Slightly off-mint

Slightly off-mint.

Slightly off-mint.

Slightly off-mint.

Off-mint and felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.

Progressing from counting and numbers in the world around us to simple geometry and showing data in pictograms and bar charts, this clearly written (in large type) and very colourful book is designed to support curriculum teaching for Reception and Key Stage 1, and to provide a solid basis for learning mathematics. Age 4–7

This clear overview includes topics such as how crime is measured, the motivation and treatment of criminals, and how our justice system operates. Ideal for students, it also features case studies and multiple choice tests.

This sturdy board book offers a colourful introduction to 70 animals, from those readily seen in gardens, farms or ponds to those living in the sea, savanna or jungle, and includes simple questions to engage young minds. Age 1+

Badger is very old and worries about how his friends will cope when he is gone. This sensitive story, first published in 1984, demonstrates that one way to remember a loved one is by practising the skills they taught you. Age 3+

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Off-mint.

The noted actors Juliet Stephenson and Michael Sheen retell ten of Shakespeare's most famous works in modern English prose. The stories, including Hamlet, Twelfth Night and Henry V, incorporate lines of dialogue from the original plays and key plot points are explained. Age 9+

Nicolas Soames presents the biographies of a varied group of men and women who changed the course of history. Figures covered include Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, da Vinci, Washington and Gandhi. Age 12+

The journeys of some of history’s most intrepid explorers, including Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Captain Cook and the Apollo Mission astronauts are revealed here, partly told in the words of the men themselves. Age 12+

Michael Rosen conducts a guided tour of Charles Dickens’s life and work, from his poor childhood to his successful one-man shows. He explains his influence, inspirations and appeal, introducing classic characters such as Scrooge and Miss Havisham. Age 7+

By following the illustrated step-by-step instructions, children can learn to draw 15 bugs, including a dragonfly, tarantula and ant. The author includes information on anatomy, colour and texture plus advice on techniques and materials. Age 7+

Written in consultation with a literary expert, this simple story for new readers follows Mr Happy as he attempts to cheer up Mr Grumble, with a little help from Mr Strong. Age 3+

The Maths Quest books are designed to motivate children to develop and apply their maths skills through comic-style adventure stories. Each story works as a game, with the reader as the hero who must solve a series of mathematical puzzles and problems to get to the exciting conclusion. If an answer is wrong, the reader is directed back, to get an extra clue and have another try. When his spaceship breaks down in a wormhole, our hero needs maps and measurement to get back to earth. Age 9–12

The Maths Quest books are designed to motivate children to develop and apply their maths skills through comic-style adventure stories. Each story works as a game, with the reader as the hero who must solve a series of mathematical puzzles and problems to get to the exciting conclusion. If an answer is wrong, the reader is directed back, to get an extra clue and have another try. In search of treasure, Commander Geo leads an expedition through the shapes, sizes and angles of the world of geometry. Age 9–12

The Maths Quest books are designed to motivate children to develop and apply their maths skills through comic-style adventure stories. Each story works as a game, with the reader as the hero who must solve a series of mathematical puzzles and problems to get to the exciting conclusion. If an answer is wrong, the reader is directed back, to get an extra clue and have another try. Professor Function has been kidnapped! By solving the number problems, our hero can rescue him from the spooky hotel. Age 9–12

The Maths Quest books are designed to motivate children to develop and apply their maths skills through comic-style adventure stories. Each story works as a game, with the reader as the hero who must solve a series of mathematical puzzles and problems to get to the exciting conclusion. If an answer is wrong, the reader is directed back, to get an extra clue and have another try. The school’s computer network is under attack. Only statistics can kill the deadly viruses. Age 9–12

Dividing five biscuits between three of you, counting the wheels on lorries, multiplying on your fingers... Written for parents, this collection of simple games and activities introduces mathematical topics such as subtraction, fractions and multiplication, all without mentioning the M word. Age 9+

This compendium of two classic reference works, first published in the 1960s, tells the story of the evolution of British locomotives, carriages and rolling stock, and charts the milestones of railway history through a series of over 350 colour illustrations, descriptions and historical overviews. Further entries identify types of signals used by different operators and the coats of arms of the most notable pre-grouping railway companies.

Delving into the grisly business of trials, torture and execution, here are the stories of doomed victims, including Joan of Arc, Julius Caesar, Guy Fawkes and the outlaw Jesse James. Age 10+

This collection of murder and mayhem includes histories of Boudica, Vlad the Impaler, the French Revolution, Roman emperors, Vikings and the demise of Rasputin. Age 10+

This study of definitive moments in history, generously illustrated with images from the British Library collection, describes events such as the murder of Julius Caesar, the battle of the Little Bighorn and the Russian revolution. Age 8+

Here is the book for the child who wants to out-statistic friends with encyclopaedic dinosaur knowledge. With bite-sized information and illustrated throughout, there are facts about longest legs, deadliest claws, and how much the last T-Rex sold for at auction.

This anthology, which was first published in 1964, is designed as an introduction to a cross-section of poetry, in the original Latin, from the late Republic and early Empire. It presents 36 passages, in different genres and styles, by such authors as Catullus, Virgil and Juvenal. There are short introductions to each extract, detailed notes on language and content and a full vocabulary. Off-mint.

Rings, moons and atmospheres are the focus of this simple guide to the solar system’s furthest planets: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Each planet is explored with the help of illustrations, diagrams, and images from Voyager 2 and the Hubble Telescope. Off-mint. Age 12+

Through energy, imagination, courage or determination, the individuals featured in this collection had a unique impact on the world. Among the nine remarkable people are Christopher Columbus, William Shakespeare, Lord Nelson, Florence Nightingale and Anne Frank.

With separate chapters for biology, chemistry and physics, here science is made approachable: each scientific method is explained through a series of interconnecting coloured boxes and demonstrated by following a specific question through hypothesis to conclusion.

Divided into the four core English subjects of grammar, punctuation, spelling and communication skills, this guide helps clarify perennial problems: simple illustrations explain the difference between ‘its’ and ‘it’s’, and use of formal and informal language is explained through ‘spotting the difference’.

From the early aviators to the Space Shuttle and the introduction of drones, this illustrated compendium is packed with information on all aspects of military and civil flight, including the greatest planes, aerial reconnaissance, air battles and airline food. Felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.

An excellent classroom resource, this pack contains eight double-sided A3 posters and an information leaflet explaining how Hadrian’s Wall was built, how it might have looked and how it functioned.

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This engaging and lively guide introduces the different elements that make up words, and teaches a range of techniques to improve both reading and writing skills by researching words' origins and history; identifying spelling rules and conventions; breaking words up into syllables; spotting common suffixes and prefixes; and using dictionaries effectively. Find Your Way with Words series. Age 11–12

From the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 to Bosworth in 1485, Loyn tells the story of people's struggles to claim an effective role in government. With drawings by Alan and Richard Sorrell. First published in 1977. Age 10+

For readers who are free of exams and the stress of having to get it right, Peter Higgins offers a chance ‘to wonder at the mathematical scenery’. Exploring questions such as ‘How many matches are played in a tennis tournament?’ and ‘What are your chances of winning the lottery?’ he gives an entertaining account of what mathematics can do.