Book House

In 16th century London, you start work as an actor at William Shakespeare's theatre, but soon realise it won't be easy. It'll take an excellent memory, a penchant for wearing dresses and a keen eye for avoiding rotten vegetables. But against all odds, you could do well here...just watch where you're pointing that cannon! Humorous illustrations bring the characters to life, while informative captions explain...

As if the plague wasn't bad enough, here comes the fiery antidote! As famous diary-keeper Samuel Pepys, you'll witness four days and four nights of fire and live to tell the tale. Find out how people lived in the London of 1666, how they coped in the aftermath and all importantly, whodunnit! - or at least who we think dunnit! "You Wouldn't Want To Be" is a constantly-growing library of exciting titles which...

Children can embark on an entertaining tour of London, taking in its many sights and sounds from Big Ben to the Beefeaters, and its rich history, as they complete all manner of exciting puzzles and games.

As an American pilot joining the RAF during World War Two, you'll experience many ups and downs, and no doubt you'll discover what a 'Mae West' is for! Get used to the lingo, commands and controls, otherwise it's time to bail out! Educational, informative and engaging, this book teaches children the risks taken and sacrifices made in World War II. The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative a...

Yorkshire is well known for its miners, pudding and cricket, but Yorkshire: A Very Peculiar History scrapes beyond the surface and past the cliches. Featuring a host of characters from Yorkshire past and present, from Guy Fawkes to Michael Parkinson, it's not all grit and grime! Tracing Yorkshire's history back through Roman and Viking rule, to the various tribes which populated the area in prehistoric tim...

The Tudors were an odd bunch, more odd than their subjects, perhaps. When they weren't beheading wives and enemies they were threatening to, or going around earning themselves nicknames like 'Bloody Mary' and 'The 9 Day Queen'. The Tudors: A Very Peculiar History tells the story of the Tudor monarchs, their castles, their lives and their subjects in a time when it was fashionable to slash up your clothes f...

'Whisky, A Very Peculiar History' takes a sideways look at this most inebriating beverage from its simplistic origins to its pride of place in the drinks cabinets of the world. When Henry VIII disbanded the monasteries and let those brewing monks out into the wilderness, he had no idea of the kind of beast he'd unleashed. Whisky was used as a medicine, giving 'the glow of apparent well-being' and even hors...

It boasted libraries, palm tress, swimming pools, a 50-phone switchboard and was nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower. No, she's not a skyscraper, she's the Titanic! To commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the White Star Liner RMS Titanic in 2012, Titanic, A Very Peculiar History delves into the human stories of both crew and passengers and the incredible feats of engineering and design involved in her...

Step inside an ancient Egyptian building site where one of mankind's most spectacular creations is slowly taking shape. Discover how the Egyptians constructed these vast buildings with such incredible precision, without using wheels, machines or iron tools. Their aim: to preserve their pharaoh not just from tomb robbers, but from death itself. An Egyptian Pyramid is an exciting and superbly-illustrated look...

With the centenary of the outbreak of the 'The Great War' coming in 2014, World War One, A Very Peculiar History commemorates the events of the time by looking at some of the incredible lengths, no matter how risky or bizarre, people went to to defend their country. From front pigs to hairy beasts, author Jim Pipe looks at the nicknames coined at the time, while providing mind-boggling lists and figures ab...

Which frog uses poison to protect itself? What's more deadly, a mosquito or a crocodile? Find out in "Top Ten Worst: Killer Animals". Filled with nasty creatures you certainly wouldn't want to meet, this book features advice on how to avoid a shark attack and how to combat a mosquito attack, amongst other fascinating facts and vital statistics. Colourful and humourous illustrations accompany the terrifying ...

Scotland! The home of the clans. All around the world, people of Scots heritage proudly claim their 'own' clan membership, name, tartan, ancestral home territory etc etc. To them and to others, the very mention of the word inspires dramatic, romantic and cinematic images. This fascinating book delves into the origins and backgrounds of key Scottish clan names which have formed a part of the country's modern...

David Arscott explores the quirky past of one the UK's most important cities. From the Morris Minor to spoonerisms, the boat race to the Oxford bag, this title takes a fascinating tour through the streets of Oxford. Featuring black and white illustrations, witty anecdotes and incredible trivia, readers will be entertained and educated, disovering everything from Oxford's first origins to its presence in pop...

How to Draw England features step-by-step instructions showing how to draw many of England's most recognised landmarks. Including Stonehenge, Angel of the North and Hadrian's Wall as well as some well-known English icons, such as a thatched cottage, this is an essential book for any budding artist who would like to master the art of drawing England.

Decorate each colourful safari scene with stickers from 8 pages of over 250 fantastic designs: featuring lions, elephants, crocodiles and much, much more! Children will have hours of fun accessorising these vivid pages to make them look just the way they want. Each page features things to look for, find and count, along with questions to stimulate young minds. Plus a treasure hunt activity so children can g...

How to Draw Scotland features step-by-step instructions showing how to draw many of Scotland's most recognised landmarks. Including Edinburgh Castle, Balmoral and Holyrood Palace as well as some well-known Scottish icons, such as a bagpiper and a Highland dancer, this is an essential book for any budding artist who would like to master the art of drawing Scotland.

Discover the horrible and hilarious secrets of Edinburgh's chequered (or perhaps tartaned) past. Fiona Macdonald presents a history of Scotland's most powerful city, from ancient to modern, gracious to grimy. Edinbroo! 'Auld Reekie', 'Quite enchanting - like fairlyland!','The Athens of the North', 'Edina, Scotia's darling seat', 'World Festival City'(modest, huh?)' or even a 'Mad God's Dream' of architectur...

Take an incredible voyage on the Beagle with Charles Darwin. Explore its relevance to the people who built it and the lives that they led. Stunning cut-away illustrations help lead the reader through the often complex historical periods. Written in a clear, concise style. Contents, glossary, and index.

Step inside a Viking town and discover for yourself what it was like to live and work in this bustling centre of long-distance trade. Admire the well-built houses before joining the town's defenders as they fight off an attack by rivals from across the sea. This is a superbly-illustrated look at the daily lives of different types of Vikings. Astounding architectural acheivements are explained and explored w...

Step inside the Colosseum at Rome around AD80 and discover for yourself the technological wonders, the vicious weapons, the thrills and the dangers of a great Roman arena. Find out why this incredible feat of architecture was built, who paid for it and where the money came from. And then gasp at the stars, the Gladiators who fought for their lives in the ancient Roman Colosseum and made it so lucrative for ...