Robin Jacobs

The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters. This is a gorgeous atlas of eight of the world’s greatest mountains on all its continents: Everest - Nepal Pucak Jaya - Indonesia Fuji - Japan Matterhorn - Switzerland Kilimanjaro - Tanzania Denali - Alaska Chimborazo - Ecuador Vinson Massif - Antarctica. Clear, accessible texts by Robin Jacobs break down the geography of each mountain, its flora and fauna, the history of its conquest, tales of local populations and mythologies, and finally, how best to climb them. The routes to the summit are explained as are the individual climbing challenges posed by each mountain. Further chapters provide information on how mountains are formed, climbing terms, how to tie knots, what to do in case of an avalanche and important climbing gear. With dynamic, vintage-inflected illustrations by Ed J Brown (Epic Animal Journeys, Cicada 2022), this is a book that captures the majesty of mountains and a spirit of adventure that will appeal to budding explorers and climbing enthusiasts alike.

The Mellon family have outgrown their flat. It's time to move, but none of the houses they look at are quite right, so they decide to build their own house. Masha is an architect. She listens to all the Mellon's requests and designs a house. The house accommodates all the family's needs as well as their budget, but most of all, the house accommodates the environment. It is an eco-house. Lots of people help build the Mellons' house. Boris and his team of groundworkers dig the foundations, Mirko the carpenter helps construct the wooden frame. Penny is a plumber and Bea is the project manager. Lots of construction vehicles are also required. Eventually the house takes shape. A ground source heat pump, solar panels, a green roof and a rainwater harvester help make this air-tight construction as environmentally friendly as possible. The Mellons Build a House is hugely enjoyable picturebook that takes the reader step by step through the design and construction of a house. The environmental considerations make this book uniquely timely and refreshing. Thomas Slater's bold, bright illustrations are inclusive, warm and rich with humour. An essential read for aspiring young architects and construction-enthusiasts.

We humans take our domination of the planet for granted, but sometimes nature reminds us that this is an illusion. Tectonics rip open the earth, vast waves sweep away coastal towns, magma spews from volcanoes and hurricanes lay waste to entire countries. This book explores nature at its most destructive. Clear, coherent explanations break down the science behind phenomena including hurricanes, tornadoes, avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, alongside fascinating facts about the biggest and the worst. Informative, accessible illustrations by Sophie Williams make this so much more than your standard geography book.

Everybody loves a passport - especially children. With the exact shape and size of a passport, this delightful travel activity book will offer kids endless entertainment for those interminable hours waiting at the airport. Activities include drawing the logos on plane tails, identifying different time zones, designing a flag for a made-up country, saying "hello" in thirty different languages, and filling in a boarding pass.All this is immaculately packaged, with a tear-out sheet of stamps and a tiny folder attached to the inside back cover containing a miniature teddy passport adding extra charm. Perfect for design-savvy young globetrotters.