Wonder Science

How do peanuts become creamy peanut butter? A farmer grows peanuts. The sun dries the plants. The peanuts are picked and sorted. Machines remove shells. Follow the process step by step as peanut butter is made.

A gloriously rich and utterly delightful handbook perfect for longtime fans and new listeners alike, covering everything from how to blend in with suspicious normals to the most popular time loops to visit as a temporal tourist. This essential volume is the ideal primer for anyone curious about the world of Miss Peregrine: an overview of its strange history, curious practices, fascinating places, the most famous (and infamous) members of its peculiar families and much more.

Walking is the most natural means of getting around under your own steam and the only sustained dynamic exercise that is possible for nearly all of us to participate in. No special skills or equipment are required, and you can do it anywhere. Walking is flexible enough to be accommodated into occupational and domestic routines, as well as for leisure or specific fitness training. Exploring the evolutionary and historical importance of walking, this book uncovers how the principles that motivated people to walk in the past are even more relevant in the 21st century.

Building on Falconer’s two acclaimed essays, "Signs and Wonders" and the Walkley Award-winning "The Opposite of Glamour", Signs and Wonders is a pioneering examination of how we are changing our culture, language and imaginations along with our climate. Is a mammoth emerging from the permafrost beautiful or terrifying? How is our imagination affected when something that used to be ordinary – like a car windscreen smeared with insects – becomes unimaginable?

In Nerdy Babies: Space, follow our intrepid infants into the great unknown. Check out the moon and the sun and all the planets in our solar system. Plus, learn about gravity and orbits in this simple text written in question-and-answer format.

Bess has always loved her grandfather’s collection of curiosities. So she’s delighted when she’s handed the keys to his Odditorium. But unless she finds a way to draw in the crowds, she’ll have to close its doors for good. When a mysterious train pulls into town, bound for The Land of Halloween Sweets, Bess hatches a plan and sneaks onboard. She is soon discovered by Beau the puppeteer, Louie the violinist and Maria the fire witch. Eager to join their adventure, Bess sets out to search for the rarest sweet of all–the ghostly gobstopper.

In Lost Wonders author and journalist Tom Lathan tells the stories of ten species that have lived, died out and been declared extinct since the turn of the twenty-first century. In a series of fascinating encounters with subjects that are now nowhere to be found on Earth – from giant tortoises to minuscule snails the size of sesame seeds, from ocean-hopping trees to fish that wag their tails like puppies – Lathan brings these lost wonders briefly back to life and gives us a tantalising glimpse of what we have lost within our own lifetime.

Imagine that tomorrow you woke up, went out and won the lottery. Now imagine that tomorrow you woke up, went out and lost a limb. Which would make you happier? Amazingly, science suggests that after both of these scenarios, you would most likely return to the same happiness level as before within a relatively short window of time. The Fun Habit shows that fun, unlike happiness, is an action you can take almost anywhere, anytime. Fun is connected to behaviour and habits rather than goals, which means it’s possible to get more fun into your life with intention.

The world is shaped by complexity. In this enlightening book, Nobel Prize winner Giorgio Parisi guides us through his unorthodox yet exhilarating work to show us how. It all starts with investigating the principles of physics by observing the sophisticated flight patterns of starlings. Studying the movements of these birds, he has realized, proves an illuminating way into understanding complex systems of all kinds - collections of everything from atoms to planets to other animals like ourselves.

"WA" is a Japanese word that describes, or encompasses, the “essence” of what it is to “be Japanese”. This spirit is intricately woven throughout these stories as fantastic creatures, fearsome monsters, animals that are all too human, and people that are, well, all too human too. They make choices and fateful decisions that'll take each character on journeys that are terrifying and miraculous, whimsical and thought-provoking, mysterious, magical, and uniquely Japanese. Come along and join them, as life’s lessons are learned, or sometimes not.

Marta and Serge are half-wild children whose parents let them explore. In the woods one day, they find a strange creature who needs their help. He is king of a supernatural ancient race which has always watched over our planet. They are growing impatient with human behavior, and the king asks them to deliver a vital message to Earth’s leaders. How will the children make their message heard? Will they get it to the right people in time? As Marta and Serge grow up, they must keep their hearts open so they can continue to see the incredible beings.

This is the story of the greatest scandal inflicted on British servicemen and women in modern times: drug-induced violence and suicide–and an officer determined to find the truth.

Vone and Barukai escape from their encounter with the demon Dwareck and take refuge in the west. They quickly learn of a massive migration from the eastern coast, brought on by the Vanadium Sons. With few options left, Barukai mentions the jungles in hopes to befriend those who reside within the Land of Magical Beasts. Vone agrees to travel back to her homeland.

People have always wanted to know the future. When the ancient Greeks needed to make an important decision they would ask one of their oracles, the priestly advisors who spoke the words of gods. But sometimes it was a mystery what the oracle really meant, and many got it wrong. How the oracles got their answers may be even more mysterious than we think. Let the history, legends, and myths of ancient Greece capture your students' imagination...

Have you ever not been able to concentrate because there are SO many questions buzzing round your brain? The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions will offer answers to the most bamboozling questions and curious queries that you can think of. How many stars are in the night sky? Why don't animals wear clothes? Do plants have feelings? This book will define, debunk and demystify the trickiest of questions and even open your eyes to questions you have never even thought of!

After earning the right to enter the Farmaka's temple, Barukai and Vone settle into a deep discussion with the wise woman. Fatina Lam takes a great interest in learning about the Wraithsayer and offers a remedy to his dilemma. Vone must speak with the ghosts that possess him by entering his own subconscious. To a place, she calls the Stolminds.

The Crater Kingdom of Nadiria prepares for the approaching force that brings doom. Zenethstra marches alongside the Sons of Vanadium, unaware that their king is being puppeteered by the Psion Psigmaa. The powers of hero and villain clash in the epic finale of Power, Wonder and Glory.

A time-twisting adventure full of fun and friendship from Leah It’s time to kick off a time-twisting adventure with the Wonder Team! Leah and her friends have been magically transported to the rainforests of Tanzania! Back in time and far away from home, the Wonder Team have to use all their skills to uncover the mysteries of the forest and find a way back to the present. But there's danger lurking in the rainforest. A gang of poachers are after the local chimpanze tribe, and it's up to Leah, Mimi, George and their new friend Bupe to find a way to save the animals from from capture.

Did you know that a hippogriff is supposedly the offspring of a horse and a griffin? Or that a Greek sphinx generally has a male face, whereas an Egyptian one has a female visage? Where does the skunk ape roam, and how can you spot a kitsune in human form? Is Slenderman the most frightening mythical creature, or is that honor bestowed on the fearsome gashadokuro? This fantastic book introduces the listener to more than 100 mythical beasts and legendary creatures.

Dispatched overseas — far, far overseas — we're in hot water. Again. Following in the footsteps of a long-lost king, we're on the road to the mysterious Vales of Wonder. The upside? It's a hot-bed of magickal marvels, the likes of which we've literally never seen before. The downside? Danger. Because who ever said adventure would be easy? Fortunately, we have help. One reviled but aggravatingly handy beast specialist: check. One world-famous, awe-inspiring, purple-clad troll scholar: check. One perambulatory, half-mad house with a crush on Jay: check.