Hatch – serie

Grab your javelin and your discus - it's time to race in the ancient Greek Olympics!As a young boy in the city-state of Athens, the time has come to prove yourself in ancient Greek society. Following several years in school, your father pushes you to participate in the most famous athletic competition to exist - the Olympics. The training is treacherous, the equipment is excruciating, and the rivalries are rotten. Discover the awe-inspiring origins of the Olympics, what vigorous rules had to be followed, and just how you might go about surviving - or even winning - these ancient games.The You Wouldn't Want to Be series transports readers to the grisliest times and places in history, perfect for reluctant readers. The first-person narrative approach puts children in the shoes of the some of the unluckiest people ever to have lived.

Roman Colosseum explores the architectural achievements and hidden secrets held within the walls of this ancient arena.Step inside the enormous, boldly designed Roman Colosseum and uncover the secret lives of the people who lived, worked and built this ancient monument. Completed in 96 AD, it's a miraculous feat of engineering and entertaining - this is the place that gladiators fought for their lives as citizens whooped and cheered in the stands, thousands of years ago. Curious children can discover why and how the Colosseum was built; how it was decorated; who was allowed to enter; what took place behind the scenes; and what the Roman world was like.With superb cutaway illustrations and pinpoint enlargements to accompany the text, this book is the perfect gift for history enthusiasts eager to learn more about ancient Rome. Informative captions, maps, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal educational text for children studying the Romans.

Ancient Egyptian Tomb examines the architectural achievements and hidden secrets held within the world's most elaborate cemetery: the Valley of the Kings! Journey across the Nile and uncover the innovative building methods and complex afterlife preparations favoured by the formidable pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Unwrap all the secrets to mummification, including what trinkets Egyptians took to their graves, which Gods they worshipped, and how they planned such elaborate funeral processions. With superb cutaway illustrations, we explore the astounding architectural achievements of ancient Egyptian burial sites, gaining fascinating insight into the lives of the Pharaoh's workforce who created these dazzling tombs. Informative captions, maps, a complete glossary and an index makes this title the perfect educational aid for aspiring historians aged 8 and up studying the ancient world!

Step inside one of history's most astonishing engineering feats with An Egyptian Pyramid, a richly illustrated journey through the construction, purpose and secrets of an ancient royal tomb. Drawing on archaeological evidence, this Spectacular Visual Guide follows a pyramid from its earliest foundations to its gleaming final form-revealing how its site was chosen, how colossal stones were quarried and moved, and how craftsmen and thousands of labourers worked together to raise a monument fit for a pharaoh. Cutaways, diagrams and vivid reconstructions bring each stage to life: the bustling workers' town at Kahun; the organisation of building crews; the carving of mortuary temples; the rituals surrounding death, mummification and burial; and the vast "city of the dead" surrounding the pyramids.Packed with historical detail, clear explanations and stunning artwork, this is an accessible, authoritative introduction to Ancient Egypt - perfect for curious readers, school projects and anyone fascinated by the ancient world.

Discover the vanished world of the dinosaurs with this roarsome puzzle activity book!Bursting with fascinating facts and quizzes, this brain-busting 112 page puzzle book offers readers hours of dinosaur-themed entertainment, including prehistoric word searches, mazes, dot-to-dot pictures and hilarious jokes. Dinosaur lovers can test their knowledge with the ultimate dino quiz - perfect for filling out after a museum visit or in an addition to a child's homework. It's the perfect anti-boredom antidote for long journeys!Also available in the series:Boredom Buster: A Puzzle Activity Book of Swashbuckling PiratesBoredom Buster: A Puzzle Activity Book of Spectacular ScienceBoredom Buster: A Puzzle Activity Book of the Human Body

Discover the riotous world of Ancient Rome with this rip-roaring facts and jokes book, perfect for 7-9 year olds!Laugh along as you learn in this hilarious, fact-packed joke book all about Ancient Rome. Featuring dozens of gut-busting gags, this book combines history and humour, uncovering the gross and gruesome aspects of ancient life, such as gory gladiators, terrifying emperors and back-stabbing plots. Find out about the battles with the Britons, the Roman baths and why Hadrian built his huge wall. Hold onto your sides and dive in!

Discover all the eye-opening, mind-boggling and stomach-churning things that go on inside your body with this anatomical activity book!Filled with fascinating facts and exciting activities, this puzzle book guides children through the human body, discovering the science behind respiration, digestion, growth, blood circulation, the five senses and our skeleton. Containing 112 pages, this book supports STEM learning in an innovative and engaging way with hilarious jokes, intestine mazes, anatomical cross words, memory quizzes and skeleton sketches.The Boredom Buster series are the perfect anti-boredom antidote to keep children entertained during long journeys and the school holidays!Also available in the series:Boredom Buster: A Puzzle Activity Book of Swashbuckling PiratesBoredom Buster: Puzzle Activity Book of Daring & Deadly DinosaursBoredom Buster: A Puzzle Activity Book of Spectacular Science

A graphic retelling of Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece is brought back to life with incredible illustrations!This contemporary graphic novel resurrects Mary Shelley's classic horror story, featuring atmospheric illustrations and electrifying explorations of the cultural impact of this gothic masterpiece. The novel follows the obsessive scientist Victor Frankenstein as he robs graveyards and gathers body parts to build a monster of superhuman strength. But as he begins to develop his own mind, consciousness and agency, how will the creature react to being left alone in the world by his creator?Perfect for reluctant readers and visual learners, this faithful, fast-paced adaptation brings Frankenstein to vivid life with full-colour artwork and speech bubbles to enhance the retelling. Alongside the novel, this edition includes a biography of Mary Shelley, explorations of scientific discoveries at the time, a listing of Frankenstein in film, and footnotes to explain difficult words and ideas.

The Classic Comics series is the authoritative graphic guide to the greatest masterpieces in literary history.Who is the mysterious Mr Hyde, who stalks the streets of Victorian London at night committing indescribable crimes? And why does he have such a hold over the famous and respectable Dr Henry Jekyll? As the mystery unfolds, a shocking truth emerges... This engaging story is presented as an exciting and fast-paced graphic novel which remains faithful to Robert Louis Stevenson's original text.Specially commissioned full-colour artwork brings excitement and atmosphere to this classic tale. Speech bubbles work with the main text to emphasise and enhance the retelling. A running glossary at the foot of each page helps young readers with any challenging vocabulary without disrupting their reading experience.

The Classic Comics series is the authoritative graphic guide to the greatest masterpieces in literary history.This title chronicles Shakespeare's tragic tale of two doomed star-crossed lovers, an ancient family feud and its terrible consequences. Follow Romeo and Juliet as they meet, fall in love and ultimately fall apart in Verona, and see how their revolutionary love shakes the foundations of Verona itself.Specially commissioned full-colour artwork brings excitement and atmosphere to this classic tale. Speech bubbles work with the main text to emphasise and enhance the retelling. A running glossary at the foot of each page helps young readers with any challenging vocabulary without disrupting their reading experience.

Anyone can create a sensational, seasonal masterpiece with just a pencil and paper!This easy-to-follow guide helps Christmas lovers learn how to draw a variety of festive-themed cartoons in just a few simple steps. From Santa's sleigh to delightful decorations and red robins, this comprehensive Christmas guide helps readers to understand the techniques, tools and materials needed to create their own festive artwork. The How To Draw series takes a highly visual and practical approach to drawing, featuring step-by-step instructions for each art project. From basic shapes to finished art, this book uses two different coloured lines throughout to highlight clearly each process and which steps to follow. The series covers a comprehensive range of core techniques - with sections on materials, composition and perspective.

Medieval Cathedral examines the incredible architectural achievements and hidden secrets held within the walls of these grand religious buildings.Discover a world of towering spires, ornate architecture and stories sealed in colourful glass. This guide goes beyond the building, exploring the lives of Medieval Cathedrals and the master artisans who brought them to life. Meet the highly-skilled craftsmen involved in the cathedral's construction at each stage, from cutting the stone to installing the iconic stained glass windows. Uncover the history behind ghoulish gargoyles, pilgrim routes and miracle plays, and how they transformed these noble cathedrals into the buildings we know today.With superb cutaway illustrations and pinpoint enlargements to accompany the text, this book is the perfect gift for history enthusiasts eager to learn more about the Medieval period, especially the development of architecture and religion during that time. Informative captions, maps, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal educational text for children studying the middle ages in history.

Known for its cricket legends, striking miners and iconic pudding, Yorkshire is a county steeped in history. Tracing its development from Viking capital to industrial powerhouse, Yorkshire: A Very Peculiar History scratches beneath the surface and past its cliches, uncovering the weird-but-wonderful aspects of 'God's Own County' from all angles. Featuring a host of characters from Yorkshire past and present, including Guy Fawkes to Michael Parkinson, it's not all grit and grime! This humorous book tells the astonishing tale of Yorkshire - the place, the people and their culture - through quirky tales, fascinating fact boxes, recipes, lists and maps.

Take an incredible voyage on the Beagle with Charles Darwin - an expedition that will shape scientific discovery forever!Step aboard the Beagle with Charles Darwin and witness his voyage of discovery from meeting Captain Fitzroy to his modest return nearly five years later. Explore the ship's relevance to the people who built it and the lives that they led. Superb illustrations, cutaway diagrams and maps provide an insight into the discoveries he made, the specimens he gathered and the conclusions he came to.This impressive guide explores the many different people involved in the expedition, providing a vivid and dramatic insight into Darwin's adventure. Informative captions, maps, a complete glossary and an index enhance the book's educational value, making it a perfect resource for school children studying Charles Darwin and his scientific discoveries.

Grab your mittens and your snow shovel - it's time to join Shackleton's crew on their famous polar expedition!As a hardened sailor, you're ready to brace the bitterly cold continent of Antarctica in what will prove to be one of the most gruelling adventures of all time. Encountering sub-zero temperatures, icy winds and a worrying lack of food and water, you'll soon discover why you really wouldn't want to join Shackleton's polar expedition! Follow along to find out how this brave crew managed to survive the disastrous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Keep a sharp eye out for icebergs, steer clear of scurvy, and try not to freeze to death!The You Wouldn't Want to Be series transports reader to some of the grisliest times and places in human history, perfect for engaging reluctant readers. The first-person narrative approach places children directly in the shoes of some of the unluckiest people ever to have lived.

Grab your pick axe and your canary cage - it's time to mine for coal in the Victorian pits! As a British man living in a coal-mining village during the Victorian era, you're forced to endure the dangers, difficulties and despair of working underground in the 1800s. It's gruelling work, with long hours, unpredictable equipment and terrifying conditions. Discover how to get through a day in the pits with a succession of handy hints, such as not forgetting your canary bird and singing mining ballads to keep your spirits high. You'll soon learn that you really wouldn't want to be a Victorian miner! The ever-popular 'You Wouldn't Want to Be' series transports readers to some of the grisliest times and places in history, perfect for reluctant readers! The humorous, first-person narrative approach places children directly in the shoes of some of history's most unfortunate people ever to have lived, great for engaging students with the history curriculum and encouraging further non-fiction reading.

You're a farmer's son living in England in the early 7th century. Your people are descendants of invaders from Northern Europe: the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, who arrived about 200 years earlier, seized land from the native Britons and made themselves at home here. You will experience first-hand the culture and history of the Anglo-Saxon peoples, including how they survived, ate and dressed, the stories they told, and how they responded to the coming of Christianity. Life is tough, and you'll soon discover that you really wouldn't want to be an Anglo-Saxon peasant!The ever-popular 'You Wouldn't Want to Be' series transports readers to some of the grisliest times and places in history, perfect for reluctant readers! The humorous, first-person narrative approach places children directly in the shoes of some of history's most unfortunate people ever to have lived, great for engaging students with the history curriculum and encouraging further non-fiction reading.

Anyone can create a masterpiece with just a pencil and paper!This easy to follow guide teaches aspiring artists how to capture the people around them in a few simple steps. Taking care to clearly illustrate how to draw various different human poses, forms and anatomical references, Human Figure covers all the basic steps to creating a wonderful human drawing. This inspiring guide is the perfect gift for loved ones who are drawing beginners.The How To Draw series takes a highly visual and practical approach to drawing, featuring step-by-step instructions for each art project. From basic shapes to finished art, this book uses two different coloured lines throughout to highlight clearly each process and which steps to follow. The series covers a comprehensive range of core techniques - with sections on materials, composition and perspective.

Anyone can create a masterpiece with just a pencil and paper!This easy to follow guide teaches aspiring artists how to capture fantastical beasts in just a few simple steps. Learn how to draw assorted archetypal creatures from fantasy literature, such as ogres, trolls, wizards, witches and undead warriors. The titles feature step-by-step instructions for each art project, helping budding illustrators to bring their fantasy portraits and characters to life!The How To Draw series takes a highly visual and practical approach to drawing, featuring step-by-step instructions for each art project. From basic shapes to finished art, this book uses two different coloured lines throughout to highlight clearly each process and which steps to follow. The series covers a comprehensive range of core techniques - with sections on materials, composition and perspective.

Little ones will love building busy scenes of emergency vehicles coming to the rescue in this vibrant sticker book bursting with colourful illustrations by Amy Husband and fun facts and questions written by Margot Channing.From fire engines to police cars and even helicopters over the ocean, each spread is filled with action as the emergency vehicles are used to save the day. With plenty of space to fill with stickers and spark imagination as children complete the busy scenes. Prompts on each page to search for, count and point to objects will turn learning into an engaging game. A treasure hunt at the end means children can flick back and find things they might not have noticed before.This is a must-have book for all action-loving little ones and future heroes!

Decorate each colourful and detailed scene of ballet school life with over 350 fantastic stickers! With over 8 pages of stickers to choose from, budding dancers will have hours of fun adding stickers to create their dream ballet school! Each spread features things to look for, find and count, along with fun facts and questions all to do with ballet. Interactive activities and colourful illustrations will develop a further interest in dance, while search-and-find activities allow them to practise language skills in a fun context. A fun treasure hunt activity at the end means children can go back and spot things they might not have noticed before.

Welcome little ones to the land of the fairies in this magical sticker book bursting with colourful illustrations by Ela Smietanka and captivating fairy facts written by Margot Channing.From the fairies who play between the flowers to the ones who swim under the sea and even those who cycle through the magical land of Fairy Town, each spread is an enchanting exploration of all things fairies, with space to fill with stickers and spark imagination as children decorate their own fantasy scenes. Prompts on each page to search for, count and point to exciting items helps young ones to make connections between words and images, and an exciting treasure hunt at the end means they can flick back and find things they might not have noticed before!This is a must-have book for all those who believe in fairies... and those who might need a little extra proof, too!

As a young man living in the Roman Empire, you've heard many exciting stories about far-away lands and people, and what it's like to fight for the emperor! Now you've just turned eighteen, you're about to discover the realities of how tough life really is for a Roman soldier! Learn to survive amongst the toughest men in Rome, march for days on end, fight with swords and operate large weapons, and follow the strict rules of the legion - all while wearing leather sandals! Do you have what it takes to survive? he ever-popular You Wouldn't Want to Be series transports readers to the grisliest times and places in history. The first-person narrative approach puts the reader in the shoes of some of the most unfortunate people ever to have lived. Humorous cartoon-style illustrations bring the characters to life, while informative captions, timelines and maps explain processes or chronological events. Perfect for history enthusiasts!

The Classic Comics series is the authoritative graphic guide to the greatest masterpieces in literary history.Jane Eyre's world is about to change for the better, but all is not as it seems... Will she get the life she's always wanted, or will her dreams be set ablaze? This classic tale of social class, love and suffering is presented as an exciting and fast-paced graphic novel which remains faithful to Charlotte Brontë's original text.Full-colour artwork brings excitement and atmosphere to this classic tale. Speech bubbles work with the main text to emphasise and enhance the retelling. A running glossary at the foot of each page helps young readers with any challenging vocabulary without disrupting their reading experience.

The Classic Comics series is the authoritative graphic guide to the greatest masterpieces in literary history.The three witches have prophesied that Macbeth will be king, and both he and his wife will stop at nothing to make this prophecy come true! But will he succeed, or will his bloody crimes come back to haunt him? This timeless tragedy is presented as an exciting and vivid graphic novel which remains faithful to Shakespeare's original text.Full-colour artwork brings excitement and atmosphere to this classic tale. Speech bubbles work with the main text to emphasise and enhance the retelling. A running glossary at the foot of each page helps young readers with any challenging vocabulary without disrupting their reading experience.

All aboard the daring voyage across the dangerous Atlantic!You are one of 102 pilgrims setting off for America to start a life in the new world. Prepare for a long journey of hardship, sickness and wild weather that not everyone will survive. Spoiler alert: arriving on land doesn't mean the treacherous journey is over - you really wouldn't want to set sail on the Mayflower!The ever-popular 'You Wouldn't Want to Be' series transports readers to some of the grisliest times and places in history, perfect for reluctant readers! The humorous, first-person narrative approach places children directly in the shoes of some of history's most unfortunate people ever to have lived, great for engaging students with the history curriculum and encouraging further non-fiction reading.

Shipwrecks, tiny tyrants, moral giants, flying islands and talking horses: Gulliver's extraordinary voyages come alive in this punchy, panel-driven retelling by John Malam with bold, characterful art by Penko Gelev. The book balances pacey adventure with clear context, concluding with rich endmatter: a "300 Years of Gulliver's Travels" feature, author background, a concise guide to the four voyages, a timeline, global map of the lands, and film/TV adaptations - ideal for curriculum links and book-talks.

Packed with detailed cutaways and clear explanations, A World War Two Submarine reveals how diesel-electric boats were designed, built and fought - and what it felt like to live inside them. Readers explore ballast tanks, periscopes and sonar; follow a day in the boat; learn how torpedoes worked; and see how U-boats and Allied subs battled through Atlantic gales and convoy warfare. A final chronology, facts, glossary and index consolidate learning and support curriculum work on the Second World War and technology. Written by Richard Humble and illustrated by Mark Bergin.

It's 1594 and you are a young boy in London with dreams of the stage. But once you join a company of players, the reality of being a Shakespearean actor is far tougher than you imagined. You rehearse endlessly, earn almost nothing and must memorise dozens of roles at once, all while performing outdoors for noisy crowds who might cheer, jeer or throw food.With women banned from the stage, you're trained to play female parts, squeezed into corsets and judged on every gesture and line. When plague sweeps through London and the theatres close, you're forced onto the road, performing anywhere you can to survive. Even back at the Globe, danger is everywhere, from thieves in the audience to real cannons threatening to set the theatre ablaze.Told in the trademark second-person voice of the You Wouldn't Want to... series, this book blends humour, vivid historical detail and David Antram's energetic illustrations, supported by a glossary and index.