Other Non Fiction

'Armed with this intrepid survey, we can see a brave new world down there on the beach ... Exquisite revelation, of the most wonderful, (read more)

'Armed with this intrepid survey, we can see a brave new world down there on the beach ... Exquisite revelation, of the most wonderful, watery kind.' - Philip HoareFor many, the highlights of seaside holidays are rockpooling and gathering the glorious array of shells left strewn on the beach after the receding tide. Attracted by the infinite variety of shapes and colours, visitors can never resist making a souvenir collection of their own - but little do they suspect the fascinating lives of the animals who once occupied them.

What if each shell had a story of its own to tell us, if only we knew the language? Mr Street's delightful, informative guide uncovers the secret history of each common shell, revealing not only which marine creature once inhabited it but the unique challenges of its watery habitat it had to solve. (hide)

Learn the Japanese art of shibori, including tie-dyeing, folded, rolled and sewn techniques, using indigo dye. Then make one of the (read more)

Learn the Japanese art of shibori, including tie-dyeing, folded, rolled and sewn techniques, using indigo dye. Then make one of the 25 projects using the fabric you have created. Shibori is the name for a range of dyeing techniques that have been practised in Japan for centuries.

Using just plain white cloth and indigo dye, you can create a huge range of patterns that will each be unique. Full photographic step-by-step instructions are given for preparing the vat and plain dyeing, so you can master these steps before you move on to the different types of shibori. Each chapter then starts with a photographic step-by-step explanation of a different shibori technique.

Published:8 May 2018 (hide)

Salads are perfect for big-flavour meals, but pre-made ones are often covered with sugary dressings and full of preservatives for (read more)

Salads are perfect for big-flavour meals, but pre-made ones are often covered with sugary dressings and full of preservatives for extended shelf life, so Kathryn Bruton has ramped up the health-factor with her range of skinny salads to suit everyone, whether they want something warming and comforting, refreshing and revitalising or all-out wow. Chapters cover Gloriously Green, Comfort, Simple, Classics, Show-Off and Fruit Salads, and include gluten and dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan recipes. Plus there's a section with extra-good-for-you dressings, condiments and pickles.

From warming Kofta Salad, a 'Wind me Down' Winter's Evening Salad and tasty Spiced Roasted Plum Salad to a twist on the classic, Caesar Salad with Purple Kale, Kathryn minimises the use of sugary, heavy dressings and bland leaves and brings fresh, nutrient packed ingredients. Each salad is less than 300 calories per portion, but still jam-packed with flavour.
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After the enormous international success of The Phantom Atlas and The Golden Atlas, Edward Brooke-Hitching's stunning new book unveils (read more)

After the enormous international success of The Phantom Atlas and The Golden Atlas, Edward Brooke-Hitching's stunning new book unveils some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created during mankind's quest to map the skies above us. This richly illustrated treasury showcases the finest examples of celestial cartography - a glorious genre of map-making often overlooked by modern map books - as well as medieval manuscripts, masterpiece paintings, ancient star catalogues, antique instruments and other appealing curiosities. This is the sky as it has never been presented before: the realm of stars and planets, but also of gods, devils, weather wizards, flying sailors, medieval aliens, mythological animals and rampaging spirits.
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These days, space is a precious commodity. Small Space Style is an inspiring guide to making the most of even the tiniest home. 'A (read more)

These days, space is a precious commodity. Small Space Style is an inspiring guide to making the most of even the tiniest home. 'A chic reminder that small, if carefully considered, can be beautiful.' Lobster & Swan blog.

Sara Emslie embraces the positive aspects of living in a compact home and explores design and style solutions to the practical issues of living with limited space.In the first chapter, Elements of Design, Sara tackles clever design and planning details and discusses how to make the most of any small home. Then, in Elements of Style, she gives thought to decorating solutions and style ideas for a compact interior, considering storage, furniture and display. Next, Sara visits a variety of real-life beautifully small spaces, taking an in-depth look at imaginative treatments for pocket-sized interiors and showcasing tiny homes with lots of character. (hide)

A captain has many responsibilities and can make or break a team. Success is always sweet, but when it all goes wrong it can be a (read more)

A captain has many responsibilities and can make or break a team. Success is always sweet, but when it all goes wrong it can be a lonely and stressful job, especially if you are quite young. So who can you go to for help? So You Want To Be Captain? is the answer.

Perfect for young sports-mad readers, it is packed with advice and tips on how to be a great captain and lead your team to success. What's more, these inspiring words come directly from some of our greatest sporting heroes, including football's Gary Linekar, runner Dame Kelly Holmes and cricket's Michael Vaughan. From the British curling team to successful Paralympians, from body language to bravery, the book is a wide-ranging, useful and entertaining meditation upon the art of captaincy. (hide)

Sorry I Humped Your Leg (Again) is a brand new batch of laugh-out-loud letters (and accompanying full-color photographs) addressed (read more)

Sorry I Humped Your Leg (Again) is a brand new batch of laugh-out-loud letters (and accompanying full-color photographs) addressed by dogs to their owners. From an impassioned plea to return from the store with the right doggie treats, to a pep talk from your self-appointed "doggie dietician," this epistolary treat offers a pooch's perspective on common canine vs. human cohabitation conundrums.

It's the perfect gift for a dog lover or anyone who appreciates hilarious insights into dog (and human) nature.

Published:13 Jul 2017 (hide)

Why is there an 'h' in ghost? William Caxton, inventor of the printing press and his Flemish employees are to blame: without a dictionary (read more)

Why is there an 'h' in ghost? William Caxton, inventor of the printing press and his Flemish employees are to blame: without a dictionary or style guide to hand in fifteenth century Bruges, the typesetters simply spelled it the way it sounded to their foreign ears, and it stuck. Seventy-five per cent of English spelling is regular but twenty-five per cent is complicated, and in Spell It Out our foremost linguistics expert David Crystal extends a helping hand to the confused and curious alike. He unearths the stories behind the rogue words that confound us, and explains why these peculiarities entered the mainstream, in an epic journey taking in sixth century monks, French and Latin upstarts, the Industrial Revolution and the internet.

By learning the history and the principles, Crystal shows how the spellings that break all the rules become easier to get right. (hide)

Explore the world outside your window. For 13 years the BBC's Springwatch and its sister programmes, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, (read more)

Explore the world outside your window. For 13 years the BBC's Springwatch and its sister programmes, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, have been bringing the best of Britain's wildlife into our homes.

Now Springwatch: The 2019 Almanac offers the perfect guide for anyone looking to get out and explore the wonders of nature just outside their back door. Taking you month by month through the coming year, the almanac combines compelling stories with practical guidance that will inspire anyone to start exploring. It has all the information you need to discover the natural wonders around you, from how to identify animal tracks and bird nests to the best time to witness starling murmurations and mayflies hatching. (hide)

Written by expert shibori teacher Jane Callender, this beautiful, practical book is packed with both traditional and inventive stitch-resist (read more)

Written by expert shibori teacher Jane Callender, this beautiful, practical book is packed with both traditional and inventive stitch-resist techniques, a complete dyeing guide and an inspirational gallery of Jane's work. This book contains all the information a beginner will need to get started - including tips on dyeing in small spaces and a guide to all the necessary health and safety considerations - but is also packed with innovative techniques and inspiring designs that will appeal to the experienced textile artist. The book is broken into three sections.

The first shows you all the key stitch-resist techniques you need - from the basics right through to creating intricate designs - and all are clearly explained with photography and illustrations. Learn how to create a range of different shibori styles, oversew, make circles and other shapes, use grids, double needles, stencils and caps, bind fabrics, work with machine stitch, use fabric buffers and incorporate applique. (hide)