Book picks similar to
Wretched Ruins by Steven L. Stern


nonfiction
juv--non-fiction
juvenile-non-fiction
kid

My Dad is a Butthead


S.T. Garvey - 2014
    I’m done with that you Butthead. Lets not go down this path." Dad and I don’t always agree. And sometimes I call him names. But, is he the Best Dad in the World?

Volcanoes in Human History: The Far-Reaching Effects of Major Eruptions


Jelle Zeilinga de Boer - 2001
    Gases and dust particles ejected into the atmosphere changed weather patterns around the world, resulting in the infamous ''year without a summer'' in North America, food riots in Europe, and a widespread cholera epidemic. And the gloomy weather inspired Mary Shelley to write the gothic novel Frankenstein.This book tells the story of nine such epic volcanic events, explaining the related geology for the general reader and exploring the myriad ways in which the earth's volcanism has affected human history. Zeilinga de Boer and Sanders describe in depth how volcanic activity has had long-lasting effects on societies, cultures, and the environment. After introducing the origins and mechanisms of volcanism, the authors draw on ancient as well as modern accounts--from folklore to poetry and from philosophy to literature. Beginning with the Bronze Age eruption that caused the demise of Minoan Crete, the book tells the human and geological stories of eruptions of such volcanoes as Vesuvius, Krakatau, Mount Pel�e, and Tristan da Cunha. Along the way, it shows how volcanism shaped religion in Hawaii, permeated Icelandic mythology and literature, caused widespread population migrations, and spurred scientific discovery.From the prodigious eruption of Thera more than 3,600 years ago to the relative burp of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the results of volcanism attest to the enduring connections between geology and human destiny.

The Wonder of the Greatest Gift: An Interactive Family Celebration of Advent


Ann Voskamp - 2017
    Each December, families can celebrate the coming of Jesus by opening the book to see a stunning 13-inch, three-dimensional Jesse Tree pop up from the page. At its foot are 25 doors, one for each day of Advent, which hide meaningful, beautifully detailed ornaments--including the Christmas star--that are ready to be hung on the tree. Also inside is a simple devotional book with a reading for each ornament. Create precious holiday memories with The Jesse Tree Pop-Up Book and recapture the sacredness of the Advent season as you celebrate the epic pageantry of the coming of the Messiah.

China: A History (Volume 1): From Neolithic Cultures through the Great Qing Empire, (10,000 BCE - 1799 CE)


Harold M. Tanner - 2010
    Volume 2: From the Great Qing Empire through the People's Republic of China (1644—2009).

Fat Envelope Frenzy: One Year, Five Promising Students, and the Pursuit of the Ivy League Prize


Joie Jager-hyman - 2008
    Jager-Hyman also offers a startlingly frank appraisal of the college admission process and the important roles race and class continue to play in a student's efforts to attend the best school possible.

Siblings: You're Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together


James J. Crist - 2010
    But kids know siblings can be a real drag, too. Full-color illustrations and humorous, kidfriendly text teach kids how to cope with problems of fairness, jealousy, conflict, tattling, privacy, and other things that can make having siblings so difficult. Kids learn how to cope with a new baby in the home and how to handle special situations such as siblings with special needs, step-siblings, and adopted siblings. Unlike most other books on the topic, Siblings doesn’t dwell on sibling rivalry; it focuses on building positive relationships. After all, siblings can grow up to be the best of friends.

Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini


Sid Fleischman - 2006
    No jail cell or straitjacket could hold him! He shucked off handcuffs as easily as gloves.In this fresh, witty biography of the most famous bamboozler since Merlin, Sid Fleischman, a former professional magician, enriches his warm homage with insider information and unmaskings. Did Houdini really pick the jailhouse lock to let a fellow circus performer escape? Were his secrets really buried with him? Was he a bum magician, as some rivals claimed? How did he manage to be born in two cities, in two countries, on two continents at the same instant?Here are the stories of how a knockabout kid named Ehrich Weiss, the son of an impoverished rabbi, presto-changoed himself into the legendary Harry Houdini. Here, too, are rare photographs never before seen by the general reader!

Understanding Border Collies


Barbara Sykes - 1999
    This comprehensive, illustrated book gives essential advice on how to become the pack leader by understanding and interpreting the body language of man's best friend. Topics include choosing your Border Collie, taking your puppy home, common sense dog training, nutrition, creating a partnership, and adolescent and older dogs.

Five Minute Mum: Give Me Five: Five minute, easy, fun games for busy people to do with little kids


Daisy Upton - 2020
    She loves them - but they drive her mad. So, to try and keep her sanity she started to come up with quick, easy games using stuff from around the house. And @FiveMinuteMum was born. In her first book, she has collected 150+ games that take 5 minutes to set up & 5 minutes to tidy up.From pasta posting to alphabet knock down, it's a recipe book for guilt free parenting! And as Daisy was a teaching assistant, your little ones will be learning while they play! What could be better?GIVE ME FIVE is the perfect companion for anyone who wants five minutes peace. "I love Five Minute Mum. She's managed to come up with a huge array of activities for kids that are fun and educational yet don't require an Art degree or Diploma in Patience to execute." Sarah Turner, aka Unmumsy Mum

Frozen: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack


Hal Leonard Corporation - 2014
    Frozen has been called one of Disney's greatest musicals of all time high praise indeed! In fact, it's the first soundtrack in over a decade to top the Billboard Album Charts for over a month. This souvenir songbook features 11 songs as penned by songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, plus color artwork from the film. Songs include: For the First Time in Forever * Frozen Heart * In Summer * Let It Go * Love Is an Open Door * Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People * and more. Includes color artwork from the film!

Proverbs for Young People


Jack E. Levin - 2015
    Levin brings his distinctive artistic style to twenty-nine life lessons that have been passed down from generation to generation. Filled with wit and wisdom, these life lessons have stood the test of time. From “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” and “Early to Bed and Early to Rise” to “Practice Makes Perfect” and “Look Before You Leap,” these well-known proverbs are universal, evergreen truths that every parent and grandparent will want to share with their children.

Who Was Susan B. Anthony?


Pam Pollack - 2014
    Anthony may be an international icon but her campaign for women’s rights had personal roots. Working as a school teacher in New York, Anthony refused to settle for less pay than her male colleagues which ignited her lifelong devotion to women’s equality. Anthony toured the United States and Europe giving speeches and publishing articles as one of the most important advocates of women’s rights. Learn more about the woman behind the movement in Who Was Susan B. Anthony?

Birth With Confidence: Savvy Choices for Normal Birth


Rhea Dempsey - 2013
    Chapter 1.The birth you want: what motivates the willing woman?Chapter 2.Reality hurts: birth in the labour-bypass eraChapter 3.It’s a fine line: reframing pain in labourChapter 4.Approaching labour: what pain type are you?Chapter 5.Crisis of confidence: when self-belief crumblesChapter 6.The right support: who will get you through?

Alexander the Great


Charles Mercer - 1962
    Here, from award-winning historian and journalist Charles Mercer, is the story of the military genius who became a king at twenty told with all the color and drama characteristic of Alexander's time.

Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-Old Computer and the Century-Long Search to Discover Its Secrets


Jo Marchant - 2009
    Now, using advanced imaging technology, scientists have solved the mystery of its intricate workings. Unmatched in complexity for a thousand years, the mechanism functioned as the world's first analog computer, calculating the movements of the sun, moon, and planets through the zodiac. In Decoding the Heavens, Jo Marchant details for the first time the hundred-year quest to decode this ancient computer. Along the way she unearths a diverse cast of remarkable characters--ranging from Archimedes to Jacques Cousteau--and explores the deep roots of modern technology, not only in ancient Greece, but in the Islamic world and medieval Europe. At its heart, this is an epic adventure story, a book that challenges our assumptions about technology development through the ages while giving us fresh insights into history itself.