Reference

A new indispensable compendium of popular misconceptions, misunderstandings and common mistakes culled from the hit BBC show, QI, hosted by Stephen Fry. EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW IS STILL WRONG Octopuses have six legs. Oranges aren't orange. Bats aren't blind. Napoleon wasn't short. Vikings didn't wear horned helmets. Diamond isn't the hardest substance. Bank notes aren't made of paper. Testosterone doesn't make you aggressive. Cheese doesn' t give you nightmares. There is no such thing as a fish. The original Book of General ... read more

If Schott's Original Miscellany could claim to be essential then it is only logical that the distillation of ten years consideration of little known but important facts and the small details that make life fascinating should appear under the title Schott's Quintessential Miscellany. And like its predecessor it is entertaining, informative, unpredictable and utterly addictive.

Kingfisher First Encyclopedia is the ideal introductory encylopedia for young children, containing a range of favourite topics explained in an understandable, accessible manner. One hundred entries are clearly presented, with simple, informative text and attractive artworks and photographs which aid understanding and enhance the book's appeal to young readers. There are over 1,500 exciting colour illustrations. The encyclopdedia is perfect for children who are just learning to look up information for themselves. The alphabetical ar... read more

This new edition of the popular The Kingfisher Children

This is all the encyclopedia you will ever need. Here you have excellent Dorling Kindersley reference in partnership with the Google search engine. This is an encyclopedia with its own dedicated website providing a superb online learning resource with over 1,000 vetted, safe, and actively-managed live e-links. When you look up a subject in the book, the article gives you key facts and displays a keyword that links you to a wealth of extra information online. Clear step-by-step instructions given.

This A-Z encyclopaedia offers information on a wide range of subjects and contains cross-references in the text and a comprehensive index to help the reader trace further information about any topic. Many areas of knowledge are covered, from plants, science, travel, to food, language and religion.

World-renowned linguist and reference editor, David Crystal, brings us the third edition of "Penguin's Concise Encyclopedia". This abridgement condenses the core material in the third edition of the "Penguin Encyclopedia" which has already reached a world sales total of over 23,000 copies in hardback. David Crystal has a gift for clarity and concision which enables him to illuminate even the most intricate concepts. Here he offers over 22,000 alphabatised entries on the facts, events, issues, people, beliefs and achievements that m... read more

Children's Paperback Non-Fiction

The Reed Book of Tongan Proverbs catalogues the rich vein of history and language in the proverbs of Tonga. It records proverbs in the original Tongan with a translation in the same language, accompanied by a translation and explanation in English. Approximately 800 proverbs span the wisdom, humour and insight of the Tongan people.

From the deliberately confusing to the downright vague, we all come across language that either seems meaningless or that makes our heads spin. Weasel Words is a demystification of those words and phrases used to bewilder, befuddle and confuse us, from the estate agent's 'bijou' to the politician's more sinister 'waterboarding'. Using contemporary examples, this book sets out those words we find confusing, explains what each word actually means and examines why these words are used the way they are.

Combining scholarly authority with a new awareness of today’s communication demands, Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus is the simple, reliable way to find the perfect word for your needs. It features an easy-to-use dictionary format plus a revolutionary Concept Index that arranges words by idea, thus enhancing the user’s process of association and leading to scores of additional selections. The inclusion of a wide spectrum of words and phrases with each entry — from sophisticated choices to completely new vocabulary in the lan... read more

"Stringlopedia" gathers together every strand on string (and it's 'big brother' rope) to weave a fascinating overview of this multi-faceted yet often under-valued material. Among the mass of strands you will find the world's biggest ball of twine, a stringy history and the origin of the phrase 'to cut the Gordian knot'. On a more practical note, learn how to do magic tricks, weigh a pig or string-roast a pigeon. Instructions to tie your laces in seven different ways, create an impressive string figure or bind up your enemy will hel... read more