Martin Jenkins

A funny, philosophical book about the universal subject of money, by award-winning non-fiction writer Martin Jenkins. A funny, philosophical look at the universal subject of money by award-winning non-fiction writer Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura. In the Yap Islands in the South Pacific money can be a stone with a hole in the middle. It can be a string of shells, a bundle of cloth or a copper slab. It's the stuff that makes the world go round and doesn't grow on trees. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Martin Jenkins explores the history of money from its earliest beginnings to the electronic banking of today. Along the way we learn about hunter gatherers, barter, clay tablets, goat swapping, precious metals, hard bargains, IOUs, interest, coins, Romans, taxes, inflation, paper money, currencies and exchange rates. Satoshi Kitamura’s quirky, satirical drawings perfectly complement the dry humour of the text and in the end we are reminded that money only exists because we believe in it.

An award-winning picture book about the Emperor penguin’s parenting. The Emperor penguin is the only large animal to remain on the Antarctic mainland throughout its bitterly inhospitable winter. Once the female has laid her egg, she heads back to the sea, leaving the male to incubate it. He then spends two months standing on the freezing cold ice with the egg on his feet! This is his story.

Richard Burton narrates the second volume of this famous dramatic chronicle of the English Crown, a treasure of the BBC radio archive published on CD for the very first time. Vivat Rex is the landmark drama series first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1977. Over the course of 26 instalments, each one narrated by Richard Burton with a full cast, the fortunes of the English Crown are followed through 225 years of British history, from Edward II’s accession in 1307 to the birth of Elizabeth I. Each drama is adapted by Martin Jenkins from the works of Shakespeare, Marlowe and their Elizabethan contemporaries. This second volume features the final 13 instalments, beginning with Martin Jarvis as Henry V and concluding with the birth of Elizabeth I. Vivat Rex includes a stirring musical score by Christopher Whelen.

A visually stunning and informative picture book about the world’s endangered animals. Tigers are big, beautiful and fierce. But, like many other animals, they are in danger of becoming extinct. With breathtaking illustrations this picture book tells us about the threats to the many endangered species on our planet and the need to prevent their extinction.

With clarity and humor, Martin Jenkins and Satoshi Kitamura take readers on a fascinating tour of the history of money. What can take the form of a stone with a hole in the middle, a string of shells, a piece of paper, or a plastic card? The answer is money, of course. But when did we start using it? And why? What does money have to do with writing? And how do taxes and interest work? From the Stone Age to modern banking, this lighthearted and engaging account traces the history of the stuff that makes the world go round.

Explore the glory and tragedy of the Titanic in a fascinating book that traces the events leading up to her fateful end. On April 14, 1912, the largest and finest ocean liner of the age struck an iceberg and sank to the icy depths. Here, in clear, compelling prose illustrated with evocative scenes, extensive diagrams, and historical photos, is the story of the Titanic'srise and fall- from details on her state-of-the-art design and widely varying accommodations to a timeline showing how structural and human failure contributed to her demise.

"White makes an intense emotional connection between subject and reader. . . . The great apes have found their John Singer Sargent." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) A Book Sense Children's PickA Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the YearA New York Public Library: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing SelectionAn ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award Winner Swing with a hairy orangutan and her baby as they lunge for a smelly, spiky durian fruit. Roam and play with a gang of chimps, then poke out some tasty termites with a blade of grass. Chatter and feast on figs with a bonobo, or chomp on bamboo with a gorilla as he readies for sleep. What could be better than spending time with these rare and wonderful creatures -- after all, the fifth great ape on this planet is you Back matter includes an index and a map.

"Students who are wild about penguins and classrooms doing units on them will find The Emperor's Egg an action-packed read." -- School Library Journal Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything at all to eat? That's just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming in the ocean and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. This charming, oversize picture book is full of fabulous facts about nature's most devoted dad. Back matter includes an index.

Fabulous facts about nature's most devoted dad, in an utterly charming picture book. Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat? That's just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. Welcome to the story of the world's most devoted dad Back matter includes an index.

The ability to change color, a sharp-shooting tongue, and skin covering your eyes -- now that is cool. Read and Wonder books tell stories, take children on adventures, and reveal how big and WONDER-full the natural world really is. Back matter includes an index.