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The world is yours to explore

The great outdoors is the beating heart of our world, but modern life is pulling us ever further away from it. Spending our time shut away indoors and hunched over screens, we’ve lost touch with nature, and it’s harming our health and our happiness. But it’s never too late to find our way back.

This book will help you find a way of reconnecting with the great outdoors. Whether you like to walk, run or swim, admire the wildlife or forage for wild foods, within these pages there will be something to inspire you to get out into the fresh air and reignite your sense of wonder at the world around you. Nature is a balm for the body and soul, so escape the pace of the everyday and set yourself free: get out there, find adventure, and go wild!

A leisurely ramble through the woods, a meandering city stroll, a blustery seaside promenade or a vigorous mountain hike – all have their delights and incomparable joys. Whatever your walking style, you’ll be captivated and enthralled by the stories and excerpts of classic writing, trivia and practical tips in this book – perfect for anyone who loves the freedom of lacing up their hiking boots and heading for the hills.    

This charming and indispensable reference guide contains specific month-by-month ‘to do’ lists for ornamental gardens, edible crops and general maintenance, as well as tips on everything green-fingered, from protecting your plants from frost, pests and disease to making sure you get a bumper harvest to enjoy year-round. With diary pages for making your own notes each month, this pocket-sized yearbook is a must-have for every season. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this book will become an old and trusted friend.

This charming and practical handbook is bursting with tips, facts and folklore to guide you through the birdwatching year. Find out how to identify birds by sight or song, everything you need to know about their behaviour, habitats and breeding and migration habits, and tips for encouraging birds into your garden. Also includes handy diary pages for making your own notes each month. A must-have for any eager birdwatcher.

Dream. Explore. Discover.

Take a leaf out of nature’s book and unleash your wild side with this essential guide. Packed with hundreds of exciting outdoor ideas and activities, from reading animal tracks to making your own campfire, this little book will guarantee lots of fun and adventure all year round.

Gin is classic, classy and quintessentially British. It can be enjoyed on picnic blankets in summer with a slice of cucumber, or in dimly lit bars in a martini, shaken, not stirred. Bringing together a heady cocktail of timeless recipes, clever statements, trivia and quips from the world’s wisest and wittiest gin lovers, this book celebrates the glory of gin!

You won’t find a more loyal and loveable friend than you will in your dog. But if you’re going to cope with its boundless energy, its insatiable appetite and its total disregard for social niceties, you’re going to need survival skills:
Think positively: You will get more exercise than ever before (whether you like it or not)
Reassure yourself: The ‘mad puppy’ behaviour should wear off after 15 years or so.
This mischievous little book will help guide you through your role as a dog owner with tongue-in-cheek advice and cheeky illustrations.

This beautiful collection of poetry and prose through the seasons rhapsodises on the spectacle of colour and everything green and flourishing in the garden. The perfect book for a moment’s reflection, whether you are cooped up on a rainy day in your potting shed or admiring the fruits of your labour on a sunny evening from the pergola.

A bike can be so many different things – a simple way of navigating busy city streets or enjoying quiet lanes, a cross-country steed to take a rider up hill and down dale or even a world-beating racing machine. What unites everyone who rides is that they each have their own cycling story to tell.
This book collects inspirational stories from riders around the world, both ordinary and extraordinary, from the cyclist who conquered Mont Ventoux on a Boris bike, to the trials rider who hops from building to building, to classic tales of Grand Tour rivalries and legendary cycling records of days gone by. Essential reading for anyone who loves life on two wheels.

The sun is out. The temperature is soaring. And you are starving. If these factors don’t give you a valid licence to grill, then what does?! (NB: a BBQ in winter is totally acceptable, too!)

Whether you are hosting a large gathering or you want to whip up something quick and easy for one, this book covers all BBQ bases, including:
– Meat, fish and veggie grills – raise your culinary game with BBQ pulled pork and creamy slaw burgers, grilled squid with a Thai dipping sauce, and mixed vegetable and seitan skewers, to name just a few!
– Sauces, marinades and rubs – heighten the flavours of your food with BBQ and whisky glaze, homemade mayonnaise, Cajun rub, and much much more!
– Side dishes – serve up some old favourites and new delights, such as chargrilled aubergine and quinoa salad, cheesy Portobello mushrooms and classic egg mayonnaise.
– Sweet treats – top off the feast with some delicious desserts, including s’mores and grilled fruit kebabs.

It’s time to don your apron, fuel the flames and get grilling!

A life-saving illustrated guide to making student life easier, more productive and more fun. With shortcuts to academic success, tips for making the most of the student experience and – most importantly – hangover hacks to make things better the next day.

Welcome to the world of being a student! Where gaining knowledge is top priority and partying follows closely behind. The majority of your time in higher education will be spent moaning about lectures, then about exams and assignments, and then about how broke you are every month. Luckily this fully illustrated manual is here to solve your everyday dilemmas, with low-budget tips and tricks on all aspects of student living, including:

– Ways to make your student loan stretch further
– Tips to help you get out of bed in time for class
– Study, exam and revision hacks, including how to listen to your lectures in half the time
– How to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew – and how to get wine stains out of the carpet
– A trick for changing those pesky duvet covers
– How to store your beer bottles in the fridge without them toppling over
– Drawer and wardrobe space maximizers
– Party hacks
– Food and drink hacks to use up leftovers and make the most of whatever’s hiding in your fridge
Whether you’re a fresh-faced fresher or a seasoned student searching for shortcuts, this trusty guide will be your go-to for all occasions, helping to make your student years gloriously hassle-free.

Dogs communicate with so much more than barks and tail wags.

Misreading doggie body language makes life challenging for dogs and their humans. This small but mighty book is your perfect illustrated guide to seeing and understanding the subtle visual cues and interpreting the behaviours used by your beloved pup to express how they’re feeling. The more we notice and listen to what our dogs are trying to tell us, the more we can improve our relationship with our best friends, helping them to feel safe and happy.

– Original illustrations help you compare similar facial expressions, body language and gestures
– Interpret your dog’s cues and learn how your dog uses his ears, eyes, mouth, tail and posture to communicate with you
-Spot the signals your dog is trying to give you to tell you they’re stressed or conflicted

Test your golf knowledge with this exciting collection of puzzles and trivia

Discover word searches, riddles, crosswords, spot-the-differences and much more in this fun-filled activity book for golf lovers. Whether you’re trying to match the pairs of golf clubs or helping putt the ball through the maze, this book is guaranteed to be a favourite for all who enjoy the game.

Golf fans love a bit of trivia, and this entertaining puzzle book is filled with all kinds of interesting facts, games and activities to whet your quizzing appetite. Put your knowledge to the test and wow your friends with your expertise.

Hone your puzzling skills by pitting your wits against challenges such as:

– Locating the names of famous golfers hidden in a word search
– Unscrambling the names of things you can find on the golf course
– Spotting the differences between two scenes of a golfer hitting a tee shot
– Guessing when the four major tournaments were first held, and other fascinating trivia

Test your cricket knowledge with this exciting collection of puzzles and trivia

Discover wordsearches, riddles, crosswords, spot-the-differences and much more in this fun-filled activity book for cricket lovers. Whether you’re trying to match the pairs of batting gloves or discovering the longest and shortest test matches ever, this book is guaranteed to be a favourite for all who enjoy the game.

Cricket fans love a bit of trivia, and this entertaining puzzle book is filled with all kinds of interesting facts, games and activities to whet your quizzing appetite. Put your knowledge to the test and wow your friends with your expertise.

– Hone your puzzling skills by pitting your wits against challenges such as:
– Locating the various batting strokes hidden in a wordsearch
– Unscrambling the names of iconic international players
– Spotting the differences between two scenes as a ball smashes into middle stump
– Guessing who was the first player to reach 10,000 runs in test cricket, and other fascinating trivia

Cherish every moment with your pooch with this one-of-a-kind keepsake, filled with sage advice and pearls of doggie wisdom to help you care for your canine companion

Love is a four-legged word

There is no love like that between a dog and its human. So why not document and celebrate that love in one treasured keepsake? With space to record of all the firsts, major milestones and precious memories you make together, My Pawsome Dog and Me Journal is the ultimate book for any pooch parent.

Document all of your dog’s most important details – from their birthdate and star sign to their favourite treats and most-loved scratch spots. There’s also plenty of helpful tips and practical advice on ensuring the overall health and well-being of your little woofer to keep them happy and healthy every day.

The journal is broken down into sections on caring for every part of your pup, including tips on:
– Supporting their physical and mental health
– Recognizing different communication and behavioural signals
– Grooming your pup from nose to tail
– Fun activities for maintaining fitness

Whether you’re a qualified quaffer or an aspiring aficionado, raise a glass to the wonders of wine with this vintage blend of culture, history and trivia

Pinot, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling… There are so many delicious varieties of wine to delight both the nose and palate – and no other beverage has ever created such excitement and emotion over its vast history. It’s also a subject whose complexities can be baffling and mysterious to the uninitiated. Luckily, this small but full-bodied pocket guide is here to unveil all the secrets of this most marvellous drink.

Packed with a wealth of information on the world of wine, this miscellany is the perfect gift for any wine fan, from the seasoned expert to the casual drinker. Whether you favour red or white, dry or sweet, sparkling or still, indulge your inner sommelier and celebrate the gift of the grape with The Little Book of Wine.

Scotch or Irish?
Bourbon or rye?

However you like your whisky, this book is a masterful blend of history, terminology, tips and memorable quips. Topped up with dozens of recipes to suit any whisky lover’s palate – from classic cocktails to Scotch-imbued fudge and smoky bourbon glaze – this neat little miscellany will deepen your appreciation of this superlative spirit.

Whether you are hosting a dazzling party or you fancy a quiet evening in with your friends, be the best mixologist with the aid of this little book of cocktails. Including a splash of trivia, a dash of quotes and topped up with a concoction of tantalising recipes, It’s Cocktail Time! will make you want every hour to be cocktail hour!

Have you ever wondered…




how the orchestra got its name?


who wrote the longest-ever symphony?


just how do we know when to clap – and when not to?




From Bach to Beethoven, Vivaldi to Vaughan Williams, the world of classical music has something to enchant every listener. Whether you’re an armchair connoisseur, a regular concert-goer or an ardent musician, For the Love of Classical Music will take you on a tour encompassing landmark pieces and performances, key artists and composers, and surprising facts about the world’s most beautiful music.

From a sophisticated evening in to a fun night out, gin is the perfect go-to drink for every social occasion. This book will be your gin-cyclopedia, serving up new and classic cocktail recipes, including the Martini, Negroni and Monkey Gland (but only if you dare to try it!). With a dash of sparkling humour and a flourish of inspiration, this heady mixture will make gin o’clock your favourite time of day.


It’s time to let the fun beGIN!

Who hasn’t dreamt of writing a bestseller?
Illuminating the best-known works of 50 celebrated authors, writing coach Tony Rossiter shows you exactly how they achieved their phenomenal success. With an expert eye he explains how each author began writing, and examines their style, techniques and routine for insights into their art.
Imitating the methods – rather than the content – of a favourite writer is an excellent apprenticeship for anyone who wants to master the craft of writing. And it’s how many of the most successful authors began. If you want to write a bestseller, this guide will set you on the path to success.

Have moles always lived in holes?

Why are blondes so stupid?

How much radiation can a pickled onion withstand?

The world is full of really important questions. You will find none of them in this book. What you will find is plenty of nonsense, lots of lies and just enough truth to make you double check the ‘facts’ with a reliable source.

Following the huge success of the New Scientist books Does Anything Eat Wasps? and Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze?, this is an alternative take on human curiosity. With detailed answers to ridiculous questions, if you’ve learnt absolutely nothing useful by the time you’ve finished this book, at least you’ll be laughing.

The magical realm of unicorns comes to life in this dazzling craft book, brimming with sparkles and rainbows. Let your imagination run wild in creating dozens of fun and entertaining projects to make for yourself or give as gifts, including an amazing unicorn soft toy, a glittering headband and a rainbow-coloured charm.

Each project comes with a list of all the items and templates that you will need to create your unicorn-fuelled fun, along with step-by-step instructions and clear photographs to help you create something really special. Get ready to spread the magic!

Get into the party spirit with a masterclass in mixology

Swap the drab for the dazzle with this concoction of moreish recipes and nifty tips that will equip you with everything you need to create a delicious array of incredible drinks.

This book is the perfect companion for every cocktail lover. Whether you’re a budding bartender or a maestro mixologist, this handy guide will teach you everything you need to know to host an unforgettable soirée.

In this book, you will find:

– Delicious and crowd-pleasing cocktail recipes, including the Margarita, Tom Collins, Piña Colada, Negroni and Mai Tai
– Expert tips, tricks and techniques on blending the perfect drink
– Essential equipment for stocking the ultimate home bar
– Ideas and instructions for creating your own party décor
– Insights into the history and origins of each cocktail
Shaken or stirred, flaming or fizzy, let these cocktails make any occasion all the more memorable and marvellous.