Klan, prisoners and escaped prisoners, Native Americans, grief, and manhood. The essays further show how households redefined and reordered themselves as a result of the changes stemming from the Civil War.

Backyard Birds


Helen Milroy - 2020
    What colorful birds are in our backyards? From laughing kookaburras and prancing mudlarks to dancing wily wagtails and hungry galahs, this picture book is a vibrant adventure discovering the native birds in Australia.

National Geographic Complete National Parks of Europe: 460 Parks, Including Flora and Fauna, Historic Sites, Scenic Hiking Trails, and More


National Geographic Society - 2020
    Find your way to Snowdonia in Wales, offering more than 1,490 miles of walking trails through thick forests, coastal beaches, deep lakes, and jagged mountains. Catch a glimpse of more than 10,000 species inhabiting Germany's Bavarian Forest. Explore the flora and fauna while camping amid the twin peaks of France's Pyr�n�es. Or visit "the home of the giants," Norway's Jotunheimen park, containing the country's 29 highest peaks and plenty of backcountry hiking. This breathtaking tour spans the entire continent and will inspire your next grand adventure with more than 400 photos, 55 maps, rich histories, exciting itineraries, and need-to-know tips from what to do and how to get there. Each entry includes favorite spots for viewing scenery and wildlife, the best trails to walk or hike, and insights into what makes each of these parks worth visiting. Inspiring and informative, this illuminating guide will help you to experience Europe in a whole new way.

Beneath the Backbone of the World: Blackfoot People and the North American Borderlands, 1720–1877


Ryan Hall - 2020
    and Canadian Great Plains. As one of the most expansive and powerful Indigenous groups on the continent, they dominated the northern imperial borderlands of North America. The Blackfoot maintained their control even as their homeland became the site of intense competition between white fur traders, frequent warfare between Indigenous nations, and profound ecological transformation. In an era of violent and wrenching change, Blackfoot people relied on their mastery of their homelands' unique geography to maintain their way of life. With extensive archival research from both the United States and Canada, Ryan Hall shows for the first time how the Blackfoot used their borderlands position to create one of North America's most vibrant and lasting Indigenous homelands. This book sheds light on a phase of Native and settler relations that is often elided in conventional interpretations of Western history, and demonstrates how the Blackfoot exercised significant power, resiliency, and persistence in the face of colonial change.

Beginner's U.S. Atlas 2020, 3rd Edition


National Geographic Kids - 2020
    to showcase what's unique about each state and territory. Every profile starts with a colorful map and a lively essay and includes capital cities; population; important land and water features; state birds, flowers, and flags; and more. It's all packaged in a bigger format, with a refreshed design, and bold, bright photos and illustrations. National Geographic--known for its authoritative data, expert cartography, and beautiful photography--is the number one provider of atlases for people of all ages.

The Invention of Public Space: Designing for Inclusion in Lindsay's New York


Mariana Mogilevich - 2020
    Lindsay (1966–1973) experimented with a broad array of projects in open spaces to affirm the value of city life. Mariana Mogilevich provides a fascinating history of a watershed moment when designers, government administrators, and residents sought to remake the city in the image of a diverse, free, and democratic society.New pedestrian malls, residential plazas, playgrounds in vacant lots, and parks on postindustrial waterfronts promised everyday spaces for play, social interaction, and participation in the life of the city. Whereas designers had long created urban spaces for a broad amorphous public, Mogilevich demonstrates how political pressures and the influence of the psychological sciences led them to a new conception of public space that included diverse publics and encouraged individual flourishing. Drawing on extensive archival research, site work, interviews, and the analysis of film and photographs, The Invention of Public Space considers familiar figures, such as William H. Whyte and Jane Jacobs, in a new light and foregrounds the important work of landscape architects Paul Friedberg and Lawrence Halprin and the architects of New York City’s Urban Design Group.The Invention of Public Space brings together psychology, politics, and design to uncover a critical moment of transformation in our understanding of city life and reveals the emergence of a concept of public space that remains today a powerful, if unrealized, aspiration.

A Prison in the Woods: Environment and Incarceration in New York's North Country


Clarence Jefferson Hall - 2020
    Less well known, however, has been the area's role in hosting a network of state and federal prisons. A Prison in the Woods traces the planning, construction, and operation of penitentiaries in five Adirondack Park communities from the 1840s through the early 2000s to demonstrate that the histories of mass incarceration and environmental consciousness are interconnected.Clarence Jefferson Hall Jr. reveals that the introduction of correctional facilities—especially in the last three decades of the twentieth century—unearthed long-standing conflicts over the proper uses of Adirondack nature, particularly since these sites have contributed to deforestation, pollution, and habitat decline, even as they've provided jobs and spurred economic growth. Additionally, prison plans have challenged individuals' commitment to environmental protection, tested the strength of environmental regulations, endangered environmental and public health, and exposed tensions around race, class, place, and belonging in the isolated prison towns of America's largest state park.

History Atlas: Heroes, Villains, and Magnificent Maps from Fifteen Extraordinary Civilizations


Thiago de Moraes - 2020
    Packed with remarkable characters from all different periods, you'll meet emperors, explorers, inventors, pirates, astronauts, and more! Children will be fascinated as they travel the world and discover how cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Mongols, Ottomans, Inca, Chinese, Russians, and many more lived, and about all the important people and achievements that come from each civilization.

Borderline Citizen: Dispatches from the Outskirts of Nationhood


Robin Hemley - 2020
    As a polygamist of place, Hemley celebrates Guy Fawkes Day in the contested Falkland Islands; Canada Day and the Fourth of July in the tiny U.S. exclave of Point Roberts, Washington; Russian Federation Day in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad; Handover Day among protesters in Hong Kong; and India Day along the most complicated border in the world. Forgoing the exotic descriptions of faraway lands common in traditional travel writing, Borderline Citizen upends the genre with darkly humorous and deeply compassionate glimpses into the lives of exiles, nationalists, refugees, and others. Hemley’s superbly rendered narratives detail these individuals, including a Chinese billionaire who could live anywhere but has chosen to situate his ornate mansion in the middle of his impoverished ancestral village, a black nationalist wanted on thirty-two outstanding FBI warrants exiled in Cuba, and an Afghan refugee whose intentionally altered birth date makes him more easy to deport despite his harrowing past. Part travelogue, part memoir, part reportage, Borderline Citizen redefines notions of nationhood through an exploration of the arbitrariness of boundaries and what it means to belong.

The Secret History of Here: A Year in the Valley


Alistair Moffat - 2020
    The site on which Alistair Moffat's farm now stands has been occupied since pre-historic times. The fields have turned up ancient arrow heads, stone spindles, silver pennies and a stone carved with the rune-like letters of Ogham. Walking this landscape you can feel the presence and see the marks of those who lived here before.But it is also the story of everywhere. In uncovering the history of one piece of land, Moffat shows how history is all around us, if only we have the eyes to see it. Under our feet, carved into the landscape, in the layout of paths and roads, in the stories we pass down, our history leaves its trace on the land.Taking the form of a journal of a year, The Secret History of Here is a walk through the centuries as much as the seasons. We hear the echo of battles long since fought, of lives lived quietly or scandalously, of armies, of kings, of the common folk who mostly inhabited this land, and a little of those that live here now.

Demystifying Shariah: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It's Not Taking Over Our Country


Sumbul Ali-Karamali - 2020
    They circulate horror stories, encouraging Americans to fear the "takeover of shariah" law in America and even mounting "anti-shariah protests" . . . . with zero evidence that shariah has taken over any part of our country. (That's because it hasn't.) It would be almost funny if it weren't so terrifyingly wrong--as puzzling as if Americans suddenly began protesting the Martian occupation of Earth.Demystifying Shariah explains that shariah is not one set of punitive rules or even law the way we think of law--rigid and enforceable--but religious rules and recommendations that provide Muslims with guidance in various aspects of life. Sumbul Ali-Karamali draws on scholarship and her degree in Islamic law to explain shariah in an accessible, engaging narrative style--its various meanings, how it developed, and how the shariah-based legal system operated for over a thousand years. She explains what shariah means not only in the abstract but in the daily lives of Muslims. She discusses modern calls for shariah, what they mean, and whether shariah is the law of the land anywhere in the world. She also describes the key lies and misunderstandings about shariah circulating in our public discourse, and why so many of them are nonsensical.This engaging guide is intended to introduce you to the basic principles, goals, and general development of shariah and to answer questions like: How do Muslims engage with shariah? What does shariah have to do with our Constitution? What does shariah have to do with the way the world looks like today? And why do we all--Muslims or not--need to care?

The State of the System: A Reality Check on Canada's Schools


Paul W. Bennett - 2020
    Crying out for democratic school-level reform, the system is now a centralized, bureaucratic fortress that, every year, becomes softer on standards for students, less accessible to parents, further out of touch with communities, and surprisingly unresponsive to classroom teachers. Exploring the nature of the Canadian education order in all its dimensions, The State of the System explains how public schools came to be so bureaucratic, confronts the critical issues facing kindergarten to grade 12 public schools in all ten provinces, and addresses the need for systemic reform. Going beyond a diagnosis of the stresses, strains, and ills present in the system, Paul Bennett proposes a bold plan to re-engineer schools on a more human scale as the first step in truly reforming public education. In place of school consolidation and managerialism, one-size-fits-all uniformity, limited school choice, and the "success-for-all" curriculum, Bennett advocates for a new set of priorities: decentralize school governance, deprogram education ministries and school districts, listen to parents and teachers, and revitalize local education democracy. Tackling the thorny issues besetting contemporary school systems in Canada, The State of the System issues a clarion call for more responsive, engaged, and accountable public schools.

Voices of Ordinary Heroes: A World War II Book for Kids (History Speaks!)


Kelly Milner Halls - 2020
    Voices of Ordinary Heroes, a standout among World War 2 books for kids ages 8-12, introduces you to 20 unforeseen heroes who showed bravery and helped others when it appeared all hope was lost.This top choice among World War 2 books for kids gives you a glimpse of World War II through the tales of a variety of regular citizens, like a singer who doubled as a spy against the Nazis, or a nurse on the island of Luzon who walked 20 miles through the mountains to help wounded women and children. These incredible stories of bravery, selflessness, and courage will inspire and motivate you.Voices of Ordinary Heroes includes:**A brief history lesson—Learn the who, what, when, where, and why of World War II.**Fantastic facts—Helpful fun facts provide even more information on every story in one of the most comprehensive World War 2 books for kids.**Put faces to stories—Photos, quotes, and more make this one of the most engaging World War 2 books for kids.Go beyond other World War 2 books for kids with Voices of Ordinary Heroes.

America the Beautiful


Wendell Minor - 2020
    

USA National Park: Lands of Wonder


D.K. Eyewitness - 2020
    They are the earth's breathing spaces; precious places to conserve nature and wildlife for future generations. And they are playgrounds filled with countless places to hike, camp, climb, swim and paddle, where you and your family can create lifelong memories of freedom and wide-open spaces.Wild Places is a celebration of these magnificent parks - packed with beautiful photography and inspiring ideas for your next adventure, whether you want to be alone amid the vast and haunting wilderness of Alaska's Denali Park or get up close to the teeming tropical wildlife of Florida's Everglades. All 61 national parks are covered, showcasing what makes each one unique, with maps, facts and figures, things to do, and when and where to experience it at its best.

Atlas of Adventures: Travel Edition: A collection of NATURAL WONDERS, EXCITING EXPERIENCES and FUN FESTIVITIES from the four corners of the globe


Lucy Letherland - 2020
    Whether you're visiting the penguins of Antarctica, joining the Carnival in Brazil or taking a canoe safari down the Zambezi River, this book will take young travellers on whole host of fascinating adventures across the continents.Each section begins with an infographic map of the region it explores, followed by richly detailed two-page spreads featuring its most fascinating locations. You’ll get to go to sleep under the Northern Lights, meet millions of monarch butterflies in the boreal forests of Mexico’s volcanic mountains, shower with an elephant in Chiang Mai and go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, among many other amazing adventures. ​ This book celebrates the great diversity of our planet: with every turn of the page, you'll come across different animals, people and sights unique to each of the locations. Look out for two adventurers in every scene as you travel through the book. Discover with them hundreds of things to spot and learn about.Interesting facts and figures pepper the scenes. Did you know that London’s Big Ben clock bell weighs as much as a small elephant? Or that more than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii? A 'Can you find?' page at the back challenges you to explore the pages even deeper by locating the pictured people, animals and things. This smaller Travel Edition fits easily into suitcases, backpacks and car-seats, making it the perfect guide for budding adventurers.Praise for the Atlas of Adventures series: ‘It encourages curiosity, understanding and tolerance and nurtures a love of the world around us.’ – The Bookbag, on Atlas of Adventures ‘Lucy Letherland’s inky illustrations make the book a joy to look at.’ – The Guardian, on Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures ‘… it is akin to opening up a chest of treasures.’ – BooksforTopics, on Atlas of Adventures: Wonders of the World ‘Another absolutely gorgeous addition to the Atlas of Adventures series.’ – Goodreads, on Atlas of Ocean Adventures

The Ruins Lesson: Meaning and Material in Western Culture


Susan Stewart - 2020
    Stewart takes us on a sweeping journey through founding legends of broken covenants and original sin, the Christian appropriation of the classical past, and images of decay in early modern allegory. Stewart looks in depth at the works of Goethe, Piranesi, Blake, and Wordsworth, each of whom found in ruins a means of reinventing his art. Lively and engaging, The Ruins Lesson ultimately asks what can resist ruination—and finds in the self-transforming, ever-fleeting practices of language and thought a clue to what might truly endure.

Very British Weather: Over 365 Hidden Wonders from the World’s Greatest Forecasters


The Met Office - 2020
    Packed with mythbusting, top trivia, stunning visuals and archive gems, shooting the breeze has never been so interesting!*Even when it is tipping it down.

The Land of Maybe: A Faroe Islands Year


Tim Ecott - 2020
    Closer to the UK than Denmark, this fast disappearing world is home to a close-knit society where just 50,000 people share Viking roots and a language that is unlike any other in Scandinavia.

Dead Epidemiologists: On the Origins of COVID-19


Rob Wallace - 2020
    It shouldn’t have. Since this century’s turn, epidemiologists have warned of new infectious diseases. Indeed, H1N1, H7N9, SARS, MERS, Ebola Makona, Zika, and a variety of lesser viruses have emerged almost annually. But what of the epidemiologists themselves? Some bravely descended into the caves where bat species hosted coronaviruses, including the strains that evolved into the COVID-19 virus. Yet, despite their own warnings, many of the researchers appear unable to understand the true nature of the disease—as if they are dead to what they’ve seen.Dead Epidemiologists is an eclectic collection of commentaries, articles, and interviews revealing the hidden-in-plain-sight truth behind the pandemic: Global capital drove the deforestation and development that exposed us to new pathogens. Rob Wallace and his colleagues—ecologists, geographers, activists, and, yes, epidemiologists—unpack the material and conceptual origins of COVID-19. From deepest Yunnan to the boardrooms of New York City, this book offers a compelling diagnosis of the roots of COVID-19, and a stark prognosis of what—without further intervention—may come.

The Exceptional Maggie Chowder


Renee Beauregard Lute - 2020
    So when her dad loses his job and her family moves from a house to a small apartment, Maggie is determined to make the most of her new circumstances. But it's not always easy to be strong like Eagirl when her best friend LaTanya gets to move into a big house and get a puppy because her dad has been recruited to coach for the Seattle Seahawks. It's especially not easy when nitpicky, comic-book-hating Grandma Barrel comes to stay.

Lift-the-Flap Atlas


Lonely Planet Kids - 2020
    Each page turn brings the continent to life with flaps to lift, detailed illustrations and facts about, people, animals, and fun places to visit.

Intimate Geopolitics: Love, Territory, and the Future on India's Northern Threshold


Sara Smith - 2020
    In Ladakh, children grow up to adopt a religious identity in part to be counted in the census, and to vote in elections. Religion, population, and voting blocs are implicitly tied to territorial sovereignty and marriage across religious boundaries becomes a geopolitical problem in an area that seeks to define insiders and outsiders in relation to borders and national identity. This book populates territory, a conventionally abstract rendering of space, with the stories of those who live through territorial struggle at marriage and birth ceremonies, in the kitchen and in the bazaar, in heartbreak and in joy. Intimate Geopolitics argues for the incorporation of the role of time – temporality – into our understanding of territory.

Apocalypse Man: The Death Drive and the Rhetoric of White Masculine Victimhood


Casey Ryan Kelly - 2020
    Trump’s slogan “Make American Great Again,” white masculinity has become increasingly organized around melancholic attachments to an imagined past when white men were still atop the social hierarchy. How and why are white men increasingly identifying as victims of social, economic, and political change? Casey Ryan Kelly’s Apocalypse Man seeks to answer this question by examining textual and performative examples of white male rhetoric—as found among online misogynist and incel communities, survivalists and “doomsday preppers,” gender-motivated mass shooters, gun activists, and political demagogues. Using sources ranging from reality television and Reddit manifestos to gun culture and political rallies, Kelly ultimately argues that death, victimhood, and fatalism have come to underwrite the constitution of contemporary white masculinity.

This Land Is Your Land


Woody Guthrie - 2020
    This classic ballad is now brought to life in a richly illustrated edition for the whole family to share. Kathy Jakobsen's dazzlingly detailed paintings invite readers on a journey across the country, creating an unforgettable portrait of our diverse land and the people who live it. It includes the complete lyrics and musical notation, a biographical scrapbook, and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.

Diet for a Large Planet: Industrial Britain, Food Systems, and World Ecology


Chris Otter - 2020
    Our reliance on unsustainable dietary choices and agricultural systems is causing problems both for human health and the health of our planet. Solutions from lab-grown food to vegan diets to strictly local food consumption are often discussed, but a central question remains: how did we get to this point? In Diet for a Large Planet, Chris Otter goes back to the late eighteenth century in Britain, where the diet heavy in meat, wheat, and sugar was developing. As Britain underwent steady growth, urbanization, industrialization, and economic expansion, the nation altered its food choices, shifting away from locally produced plant-based nutrition. This new diet, rich in animal proteins and refined carbohydrates, made people taller and stronger, but it led to new types of health problems. Its production also relied on far greater acreage than Britain itself, forcing the nation to become more dependent on global resources. Otter shows how this issue expands beyond Britain, looking at the global effects of large agro-food systems that require more resources than our planet can sustain. This comprehensive history helps us understand how the British played a significant role in making red meat, white bread, and sugar the diet of choice—linked to wealth, luxury, and power—and shows how dietary choices connect to the pressing issues of climate change and food supply.

Fantasy Mapping: Drawing Worlds


Wesley Jones - 2020
    Fantasy maps are illustrations of fantastical and imaginary lands. Nothing pulls a reader into an enchanting world more than a fantasy map. Whether you want to make a map for a role-playing game, a book, or you just want to learn how to draw one, this is the guide for you. Full of simple, step-by-step tutorials, this book is great for beginners. Its straightforward approach is also perfect for the advanced artist wanting to discover new tips and tricks. Quickly master innovative skills and create unique, one-of-a-kind maps. In this book you will learn:World buildingGeographyDrawing techniquesMap construction The book showcases a treasure trove of original, never-before-seen maps that are sure to inspire. Jump start your mapping journey and maximize your drawing skills. Make the maps you have always wanted! Written and illustrated by Wesley Jones, an artist, author, and an award-winning map-maker.

Into Wild Mongolia


George B. Schaller - 2020
    Biologist George Schaller initially visited the country in 1989, and was one of the first Western scientists allowed to study and assess the conservation status of Mongolia’s many unique, native wildlife species. Schaller made a number of trips from 1989 to 2018 in collaboration with Mongolian and American scientists, witnessing Mongolia’s recovery and transition to a market economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This informative and fascinating new book provides a firsthand account of Schaller’s time in this little-known and remote country, where he studied and helped develop conservation initiatives for the snow leopard, Gobi bear, wild camel, and Mongolian gazelle, among other species. Featuring magnificent photographs from his travels, the book offers a critical, at times inspiring contribution for those who treasure wildlife, as well as a fresh perspective on the natural beauty of the region, which encompasses steppes, mountains, and the Gobi Desert.

Paper Peek: Animals


Chihiro Takeuchi - 2020
    Can you spot one lion, two giraffes, four zebras, and more among the teeming herds? When visiting South America, do you see one sloth, three toucans, and five armadillos? How about two tigers in Asia, three emperor penguins in Antarctica, five wolves in Europe, and other creatures in Oceania, North America, and the wide oceans? Featuring hundreds of small graphic animal shapes forming dizzying patterns, this colorful, stylish board book promises hours of engagement and a world of discovery and delight on every page.

Life in a Frozen World: Wildlife of Antarctica


Mary Batten - 2020
    How is climate change affecting the creatures that live in this frozen world?Even in the intensely cold, windy, and dry environment of Antarctica, a wide variety of wildlife--from the massive swarms of krill in the Southern Ocean to the throngs of penguins on its icy shores-- finds ways to thrive. Some species of Antarctic fishes make a natural antifreeze that prevents their blood from freezing solid, and although no trees grow on Antarctica, a forest of giant seaweed flourishes under the sea. Antarctica's creatures are exquisitely adapted to their extreme habitat, but can they survive warmer waters and atmosphere? Scientists are racing to find out. Climate change is already affecting the frozen continent. Though it seems very far away from us at the bottom of the world, we need to remember that Antarctica affects weather, ocean currents, and sea levels all over the planet. Antarctica's creatures depend on the ice. And in the long run, so do we.From talented and experienced nature writer Mary Batten, this amazing nonfiction picture book provides valuable information about one of the most hostile environments on the planet. It is an ideal resource for young science lovers and educators looking to discuss the effects of climate change. The informative text and stunning artwork by New York Times bestselling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez are sure to spark a passion for conservation of this incredible habitat.

The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland


James H. Madison - 2020
    It is a question that echoes as loudly today as it did in the early twentieth century. But who really joined the Klan? Were they "hillbillies, the Great Unteachables" as one journalist put it? It would be comforting to think so, but how then did they become one of the most powerful political forces in our nation's history?In The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland, renowned historian James H. Madison details the creation and reign of the infamous organization. Through the prism of their operations in Indiana and the Midwest, Madison explores the Klan's roots in respectable white protestant society. Convinced that America was heading in the wrong direction because of undesirable "un-American" elements, Klan members did not see themselves as bigoted racist extremists but as good Christian patriots joining proudly together in a righteous moral crusade.The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland offers a detailed history of this powerful organization and examines how, through its use of intimidation, religious belief, and the ballot box, the ideals of Klan in the 1920s have on-going implications for America today.

Exporting Jim Crow: Blackface Minstrelsy in South Africa and Beyond


Chinua Thelwell - 2020
    The first popular culture export of the United States, minstrel shows frequently portrayed black characters as noncitizens who were unfit for democratic participation and contributed to the construction of a global color line.Chinua Thelwell brings blackface minstrelsy and performance culture into the discussion of apartheid's nineteenth-century origins and afterlife, employing a broad archive of South African newspapers and magazines, memoirs, minstrel songs and sketches, diaries, and interview transcripts. Exporting Jim Crow highlights blackface minstrelsy's cultural and social impact as it became a dominant form of entertainment, moving from its initial appearances on music hall stages to its troubling twentieth-century resurgence on movie screens and at public events. This carefully researched and highly original study demonstrates that the performance of race in South Africa was inherently political, contributing to racism and shoring up white racial identity.

The Nuclear North: Histories of Canada in the Atomic Age


Susan Colbourn - 2020
    Since the first atomic weapon was detonated in 1945, Canadians have debated not only the role of nuclear power in their uranium-rich land but also their country’s role in a nuclear world.The Nuclear North investigates critical questions in these ongoing debates. Should Canada belong to international alliances that depend on the threat of using nuclear weapons for their own security? Should Canadian-produced nuclear technologies be sold on the export market to potential arms dealers? Does the country’s championing of global disarmament matter? What about the domestic costs of nuclear technologies and atomic research, including their impact on local communities and the environment?The contributors to this important collection explore Canada’s relationship with nuclear weapons and other nuclear technologies over the course of the Cold War and beyond. They consider how the atomic age has shaped Canadian policies at home and abroad, and in doing so engage in much larger debates about national identity, contradictions at the heart of the country’s Cold War foreign policy, and Canada’s place in the international order.

Canada's Other Red Scare: Indigenous Protest and Colonial Encounters during the Global Sixties


Scott Rutherford - 2020
    Kenora, Ontario, was home to a four-hundred-person march, popularly called "Canada's First Civil Rights March," and a two-month-long armed occupation of a small lakefront park. Canada's Other Red Scare shows how important it is to link the local and the global to broaden narratives of resistance in the 1960s; it is a history not of isolated events closed off from the present but of decolonization as a continuing process. Scott Rutherford explores with rigour and sensitivity the Indigenous political protest and social struggle that took place in Northwestern Ontario and Treaty 3 territory from 1965 to 1974. Drawing on archival documents, media coverage, published interviews, memoirs, and social movement literature, as well as his own lived experience as a settler growing up in Kenora, he reconstructs a period of turbulent protest and the responses it provoked, from support to disbelief to outright hostility. Indigenous organizers advocated for a wide range of issues, from better employment opportunities to the recognition of nationhood, by using such tactics as marches, cultural production, community organizing, journalism, and armed occupation. They drew inspiration from global currents - from black American freedom movements to Third World decolonization - to challenge the inequalities and racial logics that shaped settler-colonialism and daily life in Kenora. Accessible and wide-reaching, Canada's Other Red Scare makes the case that Indigenous political protest during this period should be thought of as both local and transnational, an urgent exercise in confronting the experience of settler-colonialism in places and moments of protest, when its logic and acts of dispossession are held up like a mirror.

Rivers of Power: How a Natural Force Raised Kingdoms, Destroyed Civilizations, and Shapes Our World


Laurence C. Smith - 2020
    

Sex, Law, and the Politics of Age: Child Marriage in India, 1891-1937


Ishita Pande - 2020
    Through a reading of legislative assembly debates, legal cases, government reports, propaganda literature, Hindi novels and sexological tracts, Pande tells a wide-ranging story about the importance of debates over child protection to India's coming of age. By tracing the history of age in colonial India she illuminates the role of law in sculpting modern subjects, demonstrating how seemingly natural age-based exclusions and understandings of legal minority became the alibi for other political exclusions and the minoritization of entire communities in colonial India. In doing so, Pande highlights how childhood as a political category was fundamental not just to ideas of sexual norms and domestic life, but also to the conceptualisation of citizenship and India as a nation in this formative period.

Islands and Oceans: Reimagining Sovereignty and Social Change


Sasha Davis - 2020
    All sorts of political actors, it seems, are interested in sovereignty. It is less clear, however, just what the term means, and whether calls for sovereignty promote a politically progressive or conservative agenda. Examining how sovereignty functions allows us to better understand the dangers, promise, and limitations of relying on it as a political strategy.Islands and Oceans explores how struggles for decolonization, self- determination, and political rights permeate conceptualizations of how sovereignty operates. To support his theoretical claims, Sasha Davis works through a series of case studies, drawing on research that he conducted between 2013 and 2017 in Korea, Guam, Yap, Palau, the Northern Marianas, Hawai'i, and Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. Because of the hybridized and contested arrangements of sovereignty in these territories, these places are excellent sites to tease out some of the differences between official regimes of sovereignty and the actual control of social processes on the ground. In addition, analysis of the tensions and acute debates over sovereignty in these regions lays bare how sovereignty works as a process. Davis's study of these political cases within the Asia-Pacific region advances our understanding the nature of sovereignty more generally.

National Trust 2021 Handbook


The National Trust - 2020